News

Celebrating Beginnings through Shavuot and Commencements: A Note from Adam Lehman

Author

Adam Lehman and Liora Knizhnik

Date

June 6, 2024

Dear Friends,

We will soon be celebrating the . Shavuot represents both a conclusion and a beginning. With the receiving of the Torah, the Israelites concluded a critical phase in their journey toward Jewish peoplehood. Shavuot also concludes the counting of the Omer, 50 days after the start of Passover. At the same time, Shavuot marks a beginning. When the Israelites received the Torah, they agreed to abide by its commandments before even knowing what these mitzvot entailed. Thus began a new era of Jewish life and peoplehood, infused and guided by Torah, for the Israelites and countless generations of Jews to follow.

In this way, Shavuot is well matched by season to the college graduations that take place in the spring. Graduations of course represent a culmination for students of all of their learning, work, and growth during their college careers. And yet graduations are also known as 鈥渃ommencements,鈥� since they are the launching point for graduates into the rest of their lives, hopefully guided by the wisdom and experience they鈥檝e gained during their four (or more!) years of undergraduate study. 

While this year鈥檚 commencements continue to reflect the celebratory nature of years past, in many instances, they are also unfortunately being disrupted by protests, walkouts, and other interruptions. These actions have served to mar milestone moments for many of the other graduates and attendees, and especially for many Jewish students and their family members whose beliefs and identities are being directly attacked by some of the messages and tactics of the protesters. 

Even with the attempts of protesters and agitators to disrupt and degrade graduations, we 黑料传送门 have stayed focused on doing everything we can to protect and enhance academic and student life opportunities and experiences for all of the Jewish students we鈥檙e privileged to serve. 

As I鈥檝e shared in previous updates, we鈥檝e been pursuing these efforts across a wide range of different areas 鈥�  security, government, legal, academic, advocacy at student and administration levels, and of course through our core work 黑料传送门 creating welcoming, safe, joyful, and inclusive Jewish community spaces and experiences. 

In recent weeks, we鈥檝e  on how to mitigate or prevent the adverse impacts from graduation disruptions; we鈥檝e  that鈥檚 accumulated more than 33,000 signatures,; and we鈥檝e successfully advocated, together with partner organizations, to the Department of Education to issue clearer guidance to universities on the types of conduct that violate the rights of Jewish students under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At a campus level, many Hillels have culminated their extensive support for Jewish students by hosting  for graduating Jewish students and their families,  for them to celebrate graduation.

As we look toward the next academic year, we know our work 黑料传送门 will be more important than ever. And we are using these next few months to prepare accordingly: gathering key staff from across the Hillel field to share learnings and plans; coordinating with other relevant Jewish organizations to maximize the impact of our collective efforts; intensifying our advocacy and partnerships with university administrators so that they can be even more effective in maintaining a safe and welcoming campus climate for Jewish students and all students; organizing kick-off community pride and resilience programs and events to usher in the new academic year; co-designing with our student leaders proactive advocacy campaigns they can pursue on behalf of their campus communities in the fall; and investing in our professional talent across the Hillel movement, so they are both recharged and prepared with the necessary resources and expertise to support Jewish life on campus in the coming year.

Even with the unprecedented challenges faced by so many Jewish students this past year, a record-breaking number of students participated in Jewish life relationships and experiences 黑料传送门 鈥� more than 180,000 students in total. In my recent travels throughout North America and , I had the chance to spend time with some of these incredible student leaders.

Between the focused efforts that our Hillel teams will be making to prepare for the next academic year 鈥� and the strength, resilience, and inspiring courage of our students聽鈥� I am confident we can move past the many challenges of this past academic year to a brighter year ahead.

Adam

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News

For Graduating Seniors, the Jewish Career Network Opens New Possibilities

Author

April Garnock and Liora Knizhnik

Date

June 6, 2024

As a recent college grad, I鈥檝e found that going from the familiar routine of classes and extracurriculars into the new world of job hunting and career conversations has been more than a little overwhelming. 

For me, the biggest game-changer in my job search has been the . Created to bring together Jewish college students and graduates of all ages for mentoring, networking, and professional schmoozing, the Jewish Career Network helps users connect with others for career and industry advice, information about jobs in every sector, and introductions to employers, job seekers, and mentors within one鈥檚 local community or area of interest. 

And with more than 10,000 registered users, the Network – which just celebrated its one-year birthday! – is a treasure trove of opportunities for recent college graduates. After several months of working with the network in my role as 黑料传送门鈥檚 alumni marketing Intern, I鈥檝e been lucky enough to unearth some amazing usage tips that have made my job search a hundred times easier 鈥� and what kind of Hillel community member would I be if I didn鈥檛 share them with all of you?

Here are some of the top tips for networking, job hunting, and finding the perfect career opportunity for you on the Jewish Career Network!

1. Set Up 鈥� and Polish Up 鈥� Your Profile

Joining the only takes about 30 seconds. You can get by with a basic profile, but to get the most out of the connections you make on the Network, your profile is one of the most useful tools you have. 

Think of the Jewish Career Network as a platform just like any other 鈥� people checking out your profile should be able to get a sense of who you are, what you鈥檙e interested in, and why you鈥檙e there. Add as much information as you can, show off your best self, and start making connections right away. Don鈥檛 forget a photo!

2. Optimize Your Search Results

Now that your profile is sparkling, it鈥檚 time to start making connections. The great thing about the Jewish Career Network 鈥� okay, one of many great things 鈥� is that once you join, you鈥檙e automatically connected to everyone! Unlike platforms like LinkedIn, where you have to send a connection request before starting a conversation, you can jump straight into searching for people in your desired industry and reach out to them instantly. 

Using the Directory, you can search for specific people, or use the filters to search based on work experience or education. Don鈥檛 make your search too narrow 鈥� if someone works in an interesting field but in a department that doesn鈥檛 interest you, connecting with them is still worthwhile!

Extra Tip! If you have a particular company or organization you鈥檙e interested in, you can look for any alumni who work there on LinkedIn and Handshake, and bring that search over to the Network to see if they鈥檙e part of the directory. 

3. Be Brave 鈥� Send That First (Short!) Message

Being the first one to reach out can be scary, but trust me, it pays off! 

Start by introducing yourself (include your name, college, etc.), then explain why you鈥檙e reaching out. Are you interested in learning more about someone鈥檚 job? Are they working for an organization you like? Keep your message short 鈥� leave those long essays behind at school. 

