Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMascot makes appearance at Hillel's semiformal event
By Christie Panasevich
Posted: 11/19/04, 1:25 AM EST Section: Pulp
Potato knishes and kugel, traditional bar mitzvah foods, surrounded homemade Otto the Orange centerpieces at every table. A traditional circle dance, the horah, had everyone on their feet. But attendees at Hillel's first semiformal, Otto's bar mitzvah party, said the guest of honor was what really made their night.
"Otto came and tore down the house," said Jacob Perlin, communications vice president for Hillel. "He came in dancing and everyone went crazy."
The party came together last night after three years of discussion. Temple Beth Sholom Chevra Shas in Dewitt played host to almost 100 people, including the Orange himself. The event was held as a way to include freshmen and those not involved in greek life in the fun of a semiformal experience.
Shortly after Otto entered and danced the horah, about six male party-goers hoisted Syracuse's favorite mascot into the air.
"Seeing the Orange actually go up in the chair made the entire night for me," said Jason Mesches, a freshman acting major who spent most of his night on the dance floor. "I'm a freshman and I'm giving it a shot. I'm breaking a sweat and having a good time. Hopefully people will talk it up, and next year it will be twice as big."
Appetizers and desserts, including an ice cream sundae bar, kept the crowd energized. But Liz Narins, a freshman in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a member of Hillel, was disappointed there wasn't a traditional Jewish dinner, which she said a lot of Jews were expecting.
The event also drew a number of non-Jewish students, including Kate Santangelo, a senior economics major, who, like many of the attendees, came to support her friends. A regular at many of Hillel's events, Santangelo said she secretly wished she was Jewish because of the amount of fun she has at the events.
"The music is really good, and so is the food," Santangelo said. "This is a really good group. Even if you are not Jewish, everyone here makes you feel comfortable. You don't feel out of place at all."
Rabbi David Levy, the director of Jewish education at Hillel, said the success of Otto's bar mitzvah party says something about Hillel's future as an organization. The organization is on the move and doing new and exciting things every day, he said.
Attendees left with more than just memories of a dancing orange, though. A souvenir cup inscribed with, "Orange you glad you came to Otto's Bar Mitzvah?" was at every seat. But Rabbi Rachel Ain of Beth Sholom said she hopes everyone went home with more than just party favors.
"It got these kids into the bar mitzvah spirit that so many of them remember from five, six, seven years ago," Ain said. "This is an excellent mock-bar mitzvah party."
"Otto came and tore down the house," said Jacob Perlin, communications vice president for Hillel. "He came in dancing and everyone went crazy."
The party came together last night after three years of discussion. Temple Beth Sholom Chevra Shas in Dewitt played host to almost 100 people, including the Orange himself. The event was held as a way to include freshmen and those not involved in greek life in the fun of a semiformal experience.
Shortly after Otto entered and danced the horah, about six male party-goers hoisted Syracuse's favorite mascot into the air.
"Seeing the Orange actually go up in the chair made the entire night for me," said Jason Mesches, a freshman acting major who spent most of his night on the dance floor. "I'm a freshman and I'm giving it a shot. I'm breaking a sweat and having a good time. Hopefully people will talk it up, and next year it will be twice as big."
Appetizers and desserts, including an ice cream sundae bar, kept the crowd energized. But Liz Narins, a freshman in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a member of Hillel, was disappointed there wasn't a traditional Jewish dinner, which she said a lot of Jews were expecting.
The event also drew a number of non-Jewish students, including Kate Santangelo, a senior economics major, who, like many of the attendees, came to support her friends. A regular at many of Hillel's events, Santangelo said she secretly wished she was Jewish because of the amount of fun she has at the events.
"The music is really good, and so is the food," Santangelo said. "This is a really good group. Even if you are not Jewish, everyone here makes you feel comfortable. You don't feel out of place at all."
Rabbi David Levy, the director of Jewish education at Hillel, said the success of Otto's bar mitzvah party says something about Hillel's future as an organization. The organization is on the move and doing new and exciting things every day, he said.
Attendees left with more than just memories of a dancing orange, though. A souvenir cup inscribed with, "Orange you glad you came to Otto's Bar Mitzvah?" was at every seat. But Rabbi Rachel Ain of Beth Sholom said she hopes everyone went home with more than just party favors.
"It got these kids into the bar mitzvah spirit that so many of them remember from five, six, seven years ago," Ain said. "This is an excellent mock-bar mitzvah party."
