News

Standing Up with Pride in Celebration of Asian and Jewish Heritage Month

Author

Aasia Gabbour

Date

May 14, 2026

Aasia Gabbour is a graduating fourth year student at New York University (NYU). Aasia shares her story as an Asian Jew in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, both of which are celebrated in May. 

I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a non-Jewish Chinese mom and a Sephardic Jewish dad. Judaism was a constant that was woven into my childhood. That meant Friday night Shabbat dinners at my grandmother鈥檚 house, Jewish summer camp, and USY events. Being Jewish was never something I questioned.

Yet I faced a barrage of questions about my Jewish identity from others. I got used to hearing the same reactions over and over again: 鈥淲ait, you鈥檙e Jewish?鈥� 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 look Jewish.鈥� 鈥淵ou鈥檙e really Jewish?鈥�

Though I understood from a young age that Jewish identity was incredibly diverse,  some people acted like being Asian and being Jewish were somehow incompatible.

Over time, I started leaning more into my Chinese identity, partly because it was the one other people seemed willing to recognize. I took Mandarin classes in high school and played the erhu, a traditional Chinese instrument, in a Chinese orchestra.

For most of my life, my identities existed in separate spaces. Music and language connected me to my Chinese side. Camp, synagogue, and Jewish social spaces connected me to my Jewish side. Before college, I had met one or two other Asian Jews in my entire life.

Then I went to NYU.

I became involved with NYU Hillel almost immediately, and before long, it became the center of my college experience. I started as an engagement intern during my second year and eventually became the senior engagement intern. I became president of Kehillah, our traditional egalitarian minyan; co-president of our Jewish a cappella group, Ani v鈥橝ta; and an intern for Sababa Kitchen, a weekly NYU Hillel program that explores Jewish diversity and peoplehood through food.

But the biggest shift wasn鈥檛 getting involved. It was finally meeting other Asian Jewish students and community members.

For the first time, I made friends with people who understood exactly what it felt like to constantly explain yourself. People who also grew up hearing that they didn鈥檛 鈥渓ook鈥� Jewish. People who knew what it was like to have others act surprised by their identity.

I cannot overstate how meaningful it was for me to find friends through Hillel who shared my life experience. Then, during my second year, something changed even more deeply. Our Springboard Fellow, Sofie, started a Jews of Color (JOC) club for Asian Jews, Black Jews, and Latinx Jews. Before that, I had never really imagined a space intentionally built around those experiences. Walking into that room for the first time, I felt seen in a way I hadn鈥檛 before.

And I didn鈥檛 want that feeling to disappear.

When Sofie鈥檚 fellowship ended, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to keep the group going. I wanted other students to have someone they could turn to, someone who could connect them to a larger JOC community, whether that meant attending events together or simply joining a group chat where they could feel understood.

I no longer just saw myself as someone looking for community. I saw myself as someone responsible for building it.

That feeling became even stronger this past fall when I helped organize the first-ever Asian Jewish Shabbaton at Yale University. More than 500 students from more than a dozen colleges and universities attended. Walking into a space filled with hundreds of Asian Jews was emotional in a way I still struggle to describe.

We talked openly about the complicated parts of our identities, the assumptions people make about us, and the loneliness many of us had experienced growing up. But we also celebrated. We laughed. We prayed together. We built something joyful together.

And the impact didn鈥檛 stop there.

Recruiting students for the Shabbaton helped me connect with even more Asian Jews at NYU. We started our own group chat. We began hosting gatherings and creating spaces for each other on campus. At the same time, I became more involved in bringing diverse Jewish traditions and cultures into broader Hillel programming, whether that meant incorporating a Spanish-speaking themed Shabbat or hosting an Asian Shabbat dinner with Chinese food.

What I鈥檝e learned is that representation changes people. Sometimes all it takes is seeing someone who shares your experience to realize you belong here too.

If I could give advice to incoming Asian Jewish students now, as a senior preparing to graduate, I would tell them not to wait for permission to build the spaces they need.

If something feels missing in your Jewish community, and you know other students may be craving it too, don鈥檛 be afraid to step forward and create it. That first step can feel intimidating. But you might be gratefully surprised by how much of an impact you can have by simply standing up with pride in who you are. 

The post Standing Up with Pride in Celebration of Asian and Jewish Heritage Month appeared first on 精东影业.

