Faculty, staff and students at Rutgers University in New Brunswick and people in their neighboring Jewish communities can tell you that the last 10 weeks have been uncommonly discouraging for Jewish life on that campus.

A frum grassroots group in the Lawrence, New York area, Thank You Hashem (TYH Nation), well regarded in that area for producing music, events, swag and other activities that engage community members in the joy of Yiddishkeit and the power of positivity, decided to do something to lift the spirits of Rutgers students.

They partnered with Rutgers Hillel, Rutgers Chabad, the Orthodox Union JLIC at Rutgers, and the Rutgers Jewish Experience to hold a large “Jewish Unity Bash” on the sixth night of Chanukah, featuring DJ Farbreng, singer Mendy Worch, donuts and hot food from Dougies, a dreidel competition, and free hoodies for all.

Hundreds of students showed up at the event, held in the Rutgers Chabad catering hall, and danced, sang and ate together for hours, soaking in the positive energy that results when Jews celebrate together. “The ruach and achdut were through the roof,” said Ami Avraham of Edison, New Jersey an avid supporter of Thank You Hashem activities. “On a personal note, meeting musical talents Mendy Worch and DJ Farbreng was the best Chanukah present ever.”

“Thank You Hashem really pulled this all together and it was an amazing event,” said Rabbi Avi Schwartz, the OU JLIC leader at Rutgers. “It was a pleasure to work with them and see the joy they inspire in our students. I was thrilled that our campus Jewish organizations came together to make sure all our students had a collective experience of achdut.”

For more information on Thank You Hashem, visit www.tyhnation.com.

Harry Glazer is the Middlesex Country editor at The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected].