There was a lot of noise at the Armory's rock climbing wall Tuesday night. Women shouted words of encouragement, sang songs and reviewed old sleep-away camp cheers as friends climbed to the top of the course.
Tuesday's trip to the armory was the inaugural event to be sponsored by "Nameret: Jewish Women of Princeton," a newly founded student organization.
The Hebrew word "Nameret" roughly translates to tigress, which is appropriate for several reasons, group co-chair Rena Lauer '05 said.
The name connotes the strength and beauty of women, specifically Jewish women, and fits well with the University's mascot.
"Rock climbing is an opportunity for some of the Jewish women on campus to get together, tackle a huge physical challenge that people don't often get the opportunity to do and to relax during a stressful time," said Kate Lester of the Center for Jewish Life.
By renting out the wall and having only female staff, Orthodox women had the opportunity to climb on the wall for the first time, she said.
The group, though, strives to be more than just an opportunity to accommodate the needs of religious women. Nameret hopes to be a source of camaraderie and friendship for the small community of Jewish women on campus.
"I don't think until you are with a group who shares a common purpose that you realize the bonds of women are really strong and powerful," Lester said.
With the help of Lester, Lauer and co-chair Shani Berezin '05 have planned a series of activities.
On March 14, an instructor from the Princeton Center for Yoga will hold a yoga session followed by kosher smoothies.
"Not only is it perfect because it's midterms, and it's relaxing, but it is also Rosh Chodesh," Lester said. "This will allow women to celebrate the day and take a break from studying."
Rosh Chodesh is the first day of the month of the lunar calendar used in Judaism. Traditionally, it is considered a women's holiday.
"Many Jewish women don't realize their significance within the religion and therefore do not ever explore Judaism," Berezin said. "Nameret is going to try to help students connect to their heritage by helping them realize their importance within Judaism, specifically as women."
To that end, they have planned a two-part program entitled "Women, Jews and Body Image" for April. The first session will be a social one that discusses Jewish women and body image with a peer educator knowledgeable about the subject. Two weeks later, the group will host a text study follow-up.
"People will have the opportunity to look at traditional Jewish texts that talk about women and body image. A lot of students are fearful to do text study if they have never done it before, because it can be very overwhelming, " Lester said.
By adding a social aspect to the religious element, the group hopes it can combine the two realms and reach more students.
"Having a group of Jewish women, it just opens the door to share things together that you might not have with the people who live on your floor or the people that eat in your eating club," Lester said. "It is just another way that you can connect with Judaism, connect with being a woman and learn and have fun."
Lauer said, "Nameret is on its way of empowering the Jewish women on Princeton's campus and building a community."
Right now the Jewish males of Princeton are also organizing themselves with the institution of an AEPi fraternity on campus.
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