Dear friends of the Office of the University Chaplain and Religious Life:

We are excited that the new academic year has begun and would like to highlight a few events in our office that are worthy of your attention.

One of the legacy programs of the OUCRL is the Holocaust Lecture Series. We kicked off our 39th season, “Rituals of Memory and Oblivion,” on Sept. 13 with Lisa Peschel, lecturer in the Department of Theatre, Film and Television at the University of York. She spoke to a packed house in Wilson Hall on “Lost Theatrical Works of the Holocaust.” Click here for the complete HLS schedule of events.

We also hosted an engaging Chaplain’s Speakers Series on Sept. 15 with Miroslav Volf, Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale Divinity School and director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. His keynote address in Benton Chapel, “Public Faith in Action: How to Think Carefully, Engage Wisely and Vote with Integrity,” took us to the intersection of faith and politics.

Our ongoing work with students and the many religious organizations on campus is engaging and forever surprising. Our website provides a directory to our historic and student-led organizations. I would also like to emphasize that, all students are welcome and encouraged to attend our Interfaith Council at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays. The council meets for an hour in our student lounge at 410 24th Ave. S. (directly behind Branscomb).

Chaplain’s Speakers Series

Miroslav Volf engaged not only with our students but also with religious leaders within our community at a luncheon hosted at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Vanderbilt Place.

Holocaust Lecture Series

Lisa Peschel shared the theme of this year’s Holocaust Lecture Series, "Rituals of Memory and Oblivion," with great expertise as she recalled previously lost comedic plays of the Terezin Ghetto.

Diverse ’Dores Day

Our office hosted students from across campus as a part of Diverse ’Dores Day. The Sept. 7 event was a great opportunity to connect with students as they visited the eight identity spaces across campus. We welcomed students with refreshments and activities planned by the Vanderbilt Interfaith Council.

Aryeh’s Kitchen open on campus

Vanderbilt senior Zack Freeling and his father, Ken Freeling, had a brainstorm — a kosher meat food truck on campus. Now the repurposed 1971 Airstream trailer dubbed Aryeh’s Kitchen (borrowed from Freeling’s Hebrew name) has a permanent place at 24th Avenue South and Vanderbilt Place. Jewish students can now enjoy a kosher meat-based meal, and many Muslim students who don’t eat pork products are fans as well.

Student celebration of Eid-al-Adha

The Muslim Students Association and Malaysian Students Association at Vanderbilt collaborated to celebrate Eid al-Adha, one of the main religious holidays in the Islamic faith, on Sept. 16 in the Student Life Center. The event featured guest speaker Rashed Fakhruddin, president of the Islamic Center of Nashville. Attendees enjoyed a halal dinner, musical and spoken word performances and more. 

Upcoming events

Vanderbilt Interfaith Council meetings: 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, OUCRL Fireside Room

Holocaust Lecture Series: Three Generations of Memory – 7 p.m. Oct. 6, Commons MPR

Holocaust Lecture Series: Film, "My Mother’s Courage" – 7 p.m. Oct. 10, Sarratt Cinema