Dear Hillel

Hillel Stories

Israel

Jewish Identity

Dear Hillel: Connecting Jewish Communities Across the World

Author

Ori Segev

Date

May 12, 2026

鈥淒ear Hillel鈥� showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and belonging with their campus Hillels. Ori Segev, a graduate student at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and member of the 精东影业 Student Cabinet, shares how she found her way to Hillel in the last year of her undergraduate experience 鈥� and how deeply Hillel changed this year for her. Read Ori鈥檚 letter to Hillel:

Dear Hillel,

My Hillel story is a little unusual, because until my final year of undergrad, I had never even heard about Hillel. I was fully focused on my studies in the Hebrew Literature department at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and on the friends that I already knew.听

And then I found my way to Hillel Israel by accident. I met a staff member, Yossi Morris, in the hallway of the Jewish Thought department, and six months later, because of that random moment, I joined a 鈥淵eha-do-it!鈥� program he was leading. It was a five-session journey of exploring various Jewish practices through a pluralistic lens. I loved the freedom to experiment and the way the program encouraged us to explore our heritage through hands-on, experiential learning.

That program changed me. Over the five sessions, I met people from across campus who I otherwise would never have met. I got the chance to explore my Jewish identity in the way I had always hoped to during my university years. I created Jewish-inspired art, joined Shabbat dinners, and even discovered a synagogue in my own neighborhood in Be鈥檈r Sheva that I didn鈥檛 know existed. 

But more than anything, I found a sense of community, which became even more important after the attacks on October 7, 2023. Hillel quickly became the central place for all of us to come together, support each other, explore our Jewish identities, and think about what our future in Israel might look like.

And it didn鈥檛 stop there. I got more involved, went on Shabbatonim where I met students from Hillel centers across the country, and started showing up to more and more community events 精东影业 Ben-Gurion. By the end of that year, Hillel had become a huge part of my student experience. I built a deeper connection to Judaism and formed friendships that are still a big part of my life.

At the end of that year, I completed my undergraduate program, started my master鈥檚 degree in Hebrew literature, and joined the Hillel Ben-Gurion staff. Now I was the one leading the 鈥淵eha-do-it!鈥� program, the same course that made me fall in love with Hillel in the first place! 

I worked with an incredible group of students, and together we went on a really meaningful journey. We shared Shabbat dinners, studied in chavruta (traditional partner-based learning), and explored the city together to learn more about the Negev. Being part of the Hillel Ben-Gurion staff quickly became a core part of my identity and my day-to-day life.

I also got to see Hillel from a new perspective. I helped organize events like our Thanksgiving dinner for Israeli students and olim (new immigrants to Israel), musical Kabbalat Shabbat services, and local volunteering initiatives. Hillel gave me the space to bring ideas to life and try things I had always wanted to do, but never had the chance to before. One of the most impactful opportunities has been representing Hillel Israel on the 精东影业 Student Cabinet over the past year. 

When I interviewed for the cabinet, I described it as something similar to the work of the nehutei, the Talmudic sages who traveled between the Land of Israel and Babylon, connecting Jewish communities and sharing ideas. 

And that鈥檚 exactly what this last year has felt like, traveling between Israel and the United States and sharing ideas and hopes with 20 other incredible Jewish students from around the world. We spent time building real connections and thinking together about the future of Jewish life on campus. 

Those conversations and shared hopes led me to design the 鈥淜别丑颈濒濒辞迟鈥� program that I lead today. 鈥�碍别丑颈濒濒辞迟,鈥� or 鈥淐ommunities,鈥� brings together students from all six Hillel Israel centers across the country. In each session, students meet with someone from a different Jewish community around the world 鈥� giving each student in the cohort the opportunity to take on the role of the nehutei, just like Hillel gave me.

Looking back, that random hallway conversation didn鈥檛 just shape my university experience; it completely changed how I see myself. Hillel showed me that I鈥檓 part of something much bigger, a global Jewish community connected by shared history, values, and hope.

I feel incredibly grateful to be part of this community, and even more grateful to keep building those connections, together.

The post Dear Hillel: Connecting Jewish Communities Across the World appeared first on 精东影业.

News

Your Guide to Lag Ba’Omer

Author

精东影业

Date

May 4, 2026

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Spoiler: Yes! It’s Lag Ba’Omer!

