As we prepare to host our community for our Israel Shabbat this evening, we are writing to share an update after what has been a challenging week for many of us, but one that has also revealed your boundless courage, resilience, and joy.
On Wednesday, our annual “Falafel at Midday” event took place at Rand Terrace, hosted by ‘Dores for Israel, where around one hundred students stopped by between 12-1:30 p.m. to celebrate their connection to Israel and enjoy free falafel and t-shirts. While a small group of protesters repeatedly and intentionally broke Vanderbilt’s policies in an effort to disrupt the event, we are proud to say that they failed to deter us from celebrating who we are and what we stand for, and that the afternoon was a wonderful success. You can see some photos from the event below.
Unfortunately, this was not the first attack on the Jewish and pro-Israel communities this semester, or even this week. Since October 7, Jewish students have been subjected to repeated attempts to be made to feel intimidated, uncomfortable, and unwelcome in campus spaces. We will not be silenced, and we will continue to offer the full array of programming, educational opportunities, and religious services that are the hallmark of vibrant Jewish life at Vanderbilt.
Just yesterday at the Rothschild Black Box Theater, Hillel proudly hosted ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who spoke about rising antisemitism as part of his tour across U.S. college campuses. A small group of protestors once again failed to prevent us from a deep exploration of antisemitism and the current dynamics in America and on college campuses. Educational events like these empower both Jewish and non-Jewish students to explore the history of antisemitism and its current manifestations and will continue to be a focus of our programming throughout the semester.
We are proud of our student leaders and staff for everything they have achieved, especially in the face of adversity, and there is no better way to conclude the week than with a joyful Shabbat celebration of Jewish life, and of our deep and enduring connection to Israel. This week’s Shabbat theme will be imbued with even more meaning as we join with Hillels across the globe in marking this Friday as #BringThemHomeNow Shabbat. Our service leaders will spend time highlighting the different Jewish traditions from across the world that weave the tapestry of Israeli religious expression. Further, our dinner tables will each hold an empty seat laden with hearts, totalling 134, as a reminder that even our celebrations and joy cannot be whole until all our hostages are returned home.
Shabbat Shalom,
Vanderbilt Hillel