Holidays at Tufts

Jewish Holidays at Tufts Hillel

We’re always here for Tufts students throughout the Jewish calendar, for thoughtful, meaningful, and fun celebrations of Shabbat and holidays, for students of all backgrounds to learn and express themselves in ways meaningful to them.

At Tufts Hillel, Jewish holidays are about more than tradition and ritual—they’re a space to connect, reflect, and celebrate as a part of your community. Whether you’re marking the New Year, lighting candles, building a sukkah, or sitting down at a seder, there’s always a place for you at the table. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary – students of any backgrounds, religious experiences, beliefs, and practices are invited, welcomed, and wanted. 

Here’s how we celebrate Jewish Holidays throughout the year:

High Holidays

We offer meaningful, student-centered services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, including Reform and Traditional-Egalitarian options. We also offer learning programs, social events, and festival meals throughout the holidays. Whether you’re looking for prayer, meditation, community, food, or a home away from home, you’ll find it here.

Sukkot

We build and decorate a sukkah together right outside the Granoff Family Hillel Center, and fill it throughout the holiday of Sukkot with meals, music, laughter, and thoughtful conversations. Past events have included comedy nights, community dinners, discussion programs, and social action drives.

Shemini Atzeret | Simchat Torah

We conclude the holiday of Sukkot with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Through services, meals, dancing with the torah during Hakafot, singing, and a festive celebration, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah continue the High Holiday season at Tufts Hillel in a joyful, engaging, and communal fashion. Weather permitting, you’ll even see us outside dancing and singing with the Torah! We also hold Yizkor (memorial) services for those commemorating a Yartzeit (anniversary of the passing of a loved one).

Chanukah

From menorah lightings and latkes to donut walls, Chanuka-sino and dreidel tournaments, Chanukah at Tufts is warm, joyful, and full of light. Students from all backgrounds gather to celebrate in big and small ways—whether at our signature “Menorah Madness” party or a cozy night of candle-lighting with friends.

Tu BiShvat

We mark the New Year for the Trees with a Tu BiShvat seder full of fruit, community, and meaningful conversations. Past events have included campus-wide sustainability collaborations and educational programming rooted in Jewish environmental values.

Purim

Get ready for costumes, hamantaschen, and a whole lot of fun during Purim at Tufts Hillel! Purim at Hillel mixes tradition with creativity— megillah readings with a twist, themed parties, hamentashen bakes, volunteer programs packing donations for local pantries, meaningful conversations about courage and identity, and more.

Passover

We host multiple seders on the first and second nights of Passover, with options that are traditional, innovative, student and staff-led, and themed, both at Hillel and throughout the campus community. Throughout the week, we provide kosher-for-Passover meals in the Hillel building and a welcoming space to reflect on freedom, memory, and community.

Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom HaAtzmaut

In the spring, we observe Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israel’s Memorial Day, and Israel’s Independence Day with ceremonies, conversations, and community spaces that honor memory, complexity, history, and connection. Events are created by and for students, supported by Hillel staff.

Shavuot

We gather for late-night learning, ice cream, and cheesecake in the spirit of Shavuot, with student-led text studies, open questions, and plenty of dairy.

Whether you grew up celebrating any of these holidays or are just starting to explore what they mean to you, you are welcome here.

For more information about upcoming events, meals and services, or how to get involved, visit our calendar at tuftshillel.org. We look forward to celebrating with you on campus!