What is Lag Ba鈥橭mer? 

Lag Ba鈥橭mer is the 33rd day of the Omer, the period of time on the Jewish calendar between Passover and Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Omer is traditionally a time of mourning when people may abstain from listening to live music, cutting their hair, and attending celebrations like weddings or engagement parties. Lag Ba鈥橭mer marks the end of that mourning period and is often a time when couples will get engaged or married, and other deferred life cycle moments will be celebrated.

Where did these practices come from?

Rabbi Akiva, a prominent Mishnaic and Talmudic sage, was one of the great teachers of Torah in his time. The Talmud (Yevamot 62b) writes that Rabbi Akiva was such a prolific teacher that he had 12,000 pairs of students, or chavrutot, that studied with him. The Talmud goes on to share that all of Rabbi Akiva鈥檚 students lost their lives in a plague that started on Passover and ended on Lag Ba鈥橭mer. The mourning practices of the Omer are in commemoration of the loss of life and Torah knowledge described in this story.听

In the face of the devastating loss he faced, Rabbi Akiva was determined to reestablish the community of learners that he built. He gathered five new students to start the process and community once again. 

One of Rabbi Akiva鈥檚 new students, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, became a Torah scholar and  a forefather of Jewish mysticism. On the day he passed away, Lag Ba鈥橭mer, he named that day to be one filled with his joy. In honor of his teaching, Lag Ba鈥橭mer has become a day of joy and connection for Jewish people around the world. 

How do Jews around the world celebrate Lag Ba鈥橭mer?

Over the years, Jewish people developed the custom of spending Lag Ba鈥橭mer outside in appreciation and wonder of the natural world. Here are some traditions that Jewish communities celebrate all over the world:

• Picnics with family and friends
• Field days for young students 
• Bonfires and barbecues 
• A custom specific to Israel is to hold Lag Ba鈥橭mer celebrations at the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron to fulfill his wish that the day be filled with joy

While the Lag Ba鈥橭mer stories are from thousands of years ago, the symbolism and meaning behind them still resonate today. Finding joy and meaning in our identities and sharing that joy with others is core to Jewish life 精东影业. 

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News

Celebrating Persian Jewish Culture for Purim

Author

Julia Nikkhoo

Date

March 3, 2026

Julia Nikkhoo is a student at Dartmouth College. She shared her family’s ancient connection to the Purim story in celebration of the holiday.

As missiles fall in Iran, Israel, and other parts of the Middle East, Purim is an especially timely reminder of the connection between Persians and Jews. 

My mom is Hamadani, her ancestry rooted in the city in Iran where both Queen Esther and Mordechai are from. My Hebrew name is Esther in honor of this connection, so I always saw Esther as someone who looked like me, lived in the place my mom lived, spoke Farsi, and had a Persian name. Because of that, this holiday has such special meaning to my family and the Persian Jewish community, who I鈥檓 especially missing this week. My celebrations at Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire are less rooted in Persian traditions than in California, but they illustrate how relevant and applicable the lessons from Purim are in a new way.

Purim is, at its core, a story about a Jew who no one knew was Jewish. Esther had a Persian name, was married to a non-Jew, and since she was not able to openly practice her religion, hid her true identity. She was perhaps the last person many would expect to be a Jewish hero. And yet, she saved her entire people. Esther鈥檚 story teaches that every Jew is an important and valued member of our community. Because of that, I am so grateful Dartmouth Hillel鈥檚 annual Purim Ball offers people a space to connect with Judaism in a way that is accessible for all, especially for those who may have never attended a Jewish event before. This unique welcoming space th精东影业 creates is the most meaningful tradition that I鈥檝e incorporated into celebrating Purim, alongside the traditions I grew up with.听聽

My earliest Purim memory is getting dressed up in a princess dress so I could be 鈥淨ueen Esther鈥� for Purim. Our synagogue held massive events for Purim where I have a vague memory of playing carnival games, but I mostly remember all the music and dancing. Persians love to dance, and I have the best memories of spending Purim on my feet, even after we got back home. My dad also has a book called 鈥淓sther鈥檚 Children鈥� about the history of Persian Jews, and I remember that book sitting on a table in our living room for as long as we鈥檝e lived in our house. My connection to Esther has been lifelong.

