New Kosher Cafe reaches untapped late-night crowd
By: Nadine Simpson
Issue date: 5/2/07 Section: On Campus
Some freshman are intimidated just by thinking about internships and real-life experiences necessary for their majors.
But freshman business major Jacob Silvermetz wasted no time in pursuing the first business venture of his college career.
At the beginning of this semester, Silvermetz looked at the burnt-out Bobb's Cafe sign above one small corner of Maryland Hillel and was inspired.
"I wanted to do a little cleanup," he said. "I realized, I'll be here every day for a very long time, and I wanted to do something for Hillel. So I started talking to Danny Weiss [Hillel assistant director]. He said, 'what can I do for you?' And I said, 'well actually, the question is, what can I do for you?'"
In a matter of two weeks, Silvermetz had spoken to Weiss, cleaned the area and assembled a task force of other students interested in running a cafe night.
"My team and I, now called the Bobb's Cafe team, got together and had our first event - falafel and ice cream," said Silvermetz.
Danielle Singer, a sophomore letters and sciences major, and her friends attended the most recent Bobb's Cafe night.
"I always wished there was something like this when I was studying or just needed a break or something to eat," Singer said, stealing bits of cookie dough from her friend's ice cream. "This is a great opportunity for kosher students."
Senior history major Rebecca Zibman noted students on a regular university meal plan have the option of going to late night in the dining halls but students on Hillel meal plan could not participate.
"I thought it was a fun idea," Zibman said. I wished it was something I could partake in, or that my meal plan points would work there so I could buy a soda or something.
Bobb's Cafe is run independently of meal plans. Students must pay in cash, but since the Bobb's Cafe team members are volunteers, the money earned funds the next event.
Last month's event was also a CD release party for the Jewish a cappella group Rak Shalom.
Zibman admitted Rak Shalom was the main reason she came to Bobb's Cafe, since she doesn't attend Hillel events often. But she said she might go again, especially if the Bobb's Cafe team planned more events.
And Silvermetz would like to arrange more events. He is currently working with Kedma to have a hypnotist come in, but plans have not been finalized.
Senior Jewish student life coordinator Beth Greenberg, a 2002 graduate of Maryland, remembers when Bobb's Cafe was up and running the first time.
"They sold Starbucks coffee and tried to run coffeehouse open-mic nights," she said. "But there was no real student involvement and I think that's why it didn't work."
Silvermetz is determined to keep Bobb's Cafe up and running this time.
"Everyone is invited and there's no religious or social pressure," he said. "It's just an open invitation."
But freshman business major Jacob Silvermetz wasted no time in pursuing the first business venture of his college career.
At the beginning of this semester, Silvermetz looked at the burnt-out Bobb's Cafe sign above one small corner of Maryland Hillel and was inspired.
"I wanted to do a little cleanup," he said. "I realized, I'll be here every day for a very long time, and I wanted to do something for Hillel. So I started talking to Danny Weiss [Hillel assistant director]. He said, 'what can I do for you?' And I said, 'well actually, the question is, what can I do for you?'"
In a matter of two weeks, Silvermetz had spoken to Weiss, cleaned the area and assembled a task force of other students interested in running a cafe night.
"My team and I, now called the Bobb's Cafe team, got together and had our first event - falafel and ice cream," said Silvermetz.
Danielle Singer, a sophomore letters and sciences major, and her friends attended the most recent Bobb's Cafe night.
"I always wished there was something like this when I was studying or just needed a break or something to eat," Singer said, stealing bits of cookie dough from her friend's ice cream. "This is a great opportunity for kosher students."
Senior history major Rebecca Zibman noted students on a regular university meal plan have the option of going to late night in the dining halls but students on Hillel meal plan could not participate.
"I thought it was a fun idea," Zibman said. I wished it was something I could partake in, or that my meal plan points would work there so I could buy a soda or something.
Bobb's Cafe is run independently of meal plans. Students must pay in cash, but since the Bobb's Cafe team members are volunteers, the money earned funds the next event.
Last month's event was also a CD release party for the Jewish a cappella group Rak Shalom.
Zibman admitted Rak Shalom was the main reason she came to Bobb's Cafe, since she doesn't attend Hillel events often. But she said she might go again, especially if the Bobb's Cafe team planned more events.
And Silvermetz would like to arrange more events. He is currently working with Kedma to have a hypnotist come in, but plans have not been finalized.
Senior Jewish student life coordinator Beth Greenberg, a 2002 graduate of Maryland, remembers when Bobb's Cafe was up and running the first time.
"They sold Starbucks coffee and tried to run coffeehouse open-mic nights," she said. "But there was no real student involvement and I think that's why it didn't work."
Silvermetz is determined to keep Bobb's Cafe up and running this time.
"Everyone is invited and there's no religious or social pressure," he said. "It's just an open invitation."
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