Students congregated across Foster-Walker Complex Lawn for Northwestern Hillel’s Israeli shuk pop-up Wednesday.
The event took place as part of Hillel’s Israel Week, which lasts from Monday to Friday this week. It featured a jewelry making table, hummus station, raffle, music and Israeli dancing.
Monday night marked the beginning of Yom HaZikaron, a day of remembrance for fallen soldiers. Tuesday night indicated the transition to Yom Ha’Atzmaut, which commemorates Israel’s Independence Day.
Hillel Executive Director Michael Simon said the back-to-back nature of Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut is far from accidental, representing the relationship between remembrance and celebration.
“There’s real pain and loss and real joy in life,” Simon said. “They’re juxtaposed in this pretty interesting way.”
The event represented the Western Wall — a holy Jerusalem monument — using a large-scale photo, and attendees could leave letters nearby that will be delivered to the actual monument, Simon said.
He added that the event’s activities were inspired by traditional Israeli marketplaces.
“In Israel during Yom Ha’Atzmaut, it’s a time of real celebration, even during times of war and challenge and conflict,” he said. “We wanted to experience some of that spirit here on campus.”
Hillel Director of Engagement Jami Garfinkel said the event was hosted on Plex Lawn to welcome interested passersby.
Garfinkel said she has learned about the teamwork, communication and leadership style necessary to organize such events.
“We just want people to see their culture represented out in the open,” Garfinkel said.
The week concludes with a bonfire song session Thursday and Israel-themed Shabbat on Friday.
McCormick junior Samuel Feldman said he enjoys going to as many Hillel events as he can to celebrate his Jewish pride.
Feldman said his favorite moment from the celebration began when Ido B & Zooki’s “Ba Kalil” played, a song he said he and many Jewish students grew up listening to.
“Everybody started doing the dance from muscle memory, from all the years back,” Feldman said. “It just felt like I was at camp again.”
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