Growing up, my mom always spoke about Hamadan and how the tomb of Esther and Mordechai remains there, even after so many of its Jews have been forced to leave. She would remind me that my ancestry and Esther鈥檚 ancestry are the same, since many Jews stayed in Hamadan for thousands of years. It was very special as a child to have a Jewish hero who looked like me and who came from the same town as my mom. The imagery of Esther in our house always portrayed her with olive skin, dark black hair, and facial features just like mine.

Today, I still strongly associate Purim with Persian traditions and community, though there is no Persian community at our New Hampshire Hillel.  But now my celebrations hold their own special meaning, because I have a chance to share them with people who have never experienced them. While we always have a mishloach manot event and a Megillah reading in Hanover, my favorite part of this holiday is when we dress up in our costumes and come together to dance. This way of celebrating together most reminds me of home. 

Because of that, I always request Persian music at our Purim Ball, which was held this year in one of Dartmouth鈥檚 main event spaces. Every year, I teach anyone who is willing how to dance traditional Persian dances. It鈥檚 a fun way to share my culture, and my mom always laughs when she sees the videos of people trying to qajar successfully. Persians love life. Persian celebrations are filled with music and dancing, from Nowruz to weddings to living rooms after dinner. This celebration of life is also a Jewish value, perhaps most applicable on Purim. Iran and the Jewish people have had a biblical connection since King Cyrus. On Purim, I celebrate both parts of my identity.

Celebrating Purim continues to connect me to my home and my heritage, even as the world changes. It celebrates the thousands of years of history that Iranians and Jews share.  And though the Purim Ball is over, I鈥檒l still be bringing my Persian culture to the Dartmouth Jewish community through Persian Shabbat celebrations, teaching people to sing 鈥淭avalodet Mobarak,鈥� and celebrating holidays together. Although at first I felt isolated over the weekend when this conflict began, my homesickness faded as my Hillel community showed up for me. Through this holiday, this conflict, and beyond, I鈥檒l be celebrating Esther and thousands of years of Jewish, Persian, and Persian-Jewish history. 

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Hillel Stories

Jewish Identity

Jewish Learning

Self-Care is Torah Too

Author

Cal Newmann

Date

February 23, 2026

Cal Newmann is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the president of VCU Hillel. They shared their story in celebration of Jewish Disability, Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month.

Before I began attending events 精东影业, I rarely interacted with the Jewish community where I live. I was raised in a multifaith household, and it wasn鈥檛 until my early 20s, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that I finally found the time and space to connect with my Jewish heritage.

When Hillel鈥檚 then-executive director approached me about getting involved on campus a year later, I was ecstatic. I didn鈥檛 even realize there was a Jewish organization at Virginia Commonwealth University. I jumped right in, and I haven鈥檛 looked back.

Because of my disability, I鈥檓 rarely able to go to synagogue. My sleep disorder makes it so I need to be in bed before most services start, and my chronic pain makes sitting in one place for too long prohibitive. Hillel has given me a way to fully participate in my Jewish community. It also offers me the chance to share what I鈥檝e been given: acceptance, connection, and a true sense of belonging. Through Hillel, I鈥檝e met many other Jewish students, including other disabled students, and that has made a huge difference in my life 鈥� reminding me that I鈥檓 not alone.

I鈥檓 also a little older than most college students, which can make it hard to find people my age at a four-year institution. Through Hillel, I鈥檝e been able to connect with Jewish students and members of the Jewish community who feel closer to where I am in life. As student president, I鈥檝e also had the chance to step into leadership and help others who are just beginning their own journeys to find their footing, the way I once did.

Right now, I鈥檓 participating in a Shabbat Hosting Lab cohort, and I love the spirit behind it: making Shabbat your own. As a student with a heavy workload, as well as a disability, the message of accessibility in Jewish practice really resonates with me. The process of exploring what Shabbat means in my life has been powerful, and I鈥檓 excited to host some non-traditional Shabbat gatherings with Jewish friends in a Discord community I鈥檓 part of.

Another part of Judaism I鈥檝e embraced has been learning about the principle of pikuach nefesh, preserving life. Jewish law doesn鈥檛 just allow me to take care of myself 鈥� it requires it.

