Hillels Welcomed 5786 with Sweetness, Joy, and Community
Every year, Jewish communities around the world celebrate Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year. This is a time of year full of sweetness and joy, often represented by images of apples and honey and other delicious seasonal foods.
On college campuses, Hillels welcome students and community members to pray, gather, celebrate, and connect as we honor this special time. Check out some highlights from this year’s programming!
Tufts University Hillel
At Tufts Hillel, Rosh Hashanah began with students and rabbis co-leading services side by side — and only grew from there. Combining song, prayer, and reflection, Tufts Hillel programming included services, meals, tashlich, and campus events. Over 200 students joined over the course of the holiday.
“Rosh Hashanah at Tufts Hillel is designed to be more than a holiday service,” said Katie Hamelburg, Tufts Hillel’s Senior Jewish Educator. “It’s about Jewish joy that can be felt in the room: voices singing, friends laughing over a meal, the pride of being part of something larger.”
Tufts Hillel created their Rosh Hashanah programming with a goal of making everything feel “alive” — making sure there’s always something vibrant, creative, and new, but still grounded in tradition and community. In one space, students could hear the timeless sound of the shofar. In another, they could be found cracking pomegranate seeds and laughing. Services were not just attended but co-led, meals not only eaten but shared. Tashlich also was a highlight, giving students an opportunity to toss bread into the river while singing and spending time together.
“The Tufts Hillel Rosh Hashanah services and dinners made me feel like I was at home celebrating with a new family. I feel very far away from home, so it was nice to have a space to go to!” shared first-year student Josie Hinkle. Second-year student Olive Ephross shared this sentiment, explaining that, “I found the Rosh Hashanah service to be really grounding and uplifting. I’m grateful to have brought in the new year surrounded by the community at Tufts Hillel.”
“Whether you come for services, a meal, or just to see what it’s like, you’ll leave knowing that Jewish life has a home for you here,” Hamelburg said. “We hope [students] carry this sense of joy, community, and intention into the months ahead.”
San Luis Obispo Hillel
In California, San Luis Obispo Hillel (or SLO Hillel for short) offers programs for students at Cal Poly and the greater San Luis Obispo community. Their events and services are always innovative, inspiring, and supportive, and this year’s Rosh Hashanah programming was no exception!
“Cal Poly’s motto is ‘learn by doing,’ which is exactly what SLO Hillel puts into practice,” said Lauren Bandari, executive director at SLO Hillel.
An estimated 120 Jewish Mustangs attended SLO Hillel’s second annual Rosh Hashanah dinner, sponsored by California Polytechnic State University Student Affairs and held in the university’s Chumash Auditorium. “The blessings and program are student-led, and it’s always inspiring and fun to see fellow students lead a holiday dinner,” Bandari said.
In addition to some delicious-sounding food (rotisserie chicken, smoked fish, quinoa and pomegranate salad, and roasted squash were all on the menu, and of course, apples, honey, and round challahs), dinner included a mixture of Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions and opportunities for students to share reflective thoughts or wishes for the new year to come. Campus administrators also attended, which added an extra note of sweetness. “It means much to the students and school to see Judaism vibrant and alive on campus,” Bandari shared.
Hillel student Judaic Chair Leora Feinsmith added, “Working with first-year students, Hillel board members, returning students, and campus administration staff to set up and add more tables gave me strong feelings of unity, cohesion, and community. I’m grateful to have been a part of such a beautiful event!’
SLO Hillel is off to an amazing start this year – and it’s just the beginning.
American University Hillel
Rosh Hashanah programming at American University Hillel began even before the holiday itself, starting with Apple Fest: a pre-holiday celebration on the AU quad. Apple Fest featured apple-themed games and treats, including a candy apple sundae bar and an apple mocktail mixology station, as well as reflective activities in the spirit of the holiday. About 350 students attended the event — that’s a lot of apples!
“Apple Fest was designed to generate excitement for the High Holidays among Jewish students, and to raise awareness among all members of the campus community,” said Jason Benkendorf, executive director at AU Hillel. “We’re focused on fostering Jewish joy during the holidays and throughout the year. Apple Fest embodied that focus, amping up the celebration, and inviting the entire campus to join in the fun.”
