'Part of a bigger hope': UT Jewish students celebrate community, hopeful for new year

Jared Levy, a freshman at the University of Texas, put up his menorah in his dorm room window in early December. This year was his first Hanukkah away from home.

While balancing five finals, Levy FaceTimed his family at night, and they lit the candles together. On one night, he invited 20 friends to his room for a close-knit celebration singing Hanukkah songs, reciting the blessings and lighting the candles. They sent pictures back to their parents, grateful for a break from stressing over finals.

Hanukkah, which was celebrated Dec. 7-15, had a renewed importance this year, Levy said. The holiday kicked off as Israel entered the second month in its war against Hamas, and it came at a time when antisemitism on college campuses was spiking and higher education leaders nationwide were reckoning with how to protect both students and free speech.

“It’s felt particularly powerful to put my Judaism out in such a public way at a time where it's honestly sometimes scary to do so," Levy said.

As students depart for the winter break and look forward to the new year, they celebrate the Jewish community at UT and are hopeful for more unity and togetherness as 2024 starts.

'I don't want campuses to be divided'

Brandon Weinberg, a senior at UT and a leader in multiple Jewish organizations, said being at the school has allowed him to create his own relationship with Judaism — attending weekly Shabbat dinners and finding "homes away from home" at the Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center and Texas Hillel.

But this semester, Weinberg encountered multiple instances of antisemitic vandalism on or near campus, he said. In September, UT published a post on X, formerly Twitter, condemning reports of antisemitic vandalism as not constitutionally protected speech.

Weinberg's parents advised him not to openly display his Judaism. And though he feels supported by UT, he said it's a "scary time" to be Jewish.

The Anti-Defamation League released a report in November noting that 73% of Jewish college students surveyed nationally said they had experienced or witnessed antisemitism on campus since the 2023 school year began. Before Oct. 7 — when Hamas attacked Israel, igniting the ongoing war — 63.7% of Jewish students were very comfortable having their faith known, but that number has since fallen to 38.5%, according to the report.

"Throughout history, our people's resiliency has been tested. And it's being tested right now," Weinberg said. "And I'm really proud of how our community has come together and been there for each other."

With Hanukkah this year, Weinberg said his rabbi said to "be the source of light." Being the light, for Weinberg, means coming together and being proud of his heritage. But his hope for the new year goes beyond that: having all college campuses take a firm stance against all forms of hate, and for unity between Jewish and Muslim students.

"We can actually learn from each other and that we have a lot in common. And so I hope there's not only stronger safety and unity for both communities, but also togetherness," he said. "Maybe there could be, say, a Shabbat dinner where we invite Palestinian students ... to show that there's not hate, but we want to grow together."

Levy, who is on the Hillel International Israel Board, this semester joined with other students in founding the organization Yalla for Israel to support the Jewish state. He said the purpose of Hanukkah is, in a way, reflective of his time at UT. Through the difficulties, he has stayed as hopeful as he could, he said.

Levy said misinformation and social media are what scares him. He said his hope for the new year is for people to be informed and open to dialogue.

“I don't want campuses to be divided,” he said. “As a member of the Jewish community, talk to me. Don’t assume.”

'Like a beacon of hope'

Nurit Pesel, a sophomore at UT, describes Hanukkah as an eight-day festival about resilience and hope — celebrating the miracle of light continuing for eight days when there was only enough oil to keep the flame going for one. The holiday’s name translates to “dedication” or “rededication,” and it represents a reaffirming of the ideals of Judaism, she said.

The Chabad Jewish Student Center has held an event lighting a large menorah in front of the UT Tower for almost 50 years, Rabbi Zev Johnson said.

Texas Hillel, a chapter of Hillel International and a center for Jewish students on campus, also held multiple celebrations. Executive Director and Rabbi Stephanie Max said they tabled at Speedway Mall on campus to offer students a chance to win prizes ranging from a chocolate to a whole potato by playing dreidel.

And as Pesel walked through West Campus, windows shone with menorahs ― each one, she said, “like a beacon of hope.”

"Everywhere you look, there was a reminder of the festival and the meaning," she said. "This year Hanukkah wasn't just about lighting candles; it represented unity, strength and resilience against what we're experiencing right now."

When Pesel would light her own candles, she would think of Israel, she said. She would think of the families affected by the attacks by Hamas and the hostages still left in Gaza.

“Each candle was an opportunity to pray for peace and for things to get better,” she said. “Lighting them just made me feel like part of a bigger hope for a better future.”

Max, a rabbi at Texas Hillel, said this semester was not what students expected. But the challenges did not stop them from building an even stronger community.

"I'm so glad that Texas Hillel has been not only a place of safety and refuge for students during a difficult time, but also a place to learn and grow, make friends and find mentors, and be proudly, joyfully Jewish," Max told the American-Statesman.

'Proudest we've ever been'

Levy grew up in a vibrant Jewish community in Manhattan, N.Y. Pesel went to a Jewish High School in Mexico City. Both were unsure whether they would find the same community at UT. But the community they found has been supportive, strong, passionate and united, they said.

“I didn’t anticipate a war in Israel being the defining factor of my freshman year in college,” Levy added. “It's a crazy time to be a Jewish student on a college campus, but the UT Jewish community is a strong one. And we’re united, and we're figuring out how to get through this together.”

With the rise in antisemitism, Pesel said she knows people can be afraid to embrace their faith. But she said she’s learned it’s important to embrace her Jewish heritage even more now.

“Being a Jewish student on campus this semester has really showed me that we need to be proud of our identity,” she said. “This is the time to be the proudest we’ve ever been.”

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: University of Texas Jewish students hopeful for new year