The best representation of pikuach nefesh that I鈥檝e experienced is how I鈥檝e learned to navigate observing Yom Kippur. Because of my disability, I can鈥檛 fast on Yom Kippur. For a long time, I worried that meant I was doing something wrong, or that I wasn鈥檛 鈥淛ewish enough.鈥� But I鈥檝e come to understand that practicing differently doesn鈥檛 make me a bad Jew. It means I鈥檓 observing with intention.

A rabbi once offered this framing for observing Yom Kippur to me: instead of putting cream and sugar in my coffee, take it black. Or better yet, drink water. That advice helped me let go of guilt. Sometimes I feel like I鈥檓 missing the point of Yom Kippur, the idea of afflicting oneself. Then my own body reminds me that I live with affliction every day. The meaning of the holiday, for me, becomes something else: reflection, humility, and care. I鈥檝e taken this lesson with me into my everyday life as well. 

I鈥檓 endlessly grateful for Hillel as a place of belonging. Being student president these past few years has helped me build leadership skills, meet other Jewish students, and most importantly, make new friends.

Even though I鈥檓 a senior and will be graduating at the end of spring, I鈥檒l still be around for another year as part of my master鈥檚 program. I鈥檓 genuinely looking forward to what comes next.

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News

Leadership, Connection, and Global Peoplehood: Reflections from the First Cohort of the Matanel Fellowship

Author

精东影业

Date

February 4, 2026

精东影业鈥檚 commitment to fostering Jewish leadership is exemplified by the first cohort of the annual . This program, spearheaded by Hillel Israel in partnership with 精东影业 and the Matanel Foundation, brings together Jewish students from Israel, North America, and Europe for a year-long course of study designed to build international friendships and leadership.听

鈥淥ver the course of this year, I have been engaged with the beauty and complexity of pluralistic Judaism,鈥� said Gilad Schonberger, a second-year industrial engineering and management student at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and a member of the inaugural cohort. 鈥淭his fellowship isn鈥檛 just a moment. It is a mirror. It reflects back the kind of leader I want to be, the kind of community I want to help build, and the kind of Jewish future I want to be a part of.鈥�

Launched in January 2025, the inaugural cohort included 15 participants, five each from Israel, the United States, and Poland. Hillel professionals nominated students from their home countries to apply for the fellowship, which included a mix of online, in-person, and project-based learning. 

Over the course of the year, Fellows participated in eight online learning sessions that covered Jewish identity, pluralism, and peoplehood; social and demographic trends of Jewish communities; and Jewish texts and traditions. Facilitated by inspiring speakers, each session placed an emphasis on building skills and knowledge while creating a safe space for healthy conversations and disagreements.

鈥淢atanel Fellowship is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a transformative experience that blends personal growth with meaningful engagement in the Jewish world,鈥� said Hillel Poland Fellow Katarzyna. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about learning 鈥� it鈥檚 about connecting with passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to making a positive impact.鈥�

In May, the cohort came together for an in-person Shabbaton in Budapest, one of Eastern Europe鈥檚 largest Jewish communities,  with a rich, vast history of Jewish peoplehood. In addition to Shabbat programming and plenty of time to deepen relationships, students took a tour of the city, and focused on the ways that Jewish memory is told and retold through narratives and traditions. Students also spoke about the importance of remembering the past both as a series of facts and a collection of memories and emotions to be shared. 

One of the key components of the Fellowship was a participant鈥檚 final project, designed to reflect their learning throughout the year. These projects could be proposals for programs, essays, visual art, poetry, or any other form of media, as long as they answered two key questions: 

1. What is one challenge that you see within the global Jewish community and what is your vision for resolving this challenge?
2. What role do you foresee for yourself within that resolution?

鈥淸The Fellowship] is an opportunity to grapple with what global Jewish peoplehood means and鈥� learn more about your own story from a new perspective,鈥� shared Yakira, one of the fellows from Hillel Israel. 

Explore the Fellows’ Final Projects

Columbia-Barnard Hillel

Anna Birman: Becoming the Link: Living L鈥橠or va鈥橠or (from Generation to Generation)

Empowering middle school and early high school students with the confidence and knowledge they need to move through the Jewish world with confidence.

Hillel Poland

Jan Cicho艅sk: After October 7: Voices of the Diaspora 鈥� Reflections, Challenges, and the Future

Researching reflections from people throughout the Jewish community of Poland to learn how their lives and worldviews have changed since October 7th.听

Hillel Poland

Gabriela Markin: Unorthodox: Everyday Jewish

Exploring the diverse ways in which young Jews in Poland live their Jewishness today through a short documentary.