In addition to Apple Fest, AU Hillel also hosted holiday meals and services on campus, with about 250 students attending.
Rutgers University Hillel
At Rutgers University Hillel, almost all high holiday programming is student-led, from services to learning to meals, which included apples and honey, and delicious dinners and lunches for both days of the holiday.
“At Rutgers Hillel, we empower our students to own their Jewish experience, and in this case, we are doing that as a community,” said Rabbi Esther Reed, chief operating officer at Rutgers Hillel. “This holiday often attracts students who don’t come to Hillel otherwise, so giving them a ‘home away from home’ and a chance to connect with other Jews on campus is something that we hope will be meaningful for them.”
“We have a special community of student leaders, and we pride ourselves on being welcoming to those who are new,” Rabbi Reed added. “We have students who came for the first time as sophomores, juniors and seniors, and kept coming back because of how welcoming the community can be.”
Rosh Hashanah events at Rutgers might be over, but there’s still plenty of programming to come for Yom Kippur. When asked what she’d say to students trying to make up their mind about attending, Rabbi Reed offered an easy answer: “Come as you are, stay however long you want to stay,” she said. “Our doors are always open to you!”
University of Miami Hillel
Music plays a prominent role in High Holiday celebrations at University of Miami Hillel, where a recently-launched High Holiday Student Choir offered students a meaningful and creative way to engage with Jewish tradition. The flexible approach allowed student singers — many of whom grew up singing in synagogue choirs — the ability to participate in as many or as few services as possible across Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
“For some students this has been their first Jewish engagement on campus, while for others, it reconnected them with something deeply familiar,” said Shayna Kling, digital marketing and engagement associate at the University of Miami Hillel and a former cantorial soloist, who helps support the student-led group. “It enriches the High Holiday services for the entire community.”
This year, with the holidays falling during the week, many students stayed on campus— so making them feel special and welcoming at UM was key for Hillel staff and student leaders. In addition to the choir, UM Hillel offered numerous ways for students to engage during the High Holidays. Services met students wherever they were, whether they were looking for a deep spiritual experience or a warm community where they could celebrate. Students played a prominent role in leading services, giving divrei torah, leading prayers, reading aliyot, and taking on organizational and logistical roles.
Parents also played a part in gifting students a “Hug in a Mug,” a care package that Hillel offered that included honey sticks, apple sauce, pomegranate tea, and honey cake.
“Rosh Hashanah at UM Hillel is special because of the care and energy that goes into it,” Kling said. “Students come to the University of Miami knowing they will feel safe, supported, and celebrated here. The High Holidays are a time when that Jewish pride shines especially bright, and it is powerful to come together as a community to mark the new year in that spirit.”
Hillel at Stanford University
At Stanford University, Rosh Hashanah programming began with services and two dinners on Monday night: one hosted by Hillel for students, as well as family and community members, and a separate dinner organized by Stanford graduate students with Hillel’s support. Services took place in the campus concert hall, with about 400 people in attendance. The meals also included some campus VIPs, like Jonathan Levin, the president of Stanford, who attended the main Hillel dinner with his family and spoke to a packed house about how much he enjoyed celebrating his favorite day of the year with such a vibrant community.
Because Stanford is on a quarter system (rather than fall and spring semesters), Rosh Hashanah overlapped with the first few days of classes — presenting unique opportunities. For many returning students, Rosh Hashanah services are a joyful reunion with friends, while at the same time, new students are introduced to the richness of the Jewish community right away.
“The amount of care and intentionality that we and our partners across campus have put into curating a rich Rosh Hashanah experience for students sets a positive, meaningful tone for the start of the new academic year, as well as the Jewish year,” said Stanford Hillel Associate Director Branden Johnson. “It’s also a great opportunity for first-year students to see the fullness and vibrancy of our Jewish community here at Stanford.”
Wishing a sweet and joyous New Year to all of our Hillel communities. Shana tova!