For many students, walking into their first Jewish Student Union (JSU) meeting is unforgettable—the smell of kosher pizza, the buzz of conversation, and the immediate sense of understanding. In that moment, their Jewish identity feels seen and celebrated through the shared eagerness of peers to learn about Jewish culture, senior Ari Gilgur, JSU Co-President, said.
Meetings usually begin with 10 to 15 minutes of casual conversation, followed by a mini history lesson about the activity and how it ties into Jewish customs, ending with a fun hands-on activity, Gilgur said. The meetings are a chance to learn history and ritual in approachable ways, without the gravity of religious obligation, he added. Instead, JSU focuses more on introspection and fun activities, Gilgur said.
“JSU has made me more comfortable talking about and practicing my [Jewish] culture amongst other people I share that with,” Gilgur said.
High Holiday celebrations such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, are the club’s biggest shared moments, but many gatherings focus on smaller rituals within those holidays. This includes the building of candy sukkahs, games, traditions around food, and short reflections, Gilgur said. Rosh Hashanah celebrates renewal, while Yom Kippur focuses on atonement, Gilgur added. The High Holidays mark a time of reflection, renewal, and community, Gilgur explained.
The community offered around the High Holidays allows Jewish students to share different experiences united by a common view of this time of year, Gilgur explained.
“My favorite part about celebrating the High Holidays with JSU is always the big meeting and fun activity,” Gilgur said. “It’s special for [JSU] because it feels like you’re celebrating [with] more than just your family.”
Non-Jewish students also form an important part of JSU’s fabric, helping foster understanding and making the club more vibrant, senior Leah Frydman, JSU Vice President of Outdoor Activities, said. As Vice President of Outdoor Activities, she organizes events for the club independent of the bi-weekly meetings, she explained. Some of her non-Jewish friends frequent the club, challenging the notion that it is a club only for Jewish people, and giving them a chance to explore another culture, Frydman added.
“There’s definitely ways for non-Jewish people to get involved,” Frydman said. “[They can] learn about other religions and cultures, participate in activities, and then listen to the historical backstories and explanations of how the activities tie into the Jewish faith to broaden their understanding.”
Small activities like an apple bobbing relay race or a Jeopardy game to help learn the 10 Commandments lets members explore a wide range of topics within the Jewish religion without it feeling too much like a structured lecture in a classroom, Frydman said.
“It’s cool to do team building activities and then talk about it afterwards, so that it’s not just a lecture on our religion and our values,” Frydman said.
In an environment where Judaism is the minority, JSU has been more than just a club. For its members, it is a home and an invaluable source of connection, sophomore JSU Member Jacob Weissman said.
“Finding people who have the same culture and beliefs as me, who I’m able to connect to, is something really special,” Weissman said. “It helps me find a place of belonging at South.”
