The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hillel Club hoped to bypass division and disconnect when it hosted “Huskers Unplug” on March 3.
The event began with sunset yoga on the Nebraska Union greenspace, then bingo, coloring and conversation in the Union Centennial Room and ended with a ballroom dance party in the Union Ballroom.
The event was a part of the National Day of Unplugging, an annual project of Reboot. Reboot is a Jewish organization that affirms Jewish traditions, and with the National Day of Unplugging, Reboot hoped to uphold the Jewish value of using the Sabbath to “unwind, unplug, relax, reflect, get outdoors and connect with loved ones,” the National Day of Unplugging’s website said.
Unplugging from devices is important for the Jewish RSO, because the rules of resting on the Sabbath extend to resting from devices too. This is a new obstacle for Jews, Hillel Vice President Aviva Atri said. 150 years ago, people weren’t concerned about the distance iPhones and iPads caused, but Jews today have to be more aware of their modern amenities.
“Today, I think the community recognizes these things take you away from what’s important,” Atri said.
Hillel’s executive board was interested in bringing an opportunity for connection to UNL.
“We want to encourage people to come together and communicate,” social outreach coordinator Talia Halerpin said.
The Hillel executives wanted to make the event accessible to people who weren’t concerned about the rules and regulations of the Sabbath. So they partnered with the Muslim Student Association, OASIS and the Ballroom Dance Club. Atri said the partnerships represented support and engagement in today’s tense environment.
Husker Unplug’s schedule of events was designed to cut through the environment and the devices to enable connection.
“I think all the events are a good way of showing, ‘Yeah, we’re here to communicate and engage, but we’re also here to have fun,” Atri said.
Hillel and the organizations began planning the event after the university reached out to Hillel. The marketing and communications department had learned about the National Day of Unplugging, and asked Hillel if it would be doing anything.
“It’s awesome to come to a university that wants us to unite and wants us to interconnect,” Atri said.
Huskers Unplug was the largest event Hillel has ever hosted, and the executives said it brought a lot of new planning, new considerations and new adjustments.
“When there’s only one dinner table, you don’t really have to think about these things,” Hillel President Zach Bram said.
Collaboration with the other hosts made planning the event easier, Atri said. Bram said the other organizations were “beaming with excitement” at the prospect of joining forces with Hillel, and that enthusiasm carried into the collaboration.
The event was different from anything Hillel had ever hosted, but it also had a lot of things familiar to the club: it was focused around conversation and connection, the tables held traditional Israeli food and it included Judaism’s values.
Even the sunset yoga was Sabbath-themed, Atri said, laughing.
