Blog

Throughout the year, KU Hillel hosted four Falafel on the Hill programs. The last Falafel on the Hill event will take place on Wednesday, April 18th as a part of Israel Week.

Falafel on the Hill is one of the many Israel programs supported by KU Hillel. The program is designed to offer students a sampling of traditional Israeli food while providing an opportunity to introduce many students on campus to Israel. The falafel table is always set up on Wescoe Beach, one the most highly trafficked quads on KU’s campus.

​“Falafel on the Hill days are always so fun,” said KU Hillel Program Director, Leah Swartz. “Everyone looks forward to seeing us on campus and it feels great to be able to create a virtual Hillel space that exists outside of our location on New Hampshire St.”
 
After 12 years of Falafel on the Hill programming, KU Hillel Israel Interns Abby Chargo and Samantha Agranoff decided to try something new. Café Hillel on Campus is a new iteration of the successful Falafel on the Hill program. Instead of serving falafel on campus, KU Hillel provides students with hot coffee, tea and cookies designed to look and feel like the popular coffee houses in Israel, Aroma Café and Cofix. 

This refreshing approach to creating Israel awareness on campus was a huge success. Students who recently returned from their winter break Birthright trips were especially excited to feel like they were back at Aroma Café.
                                                                
Overall, the Falafel on the Hill program is a terrific opportunity to celebrate Israel and to convey a positive message to the larger KU community. At KU we are very fortunate to be a part of such a warm and inclusive community. Often times, students who are not familiar with KU Hillel stop by the table to learn more about the organization and celebrate Israel.

​On March 8, 2018, KU Hillel hosted its annual KU Hillel Formal. This year, the theme was A Night in Tel Aviv. Students joined together at Quinton’s Bar and Deli on Massachusetts St. in downtown Lawrence to celebrate the Israeli city that never sleeps, Tel Aviv.
                                
Every year, the city of Tel Aviv hosts an all-night party in recognition of UNESCO’S designation of Tel Aviv as a World Heritage Site. KU Hillel brought the party to Lawrence, KS by creating an unforgettable day filled with all the top music, food and entertainment that would be featured at the parties in Tel Aviv. This event was planned in true KU Hillel form as a staff-student partnership.
 
“Our students are always up to the challenge of creating engaging and welcoming events for the KU Hillel community,” Leah Swartz, KU Hillel program director said. “I am always amazed by their dedication and commitment to making every KU Hillel event a huge success. A Night in Tel Aviv was no different!”
 
The event itself was designed to make students feel like they were in Tel Aviv during the celebrations. Images of Tel Aviv were displayed on a giant screen over the dance floor and students were given the chance to pose in a photo booth that was later edited to make it look like they were standing on the port in the Tel Aviv harbor. 

“A night in Tel Aviv was a night to remember! My friends and I danced the night away to Israeli music,” Haley Seldin, a KU Hillel senior said. “Thanks to the photo booth having a background in Israel and having Israeli appetizers we all really felt transported to Israel for one great night.”
 
As a highlight of the event, KU Hillel worked with DJ Josh Savitt who played the most popular Israeli tracks to truly transport students to Tel Aviv. Savitt is an up-and-coming DJ in the Kansas City area and a KU Hillel alumni. As a former student, he was able to completely understand the goal of the program and work with staff to create an environment that aligned with the mission of the event.
 
“Programs like A Night in Tel Aviv are so great for this organization because they educate students about Israeli culture while creating a social environment where they feel connected to Israel and each other,” Tori Luecking, KU Hillel’s engagement associate said.
 
KU Hillel staff was extremely proud of the turnout of the event and feel very excited for future Israel programming. For more updates on KU Hillel’s program calendar, follow KU Hillel on Facebook and Instagram or reach out to Leah Swartz at leah@kuhillel.org