1980s Timeline

Our Traveling Ark

In the mid-1970s, Jewish life on campus began to have more structure. The Perlmuter family hosted Hillel students and Shabbat meals at their home, providing a place not only for prayer but also community. Irwin Fingerman, a student there at the time, remembered how each student who came was critical: “It was a place where my presence made a difference.” Another student from that period, Rabbi Lenny (Aryeh) Polishuk, recalls that “I’ve lived for almost 70 years, and I’ve never again had friends like I had at Hillel.” The Perlmuters made it possible for our students to chant from a Torah they owned – this Torah scroll was later donated to the Blacksburg Jewish Community Center, which kept the Torah in an ark with a story of its own. The ark was originally donated by Congregation Olam Tikvah in Fairfax, but had to be trailered to the Perlmuter’s home by some of our students in 1977. As it happens, the ark had roots of its own to Blacksburg: The man who crafted it, Al Fuchsman, saw his son David (’80) and granddaughter Alexandra (‘15) attend Virginia Tech and become active in Jewish life here.

During this period, recalled Bruce Kaplan, there were several students whose Jewish identities were strengthened by their time on campus. Several, he said, made Aliyah and moved to Israel, three became rabbis and three others became synagogue presidents. “As for the rest of us, we drove Hebrew school carpool, staffed Purim Carnivals, and turned our homes into places to celebrate Jewish holidays and traditions with our families and friends,” he said. “We fondly remember Hillel at Virginia Tech as the foundation of our love for Jewish Community.”

Four Generations of Levys

Guy Levy reflects on four generations of Levys. “Since my grandfather, in the early/mid 1920s, through my father in the early 1950s, my sister, her husband and I in the 80s and early 90s, and most recently with my daughter and her husband in the mid/late 2010s, we have all benefited from organized Jewish life at Virginia Tech.

This great country of ours gives us the freedom to search, learn and choose how we will engage our identity and spirituality. Hillel at Virginia Tech is an inclusive center of support, camaraderie and learning for Jewish students and non-Jewish allies. Virginia Tech is not immune to the global proliferation of hatred and misinformation that ebbs and flows with each generation, and we know that our perpetual support will sustain this wonderful antidote to the hate and confusion.

May the mission of Hillel at Virginia Tech continue to prosper as it helps encourage our next generation of confident Jewish leaders in Tikkun Olam and Ut Prosim. Go Hillel and Go Hokies!”

Visiting Rabbis

During this time, the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), the Conservative Movement’s rabbinical institution in New York, began a program sending some of its students and young rabbis to campuses. Virginia Tech Hillel agreed to pay for travel and housing for a visiting rabbi, who would visit and serve the campus for three years.

Beginning to Grow Financially

For decades, Hillel had very few funds to work with – whatever we received through the middle of the 1980s came from B’nai B’rith International, (BBI) but these funds were not nearly what was needed. Amid a financial crisis for BBI, we sought out new sources of support – and local Jewish Federations came through.

In particular, the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater stepped up. Prompted by support from Malcolm Rosenberg, who had a long-standing interest in supporting young Jewish adults, the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater began to meaningfully support our Hillel. At the same time, Brian Storrie was recruited as a fundraiser for Hillel. Within three years, due to Storrie’s success, Hillel was able to hire a part-time Hillel director – a major leap forward for our organization.

A faculty Advisor, An Expert Lasagna Maker

Professor Daniel Farkas, who was later honored with emeritus status by the university for his outstanding research and teaching of mathematics, officially became the faculty advisor from 1986-1991. Typically, he hosted a monthly event at the Blacksburg Jewish Community Center where students could enjoy his lasagna. One Shabbat, Virginia Tech’s 13th president James McComas (who was president from 1988 to 1994) joined for Friday night services.

In the late 1980s, Professor Farkas received a call from the Corps of Cadets. They needed help providing Kosher food to an incoming Jewish student. He arranged for meals to be sent, via a refrigerated van, from Atlanta several times a year to the campus; the student was able to microwave the food and participate fully in the Corps.

Our Tennis Star

A VT Tennis star of the 1970s, Roy Beskin went on to win four National mixed doubles  championships and over a dozen Virginia State championships in seven different age categories. He also played in the U.S. Open twice, qualifying in both 1979 and 1981.

Roy was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. And although Hillel was not as prominent on the Tech campus back in the day, Roy was proud to have brought recognition to the Virginia Tech Jewish community through the sport of tennis.

For Roy, tennis is a sport of a lifetime. He continues playing competitive tennis even into his 70s, where he won third place in the prestigious International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Championships, the highest level of tournament play in the world for players 70 and over.

Roy has said, “I wish there had been more Jewish activities when I was attending Virginia Tech because I feel it’s important to have a bond with other Jewish students on campus. This is why Hillel is doing such important work for future generations of VT Jewish students.”