Hillel Israel

Tsuf Oron: Jewish Identity in a Secular World: A Personal and Visual Exploration

Making Jewish identity more accessible and personal through a photo exhibit highlighting Jewish holidays, rituals, and symbols.

鈥淸Our participants鈥橾 final projects reflect their journey and embody our guiding principle: 鈥楲earn with one another, about one another, and from one another,鈥欌�� said Noga Brenner Samia, CEO of Hillel Israel. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be prouder of this first cohort of Matanel Fellows. Their words leave me deeply optimistic 鈥� the Jewish people are in good hands, with good hearts, and good minds.鈥�

Esti Palmer, associate director of immersive experiences at 精东影业, wholeheartedly agreed. 鈥淭his fellowship reignited my motivation to create more opportunities for people to strengthen their connection to their own Jewish story and to the colorful tapestry of our global Jewish community,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hank you to our fellows for teaching me what it means to be authentically generous with your passion, your creativity, and your unique Jewish story.鈥� 

To the members of the inaugural cohort: Serdeczne gratulacje! Mazal tov! Congratulations! We can鈥檛 wait to see your leadership in action.

The post Leadership, Connection, and Global Peoplehood: Reflections from the First Cohort of the Matanel Fellowship appeared first on 精东影业.

Alumni

Diversity and Inclusion

Hillel Stories

Jewish Identity

Wearing All of My Identities on My Sleeve: Celebrating Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month

Author

Ling DeBellis

Date

February 3, 2026

This month is Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month. In celebration of the diversity of Jewish identities and Jewish people who have disabilities, Ling DeBellis, a graduate student at Rice University, shared her story of proudly living all of her identities as she moves through life. 

I was born in southern China, near the Vietnam border. At only a few weeks old, I was found abandoned and severely malnourished. Doctors believe I may have contracted a polio-like neuromuscular virus. To this day, I don鈥檛 have an official diagnosis. I navigate the world using various mobility aids, including an electric powerchair, but despite these mobility limitations, nothing stops me from living my full life. 

Eventually, I was adopted by amazing parents in Minneapolis, where I loved being an only child. We鈥檙e very close, and my family鈥檚 wide range of identities has always been a part of my life. You could say we are technically an interfaith family, but it never felt that distinct growing up. 

My mom describes herself as 鈥渓oosely, culturally Jew-ish,鈥� and my dad comes from a Catholic background. Faith was always present in our home, but it wasn鈥檛 rigid or singular. It wasn鈥檛 about reading scripture or attending services, none of that. Rather, it was about being there for one another, being present and conversing over shared meals, and giving back to the communities around us. Faith was something you could question, return to, or step toward slowly.

Some of my earliest memories reflect that openness. I remember visiting a Reform synagogue as a very small child and feeling unexpectedly drawn to the service. I couldn鈥檛 have explained why at the time. I just remember it feeling meaningful, like something was quietly waiting for me there.

As I got older, my sense of curiosity about the world and my own story deepened. In high school, I wanted to learn more about my genetic background. Part of that came from living with a disability without a clear diagnosis. Part of it was simply wanting to understand where I came from. I didn鈥檛 find any biological relatives, but my mom鈥檚 own genetic testing revealed that her ancestors in Eastern Europe had been targeted by pogroms and forced to convert. That discovery opened something new for both of us. We began exploring our Jewish story together, historically, culturally, and personally, and it felt less like uncovering something foreign and more like recognizing something that had been there all along.

That鈥檚 how I found my way to Hillel at Rice University.

Hillel became a place where I could sit with a very Jewish question: What does it mean to be Jewish? There was no pressure to arrive at a clean answer or to commit to a single definition. I could explore, experiment, and pay attention to what resonated. That freedom mattered. It allowed me to show up as I was, without needing to justify my questions or my complexity.

Today, I鈥檓 pursuing a PhD in health psychology at Rice, studying how stress affects the body, from mental health to immune functioning. In a post-pandemic world, that work feels especially relevant. Much of my research focuses on spousal caregivers of people living with Alzheimer鈥檚/dementia, examining how the chronic stress of caregiving affects long-term health outcomes.

