Finding Harmony: How Kaskeset and Hillel Empower Jewish Students to Sing Through Challenge and Change
For Jordi, a recent Binghamton University graduate, Kaskeset – the school’s only Jewish a cappella group – wasn’t just a place to sing. She spent time there learning to lead, to laugh, to reflect. Perhaps most importantly, with Kaskeset she was able to be unapologetically herself. “I can show off my Jewish pride without being ashamed,” she said. “In this group, I could just be me.”
A Modern Orthodox upbringing and five summers at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires shaped Jordi’s early Jewish identity. But it was at Binghamton University, through Hillel and Kaskeset, that she found the space to take ownership of it. After leaving a university a cappella group following the events of October 7, 2023, Jordi found refuge and empowerment in Kaskeset, which is supported by Hillel.
“Auditioning for Kaskeset was the best decision I made,” she shared. “To me, Kaskeset is community. It’s healing. It’s leadership. It’s everything.”
Student Mya Malsan’s journey to Kaskeset began even earlier, in childhood choirs and Jewish day school. After graduating from a small K–8 Jewish day school and entering a public high school with no Jewish community to speak of, Mya longed for the connection she had once known. At Binghamton, she found it in Kaskeset and Hillel.
“Everyone comes from different backgrounds and majors, but we’re all tied together through celebrating Judaism,” she said. “Music is culture, it’s memory, and it’s something that always brings us back to ourselves.”
Both Mya and Jordi lit up as they discussed the powerful emotions they feel when singing a Hebrew prayer passed down through generations. As Mya put it: “Sometimes I think, maybe my great-grandmother sang this same song. That’s so powerful.”
To students like Jordi and Mya, Kaskeset is more than an a cappella group; it’s a sacred space where Jewish students process, create, and celebrate their identity through music.
A Global Chorus of Support
Kaskeset’s story is not an isolated one. Across the globe, Hillel International supports hundreds of student-led communities like Kaskeset. Places where Jewish young adults lean into tradition and tell their stories through art, music, prayer, and learning.
“Hillel is what makes this all possible,” Jordi said. “Hillel welcomed me when I committed to Binghamton. They’re the ones who said, ‘Yes, go for it’ when I pitched a graphic design project or wanted to plan a Rosh Chodesh event with journaling and art.”
A New Soundtrack for a New Generation
Now Kaskeset is preparing to release their first EP since before the pandemic, a project born out of resilience, joy, and the deep bonds formed over late-night rehearsals and shared visions.
The album, produced by recording engineer and producer Nicky Brenner and featuring songs in both Hebrew and English, will include beloved Jewish pieces like “Oseh Shalom” as well as contemporary favorites like Lizzy McAlpine’s “Ceilings” and One Direction’s “Drag Me Down.” Mya, who solos on “Ceilings,” said it’s been one of her most exciting college experiences. “It’s such a beautiful way to capture this moment in time with people I really love and admire,” she reflected.
For Jordi, who helped spearhead the idea, it’s more than just a collection of songs. It’s a time capsule of Jewish joy, pride, and togetherness in an era when such things feel more precious than ever.
Check out Kaskeset’s music on Spotify:
Singing Toward Tomorrow
Spaces like Kaskeset and Hillel offer Jewish students a story of healing, harmony, and hope. “Judaism and music are both about evolving,” Jordi said. “They ask us to reflect, to grow, to build community. That’s what I’ve found here through Hillel at Binghamton.”
This group of students sings through the uncertain rhythms of college life and the steady beats of ancient tradition. They sing in Hebrew and English, using new harmonies and old melodies. They draw strength from one another and raise their voices in a declaration that Jewish life is vibrant, multifaceted, and alive on campus.