Hundreds of UMD students went to Jerusalem on Tuesday. They enjoyed walking down Mahane Yehuda, Jerusalem’s open-air market, collecting bags of Kosher candy, just like Israelis do on a Friday afternoon before Shabbat. Afterwards, they walked to Haifa, learning about the city’s diverse population, then Beit She’an, one of the oldest cities in the region. The magic of Israel fest is that over 700 students experienced Israel today, except they never left College Park. 

The Jewish Student Union hosted a five-hour event replicating a true Israel experience–from iconic Aroma coffee to fresh falafel in pita. 

“The Israel Fest helps educate both Jews and non-Jews on campus,” said Lucy Schneider, the president of the Jewish Student Union. “We are an inviting group that welcomes everyone to come learn about all the different cultures…and all the wonderful things that Israel brings to the world.”

Aden Lerner, the Jewish Student Union’s Israel Fest co-chair, said the purpose of such an event is to educate people about the differences of cultures that exist in Israel.

“[It] allow[s] people to have a positive perception of what Israel’s really about,” said Lerner.

UMD Chabad had a Western Wall set-up, inviting students to pose in front of the iconic stone and wrap tefillin, recreating the feeling of walking through the Old City in Jerusalem.

The enclosure was filled with many different denominations of Judaism, creating a space of dialogue, creativity and acceptance. One of the booths, the Art Street, was decorated with a spray painted “coexist” sign. 

In times of unprecedented division, the Israel Fest fostered a necessary space for Jews and non-Jews alike to experience such a rich and diverse culture.