Send Silence Packing Reaches Hofstra University

“Never be afraid to ask for help.” This sign appeared at the Send Silence Packing event at Hofstra University on May 3rd. 1,100 backpacks were on display representing the 1,100 college students who die by suicide each year.

Send Silence Packing is a program put on by Active Minds, Inc. and tours around college campuses in North America, Canada, and Australia. This program aims to educated young college students about mental health and suicide. Statics show that 1 in 10 students seriously consider attempting suicide. Bringing programs like this to college campuses will hopefully spread awareness and let students know that they aren’t alone in their fight. It will also show them that there are multiple ways to seek help. Send Silence Packing is all about saving lives.

  As I was walking to class last Thursday, I stopped by the quad where the backpacks were on display. Many of the backpacks had a story attached to it and described a person who lost their life to suicide. The stories were written by family members and friends. Some of the backpacks were the actually ones that the person used to own. Active Minds, Inc. continues to collect backpacks and the personally stories that go along with it. There were also a few backpacks that welcomed people to leave a message.

Hofstra University Student,  Melody Torkian

My eyes were tearing up as I walked along the cluster of backpacks to read as many stories as I could. The stories were so impacting and meaningfully to me. Some of these people seemed to be so full of life and were people that would drop what there were doing to help others around them. There were stories about fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends. This one story that still sticks with me is this boy that only tells people he has one brother because he doesn’t want to get into detail about how he lost his other brother.



There came a point in which I could not continue to read the stories because I kept thinking about my friend from high school who lost her life to suicide in October 2010. To this day, I still do not know why she took her own life. I can still picture her smiling face in homeroom. You wouldn’t have known that she was going through a rough time and contemplating suicide. I remember where I was when I got the news. I was getting lunch at Hofstra with a few of my friends and I received a text message from my friend from home. Her brother was a police officer in our town and he was one of the officers that responded to the call that day.

  A piece of literature that was handed out at the event stated, “Silence and stigma keep young people from seeking the care they need.” If you are going through a rough time and/or are struggling with depression, seek help! If you know someone that is going through a rough time and/or struggling with depression, speak up! Life is too short and too precious. And sometimes people need a reassurance that there are others out there that love and care about them and are willing to listen.

Hofstra's Morning Wake Up Call

Hofstra's Morning Wake Up - Jenn Grod from Joe Peyronnin on Vimeo.

My Spring Break

Taglit Birthright Israel

The Voice - Podcast

Rabbi Dave Siegel: A Passionate Individual

At Hofstra University, I had the opportunity to meet with an individual who is passionate about his job on campus. Rabbi Dave Siegel is the Executive Director of Hofstra Hillel. Hillel is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world and is a welcoming and inclusive environment for Jewish college students.

Rabbi Dave got his undergraduate degree from Binghamton University, where he studied politics, philosophy, and law. He continued his education at New York University, where he got a masters degree in public administration. He also went to the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he got a degree in Rabbinic Ordination and a masters in education.

Rabbi Dave enjoys working at Hofstra Hillel because it combines his two loves, Jewish education and administrative work.  Before working at Hofstra, Rabbi Dave was the director of the United Synagogue Youth in the metropolitan area and he used to work for the Foundation for Jewish Camp. 

Working with the students and faculty to try and build up the Jewish community at Hofstra consumes most of Rabbi Dave’s day.  He enjoys this because many students are excited about getting involved and this shows that Hofstra Hillel has the potential to develop into something great. Since September, the amount of students that have been coming to Hillel events have grown. There were over 150 students present at one of their events last week. Rabbi Dave is proud of what Hofstra Hillel is becoming and is always looking to improve the program.

Rabbi Dave is an influential person at Hofstra.  He is a role model to Jewish students who are active in Hillel. He also deals with many administrative situations on a daily basis and speaks with students, donors and the community about opportunities Hillel can offer them or what they can do to help Hillel grow and live up to its full potential. 

Even though Rabbi Dave influences others, there are a couple people in his life that have really influenced him.  His parents play a big role in his love for education because they were both teachers.  By being an educator, you can really have an impact in many people’s lives and that is what his parents were doing for him.  He really respects that and looks up to them. 

“At the end of the day, I always leave happy.” Rabbi Dave enjoys coming to work every day and he said that he is fortunate enough to be working at Hofstra. 

My Photo Project

This past January, I left America for the first time and went halfway across the world to Israel. It was an amazing, culture filled experience and the best trip I have ever been on. There was so much history to explore in Israel and I learned quite a bit for just visiting for ten days.  Five places that I visited and were truly beautiful are pictured below. 

Overlooking the Kotel (Western Wall) in the Old City of Jerusalem

The Western Wall was possibly the most eye opening site I went to when I was in Israel. I have heard and seen pictures of people touching, praying, and kissing the wall and I actually I had the chance to do the same.  It was such a beautiful site, full of history and culture, and I finally got to walk in the same footsteps as my ancestors.   

Cliffs of Rosh Hanikra and the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea was gorgeous and it was raining that day, so the water was pretty rough.  The waves were beautiful though.

Amphitheater in the Roman City of Bet Shean

I took a great interest in the Roman City. I learned about many ancient amphitheaters in my theatre classes and only saw pictures of them in books, so it was really neat to sit on the steps and experience it up close.

Camel riding at the Bedouin Tents

When you go to Israel, you must ride a camel!

Waterfall in the Golan Heights

I went on many hikes from Masada to the Golan Heights.  As my group was taking a rest while hiking in the Golan Heights, we stopped by this breathtaking waterfall. It was so calming to just watch the water.

I enjoyed all the beautiful history, nature, and scenery Israel had to offer.