Extra Tip! If you do have a personal connection 鈥� like a friend of a friend 鈥� then it can be helpful if you first ask your connection to make an introduction. Personally, I like to put our mutual connection鈥檚 name in the subject line; that way whoever I鈥檓 reaching out to is more likely to open the email.

End the message by requesting to discuss their job or industry further. The worst thing that can happen is they don鈥檛 respond, so you have nothing to lose.

3B. Always, Always Follow Up!

After you initially reach out or talk to someone, follow up if you don鈥檛 hear back! 

You might be worried about bothering them, but according to the experts, you shouldn鈥檛 be. 鈥淲hat matters is that you have popped up in their email inbox and they continue to remember who you are,鈥� said Stacey Kaye, job search skills coach at .

Help those connections remember your name, and don鈥檛 be bashful or feel bad about annoying them 鈥� you鈥檙e not. People are busy, and reminders help them keep you and what you鈥檙e asking for top of mind. 

4. When You Connect, Keep the Conversation Mutual

Once you make time to talk with someone, whether over email, over the phone, or out in the 鈥渞eal world,鈥� it can be tempting to focus on what your connection can do for you. But even if you鈥檙e hoping they can help you find an entry point into an industry or organization, it鈥檚 important to come into the conversation as a listener, not a talker. 

鈥淎sking for help with getting an internship or job is a conversation closer, while asking someone to talk about their job and career path is a conversation opener,鈥� Kaye said. 

Ask questions about what your connection鈥檚 job is like, how they came to work where they do, what they love best about their role, where they get their industry news, and what kinds of cool projects they work on. Wait until the end of the call to ask for their help in making additional connections!

5. Send a Thank You Note!

Make sure to send a thank you note or email after your conversation! It doesn鈥檛 have to be long and detailed 鈥� remember that tip about leaving your essays at school 鈥� but you want to express your appreciation for their time and information. 

鈥淎 thank you note is one of the best ways to stand out, especially in someone鈥檚 crowded inbox,鈥� advised Savannah Kannberg, associate director of alumni marketing at 黑料传送门. 鈥淚 always recommend sending one as quickly as possible 鈥� it will surely make them smile, too!鈥�

The is an amazing source of connections, informational interview opportunities, mentorship and networking resources, and so much more. Remember, people who are part of the directory want to help you 鈥� all you have to do is reach out.

Wishing you (and me) the best of luck!

April Garnock is an alumni marketing intern at 黑料传送门, and a recent graduate of George Washington University. She hopes to work in publicity for a book publisher.

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News

Why I Won鈥檛 Let the Lows Define My College Experience:
Reflections from 黑料传送门 Student Cabinet Co-Chair

Author

Samantha Brody and Liora Knizhnik

Date

May 15, 2024

I鈥檓 not going to lie – this is not the way I imagined graduating college. I always pictured graduation season as being freeing and exciting, a celebratory close to an incredible four years. But across the country, the last few weeks have brought protests and unrest that have made us anxious and uncertain once again.

It鈥檚 almost fitting for the class of 2024 to end this way. We arrived on campuses in the depths of the pandemic, feeling isolated and frustrated by our circumstances. Today, too, we are frustrated and feeling isolated from many of our peers. When our campuses are in turmoil due to protests and encampments, students are more divided than ever, and antisemitism is rising among our classmates and professors, it鈥檚 easy to feel alone. Jewish students have been harassed and intimidated, and even our safety isn鈥檛 guaranteed. We deserve better.

At the same time, as I reflect upon my college career, I refuse to let the last few weeks define my entire experience. I don鈥檛 want to leave campus with the memories of violence, antisemitism, and fear. I鈥檇 much rather remind myself of the good times and opportunities I鈥檝e been afforded as a Jewish student: the incredible friendships I鈥檝e made, the spirited Shabbat dinners, the places I鈥檝e traveled, and the chance to become my best self.

When I think about my college experience, I want to remember how much I鈥檝e grown. Thanks to the leadership opportunities I鈥檝e been afforded through Hillel, I鈥檝e overcome my fear of public speaking. I鈥檝e traveled to five new cities, eight new airports, and visited the White House. I鈥檝e dreamed bigger, learned more, gotten a job(!), and found more joy in my Jewish life than ever before. How can I possibly let anything get in the way of celebrating those moments? 

One of my favorite parts of being involved in Hillel has been celebrating the organization鈥檚 centennial this year. I had the opportunity to do research at Brandeis about Hillel鈥檚 history and have been so moved by the amazing people who made a difference during its first 100 years. It鈥檚 incredible to see how far we鈥檝e come as a movement since Rabbi Frankel first gathered a group of Jewish students at a barbershop in Champaign, Illinois. 

Most of all, though, I鈥檝e been inspired by the resilience and leadership of Jewish students. In every decade, we can find examples of students teaching courses on Jewish topics, rallying around important causes, leading services, and setting up Shabbat tables. We have always been stronger than the circumstances that challenge us, and we have always found moments of Jewish joy. 

As I graduate, I want to continue that legacy. In all my research, what stood out weren鈥檛 the hard times, they were the high points: the student gatherings, the innovative programs, and the meaningful connections made between students. I want to think about the new experiences, the relationships I鈥檝e built, and the ways my peers have inspired me to become my best self. If being a part of Hillel has taught me anything, it鈥檚 that my Jewish story is mine to tell. These are my memories, and nothing can take them away.

If you鈥檙e a fellow member of the class of 2024, mazel tov! I know it hasn鈥檛 been easy, but I am so proud to be graduating with you all. To you and to every current student, I hope you don鈥檛 let the lows define your Jewish college experience. Hold your favorite memories close, and create as many positive memories as you can: college doesn鈥檛 last forever, and for every rainy day, there are twice as many with sunshine.

And to incoming college students, take advantage of every opportunity. Go to Shabbat dinner, take on a leadership position, and embrace each chance to celebrate being Jewish. Seek out moments of Jewish joy, and know that when times are hard, Hillel has your back. I know the future feels uncertain, but take it from someone who鈥檚 been through it: Jewish students are strong, we are resilient, and whether we are graduating now or just starting our journeys, we will always be proud to be Jewish. 

Samantha Brody is a graduating senior at Brandeis University and co-chair of the 黑料传送门 Student Cabinet.

