Festivals Boosts Jewish Pride at American College Campuses

One-of-a-kind festivals are popping up at college campuses across the country by a Let Here Be Light mobile tour. The mobile festival brings interactive booths, kosher food, and Jewish music – including live performances – transforming campuses into vibrant hubs of Jewish celebration.

After the unprecedented darkness experienced on campuses last year, it was clear to Shluchim and event organizers at Chabad on Campus that this year couldn’t just begin as any other. Something exceptional had to be done to increase the light and Jewish pride on campus. 

The Let Here Be Light Tour was born. 

The one-of-a-kind festival was led by teams of Chabad rabbinical students who traveled across the country in Mitzvah Tanks packed with everything they needed to stage exciting, large-scale events wherever they stopped. The mobile festival, which included interactive booths,  kosher food, and Jewish music – including live performances – transformed campuses into vibrant hubs of Jewish celebration.

The scale of the initiative was truly remarkable. Four simultaneous tours covering over 11,000 miles, led by dedicated Chabad rabbinical students, touched campuses from the University of South Florida to the University of Alberta. The festival’s dynamic brand of bold, celebratory Yiddishkeit was critical for Jewish students at a time when doing so has become increasingly challenging.

“The Rebbe taught us that the way to combat darkness is with light, and this tour really embodied that,” said Rabbi Yossy Gordon, CEO of Chabad on Campus International. “We’re not just responding to challenges; we’re proactively filling campuses with Jewish pride and joy. The overwhelming response from students proves that when you give them the opportunity to connect to their Yiddishkeit in a positive and powerful way, they’ll seize it.”

At several tour stops, local dignitaries and community leaders participated, further elevating the events. The presence of these leaders reinforced a powerful message: Jewish students are not alone in their journey, and the broader community stands with them.

Certain stops on the festival circuit took things to the next level; at Binghamton University, a mega-event featuring renowned Jewish rapper Nissim Black drew hundreds of students. Queens College and the University of Albany also hosted large-scale events with Black, leaving a lasting impression on the campus communities.

The delicious Kosher food was another well-received feature of the tour. For many locations, this was a rare opportunity not typically available on their campus.

David, a student at the University of Alberta, described the event as a turning point for him. “Let Here Be Light brought our community together in an extraordinary way. It provided a point, on campus and within Edmonton, from which Judaism could emanate. You shone a beacon of Jewish pride onto our city and allowed us to prove that a small community can still be strong, united, and stand against darkness.”

“It was phenomenal,” said Mrs. Manya Lazaroff, Chabad at Texas A&M University. “…It was turnkey, professional, and brought beautiful energy to campus! Baruch Hashem, our Jewish kids were so proud!”

“The Let Here Be Light Tour represents a new level of outreach and engagement for Chabad on Campus,” said Rabbi Avi Weinstein, COO of Chabad on Campus International. “It provided a platform for students to feel part of a global Jewish community standing proudly in the face of so much adversity. The tour is leaving behind a powerful message: Jewish pride is stronger than ever, and our Jewish identity is something to celebrate, not hide.”