Jewish students form social club

What does meshuganeh mean? In normal Yiddish, one might say the word means crazy, but to a group of University students it is the name of a new Jewish social club. The Meshuganeh Club, the first purely social club sponsored by the Hillel Foundation, was formed to promote the social interaction of the University's Jewish students from every sect of the religion, said co-founder Lynne Havsy, a College junior. Unlike Ruach, Hillel's reform social club, Meshuganeh is not associated with one sect, nor does it perform Jewish rituals during its events, she added. "Something was missing in the community," said College junior Noah Roffman, the club's other co-founder. "[We wanted] to make [the community] like home for us." Roffman and Havsy said the existing Jewish groups on campus focus primarily on religious activities, which may alienate some less observant Jewish students. "Maybe there are students not interested in Israel," Roffman said. The founders said last week that about 130 students have expressed interest in the club, 40 of which attended the introductory ice cream social-planning meeting held this month. "We're all really shocked," said College junior Brad Coren. "It's really taking off." The group's activities will include trips to other universities, Philadelphia attractions, sporting and cultural events and intramural sports. And the group has entered a team in the University's intramural co-ed football league which is competing in bracket I. "The girls are better than the boys," Coren joked. The Meshuganeh Club's grand opening will take place on College Green after Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres' speech today. The "Post Peres Celebration" will offer catered food and a live band. "It's not often that a Jewish head of state speaks at Penn," Havsy said. "That's why we intend to celebrate his visit in grand fashion." The club meets once a month in Houston Hall. "Even the planning meetings will be social," Coren said. Although the club was formed to unite the Jewish community, non-Jewish students are welcome, and club leaders said this week they are still actively seeking members.

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