The post Why I Won鈥檛 Let the Lows Define My College Experience:<br>Reflections from 黑料传送门 Student Cabinet Co-Chair appeared first on 黑料传送门.

News

What Are the Spring 鈥淵amim鈥�?

Author

Stephanie Goldfarb and Liora Knizhnik

Date

May 2, 2024

The Hebrew word yamim (讬诪讬诐) is the plural form of the word yom or 鈥渄ay,鈥� and can refer to a time, a specific age, or a season. In Israel and in the Jewish diaspora, when folks talk about 鈥�the spring yamim,鈥� they are generally referring to three national holidays on the Israeli calendar: Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day), and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day). All three of these yamim, or days, fall sequentially in the late spring, and although distinct, they are grouped together on some level in the consciousness of Jews all around the world. This year鈥檚 yamim will be characterized by a unique sadness, as we continue to mourn almost 1,200 Israelis massacred during the October 7 Hamas attacks. Each day will retain its own customary mood and associated rituals, which will undoubtedly resonate in new and painful ways for each individual, family, friend group, and community. 

Yom HaShoah: 

• The details: The full name of the day commemorating the victims of the Holocaust is 鈥�Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah鈥溾�� literally the 鈥淒ay of (Remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism.鈥� It is marked on the 27th day in the Hebrew month of Nisan 鈥� a week after the seventh day of Passover, and a week before Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day for Israel鈥檚 fallen soldiers). This year, Yom HaShoah will be observed from the evening of May 5th to the evening of May 6th.聽
• Yom HaShoah themes: The overwhelming theme that runs through all Yom HaShoah observances is the importance of remembering 鈥� recalling the names and memories of the victims of this catastrophe, and ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again. The Shoah (Holocaust) posed an enormous challenge to Judaism and raised many questions: Can one be a believing Jew after the Holocaust?  Where was God? How can one have faith in humanity? 
• Yom HaShoah observances: Yom HaShoah has been marked in Israel by the sound of two sirens since the early 1960s; one at sundown as the holiday begins, and once again at 11 a.m. the following morning.  The sirens stop traffic and pedestrians for two minutes of silent reflection. All radio and television programs exclusively offer Holocaust-related content, and theaters, cinemas, pubs, and other public venues are closed throughout Israel in solidarity with the tone of this day. 

Many Jews in North America observe Yom Hashoah within synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and in other spaces as well. Commemorations include prayer services, communal vigils and educational programs. Many Yom Hashoah programs feature a talk by a Holocaust survivor or the descendant of a Holocaust survivor, recitation of solemn songs and readings, or viewing Holocaust-themed films. Some folks light a yahrzeit (memorial) candle on this day as a physical embodiment of grief and memory.

Yom HaZikaron:

• The details: The fourth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, the day preceding Israel鈥檚 Independence Day, was declared by the Israeli Knesset (parliament) to be a national Memorial Day. This year, Yom HaZikaron will be observed beginning the evening of May 12 to the evening of May 13.
• Yom HaZikaron themes: Originally, this day was set aside to mourn those who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel and for all military personnel who lost their lives in active duty in Israel鈥檚 armed forces. Today, Yom HaZikaron also encompasses mourning for people who have lost their lives in terror attacks. For many Israelis, Yom HaZikaron is not an abstract memorial; they are remembering friends and family members who fell in defense of the State of Israel.  This year, the ongoing devastation of the October 7th attacks on Israel will cast a particularly dark shadow on mourners all across the country, and in the Jewish diaspora as well.
• Yom HaZikaron observances: Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day, is different in its tone and mood from the American Memorial Day. For 24 hours (from sunset to sunset) all places of public entertainment (theaters, cinemas, nightclubs, pubs, etc.) are closed. A siren is blasted twice, during which the entire nation observes a two-minutes 鈥渟tandstill鈥� of all traffic and daily activities. The first siren marks the beginning of Memorial Day at 8 p.m., and the second is at 11 a.m., before public recitation of prayers in the military cemeteries and ceremonies are held in schools and communities. All radio and television stations broadcast programs portraying the lives and heroic deeds of fallen soldiers. Most of the broadcasting time is devoted to Israeli songs that convey the mournful mood of the day.  Many Israelis wear a Yizkor (remembrance) sticker as a way of outwardly reflecting their grief.

Yom HaAtzmaut

• The details: Israel鈥檚 Independence Day is celebrated on the fifth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, which is the Hebrew date of the formal establishment of the State of Israel. (The original date corresponded to May 14, 1948.) This year, Yom HaAtzmaut will be celebrated from the evening of May 13 through the evening of May 14.
• Yom HaAtzmaut themes: Yom HaAtzmaut is both a celebration of Israel鈥檚 independence and a joyous opportunity to revel in the country鈥檚 achievements in all spheres of life. It鈥檚 a time of emotional release after Yom HaZikaron, the previous day of mourning, and an opportunity for friends and family to be together in a joyous embrace of life.
• Yom HaAtzmaut observances: In Israel, Yom HaAtzmaut is a national holiday, so everyone has the day off of work. In the Jewish diaspora, many Jewish communities default to celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut on the following Sunday in order to accommodate the majority of people who do not have the official holiday off from work. Israelis celebrate Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut in a variety of ways. Local governments produce public shows and events attracting large crowds. Some spend the evening dancing Israeli folk dances or singing Israeli songs. During the daytime, many people go out on hikes and picnics. Army camps are open for civilians to visit and learn about recent technological achievements of the Israeli Defense Forces. Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut is concluded with the ceremony of granting the 鈥淚srael Prize,鈥� recognizing individual Israelis for their unique contribution to the country鈥檚 culture, science, arts, and the humanities.

The 鈥淪witch鈥�: The 鈥渟witch鈥� refers to the stark energetic shift between Yom HaZikaron, a solemn day or mourning, and Yom HaAtzmaut, a joyous day of celebration. Joining these two days together conveys a simple message: Israelis owe the independence and the very existence of the Jewish state to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it. The official 鈥渟witch鈥� from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut takes place a few minutes after sundown, with a ceremony on Mount Herzl, the site of Israel’s national cemetery, in Jerusalem. The Israeli flag is raised from half staff (due to Memorial Day) to the top of the pole, indicating the succession of Yom HaZikaron to Yom HaAtzmaut, and 12 torches are lit to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel. For many, the 鈥渟witch鈥� embodies the dichotomy of the national Israeli spirit, finding ways of embracing and celebrating life even amid tragedy and loss. 

