Boston University Hillel House Rabbi Avi Heller is finding a new way to connect with students outside of typical office hours with a weekly run that combines physical training and dynamic conversation.
Starting off with stretches on the grassy corner of Bay State and Granby Road last night, Heller blended right in with a handful of students, sporting a T-shirt and running pants.
Last night was the second Rabbi Run of the year, an exercise event created by Heller this semester in hopes of bridging the gap between student and teacher. A 1996 BU graduate, Heller said he has been trying to find a way to get back into the community after returning to campus as Jewish Education director at Hillel House.
“After I accepted this job to come back and be the second rabbi here at Hillel … I suddenly was thinking to myself, ‘My God, it’s been nine years since I was on campus, what am I going to do? Is it going to be weird, or am I going to fit right in?'” he said. “So I started to try and think about what programs I could do for students, and I was blocked for awhile, but one day I went for a run … and I said, ‘This would be a great thing to do with students.'”
Throughout his youth and college years, Heller ran recreationally. Next month, he will have the chance to run in the New York Marathon. The weekly run will kill two ambitious birds with one practical stone — not only will he be able to train for the marathon, but Heller will also become acquainted with students, using the Boston scenery as a background.
Heller said the exercise element is only an advantageous extra for his true purpose.
“The real motivation of doing it was not to keep me in shape — it was really because people might have the wrong perceptions about rabbis,” he said. “I wanted to give them a chance to see a rabbi in a little bit of a different context. Also, I figure, while running, you never know what kind of meaningful conversation may come up between panting and gasping.”
The students all had different reasons for attending the run. University Professors’ Program sophomore Michael Bacovcin did not let his dress attire and leather shoes stop him from spending some quality time with the new rabbi.
“I just really wanted to spend time with Rabbi Heller,” he said. “I probably should start exercising more, anyways. So this is a really good way of combining the two, anyways.
“I wasn’t really prepared today at all for running,” Bacovcin continued, “I just kind of came with what I had, and I’ll run with it anyway.”
Running veterans Noah Caust and Geoffrey Weg were attracted to the physical exertion.
“Well, I run everyday, so I figured I might as well help the rabbi out and just run with everyone,” School of Hospitality Administration junior Caust said. “If you want to stay healthy and stay in shape, it doesn’t matter who you run with.”
Weg was interested in learning about religion while getting some exercise.
“Well, normally I’m a runner,” the School of Management junior said. “[I thought it would be good to] get some Judaism before the run, get some spiritual … push.”
College of Engineering senior Isaac Betesh, who attended last week’s run, returned to add some social interaction to his health regime. He was the only student to run with Heller last week.
“There’s nothing scary about the fact that he is a rabbi,” he said. “For me, it was just like running with a friend. I went with him last week — there was no one else. It was just me and him, and so there we sort of got to know each other better, because I just met him two weeks ago. It’s an opportunity to get to know people.”
Each of the runners said they enjoyed their run across the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge and along Memorial Drive, occasionally gathering enough breath to wheeze tidbits of conversation.
“It was pretty strenuous,” Caust said in between heaving breaths. “I enjoyed it. I’m going to come back next week.”
Despite the medley of physical fitness, Heller managed to get some one-on-one conversation with almost each runner.
“[Conversation] was different with each guy,” Heller said, barely breaking a sweat. “With Geoff, we talked about [fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi], because A Pi and Hillel have a nice relationship …. With Noah, we talked about a Jewish program he did last year, where people go to sections and learn more about Judaism, so we talked about that — if he liked it and what he learned. Michael I didn’t get to talk to, and Isaac we talked … about Rosh Hashanah …. He wanted to know what I was going to say.”
Physically fit or not, faithful or apathetic, Heller had a message for every student interested in lacing up a pair of sneakers.
“[I want] to give people a fun and casual way to spend time with me and possibly to run into some meaningful conversations and experiences,” he said. “Don’t be scared of Hillel, and don’t be scared of rabbis. We’re totally open and comfortable. You should come check us out.”