For my dissertation, I鈥檓 especially interested in an emerging field called sociogenomics, or social genomics. At its core, it explores how social and environmental stressors can influence gene activity. Your DNA sequence doesn鈥檛 change, but which genes are turned on or off can shift based on your experiences. One of the central questions in this research is why two people can experience the same stressor and respond so differently.

Again and again, research points to one powerful resilience factor: community. Social support. A sense of belonging. Studies of religiosity and faith communities consistently show that when people feel seen, supported, and connected to something larger than themselves, their health outcomes improve. Purpose matters. Meaning matters.

For me, Hillel is part of that story. It鈥檚 where I found community and where I met some of my closest friends. It鈥檚 a place where I don鈥檛 have to compartmentalize who I am, where my academic interests, my disability, my Jewish identity, and my relationships all get to exist together.

I tend to be pretty open about my identities and wear them on my sleeve. All of them. Not because it鈥檚 easy, but because I believe that showing up honestly creates space for others to do the same.

So I show up as myself. Fully. And if that doesn鈥檛 work for everyone, that鈥檚 okay. I鈥檝e learned that the right communities don鈥檛 ask me to be smaller. They make room for me to be exactly who I am.

The post Wearing All of My Identities on My Sleeve: Celebrating Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month appeared first on 精东影业.

Hillel Stories

Holidays

Jewish Identity

Small Acts of Light With Lasting Impact

Author

Sarie Goodweather

Date

December 22, 2025

When I was younger, celebrating Hanukkah often felt like a reminder of how my family was different from the others at my school. Every store was decked out for Christmas, everyone wished me a 鈥淢erry Christmas,” and I was constantly explaining to my peers that I don’t celebrate Christmas 鈥� because I鈥檓 Jewish. It was sometimes disheartening to learn that people knew so little about my culture, especially because I loved learning about other cultures. 

But my parents never failed to make Hanukkah as special as possible. Between decorating our house with my Sunday school Hanukkah artwork, using drip mats I crafted in preschool, the sizzling sound of latkes, the illuminating light of the menorah, and the excitement in the air as my cousins and I watched the dreidel spin, I was reminded of all the joy in being Jewish. I could always count on my parents to remind me that Hanukkah is a unique celebration of light, resilience, and the strength of our people. 

I could also count on them to show me the importance of spreading light and sharing our culture with others. As a fourth grader at a new secular school, my main goal was to fit in. So, when my mom informed me of her plans to teach my class about Hannukah, I was a bit mortified. Having my mom talk to the class about the very thing that made me different didn鈥檛 exactly align with my goal. 

As I watched her proudly represent our people, however, my nerves began to fade away. My classroom was transformed into a place of Jewish joy. My classmates formed circles around spinning dreidels, the smell of latkes filled the air, and I was again reminded of what it means to be proudly Jewish. And my peers loved the experience!  Importantly, I got to witness the lessons of Hanukkah firsthand: small acts of light can have a lasting impact. Just as the Temple menorah was sustained by a small amount of oil, small moments of courage and openness sustain our people.

Throughout the following years, I witnessed my parents show up time and again as proud Jews. Their courageous efforts lit a lasting light within me too: I was committed to sharing the joy of Judaism with others. When I came to college, I sought out a community that valued Jewish joy as much as my family had, and one that could help my passion for Judaism flourish. As my first Hanukkah on campus approached last year, I worried that it wouldn鈥檛 feel the same being away from home. I was used to a family celebration filled with joy and laughter, and I was anxious about finding a community that celebrates with the same pride as my family. 

Fortunately, I was lucky enough to find everything I was looking for at . Between winning the Hanukkah sweater contest with my friends, sharing our families鈥� traditions, and eagerly opening Hanukkah gift bags from Hillel, I found the magical Jewish joy of my childhood recreated at Texas Hillel. Once again, the smell of latkes filled the air and I was reminded of what it means to be Jewish. The staff and my friends had come to feel like family, and the building like home. 

Now, I can鈥檛 imagine celebrating Hanukkah on campus without the comfort and joy I鈥檝e found in Texas Hillel. As I celebrate Hanukkah once more, I am reminded of how lucky I am to come from a tradition deeply rooted in resilience and the belief that light is there to be shared.

Sarie Goodweather is a second-year student at the University of Texas at Austin.

The post Small Acts of Light With Lasting Impact appeared first on 精东影业.