In the global Hillel community, the sentiment of 鈥渢he switch鈥� is particularly resonant this year. College students continue to grieve the immense loss of Israeli life that occurred on October 7, pray for the return of hostages currently being held in Gaza, and face rising antisemitism on and off their campuses. Throughout all of these challenges, students continue to show up and bring their fullest selves to Hillel, seeking strength, wisdom, connection, ritual, and belonging with both fellow students and Hillel staff. This manifestation of strength and vulnerability is at the heart of each yamim day, and is unique in this particular moment in Jewish experience.

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News

What Even IS the Omer?! Ancient Spiritual Refinement for Modern Times

Author

Stephanie Goldfarb and Liora Knizhnik

Date

April 25, 2024

What is the Counting of the Omer? The Omer is a period of seven weeks, or forty-nine days, from the second Passover Seder to the summer holiday of Shavuot. This year, the Omer period runs from the evening of April 23 to June 11. When we say we “count” the Omer, we really mean counting out loud all of those 49 days sequentially with special blessings. 

Since October 7, many of us have been counting the days that hostages have been held in Gaza. As Pesach continues and more than 130 people have remained captive for more than 200 days, adding the practice of counting the Omer brings a stark reminder of how long the hostages have been praying for release. While we know that counting the Omer will end on the 49th day, as we celebrate Shavuot and the revelation of the Torah at Sinai, we count days without an end to captivity in sight for the hostages.

Why is counting the Omer significant? 

• Agriculturally: This period of time marks a transitional moment from season to season, spring to summer. Thousands of years ago when the Temple still stood in Jerusalem, this was the period of time when Jews brought their new barley crops as a sacrificial offering. The word omer literally means 鈥渟heaf鈥� and refers to these early offerings.
• Biblically: The Omer period connects the anniversary of the Exodus from Egypt (Passover) with the festival that commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai (Shavuot). Tradition teaches us that enslaved Israelites were so comforted by the promise of receiving the Torah 50 days after fleeing Egypt that they began to count the days, saying each time, 鈥淣ow we have one day less to wait for the giving of the Torah.鈥� Miraculously, this promise was kept, and the Omer period has since symbolized the eagerness with which the Torah was received by the Israelites.
• Practically: Jewish wisdom teaches us that seasonal shifting is a profound opportunity to check in on our relationships with ourselves, with the people in our lives, and with the world around us. As the world turns, so do we and so do our relationships! 
• On a metaphysical level: It is said the Omer period is also a special opportunity to connect to the divine through many different mystical channels. 

What’s the deal with all the colors, values, and names of people? 

Jewish mystics imagined God as having multiple faces or attributes called sefirot, including chesed (love or expansiveness), gevurah (strength, severity, or judgment), etc. The mythic characters of the Torah represent these attributes. For example, Abraham represents chesed, while Esther represents malchut (majesty, and the presence of the indwelling feminine face of God known as the Shekhinah). Some Jews who studied the kabbalistic system saw the counting of the Omer as a way to meditate on seven of these sefirot and include them in one鈥檚 own life. 

But people aren’t the only ones who contain these qualities. Mystically speaking, so do colors, foods, and even parts of the body! One modern understanding is that each of us embodies the divine in a unique way. Through understanding that God appears in many different earthly outlets, we can move beyond the idea that God is only one thing 鈥� only a father, only a king, only male, has human features 鈥� and come to understand that God moves through our world in multiple ways.

A time of emotional complexity 

On the one hand, the Omer period is a time to connect deeply to the divine and to celebrate a daily escalation of closeness with the Torah. On the other hand, many massacres recorded in Jewish history purportedly took place in the spring months:

• The first spring tragedy began with the martyrdom of Rabbi Akiva and his students and continued through the three Crusades (1096-1192). 
• The last great deportation to the gas chambers, that of the Hungarian Jews, took place during the period of the counting of the Omer.
• The Israeli Knesset named the 27th day of Nisan as a national Memorial Day (Yom Hashoah) for those slaughtered by the Nazis during World War II. 
• In addition, the day before Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut) is called Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) for those who died in the War of Liberation. 

These sad events are traditionally memorialized by refraining from participation in joyous events during the Omer period. According to the Code of Jewish Law, Orakh Hayim 493:2, no weddings should take place, and it is customary not to cut one鈥檚 hair with one exception: Lag B鈥橭mer, the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, is observed as a semi-holiday, and suspends many of the mourning customs for 24 hours of the Omer period.

Some ways to observe the Omer period this year:

• Count! Begin counting on the evening of April 23rd. You can learn how to count the Omer on and you can download apps on your phone () or even visit a to find all the blessings to count every night.
• Turn inward: For the kabbalists (Jewish mystics), the Omer period became an ideal time for introspection and self-perfection, with each week in the process dedicated to one of the sephirot, or cosmic aspects of being 鈥� Pure Giving; Boundaries; Balance; Eternality; Ephemerality; Bonding; and Manifestation. Consider adopting a 49-day journaling practicefrom the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks) during the Omer and reflect on these qualities for a few minutes each morning.
• Learn something new: The Omer is a wonderful invitation to start a new practice or establish new connections with your spiritual self. Check out to get some ideas for how to connect this season.
• Give tzedakah: While there is never a bad time to support the causes you care most about, the Omer period is an auspicious moment to invest in the world you want to live in.

Decrease in joy: Some folks have the custom of avoiding hair cuts (including shaving and waxing), using perfumes, listening to live music, and even attending parties during the Omer period as a way to connect to the historical sadness of the moment. Others make an extra intention to refrain from telling jokes, watching funny shows or movies, or eating luxurious meals. What might it be like for you to tap into these customs as a way to deepen your own Omer experience?

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News

Food and Resilience on Passover

Author

Rabbi Melissa Simon and Liora Knizhnik

Date

April 22, 2024

On college campuses and around the world, the Jewish community is preparing for Pesach (Passover), during which we recall yetziat mitzrayim 鈥� leaving ancient Egypt, or sometimes interpreted as 鈥渁 narrow space鈥�.

