News

How Hillels Celebrated Passover

Author

Hannah Smuckler

Date

April 23, 2025

Over the last few weeks, Hillels around the country have organized all kinds of creative and innovative events to connect Jewish college and university students with the ancient traditions of Passover. From hosting over 25 simultaneous seders in the same building to setting up October 7 memorials, campuses across North American found unique ways to celebrate the holiday.

At Hillel at Dartmouth College, students stepped up to cook all of the seder food for over 400 of their peers. The team hand-rolled over a thousand matzah balls for their biggest seder yet! Fourth-year student Lauren Azrin felt extremely connected to the Hillel seder this year. “The experience felt very reminiscent of doing a seder with family, and it was sentimental to be doing it for my last time at Dartmouth,” Lauren said.

A little farther south on the East Coast, Grinspoon Hillel at Cornell University hosted their annual F. Warren and Pamela Ellish Cornell Hillel Super Seder on the first night of Passover, which included over 25 unique seder experiences happening simultaneously. Each seder was hosted by students and planned around a different theme, including musical, traditional, social justice-focused, Sephardi, Israeli, and multifaith! More than 300 students were able to choose the seder that was the best fit for them, and the space was full of celebration. “As a first-year student, it was incredibly meaningful to lead a table full of fellow freshmen—it made me feel empowered and connected in a way I never expected,” said student Ann G.

Out West, Hillel at ASU (Arizona State University) celebrated the first night of Passover with their “Saturday Night Seder,” a twist on “Saturday Night Live.” The seder, planned with the theme of “from our family table to yours,” was led by Associate Director Taylor Silverman and her husband, and each member of the Hillel team shared their favorite rituals with students as the seder progressed. One of the most special moments of the night was when Vita, an ASU Hillel staff member, created a memorial table for those killed on and since 10/7, and in honor of the hostages still in Gaza.

Similarly, University of Florida Hillel’s Passover celebration greeted students with a memorial that served as a reminder of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza. Students wrote reflection notes which were displayed as part of the memorial. In an interview with WUFT, student Jacob Tastensen reacted to the event, saying,  “The story of escaping Egypt is still relevant because there are still Jews that aren’t free [today].”

At Ohio State University, Hillel focused on welcoming students of all backgrounds to their seders, including a multifaith seder. “Interfaith relationships are more important now than ever and we are committed to finding ways to break bread and engage in dialogue with other communities,” said Naomi Lamb, OSU Hillel CEO, in an interview with the Columbus Jewish News. OSU Hillel also invited community members to join their student seder, sending everyone off with “seders-to-go,” which help Jewish students host individual seders later in the holiday. 

Across the country, Jewish students experienced one-of-a-kind seders with their Hillel communities, ate tons of matzah ball soup, and recounted the story of our liberation. Visit @hillelintl on Instagram to see even more Passover celebrations from Hillels around the world.  

The post How Hillels Celebrated Passover appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Hillel is Here for You… All Over the World!

Author

Hannah Smuckler

Date

March 19, 2025

On Thursday, March 13, as students in the United States prepared to celebrate Purim with their campus Hillels, Jewish students and alumni across the pond were getting ready for Hillel International’s first-ever Hillel International Global Social event, an opportunity for Jewish students studying abroad to connect with each other and the Hillel community in London. As soon as the clock struck 6 p.m., students poured into a bar in Covent Garden, London, to find a Jewish home away from home waiting for them. “It’s nice to feel more connected to the Hillel world while I’m abroad,”  said Alexa Schwartz, third-year student at the University of Kansas. 

Over the course of the night, over 100 students (including 25 students from Northeastern University Hillel – Go Huskies!) studying overseas in London and throughout Europe came together with local Jewish students to celebrate Purim and make new friendships. Josh Hartman, associate vice president for immersive experiences and global operations at Hillel International, said, “Hillel is a global movement, and events like this show the power of global Jewish peoplehood and the importance of gathering [students] in person.”

This diverse group of people represented 36 different universities and Hillels. It was incredible to watch students thrive and make so many new connections that will enhance the rest of their time abroad. 

“I’m so happy to have had an easily accessible event to meet other Jewish students in London. I go to Hillel all the time at school, and this was a great way to go to a Hillel event while I’m somewhere without a Hillel. I had an awesome time,” said Russell Braver, an Indiana University student. 

Josh Slate, a third-year student at Emory University who is studying abroad in London agreed. “I loved being able to meet the Jewish community in London and integrate myself into Hillel International. I haven’t found that community as much so far in London, and I’m so happy I got the opportunity to experience this amazing venue,” he said.

By the time the event was over, so many conversations were still going strong, as people built new relationships. Students were planning Shabbat dinners together and some who arrived alone were leaving in new groups of friends to continue the evening of connection. “The London social was…the perfect chance to meet other Jewish students from all over the city. I left with new friends and a real sense of connection to the Jewish community in London. I’m so grateful to Hillel for making it happen,” said Ariana Kaye, first-year student at Northeastern University.

Reflecting on the evening, Director of Student Engagement and Experiences Michael Kagan shared, “The Hillel Global Social in London was a powerful reminder of how Hillel creates community for Jewish students no matter where they are in the world. Talking with students about their experiences studying abroad made it clear just how important it is to foster belonging and connection when they’re far from home.”

Studying abroad and looking to connect with other Jewish students? Let us know how Hillel can help! 

The post Hillel is Here for You… All Over the World! appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Happy Hanukkah Happenings at Hillel

Author

Hannah Smuckler

Date

January 6, 2025

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. 

American University Hillel (AU Hillel) also hosted a creative “Gelt-Together,” 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. “A 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,” second-year student Lea Wayne said. “Taking time to hang out with my friends and chill before I have to get into a lot of studying has been great.” 

BU Hillel held its 20th annual Latkepalooza, hosting 122 students to eat mountains of latkes and decorate their own menorahs. “I was grateful that BU Hillel provided a place for us to have a pre-Hanukkah experience,” 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. “Winterfest has been an annual celebration since 2022. It’s a big and fun celebration,” said Dina Levin, a Hillel student board member. “I absolutely love Winterfest because it’s a great way to bond with friends and whenever we put up the decorations, it’s like a winter wonderland.”

Columbia/Barnard Hillel hosted about 200 students for their (Almost) Hanukkah Party. Students enjoyed winter and holiday-related activities like a hot chocolate bar, “ugly sweater” 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. “I had a great time connecting with my friends and peers at Hillel that I don’t see on a day-to-day basis,” 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.

The post Happy Hanukkah Happenings at Hillel appeared first on Hillel International.