Hillel at Johns Hopkins University is on to something. JOI has been working with their 2nd year Jewish Campus Service Corps (JCSC) Fellow throughout the fall semester to create events for Jewish students interested in the arts, a population previously overlooked on campus. Their focus during the first half of the semester was to create an Arts Sukkah and related programming, titled the Arts Explosion, during Sukkot.

JOI Senior Program Officer Eva Stern [pictured above in the Arts Sukkah] and I were lucky enough to join the students at Johns Hopkins for the Arts Explosion’s culminating event, the “Arts Attack!”, featuring several extremely talented student a cappella groups, poets and improv performances. This event, as well as other programs throughout the week, took place in a public courtyard where the beautiful sukkah was placed on campus.

Hopkins Hillel’s sukkah was particularly eye-catching as its three walls were created and decorated by art produced by students. These students had taken part in a series of art workshops, including glass mosaics, painting, ceramic tiles, print making, drawing, and felting. The combination of these mediums generated a superb sukkah that left those passing by in awe.

Hopkins Hillel’s art initiative, generously funded by the Bronfman Strategic Engagement Grant, will continue into the second half of the semester to celebrate Hanukkah. I can only imagine what beautiful art the students will create this winter.