Highlights from Hillel Hanukkah Happenings
For Jewish communities around the world, the arrival of Hanukkah this year was accompanied by tragic acts of violence at Brown University and in Bondi Beach, Australia, which brought grief and pain to what should have been joyful first-night celebrations.
As we mourn those who were murdered and hold those who are grieving in our hearts, Hillel students and staff gathered to celebrate Hanukkah together, determined not to let the light of this beautiful festival go out. Here are just a few highlights from Hanukkah celebrations at campus Hillels this year.
Brown RISD Hillel
No campus needed the light of Hanukkah more than Brown University. Brown RISD’s community candle lighting doubled as a vigil following a mass shooting the previous night that killed two students and wounded nine others. The campus spent the following 12 hours in lockdown — but that did not stop the community from coming together.
“The message of Hanukkah here is that we should increase the light,” said Rabbi Josh Bolton, executive director of Brown RISD Hillel, in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “Even in the midst of this very dark and difficult moment, together as a community, we come together and we give each other a little bit of light.”
During the lockdown, more than 30 students were gathered at Hillel — many without access to their phones. Rabbi Bolton led them in havdalah, marking the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week, in a windowless room so the candlelight could not be seen from outside.
Yael Ranel Filus (Brown ’28), an engineering student from Tel Aviv, spent the lockdown texting fellow Israeli students. “I don’t think any of us thought we would encounter something like this here,” she told JTA.
Still, she joined the rest of the community for the candle lighting. “It’s a safe space,” she said. “I don’t really want to be alone right now.”
“We hope to put a small sliver of light into the world today,” the Brown RISD Hillel team shared on Instagram. “We are here for you.”
Northwestern Hillel
At Northwestern University Hillel, their signature Hanukkah program has been lighting up campus for nearly two decades — and it’s still going strong.
“Latkepalooza is a tradition at Northwestern Hillel,” said Rabbi Jessica Lott, campus rabbi. “Students really look forward to it, and because it’s so accessible, many bring friends who aren’t Jewish to celebrate with them.”
This year, more than 115 students attended. In addition to hundreds of latkes prepared by Northwestern Hillel’s in-house chef — complete with classic toppings like sour cream and applesauce — students voted in an Instagram bracket to select a mystery dip.
“It was a tough competition,” Rabbi Lott joked, “but guacamole eked out a win!”
Students also enjoyed Hanukkah-themed crafts and activities, including cookie decorating, candle making, and dreidel spin art. The lower level of the lounge transformed into a Hanukkah speakeasy, featuring mocktails like the Shirley 2nd Temple, the Latke Cran, and the Maccabee Mule.
“Planning Latkepalooza was an amazing experience,” said Yoni Zacks, a first-year student and a member of the student planning committee. “I loved designing the graphics and creating the mystery dip bracket — it got students of all backgrounds engaged with Hillel.”
“It’s an especially sweet way to send students into finals,” Rabbi Lott said. “And then off to a well-deserved winter break.”
Harvard Hillel
With Harvard’s fall semester running through mid-December, many students spent Hanukkah on campus rather than at home with family. Harvard Hillel and its student holiday planning committee made sure the holiday still felt festive and communal.
“For this year, specifically, my goal… has just been to create fun events where people could find community and that sort of winter spirit,” said Henry Levenson, a second-year student and Harvard Hillel’s holiday chair, in an interview with the Harvard Independent. “And also for the end of the semester, have [Hillel] as sort of the dual purpose of Hanukkah celebration and end of semester celebration.”
Harvard Hillel hosted campus-wide Hanukkah parties featuring latkes, sufganiyot, gifts, and games. Students taught newcomers how to play dreidel, complete with plenty of gelt for winners, and the event was open to everyone — Jewish or not.
“We’re always happy to have new people in the door,” Levenson told the Harvard Independent. “Bring your friends… it’s really all about community and it’s about bringing people together.”
Levenson also organized a “Mystery Maccabee,” a Hanukkah twist on Secret Santa. Students were matched with one another and exchanged gifts based on shared interests.
“It’s about using those symbols of the holiday that are familiar to people, so whether it’s latkes or dreidels or gift giving,” Levenson said, “but it’s also about being with new friends that we’ve made at Harvard, and the new communities and really just creating that sense of a home away from home.”
Syracuse Hillel
At Syracuse University Hillel, Hanukkah Palooza is now in its third year — and still growing.
“In the first two years, we called it the ‘Greek Life Hanukkah Party,’” said Jillian Juni, executive director of Syracuse Hillel. “This year, we expanded it more broadly while still keeping strong Greek life involvement, and we saw an even bigger turnout.”
Despite heavy snowfall, more than 60 students gathered to enjoy latkes, sufganiyot, games, and plenty of Hanukkah candy. A student DJ kept the energy high all night, ending the celebration with Israeli dancing. Students also enjoyed Hanukkah-themed mocktails like the Aperol Shvitz, the Latke Lemon Fizz, and the Sufganiyah Sparkler while playing dreidel and blackjack — for gelt, of course.
“Holidays have always been a special time for my family,” shared third year student Isabelle Epelbaum. “Planning Hillel’s Hanukkah Party was about ensuring that the warmth was not lost in college. Seeing the joy on my peers faces, my second family, made everything worth it. I am so grateful for Hillel for giving me the space to lead and to allow our Jewish pride to shine!”
On their way out, students picked up free hanukkiyot to light throughout the holiday along with schedules for community candle-lightings at Syracuse Hillel.
Check out even more celebrations on Hillel International’s social media:
To everyone in our Hillel community: Happy Hanukkah, good luck with finals, and enjoy your winter break — you’ve earned it.