Shabbat & Holidays
These are times of communal celebration that bring our community together – both in our building and across campus. Whether you’re traditionally observant or looking for creative, modern, and accessible ways to connect with Jewish tradition, there’s a place for you at Harvard Hillel.
Shabbat
At Harvard Hillel, Shabbat offers something for everyone – whether you’re looking to observe a full 25-hour Shabbat or simply want to join us for a meaningful meal with friends.
Shabbat Dinner & Services: Join us for our weekly Shabbat dinner, where hundreds of students gather for food, friendship, and community. We offer three different services on Friday nights – Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox – so you can connect with Shabbat in the way that feels right for you.
Throughout Shabbat: For those observing the full Shabbat, you’ll find meals and services here throughout the 25 hours, creating a complete Shabbat experience on campus.
Small Dinners Around Campus: We also host and facilitate intimate Shabbat dinners in dorms and houses across campus – not just for undergraduates, but for the entire Harvard community. These smaller gatherings create meaningful Jewish experiences in the heart of where you live and study.
High Holidays
The High Holidays at Harvard are a time of reflection, celebration, and community gathering that brings together Jewish students, faculty, and community members from across campus and beyond.
Services Across Campus: We host large-scale Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox services throughout the High Holidays, welcoming hundreds of community members to mark these sacred days together.
Meaningful Traditions: Beyond our services, we create opportunities for the entire community to engage with High Holiday traditions – from Tashlich ceremonies at the river to evenings of study and singing that bring our diverse community together.
Community Celebrations: You’ll also find us celebrating in creative ways around campus – whether it’s apple picking or other festive gatherings that make the holidays both meaningful and fun.
Yom Kippur Break-Fast: We host break-fast meals in the houses after Yom Kippur ends, bringing the community together to share food and reflect on the meaningful day we’ve just experienced.
Sukkot
Sukkot at Harvard Hillel brings the joy of the harvest festival to campus through both our beautiful sukkah here at Hillel and creative outreach across the university.
The Hillel Sukkah: We build a big sukkah right here at Harvard Hillel where students come from all over campus to eat, celebrate, and study in the fresh air.
Sukkot Around Campus: We also help students build sukkot all over campus, bringing the holiday directly to dorms, houses, and common spaces where students live and study.
Lulav and Etrog: Throughout the holiday, students can come to Hillel to shake the lulav and etrog, participating in this ancient tradition that connects us to Jews celebrating around the world. You might even find us with a pop-up lulav station in front of the Science Center, making sure every student has the opportunity to experience Sukkot wherever they are on campus.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah at Harvard Hillel is a time of light, celebration, and community gathering that makes the Festival of Lights accessible and joyful for everyone.
Big Hanukkah Gatherings: We host large Hanukkah celebrations here at Hillel and around the country, bringing together students, faculty, and community members for festive parties that celebrate the miracle of light. These events often bring together Harvard’s broader Jewish community, including university leadership who join us in marking this festival of religious freedom and perseverance.
Menorahs and Candles: We make sure Hanukkah is accessible to everyone by providing menorahs and candles to students who want to light in their own spaces – whether in dorms, apartments, or anywhere they call home during the holiday.
Candle Lighting at Hillel: Throughout the eight nights, we host candle lightings right here in our building, creating opportunities for students to come together each evening.
Purim
Purim at Harvard Hillel brings joy, creativity, and spirited debate to campus as we celebrate this most festive of Jewish holidays
Hamantaschen and Baking: Join us for hands-on hamantaschen baking sessions where students come together to create these traditional Purim treats while sharing stories and building community.
The Great Latke vs. Hamantaschen Debate: Last year’s “Battle of the Stevens” had Professors Steven Pinker and Levitsky duel it out in a battle of words in front of a standing-room-only audience. Spoiler alert: Hamantaschen came out ahead.
Multiple Megillah Readings: We host several different Megillah readings throughout Purim, creating opportunities for students to experience this central mitzvah in settings that range from traditional to creative and accessible.
Community-Wide Celebration: During Purim, our building comes alive with multiple celebrations happening simultaneously – you might find traditional worship and study in the library, different minyanim hosting their own readings, and various creative interpretations of the holiday all under one roof.
Passover
Pesach at Harvard Hillel recreates the original spirit of the Exodus – a nation united around countless tables, each telling the story of freedom in their own way.
The Main Seder:We host a large community seder that brings together students, faculty, and community members for a traditional and meaningful Passover experience.
Graduate Student Seder: Our graduate student community has their own dedicated seder, creating an intimate space for graduate students to connect with the Passover story and with each other.
Seders Across Campus: Beyond our main celebrations, we help students organize their own seders in houses, dorms, and other spaces around campus. Whether you want to host a traditional seder or create something more personal and intimate, we provide resources and support to make it happen.