Manchester's lively JSoc, in collaboration with the Hillel House Manchester committee, hosted a heartwarming pre-Chanukah crafts and games evening.

The event brought together Jewish students from across Manchester to make a space filled with creativity, laughter, and holiday spirit.

The get-together was held at Hillel House, a residential hub nestled in the heart of the student accommodation area, which continues to serve students at all Manchester universities.

The ever-enthusiastic JSoc social media representative, Lally Arengo-Jones, stepped in at the last minute to organise the evening.

She orchestrated an alcohol-free night of arts and crafts, doughnut decorating and a comforting schnitzel dinner.

Some of the creations from the evening (Photo: Lally Arengo-Jones)

This event was more than just an evening of fun; it was a testament to JSoc’s dedication to uniting students during challenging times.

With protests on campus and a worrying rise in antisemitism, fostering positivity and solidarity has never been more crucial.

The evening was made possible by the collective generosity of JSoc reps, parents, Hillel House representatives, and Stephen, owner of the GE Centre. Their combined efforts brought warmth to a cold December evening, offering students a much-needed reprieve.

“I ordered all the arts and crafts online, very kindly given by my parents,” Lally said.

Her dedication didn’t stop there. She began her day early, meeting JSoc President Zalman Cohen in North Manchester to organise food transportation.

Special thanks were extended to Brackmans and MH Meats for their support and discounts, made possible through the Chabad rabbi’s cousin, Yossi Simon.

The evening featured an array of activities: doughnut decorating, canvas painting, air-dry putty crafts and wooden dreidel painting. Behind the scenes, former JSoc president Ben Milofsky and current welfare rep Rachel Selby worked their magic in the kitchen, feeding our creative spirit.

Getting creative (Photo: Neil Joseph)

“It was very important to me to get something sorted for students to be together and celebrate Chanukah before we all went home for chag, so I did not let this opportunity slip through our fingers,” said Lally.

To make the celebration even more meaningful, JSoc reps gifted menorah sets from Chabad to students without one, ensuring that everyone could embrace the traditions of Chanukah.

Chanukah artwork (Photo: LallyArengo-Jones)

The night wasn’t just about crafts and food – it was about cherishing friendships, bidding farewell to graduates, welcoming new faces and raising our glasses of juice in a “L’chaim!” to the resilient and vibrant student community and to a peaceful Chanukah over winter break.

With places available for the next academic year, students are encouraged to reach out to Manchester Hillel House chairman Neil Joseph at neiljoseph999@gmail.com for more information

Mia Levy is a student in Manchester