By Elizabeth Teitelbaum
This winter, the University is giving back to the community as part of its holiday celebrations. University social and religious groups have organized events this week to commemorate the holiday season.
The Student Government Association (SGA), with the assistance of the Office of Student Leadership and Activities (OSLA), organized the 24th Annual Sinterklaas festival, in which members of the Greek community along with various clubs built a life-size “Winter Wonderland Village.”
The village is, for the first time, “interactive,” which means child visitors can take part in some of the activities presented in the village, such as making dreidels in the woodworking shop.
Children from the Hempstead Boys and Girls Club have visited the Winter Village and interacted with University students who prepared games, arts and crafts and snacks for the children.
For seven days, students worked to create the display.
“All of the hard work was worth it,” sophomore sociology and elementary education major Danielle Parella said. “To watch the children come and make pizza in our ‘Campus Pizza Shop’ was rewarding-exactly what the holiday season is all about.”
Freshman finance major Andrew Lerner agreed. “Sinterklaas is a great way to bring the Hofstra community together for the holidays,” he said.
Hofstra Hillel, the University’s chapter of the national Jewish organization, has planned a multitude of events to get Jewish students in the holiday spirit.
Hillel organized their first Build-A-Bear-For-Charity, in which participants receive $20 to build a stuffed animal at the Build-A Bear Workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the Roosevelt Field Mall. Hillel gives students the option of keeping the bear as a Hanukkah gift on behalf of Hillel, or to donate it to a local children’s charity.
“Hanukkah, being a day of dedication and remembrance, Hofstra Hillel strives to make this a holiday to remember,” said Mike BenEzra, a junior marketing major.
The African Peoples Organization (APO) seeks to enlighten the University community on the meaning of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is based upon seven principles known as “nguzo saba,” which honor ideals such as unity, self determination, and cooperative economics.
The Kwanzaa holiday runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. To honor Kwanzaa, APO is teaming up with the University’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for APO’s annual Kwanzaa celebration, which includes a free dinner, speakers, kinara lighting and musical performances by SP!T, which is a spoken word club, and InTouch Arts.
“We really encourage other ethnicities to come out and learn about our culture, just because we are a minority organization, we are always open to the public,” APO President Hayat Mohamed said.