How Hillels Partied for Purim This Year
One of the most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar, Purim is a time to celebrate through traditions like dressing in costumes, reading the Megillah, eating and drinking tasty treats, and donating to charity. While there are four required mitzvot for celebrating Purim — the reading of the Megillah, the festive Purim meal, sending gifts to friends and neighbors, and giving to those in need — there are plenty of other ways to add joy to the holiday. Here are just a few of the ways Hillels celebrated Purim this year:
Murder Mystery and Mocktails – Hillel at University of Hartford (Hartford Hillel)
At Hartford Hillel, students arrived at the Zachs Hillel House to find it turned into a 1920s-style site of a “murder most foul.” Instead of the traditional costumes and story of King Ahasuerus and Queen Esther, students encountered five suspects as they attempted to solve the murder of an emerging fictional novelist, Ritta Bookes. After spotting clues and voting for suspects, a student detective exposed the killer, and students who guessed correctly were entered into a raffle to win 1920s-themed mishloach manot bags.
As they solved clues, students sipped on mocktails like pina coladas and cosmos while wearing costumes of their own because, after all, what’s Purim without dressing up?
Purim Drag Show and Carnival – Penn State Hillel
On the topic of dressing up, Penn State Hillel continued its tradition of hosting a Purim Drag Show, which took place before the holiday on Wednesday, March 5. A student drag troupe, the State Queens, performed for students and audience members, showcasing their musical talents as well as Purim’s themes of revealing one’s true nature and celebrating one’s inner truths — both of which are particularly meaningful themes to the LGBTQ+ community.
“This event is about joy,” Marcus Family Executive Director Aaron Kaufman told the Daily Collegian, Penn State’s student newspaper, adding, “Purim is a day where we are commanded to celebrate, and what better way to do that than with a drag show, great food and a party?”
Baking a Difference – Clark University Hillel
Students at Clark University Hillel embraced the tradition of giving gifts of food, or mishloach manot, by baking hamantaschen for Jewish soldiers serving in the United States military in partnership with the Jewish Soldiers Project of Rochester, NY. Gathered in the kitchen of the Torah Center in central Massachusetts, Jewish students sang and danced to Israeli music while rolling out dough and baking the cookies to include in care packages. After baking, students also enjoyed a Purim feast with a multicourse dinner prepared by Israeli chef Sylvia Avinoam.
Jewish Unity Purim – Hillel at UCLA
Hillel at UCLA’s Executive Director Dan Gold organized a meeting with UCLA Jewish community leaders, including representatives from groups like JLIC, Chabad, Olami, and Hillel, to discuss the importance of strengthening Jewish life on campus. Following the meeting, the organizations agreed to host a slate of Purim programming to promote Jewish togetherness and pluralism. In addition to distributing mishloach manot for students to gift to their peers, the five organizations also gathered donations for Tomchei Shabbas, a local organization that provides kosher meals to families in need. Hillel at UCLA also hosted a Purim Prep lunch to teach about the mitzvot of Purim, a Megillah service followed by a festive meal, a special womens’ Megillah reading, and a Purim Shabbat with costumes encouraged.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the incredible attendance,” shared a UCLA Hillel staff member. “This event was actually perfectly timed, as the Purim celebration filled the students’ cups in advance of a very depleting week of finals ahead. It was clear they really needed this!”
Sparky’s Purim Party – Hillel at Arizona State University
Following the success of their Hanukkah party last year, Hillel at Arizona State University (Hillel at ASU) decided to revamp their Purim celebration. Organized by their signature social chairs, Hillel at ASU rented a venue in Old Town Scottsdale for a Purim bash, featuring entertainment by the club’s house DJ, Purim-inspired cocktails and mocktails (Esther’s Essence was a hit), and various other activities like mask making and a candy station. In the spirit of the charitable tradition of Purim, organizers also invited the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, a network of bone marrow donors who provide transplants for patients with blood cancers and immune system disorders.
Social Chair Danielle Katz said, “As one of the signature social chairs, I love being able to create fun and meaningful events for my fellow students. It’s so motivating to see the smiles we put on so many faces when we put together events like this one.”
While celebrations vary from Hillel to Hillel, one thing remains the same: No matter what, Hillels will always help their students to embrace and celebrate their Jewish joy – with or without cookies (but mostly with).