The Tripod

Lisa Kassow, Director of Trinity College's Zachs Hillel House, will receive the Vision Award in Jewish Heritage for her lifetime devotion to Jewish Arts, Culture and Education from the Charter Oak Cultural Center. Kassow is one of the three Hartford residents who are being honored by Charter Oak for their dedication to "repairing the world" through teaching, promoting social awareness, and working for justice.

"We are giving Lisa our Vision Award in Jewish Heritage for a million reasons," said Rabbi Donna Berman, Executive Director of the Charter Oak Cultural Center. "Her approach to Judaism is inclusive and creative, and her commitment has always been to building bridges of understanding between people and communities. We are honored to honor her."

Hillel is one of the most active organizations on campus, sponsoring activities including organizing an Israeli Techno Party and celebrating Israel's 60th Birthday. Hillel held a traditional Passover Seder and most recently on Thursday, April 24, Hillel held an Eco-Friendly Seder for an evening of entertainment during which participants could reflect on contemporary issues. This year's theme is "Going Green."

Kassow said that her dream for Hillel is for it to be "an open tent for Jewish students and for those interested in learning more about Jewish life." All activities are open to every student on campus. "Even if students aren't Jewish, they learn something," she explained. "Connections are made, and when they leave college they walk away with positive experiences." Kassow said she "loves working with students. My job is to encourage them, to present the full array of possibilities and to help direct their energy. Creatively, we come together and make a community that enriches us all."

Lisa Sobel, Hillel Steinhardt Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow, affirmed Kassow's success in following her vision. "Lisa is fun and easy to work with, and her vision and passion for Jewish Studies really inspire students and faculty alike to get more involved. She is a great asset to the Trinity community."

Students share as much enthusiasm about Hillel as Kassow does. On the Hillel Web site, Trinity alum Sarah Pflantzer, the 2002 Hillel co-president, said, "It's hard to answer the question of what exactly Hillel means to me because, frankly, Hillel has meant everything to me. The community that we have created in such a short time has become my family here at Trinity." Thea Button '11 said, "Lisa is everyone's quintessential Jewish mother; she feeds us, takes care of us and makes sure that we are happy. Despite the fact that I am not Jewish she has made me feel welcome in the Hillel House. She makes it a warm and pleasant environment for the entire student body, and we love her for it."

Kassow said that she is excited about receiving the award: "It was so totally unexpected and such a surprise. I'm deeply, deeply honored."

The Charter Oak's Cultural Center's Seventh Annual Gala, where Kassow will win her award, will be held at the Hartford Hilton Hotel. It will include dinner, dancing, both live and silent auctions, and entertainment for all. The evening's events are sponsored by Aetna Inc., and the 2008 Charter Oak Vision Awards will be presented at 6:30. The other recipients of the Charter Oak's awards were John Rose Jr., corporation counsel to Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, who will receive the Vision Award in Social Justice; and Edward Cumming, conductor of the Hartford Symphony, who will receive the Vision Award in Arts and Education. More information on the event can be found at the Charter Oak Web site.

Kassow has been the full-time director of Hillel since 2001. She is married to Charles H. Northam Professor of History Samuel Kassow and has two daughters. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Kassow graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Penn., with a B.A. in Fine Arts. After graduating, she went to Jerusalem where she was an award-winning photojournalist, and met her husband. Together, they moved back to the United States. Kassow first became involved with the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford when she showed an exhibit of artwork and images of life in Israel.

Before coming to work at Trinity, she was Director of Arts, Culture and Education at the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center in West Hartford for about seven years. During her residence, she started the Jewish Film Festival, co-sponsored by Trinity College. "We created synergy in the community for people who otherwise might never have come," Kassow said.  "We had some really exciting experiences. We brought filmmakers from all over the world." In addition to creating the film festival, Kassow also supervised the Hartford Jewish Book Festival for seven years, during which she helped to bring several notables in Jewish literature to the Greater Hartford Region. At approximately the same time, the Jewish Studies Program at Trinity was formed, and the Hillel House opened on Vernon Street in 2001. Kassow was hired as its full-time director.

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