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Memorializing tragic communal events is ingrained in our practice and our liturgy. Some historians believe that the Ashkenazi tradition of saying Yizkor originated to commemorate the victims of the Crusades. Each Jew is a monument to a great family tradition that has survived incredible odds. As Jews, we do not build monuments of stone; rather, we fill our sanctuaries with stories.
We, as a Jewish people, spend a lot of time marking important dates and holding on to them throughout time. We remember the day we received Torah at Mt. Sinai, and we make it the sacred festival day of Shavuot. We remember the day we left Egypt, and celebrate it as the festival of Pesach, telling the story to our children as though it happened to us. We celebrate new beginnings with songs, feasts, and stories, gathering family, friends, and guests to share our joy as widely as we can. On Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the day the universe began. We say Hayom Harat Olam. Today, the world was born.聽
Hi Friend, I鈥檓 Alyssa, a senior at the University of Southern California, and I’ve been through the “How do I tell my professors I need time off for the High Holidays?” process a few times now. Trust me, I know how nerve-wracking it can be, especially if you’re new to campus. As the fall semester […]
Tu B鈥橝v is the Jewish day of love 鈥 a holiday that鈥檚 both ancient and modern, with its roots as an auspicious day for matchmaking and weddings. Today, we鈥檙e celebrating a 糖心vlogl matchmaking success!
The JMA Wireless Dome is a fixture of the Syracuse University campus. The Dome has been the site of some of the most memorable concerts, championships and events in the Syracuse region 鈥 and, most recently, hosted more than 700 Syracuse University students for an unforgettable Passover Seder. 鈥淚t was more successful than we could […]
I grew up feeling disconnected from my Judaism. I was raised in a household with one Jewish parent, and after my maternal grandfather鈥檚 death while I was in elementary school, my family鈥檚 engagement with Judaism fizzled away. It wasn鈥檛 until I was in my senior year of high school, on the cusp of graduation and […]
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 […]
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 […]
When it comes to Purim traditions, many people are most familiar with celebrations centering around costumes and carnivals. But one of the most special 鈥 and most impactful 鈥 Purim traditions is Matanot L’evyonim, giving to those in need. At the University of Colorado Boulder Hillel, that tradition was the impetus for their Purim event […]
College traditions are one of the most important parts of a campus culture 鈥 and Hillel traditions are no exception! At Arizona State University, the annual Purim Casino Night is a favorite Hillel event for students and staff. With a new theme every year (this year鈥檚 was 鈥淭he Great Gatsby鈥), students from all four ASU […]