There鈥檚 a common refrain that comes to mind during Passover and other Jewish holidays: 鈥淭hey tried to kill us, we survived, let鈥檚 eat!鈥�

This theme runs through Purim, during which we recall Esther鈥檚 bravery and the Jewish people鈥檚 survival through foods like hamantaschen or folares (pastries with cheese and egg), as well as Hanukkah, where we recall the Maccabees’ triumph over the ancient Greeks through foods like latkes, sufganiot (jelly doughnuts), and bimuelos (fried dough fritters).

Passover too has a story of triumph over persecution. From the bravery of the midwives Shifra and Puah defying Pharaoh鈥檚 decree to kill all first-born Jewish male infants, to Pharaoh鈥檚 daughter rescuing baby Moses from the Nile, to the courage of Moses raising his voice and declaring 鈥淟et my people go鈥� 鈥� the story of Passover is full of moments where the ancient Israelites overcome the odds, survive, and thrive 鈥� and now we eat matzah ball soup, charoset, or macaroons at our Seder meal.

It鈥檚 important to note the constant thread in all of these holidays: the resiliency of the Jewish people. Whether in Persia, ancient Jerusalem, or ancient Egypt, despite adversity, the Jewish people endure and flourish.

On college and university campuses around the world, we are facing our own serious challenges 鈥� metaphorical Pharaohs, Antiochuses, and Hamans. And just like our ancestors, Jewish college students and Hillel staff are demonstrating bravery, passion, and courage.

They are coming together for cohort learning like Kol Yisrael, a six-week course about Israel, to develop a resiliency grounded in Jewish text. They are celebrating Shabbat, engaging in the historic Jewish way of marking holy time and taking a break. They are building relationships, creating Jewish community, and developing a sense of connectedness to Jewish peoplehood.

At Hillel we are not just surviving but thriving 鈥� and eating lots of matzah ball soup, charoset, and macaroons at the hundreds of Seders that Jewish students will joyfully attend.

May we all pass through these narrow places in our lives to a space of abundance and fullness. May this be Z鈥檓an Tikvateinu, a season of our hope.

Rabbi Melissa Simon is Director of Israel Education at 黑料传送门.

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Highlights from Hillel’s Centennial Celebration: A Note from Adam Lehman

Author

Adam Lehman and Liora Knizhnik

Date

April 19, 2024

Dear Friends,

Spring is upon us, which means it is also the season of Passover. Passover is often described as Z鈥檓an Heruteinu, the season of freedom, as we recount and celebrate the journey of the Israelites from slavery to liberation during the Seder.

However, in light of current circumstances, it is particularly difficult to think of this moment as a time of freedom. Many hostages remain captives of Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza. All of Israel remains subject to the threat of further attacks from Iran and its proxies. And many Jewish students lack the freedom to fully express their Jewish identities without facing harassment and discrimination on their university campuses.

Given these challenging conditions, we can shift our focus this Passover to thinking about the season as Z鈥檓an Tikvateinu, a time of hope. Of course, even hope can be difficult to muster in a time such as this one; nevertheless, we hope and pray for the release of all hostages and the ultimate defeat of Hamas in a way that ushers in a period of greater safety, security, and thriving for Israelis and Gazans alike. And when it comes to Jewish life on campus, I have even greater hope for the future after celebrating our 100th anniversary earlier this week.

To cap off our Centennial year 黑料传送门, we gathered 1,000 Hillel professionals, student leaders, lay leaders, partners, and supporters for two days of celebratory events in New York City, including meaningful conversations about how we can best fulfill Hillel鈥檚 mission in our second century.聽Our Centennial programs reinforced my deep sense of hope and optimism at several levels.

Our time together underscored our overall strength as a Hillel movement. When we complete a book of the Torah, we recite 鈥淐hazak, Chazak, 痴鈥档颈迟肠丑补锄别办鈥� 鈥� be strong, be strong, and may we be strengthened together. Those same words can be applied to the Hillel movement, as we close out this chapter of our story and turn the page toward our second century.

Chazak 鈥� We are supporting, inspiring, and empowering more students than ever before 鈥� with 180,000 students engaging in Hillel relationships and experiences this year alone.

Chazak 鈥� We have more talented and committed Hillel professionals working on behalf of Jewish students than ever before 鈥� nearly 1,300 in total supporting students on more than 850 campuses around the world. Each professional is making an enormous difference in the lives of their students and campus communities. 

痴鈥档颈迟肠丑补锄别办 鈥� We are meeting the unique challenges of this school year as only Hillel can. We are the critical source of comfort, support, and advocacy for students encountering issues of campus antisemitism. And we are leading the way in driving real solutions that can ensure a safer, more supportive campus environment for Jewish students and all students. Finally, we are continuing to do wh黑料传送门 does best – enabling positive and joyful Jewish experiences for students that strengthen their Jewish identities and promote their resilience.

My hope was further bolstered by seeing the vitality and strength of the leaders who came together for our Centennial celebrations: 

• Student leaders like聽Rebecca Weiss, a student at Ben Gurion University. Building on her commitment to strengthen global Jewish peoplehood through her role on the 黑料传送门 Student Cabinet, Rebecca also just joined Hillel Israel in a full-time professional role to oversee a nationwide volunteer initiative aiding senior citizens evacuated from their homes and communities due to the current war.
• Professional leaders like聽Rabbi Danielle Leshaw, who after serving as a successful Hillel executive director at Ohio University for 15 years, has dedicated her substantial talents to strengthening dozens of other Hillels in her role as a 黑料传送门 campus support director.聽
• Volunteer leaders like聽黑料传送门 Board Chair Lee Dranikoff, who, in reflecting on Hillel鈥檚 impact, shared the following at our Centennial Summit: 鈥淭his institution has impacted millions of lives, and those students have gone on to great things in the broader Jewish community. Today, there isn鈥檛 a Jewish federation, synagogue, or camp that doesn鈥檛 have its leadership steeped in experience with Hillel.鈥澛�

Simply put, our work 黑料传送门 has never been more relevant and more resonant. Hillel is the answer to so many of the needs of young Jews today 鈥� the need for belonging, the need for a safe and inclusive community, the need for meaning and purpose, the need for insight, and the need for a platform that enables their overall personal growth and thriving. We are that platform, and we will continue to be there for Jewish students and campus communities for our next century and beyond.

It鈥檚 no coincidence that Passover is the most celebrated of the Jewish holidays and one of the most famous stories of hope and liberation in recorded history. Passover shows how divinely-inspired hope, leadership, and initiative enabled the Israelites to emerge from their dark moments of slavery and subjugation and chart a path toward the Promised Land.

