By By John Leonard

Praised for its ability to motivate its members and the rest of the campus community, Hillel added three more awards to its packed trophy case.

The Student Government Association presented the Jewish club, advised by Rabbi Meir Mitelman, with Club of the Year, Best Joint Event for “Songs of Love” and Advisor of the Year for the 2004-05 academic year.

During its 50-plus years in existance, the organization has earned numerous SGA and national awards for excellence in charity and community service.

Within the last 10 years, Hillel has won 11 awards from SGA, seven from the New York regional Hillel office and two from the international Hillel office, said Rabbi Mitelman.

Hillel has also won seven New York’s metropolitan award for Outstanding Jewish Campus Programs for projects such as the 1995 Hofstra AIDS Quilt.

Last year’s big event, “Songs of Love,” a benefit for children with leukemia, was co-sponsored by Hillel, which attracted more than 450 students.

At the event, the student audience sang the chorus to a personalized song written for Brendan Miranda, a 5-year-old suffering from leukemia.

“It was incredible,” said Heather Gibbons, president of the Student Government Association.

While Hofstra Hillel is a Jewish based organization, it invites non-Jewish students to participate in events.

“Our programs are open to the whole campus community,” said Mitelman.

Some of the standard programs and events Hillel runs include dances, social action parties, trips to Broadway shows, first-year student groups, informal Jewish learning and subsidies for national conferences.

Hofstra Hillel’s staff and advisors are currently brainstorming ideas for the upcoming year.

Rabbi Meir Mitelman, Hillel Executive Director; Sara Traster, president 2005-06, and Andrew Pollak, president 2004-2005, add three more awards to Hillel´s history of excellence. (Rabbi Meir Mitelman/Hofstra Hillel)