Students were surrounded by music and laughter at the Let HERE be Light tour, which celebrates Jewish culture at ASU with activities, music and a shared connection.
ASU Chabad and Let HERE be Light, a Jewish pride tour, partnered for an afternoon event filled with music, food and cultural activities to encourage students to be proud of their religion and culture.
"The idea is really to have a place where people can come together, be unified, and feel light, joy and lots of Jewish pride," ASU Chabad Rabbi Shmuel Tiechtel said.
The goal of the day was to bring positivity and pride to students outside the Student Pavilion on Thursday morning.
"We always think, what are ways we could add more light, more joy, more unity," Tiechtel said.
Participating in Chabad events has allowed for Shirly Hamicha, a freshman studying molecular biosciences and biotechnology, to show her pride in being Jewish.
"It doesn't make me feel like I have to hide my identity," Hamicha said. "It makes me feel comfortable and proud enough to show it."
Hamicha helped out with lighting the Mezuzah and Kabdala candles. The Mezuzah candle is lit by students to remind them God is with always them. Kabdala candles are lit at the beginning of each week to bring light into the days that follow.
"Instead of thinking about the past, we kind of think about the future," Hamicha said.
Other tables included friendship bracelets, painting and dance as ways to express Jewish heritage.
Hamicha said she encourages other Jewish students to come to upcoming Chabad events and take the first step in celebrating being Jewish or supporting Judaism.
"To get involved with Chabad and especially for this event, it's really just being proud of being a Jew," Hamicha said. "It could be a very big struggle to just demonstrate and be proud of it."
Each of the tables welcomed students as they passed through. Eager to share culture and positivity, the tablings handed students a pamphlet of the 7 Points of Light with the intent to encourage peace, honor and culture.
"Bring the knowledge, warmth and the beautiful ideas of Judaism to everyone and really bring Jewish pride right here on campus," Tiechtel said.
The Let HERE Be Light van is driven by students from other universities who organize events with local Chabad.
Starting on the East Coast and Canada, the Let HERE Be Light tour stopped at ASU before heading to Las Vegas and California. Mendel Mahatuf, one of the students traveling with Let HERE Be Light, said ASU has been the largest campus so far.
"It's always easy to emphasize the negativity and the darkness," Mahatuf said. "So to see the light being spread throughout the college campuses throughout the West Coast and the country at large — it's been really beautiful to see."
As the afternoon came to a close, Tiechtel said he encourages all students to continue celebrating culture and being proud of their identities. He said Chabad will have more events this semester.
"We're proudly Jewish, proud of who we are, displaying it openly," Tiechtel said. "I'm proud bringing people together from all cultures to see what it is, and it's proud for a joyous, happy, unified day."
Edited by Senna James, Abigail Beck, Tiya Talwar and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at glmcfar1@asu.edu and follow @ginia_mcfarland on X.
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Ginia is a junior studying journalism and mass communication with a minor in criminology. This is her third semester with The State Press. She has also worked at Arizona Capital Times and KTAR News.