This Passover, I will be reflecting on the many ways we can tap into our own sources of hope, leadership, and inspiration to overcome the challenges of this season, on our journey to a stronger and more vibrant Jewish future.

Shabbat Shalom, Chag Sameach, and wishing everyone a Zissen (sweet) Pesach. 

Adam

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Depolarization Should Be a Focus on Campus and Elsewhere

Author

Dani Levine and Liora Knizhnik

Date

April 18, 2024

When was the last time you made the choice to sit down and listen to people you disagree with? 

Debate and disagreement are as much a part of Jewish tradition as challah on Shabbat. Going back to Talmudic times, Jews have sat down together for deep discussions that encouraged lively and sometimes heated debate. Their ability to come together and hear opposing opinions allowed for stronger communities that incorporated different points of view into tradition and practice.

Today, we live in an increasingly polarized and fractured world, where it鈥檚 generally easier to avoid those with whom we disagree than truly engage with them. But learning to disagree, to connect and listen, and build relationships across differences is more important than ever. It鈥檚 not an impossible task (even though it sometimes feels that way) 鈥� it鈥檚 a skill that can be learned, if we鈥檙e willing to lean into discomfort.

As director of social impact at 黑料传送门, I had the honor to represent Hillel鈥檚 at last month鈥檚 , which took place in conjunction with in Washington, D.C. The highlight of the event was , discussing the ways justices of our nation鈥檚 highest court create and maintain a culture of congeniality and colleagueship, even during profound disagreements. 

As the political discourse in our country today often seems uncivil at best, I was curious 鈥� like most of the rest of the audience 鈥� to see some perceptible tension among the Supreme Court justices on stage. 

Instead, I lost count of the number of times I heard Justice Barrett say, 鈥淚 completely agree,鈥� or Justice Sotomayor say, 鈥淪he鈥檚 exactly right.鈥�

I listened as the justices described the norms they follow when discussing cases:

1. Sit in a circle or around a table, in assigned seats. Don鈥檛 sit down randomly 鈥� we naturally gravitate toward those who we are least likely to disagree with.
2. No one speaks twice before everyone has spoken once.
3. No interrupting.
4. No yelling.
5. Disagree on the merits of the discussion at hand, not the character of the person you disagree with.
6. If you learn that something you said or wrote has offended another person in the group, apologize. Apologizing is not about a 鈥渇eeling,鈥� it is a choice that prioritizes strengthening ongoing relationships.
7. Eat lunch together every day, in assigned seats, and don鈥檛 talk about work during lunch.

These are some of the first rules we all learn as we grow up, and at first, seemed overly simple. But the more I thought about them, I realized that what made them so profoundly effective was their simplicity.  Justices Sotomayor and Barrett didn鈥檛 negate the fact that their disagreements were real and incredibly consequential. Instead, they offered a roadmap for how to be in community, how to care for one another, despite profound ideological differences. I left that conversation with so many questions, but also with a renewed sense of hope that what I saw modeled on stage by the two associate justices could be replicated on campuses and in communities throughout our country. 

Cultivating Student Connections

On college campuses across the country,  polarization has never felt more intense.  There seems to be no shortage of opportunities to reduce all disagreements to a simple us vs. them narrative. As the war between Israel and Hamas stretches into a seventh agonizing month, dehumanization and polarizing rhetoric is everywhere, coinciding with a dramatic increase in both antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents. 

Despite this tension and escalation, across our campus communities, there are students and professionals pushing back on polarization, following the models offered by our Supreme Court justices. One example is Syracuse University, where Hillel Rabbi Ethan Bair and Syracuse Imam Amir Duri膰 are leading a to help students find common ground. This semester, the month-long fellowship connected 10 Jewish and 10 Muslim students together for weekly discussions focused on building empathy and trust. Students and professionals are hungry for nuance and compassion, invested in building relationships, and determined to open doors for the dialogue our communities so badly need.

This spring, 黑料传送门 launched a new initiative called Cultivating Student Connections, aimed at opening those same doors. More than 1,500 students at over 50 campuses are participating in programming designed to bring students together across differences. The initiative supports Hillel professionals with tools they can use to help create environments where relationships can endure across ideological differences, and where all students feel seen and heard. There are multiple program offerings available, from facilitated town-square style conversations in partnership with Resetting the Table, to non-verbal creative processes in partnership with the Jewish Studio Project. All the programs create opportunities for listening and learning, bettering relationships and fostering stronger communities.  

If we can do our part to begin listening, to address the toxic polarization on campus, we can model those skills for our broader communities at the local, state, national, and even global levels. 

So I鈥檒l challenge all of us, just as I was challenged by Justices Sotomayor and Barrett, to make an active choice to engage with people we disagree with – to listen 鈥� truly listen 鈥� to each and every person at the table.

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WTSeder?! Everything You Ever Wanted to Know 黑料传送门 Passover: Part Two

Author

Stephanie Goldfarb and Liora Knizhnik

Date

April 18, 2024

As Jewish people around the world observe Passover this month, we鈥檙e diving into the origins of the holiday. In the first part of this series, we learned about how to host a Seder – now we鈥檙e exploring where Passover comes from, and who decided it was a thing? 

The way we observe Passover today has changed and evolved significantly since Biblical times when the holy day was first mentioned. Check out this timeline to learn more!

Sometime between 1300-1200 BCE: On the first full moon of the first month of spring (the 15th of the Hebrew month of Nisan), Jews from all over gathered at the Great Temple in Jerusalem where they made animal sacrifices, and noshed on lamb and unleavened bread (matzo) for one week. This pilgrimage ritual was rooted in ancient Israelite agrarian springtime rituals involving moving flocks of lambs to greener pastures, and praying for the return of post-winter harvest bounties. The biblical story of the Israelites鈥� Exodus from Egypt resonated strongly with Jewish people of this time, especially after the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem and destroyed the Great Temple. As a story about overcoming oppression and liberation, this hopeful message hit home for the Jewish people who suddenly lost their spiritual home. As a result, the Exodus story became intrinsically associated with existing springtime rituals of sacrificing lambs and eating unleavened bread.