Hillel Stories

Holidays

Jewish Identity

Hanukkah Traditions Light the Way for Community and Belonging

Author

Ella Luhrssen

Date

December 11, 2025

Ella Luhrssen is a first-year student at the University of Houston. In celebration of Hanukkah this year, Ella shared her experience of finding community and belonging through Hanukkah at Houston Hillel.听

Hanukkah has always been a magical experience for me. The special foods, the dancing聽lights, and the whimsical shapes formed by the melting wax are dear to my heart. As a child, I was surprised at how long the flames stayed alight and even more shocked to learn that the little bit of oil in the Temple Menorah lasted for eight days.听

As I鈥檝e gotten older, I鈥檝e come to appreciate the intricate symbolism of Jewish holidays, especially Hanukkah. For example, the shamash, the ninth helper candle, shares its light with the other candles; we eat fried latkes and sufganiyot, filled doughnuts, to honor the oil that helped the Jewish people in the Hanukkah story rededicate the Temple; and we spin dreidels inscribed with the reminder of the great miracle that happened then. Every detail stems from a much broader journey that I鈥檓 honored to be part of, demonstrating the miracle of flourishing in the face of scarcity and honoring our ancestors鈥� resilience. 

Lighting the hanukkiah is a particular source of comfort and connection. It sparks a feeling of collective harmony around the table, with everyone dedicated to sharing the gift of light. Growing up in a neighborhood where my family didn鈥檛 know any other Jews, celebrating Hanukkah was something I鈥檇 only shared with those closest to me 鈥� and it has remained sacred throughout my life as my observance of the holiday has changed. 

I remember my early years as a child, when my brother was learning the blessing, and the even earlier ones when I was a toddler who insisted on holding the shamash despite needing a little assistance. 

In recent years, I鈥檝e missed that feeling of connection and sacred belonging. My family hasn鈥檛 been together for the holiday more recently, and last year, I found myself lighting birthday candles in a makeshift hanukkiah over WhatsApp with my mom. I also found myself looking for something more. 

That feeling of searching for Jewish connection was one reason I got involved with Hillel at the University of Houston, and built a family for myself here. Now I feel more connected to my Jewish identity and tradition than ever before. 

Being welcomed by the Jewish community here has allowed me to flourish. This feeling has been especially magnified this Hanukkah, as I鈥檝e grown even deeper connections to a festival so dear to me. It was this holiday season, as a first-year college student, that I played dreidel for the first time, learning each face of the dreidel; nun. gimmel, hay, and shin (or pey in Israel) and their meanings before playing the game. Making note of the other players鈥� techniques, I gave it a go. The dreidel spun about itself sideways for a few seconds before falling, and to make matters worse, I continuously landed on nun and shin. Though I won no gelt at the end of the game, it was decided I should have all of it as a first-time player. Win or lose, this simple game filled the room with a warm energy that united us all. 

Sharing this activity with other Jewish students around a holiday that already meant so much to me made my connection to Hanukkah 鈥� and Judaism 鈥� that much deeper. Hillel at the University of Houston has given me new ways to experience my culture by helping me build community and showing me how enriching it is to embrace this beautiful part of my life. Hanukkah is one of the most joyous times of the year, and being able to share this blessing with my new community makes it that much more meaningful.

The post Hanukkah Traditions Light the Way for Community and Belonging appeared first on 精东影业.

News

The Ultimate Hanukkah Party Hosting Guide

Author

精东影业

Date

December 5, 2025

1. Create a latke bar with different types of toppings and sauces. Offer classic toppings like sour cream and applesauce, but also include unique options like smoked salmon, avocado, and various flavored creams.

2. Hanukkah is all about light, so make that the focus of your decor. Combine candles, clear strung holiday lights, and even a disco ball for a twinkly atmosphere.

4. Organize a 鈥渇riendly鈥� dreidel tournament with small prizes for the winners.

5. Celebrate the miracle of oil by hosting a fried foods potluck. Invite your guests to contribute the best fried foods from their own cultures, and share stories about each one.

6. Make your very own Hanukkah candles or build your own menorah with creative materials.

7. Decorate Hanukkah cookies! What鈥檚 more fun than getting to be creative while making yourself a sweet treat?

The post The Ultimate Hanukkah Party Hosting Guide appeared first on 精东影业.