Happy Hanukkah Happenings 黑料传送门
Jewish college students around the world celebrated Hanukkah in fun and innovative ways this year, with campus Hillels leading holiday parties and other events to rejoice in the festival of lights. Between latke-making, ugly sweater decorating, and connecting with other faith-based groups on campus, each campus had its own Hanukkah tradition to wrap up the fall semester.
At universities like Boston University and American University, Hillels held Hanukkah parties to celebrate the holiday in inviting and inclusive ways before students headed home for winter break.聽
American University Hillel (AU Hillel) also hosted a creative 鈥淕elt-Together,鈥 full of crafts like make-your-own Hanukkah candles and dreidel scratch art. The event also featuredThey held a customizable sufganiyot bar, sponsored and run by AU Dining. Students had the choice to include delicious jam, caramel, or pastry cream inside their sufganiyot, along with a number of toppings. 鈥淎 lot of people here [at AU Hillel] are very academically driven and passionate about doing well, and so I feel like this is a good mandatory break,鈥 second-year student Lea Wayne said. 鈥淭aking time to hang out with my friends and chill before I have to get into a lot of studying has been great.鈥澛
BU Hillel held its 20th annual Latkepalooza, hosting 122 students to eat mountains of latkes and decorate their own menorahs. 鈥淚 was grateful that BU Hillel provided a place for us to have a pre-Hanukkah experience,鈥 student Noah Lenkin said.
At Kent State University Hillel, over 100 students attended its traditional Winterfest. Hillel at KSU partnered with four different organizations to host the event and to donate raffle baskets. Winterfest included a snow machine, a photo booth, and a DJ, and was organized by student leaders who were required to budget, recruit, and pitch a business idea to make the event possible. 鈥淲interfest has been an annual celebration since 2022. It鈥檚 a big and fun celebration,鈥 said Dina Levin, a Hillel student board member. 鈥淚 absolutely love Winterfest because it鈥檚 a great way to bond with friends and whenever we put up the decorations, it鈥檚 like a winter wonderland.鈥
Columbia/Barnard Hillel hosted about 200 students for their (Almost) Hanukkah Party. Students enjoyed winter and holiday-related activities like a hot chocolate bar, 鈥渦gly sweater鈥 decorating, candle painting, a photo booth, and more. Four student party chairs from three different schools within the university and varying religious backgrounds were in charge of organizing the party, working together to plan an event that all kinds of Jewish students would find fun and uplifting.
The University of Connecticut Hillel welcomed 75 students to their holiday party, inviting other faith-based organizations to join them in gathering students of different faiths and backgrounds in a welcoming, joyful space. The event included activities such as decorating cookies and making snow globes. Students also enjoyed appetizers and a sundae bar. 鈥淚 had a great time connecting with my friends and peers 黑料传送门 that I don鈥檛 see on a day-to-day basis,鈥 student Cooper Matik said.
These were just a few of the campus Hanukkah celebrations held throughout December, and each celebration was special in its own way. Jewish students were able to spend time with friends and their Hillel communities, enjoy lots and lots of latkes, and commemorate the miracle of the holiday in meaningful and special ways.