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I grew up feeling disconnected from my Judaism. I was raised in a household with one Jewish parent, and after my maternal grandfather’s death while I was in elementary school, my family’s engagement with Judaism fizzled away. It wasn’t until I was in my senior year of high school, on the cusp of graduation and […]
The Hebrew word yamim (ימים) is the plural form of the word yom or “day,” and can refer to a time, a specific age, or a season. In Israel and in the Jewish diaspora, when folks talk about “the spring yamim,” they are generally referring to three national holidays on the Israeli calendar: Yom HaShoah […]
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 – leaving ancient Egypt, or sometimes interpreted as “a narrow space”. There’s a common refrain that comes to mind during Passover and other Jewish holidays: “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat!” […]
As Jewish people around the world observe Passover this month, we’re diving into the origins of the holiday. In the first part of this series, we learned about how to host a Seder – now we’re exploring where Passover comes from, and who decided it was a thing? The way we observe Passover today has […]
First things first: What even IS a Seder? Every year, Jewish people tell and retell the miraculous story of the enslaved Israelites’ exodus from Egypt during a festive meal called a Seder (Say-der). In Hebrew, the word Seder means order. A Seder is a structured, home-based ritual that combines a series of choreographed rituals with […]
When it comes to Purim traditions, many people are most familiar with celebrations centering around costumes and carnivals. But one of the most special — and most impactful — 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 — 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’s was “The Great Gatsby”), students from all four ASU […]
In Jewish tradition, the month of Adar is full of joyous festivities, centering on one of the most celebratory holidays in the Jewish calendar: Purim. This year, Jewish college students are examining what it means to celebrate Purim during a time of war and rising antisemitism, as many grapple with feelings of fear, anxiety, and […]
Later this week, Jewish people around the world will celebrate Purim, commemorating the deliverance of the Jews of ancient Persia from persecution. In the first part of this series, we learned about the story of the holiday and explained why we love it so much! This final story in the series explores the various ways […]