700-586  BCE: The Jews returned to Jerusalem and rededicated the Great Temple. There, they reestablished Passover as newly liberated people. The priests of this time made some changes to the Passover ritual too. Each head of the household was charged with making the Pesach lamb offering at home. In addition to the feast, they added songs of praise and joy, and paired wine with the celebration. Permission was granted to observe Passover anywhere in Jerusalem, not just in the Temple.

516 BCE: The Jews were once again exiled from Jerusalem and the Second Temple was destroyed under an oppressive rule. Passover, as it had been celebrated, was never observed the same way again. In response to the destruction, a group of innovative rabbis created a new approach to Judaism that didn’t center around the Great Temple. Many of their adaptations radically changed Judaism, and became the foundation for the way it is still observed today. The rabbis discussed how to observe Passover, in what order, and found creative ways of translating all the springtime rituals that used to occur in the Great Temple into people’s homes. This meant officially banning animal sacrifices, making Passover a home-based ritual, and positioning regular Jews (not rabbis or priests) as the leaders of the Seder.

70 CE: Isaac鈥檚 descendants (by then known as the Children of Israel) were enslaved in Egypt. God instructed Moses and Aaron to repeatedly ask Pharaoh to release the people of Israel; each time Pharaoh refused, another plague was brought upon the Egyptians. Finally, as God was about to bring the final plague 鈥� the death of the firstborn son 鈥� He instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel to prepare by slaughter a sheep and smear the blood on their doorposts, a sign to G鈥慸 that this was an Israelite home, to be passed over. This is what gave the Passover sacrifice (and holiday) its name. In the original Hebrew, the word is Pesach (first mentioned in Exodus 11). God instructed to Moses that, 鈥淭his day shall be to you one of remembrance: you shall celebrate it as a festival to 讬讛讜讛 throughout the ages; you shall celebrate it as an institution for all time鈥� (Exodus 14).

Passover today: Today, Passover is statistically the most widely-observed Jewish holiday in the world. The Seder meal that typically takes place in the home has not changed much over the last dozen centuries! However, many people have been inspired to create updated versions of the traditional haggadah in accordance with personal values associated with Passover themes of justice, liberation, freedom, and redemption. 

Like always, Passover is an opportunity for families and friends to join together to celebrate and acknowledge the liberation and freedom of the Jewish people. Some members of the Jewish community (usually Reform and Reconstructionist Jews, and Jews in Israel) celebrate the holiday for seven days, and others (usually Conservative and Orthodox Jews) for eight days. 

Today, many people ritually deep clean their homes, cars, and offices in preparation for Passover. Some view Passover as an invitation to do 鈥渟piritual spring cleaning鈥� designed to help us release what hasn鈥檛 served us over the last year, and to make room for new blessings.

As with every year, Passover includes two powerful rituals of grief: dipping a leafy green into salt water and removing ten drops of wine from our cups. With salt water, we stop to imagine the tears of our enslaved ancestors. With red drops of wine, we stop to have empathy for the sufferings of our enemies. This Passover, we gather in the wake of the October 7 attacks, remembering the victims and more than 130 hostages still being held in captivity in Gaza. We gather even as Gazan civilians mourn their dead and fear daily for their safety. May we be granted the opportunity to hold the teachings of Passover and the dissonances of the present moment in ways that help us become people of greater heart and hope, seeking liberation and safety for all.

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WTSeder?! Everything You Ever Wanted to Know 黑料传送门 Passover: Part One

Author

Stephanie Goldfarb and Liora Knizhnik

Date

April 18, 2024

First things first: What even IS a Seder?

Every year, Jewish people tell and retell the miraculous story of the enslaved Israelites’ exodus from Egypt during a festive meal called a Seder (Say-der). In Hebrew, the word Seder means order. A Seder is a structured, home-based ritual that combines a series of choreographed rituals with education, food, singing and storytelling, all in a particular order of stage directions. Intentionally designed to engage people of all ages, Seders are held on the first and second night of Passover (this year on April 22 and 23!).聽

With delicious food and drink, a good story, and deep conversation, it鈥檚 no wonder Passover is the most widely celebrated Jewish holiday in the world! Read on to learn more about the ritual, what you may want to put on the table 鈥� and a cheat sheet with directions on organizing your Passover Seder!

WTHaggadah?!

Over time, the Passover ritual was expanded and eventually written down in what we call the haggadah (hah-gah-dah), the book of Passover Seder choreography we still use today! The Hebrew word haggadah means “the telling,” which is an appropriate name for a script that tells the Passover story.聽

While virtually every haggadah follows the same order, there are many ways to tell the same story and just as many points of view. That is why there are literally hundreds of different hagaddot (plural form of haggadah). It can be overwhelming, but it also means you can find a version that suits you.

Some holy bites:

The Seder plate is a visual representation of the Israelites鈥� enslavement and liberation from Egypt. It has special spaces to hold symbolic foods that each tell different parts of the Passover story.

Maror (bitter herbs): Representing the bitterness of slavery, Maror is an uncomfortably bitter and sometimes spicy herb or vegetable. Horseradish is commonly used, but fresh radishes, spicy peppers, and even wasabi can be used too.

Zaroa (shank bone): This is symbolic of the biblical spring sacrifice of a young lamb called Pesach (Pay-sakh). People substitute other bones (e.g. a chicken neck or a leg) and vegetarians use a red beet or a sweet potato.

Beitza (roasted egg): Another spring symbol, representing the renewal of life. It also marks the birth of Israelites as a free people. Roasting recalls the ancient sacrificial practices in Jerusalem.

Chazeret (bitter greens): Romaine lettuce, endives, or chicory are used as a second symbol of bitterness sometimes used when making a sandwich with matzo.

Charoset (mortar): This fruit and nut mix may taste sweet, but its name is derived from the Hebrew word for clay. Charoset represents the mortar used by pyramid-building enslaved Israelites.

Karpas (parsley): It can be any leafy green, but often is parsley. It is symbolic of the rebirth of spring and the flourishing of the Israelites  prior to their enslavement in Egypt. It is dipped into saltwater or vinegar to remember the freshness of freedom and the sting of tears from oppression.

Why is this plate different?

