2010s Timeline

Diane Rosenberg Nurtures the Vision of a Hillel Center

Few could have envisioned how quickly the Malcolm Rosenberg Hillel Center would become an integral part of campus life. Since its opening, the Rosenberg Center has become the focal point for Jewish life at Virginia Tech. Diane’s frequent visits, her efforts to continually enhance the building, and her extraordinary care and generosity have enabled the Rosenberg Center to pay a key role in connecting Jewish students in building an alumni network.

The Rosenberg Center has strengthened the pride of all Jewish students and given them a strong voice on campus. The Center’s impact has nurtured an ever-growing core of alumni who stay involved with Hillel upon graduation.

Diane Rosenberg and University President Charles W. Steger hosted a luncheon to announce the lead gift for the Malcolm Rosenberg Hillel Center, and to celebrate the growth of Jewish student life at Virginia Tech.

More Programs

Hillel programming grew in response to the increased Jewish student population and active and engaged Jewish students. Hillel holds weekly Shabbat dinners and services, annual Daniel Pearl Music Day, High Holiday services and programs, a Sukkah on the drillfield, films and discussions, annual trips to Israel for Birthright, campus-wide Israel Independence Day, service and study, guest speakers, Passover seders and Kosher for Passover food and programming.

Spring 2011, students, alumni and friends gathered together on the future site of the Malcolm Rosenberg Hillel Center for the groundbreaking of the first ever Hillel Center at Virginia Tech. Thus began a capital campaign to match Diane Rosenberg’s generous gift of $1M to honor the vision to build Jewish life in SW VA. Raising the $2.5M needed for the building took over 3 years.

A Shared Dream of a Building

Many years earlier, in Malcolm’s office in Roanoke, Sue spoke with him about a dream to create a space as a beacon for Jewish life at Virginia Tech. One day, Sue brought Ed Gralla – another major supporter of Hillel at Virginia Tech – to Malcolm’s office to continue the discussion. The group focused on the power of philanthropy, the importance of ethics and education, and how gifts of “time, talent and treasure” could help make life better for other people.

Both Malcolm and Ed believed that a dedicated space – a real home – for Jewish students would transform their college experience, bring them closer to Jewish life, connect them to the Jewish community and
to each other.

Together they made plans to acquire a site for a building to make this dream a reality. Bruce Kaplan was added to this magical think tank, and the group decided Hillel at Virginia Tech needed a Board of Directors to properly lead and govern Hillel at Virginia Tech.

Later, when it came time to see the building funded and built, Malcolm’s widow Diane carried forward his spirit and his commitment to Hillel at Virginia Tech and made the gift that  made our building possible.

Never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful committed citizens
can change the world: indeed it’s
the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Constructing A Home for Hillel

Countless hours were spent laboring over the plans to create an environmentally responsible, flexible and dynamic space.

The decision was made to build a “Passivhaus” – a standard for environmentally responsible and energy efficient construction of  public spaces.

This reflected our goal of living by good environmental practices, respecting the earth and our impact on it. The building is one of the greenest and most sustainable commercial buildings in Virginia. It includes geothermal energy to preheat water and uses solar power as well. The building faces south, which ensures that it has maximum solar energy exposure. The windows and doors are triple-paned, which reduces energy loss. Floors areconcrete for heat retention. Partition walls are moveable for multi-purpose use.

A fire pit was added in 2019 in memory of the victims of the April 16th shooting. The beautiful space adds an outdoor element to the Hillel program and hosts a variety of wonderful activities.

Passivhaus

Passivhaus became popular in Europe in the 1990s and has since spread throughout the world. The components of Passivhaus are: an air-tight building envelope, passive solar energy design and a heat recovery ventilation system. This leads to optimal energy performance and a holistic energy design concept. Hillel at Virginia Tech decided to build a Passivhaus because we believe we are partners in improving the earth. Passivhaus technology allow us to take action on our beliefs.

Ventilation
All of the air passes through a heat exchanger. In the winter, warmer air from inside passes the cooler air from the outside and warms
the incoming air. In the summer, this process is reversed. To keep
Passivhaus at its maximum efficiency, we keep all doors and windows closed at all times. This maintains the air-tight seal.

Envelope
This air-tight building has very well insulated walls. The building is also put together like a puzzle ensuring that every joint, window and door fit to create an air-tight deal. The windows are triple-pane glass.

Solar
Orienting the building to face south allows the sun to warm the
building in the winter and keep it cool in the summer. On the roof over the student lounge there are tubes that serve as the solar hot water system.

Geothermal
The building is also equipped with geothermal heating. Geothermal uses the constant temperature of the Earth to maintain a temperature of at least 60 degrees F. Instead of a furnace, people’s body heat, the sun and heat given off by electrical devices warm the inside air.

Acknowledgments: Rachel Adell, Professor Kathleen Parrott, Hillel at Virginia Tech Tzedek Committee

Building Opens

The building opened its doors to welcome students in spring 2013. Programming, Shabbat Services, Passover seders were able to finally take place in the Malcolm Rosenberg Hillel Center.

A Location For Religious Programming

Before the construction of the Malcolm Rosenberg Hillel Center, Passover and weekly Shabbat dinners and services were held
in Donaldson Brown Conference Center, The University Club, The Inn at Virginia Tech and various other rooms throughout Squires Student Center.

It was difficult to know where events would be held and when. With the Malcolm Rosenberg Hillel Center opening, Shabbat dinners, cultural and religious observations, and many programs were all housed at the beautiful building. The building became the beacon of Jewish life.

When Temple Beth Sholom (TBS) was closing after almost 65 years in Stratford, CT, they saw the new Malcolm Rosenberg Hillel Center as a unique opportunity for their congregation to live on.

In 2012 Rabbi Yvonne Strassmann, a VT parent, and TBS president Louis Rosen, a former Hillel director, arranged to donate the congregation’s primary Torah scroll as well as siddurim and synagogue fixtures for use in the new Hillel building. It gave members comfort that a part of TBS would have life in a beautiful new home, serving a vibrant community of college students. Although the congregation is now part of another synagogue, Temple Beth Sholom’s legacy continues to grow with each new class of Hillel members at Virginia Tech.

Our Bricks

We launched our Brick Campaign in 2018 to allow families and students to forever mark their time and support Hillel at Virginia Tech
on the site of our fire pit. The names of the 32 victims of the April 16, 2007 shooting outline The Pit. Amongst those who lost their lives on April 16, 2007 was Liviu Librescu. A prominent academic, in addition to being a survivor of the Holocaust, his death spurred donors to support the construction of The Pit.

Because of the design of The Pit, Hillel was able to continue to hold outdoor events amid the COVID pandemic – one of the few organizations on campus with that ability. Several other organizations requested and rented the area for their own programing.