As we retell the Passover story, we are encouraged to interpret traditions and to find relevance in the time in which we live. One way of doing that is to connect contemporary events to the themes of Passover by placing new symbols on the Seder plate. Here are a few examples of contemporary symbolic foods you may see on seder plates – you are invited to take inspiration and add symbols with personal resonance for you as well! Note that many Jewish communities are finding ways to acknowledge both October 7 and the more than 130 hostages still being held in captivity. For example, Rabbi Elie Kaunfer placing less matzo at the table to signal the absence of the hostages. Other ideas included putting empty seats representing October 7 victims, hostages, and soldiers around the table, and even the haggadah text.聽

An orange: One of the first historically-recorded Seder plate innovations, it has become a way to honor those who have been excluded from the Jewish community, especially women and LGBTQ people. This symbol has also evolved to be a symbol of including women in the rabbinate.

Ruth鈥檚 mix: Almonds, raisins and chocolate:  Honoring Ruth, who married and/or converted into the Jewish people, this mix acknowledges that the Jewish community is sweeter by the presence and celebration of all Jews, Jews by choice, interfaith families, and our cherished allies.

An olive:  The olive branch has been a symbol of peace since the time of Noah. Some people place an olive on the Seder plate in hopes of a time when Israelis and Palestinians live together in peace.

A tomato:  In solidarity with migrant farmworkers, some add a tomato to symbolize support for an end to modern-day slavery in our fields and a call for fair wages and safe working conditions.

An acorn:  Some Jews include an acorn as a way to uplift indigenous land acknowledgments at our seders. It is a reminder to understand the oppression that occurred in the locations where we live/work/learn, a call to repair, and a recognition that modern-day comforts sometimes lie on the foundations of historic suffering.

A lock and key:  Representing the brokenness of our justice system, the lock and key are a literal reminder of how racial bias and unfair practices in our legal system have resulted in mass incarceration. 

Aside from the Seder plate, there are several more ritual objects on the festive Passover table:

Wine or juice: Four cups per person, to be exact. Each cup marks a different transition in the Seder.

Kiddush cup: Used to make blessings over the wine.

Nerot/candles: We sanctify the holiday by lighting festival candles and saying a special blessing.

Afikomen/hidden dessert: The middle matzo is split in two and the larger half is hidden. At the end of the meal, children (of all ages) are invited to search for it and retrieve it for a prize. Traditionally the Seder cannot resume until the Afikomen is returned and eaten 鈥� all before midnight!

Seder plate: Contains all the ritual foods used throughout the Seder

Elijah’s (empty) chair and cup of wine or juice: The prophet Elijah is attributed to bringing about the World to Come, a time of redemption and liberation for all. This spirit of hope is invited to join the Seder as we open the door to figuratively “welcome” Elijah. Elijah also gets his very own cup of wine or juice, creatively called “Elijah’s cup.”

Matzo/unleavened bread: Often the star of the evening, matzo has its own special plate or tray where three pieces of matzo are stacked. The middle matzo is broken and the larger piece (the afikomen) gets hidden somewhere in the house to be found later. Matzo is a symbol of both oppression (the bread of the poor) and liberation (the bread the Israelites ate as they escaped from Egypt to freedom).

Miriam鈥檚 cup: Miriam, the prophetess, is associated with water because she watched over her baby brother, Moses, as he floated down the Nile, led the women during the parting of the sea, and according to Jewish legend, she became the bearer of a well that nourished and healed the Israelites on their wilderness journey. It has become a modern ritual to place a cup of water on the Seder table in her honor.

Your Seder cheat sheet: All the Passover choreography and stage directions in one place!

1. Kadesh: We begin with a blessing over a cup of wine (or grape juice) to sanctify the holy day! Pace yourself, there will be a total of 4! L鈥檆haim
2. 鲍谤鈥檆丑补迟锄: A ritual hand-washing without the blessing. Sometimes the leader does this symbolically for everyone. It feels good to start the seder fresh.
3. Karpas: In honor of springtime and the freshness of freedom, we take a green vegetable or herb (commonly parsley), offer a blessing, and eat. Remember, friends do not let friends speak with greens caught in their teeth!
4. Yachatz: Called 鈥淭he Bread of Affliction,鈥� we hold up the three matzot for this part of the ritual. The leader breaks the middle matzo and places the larger half aside for the afikomen, the piece of matzo that is hidden and eaten as 鈥渄essert.鈥�
5. Maggid: This section means 鈥渢he telling鈥� and is the main event! We begin to tell the story of the Exodus, learn about the rituals of Passover, and have conversations at the table. It is a time for questions, including the famed Four Questions, sometimes sung by the youngest person at the table. Alongside the traditional components, this is often where people bring creativity by acting out plays or trying some communal storytelling. Some even use props to help bring the teachings to life and make the Seder memorable. The second cup of wine is also blessed during this section.
6. Rachtzah: This is a second hand washing, with a blessing, before the ritual eating of the matzo.
7. Motzi and matzo: If one blessing is good, two is better. We bless and eat the matzo, first with the blessing for all types of bread and then a special blessing just for matzo.
8. Maror: The bitter herbs remind us of the suffering of the Israelites鈥� enslavement. We say a blessing as we eat it, some choose to dip the bitter herbs in the sweet tasting charoset.
9. Shulchan orech: Dinner time!
10. Korech (Hillel鈥檚 sandwich. Shoutout to Hillel, the ancient sage our entire movement is named after!): One of the many things Hillel was known for was taking what he thought were the three most important symbols, the lamb, the bitter herbs, and the matzo, and combining them into a Pesach sandwich! With no lamb, we add the bitter herbs (some use the green bitter herb, Hazeret), haroset and matzo. Consider it the first appetizer!
11. Tzafun: The Afikomen (which reappears from Yachatz) must be eaten for the Seder to continue. With no sacrifices, ritually eating it represents the Pesach sacrifice. Often hidden, children (of all ages) search it out and receive a prize for its return. A small piece is eaten and the seder continues. The Seder is almost over.
12. Barech: We offer a blessing for the festival meal and drink a third cup of wine. Open the door for the prophet Elijah and welcome in the spirit of Miriam.
13. Hallel: This section includes many traditional psalms that are sung, and some contemporary Jews add and/or exchange modern songs about freedom and liberation (Bob Marley anyone?). The last cup of wine is also blessed during this section.
14. Nirtzah: Hopefully when you reach this point, you will have enjoyed good friends, good conversation, and good food! We typically conclude with the words, 鈥滾鈥檚hana haba鈥檃 b鈥橸鈥檙ushalayim!” meaning 鈥淣ext year in Jerusalem!鈥�

In part two of this series, we鈥檒l explore the origins of Passover!

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