Students from Local George Washington High School Learn About Hanukkah at YU Yeshiva University shared the light of Hanukkah with its neighbors when 15 students from the local George Washington High School attended a holiday party hosted by a group of Yeshiva’s Presidential Fellows on Dec. 18. See a photo gallery of the event here. The event was part of a broader initiative created two years ago by past Presidential Fellows, who forged a close relationship with Dr. JoAnn Sainz, an assistant principal at the school. The fellows helped to organize educational support and assistance to the high school students, many of whom come from immigrant families. The project is currently being coordinated by Nava Billet, the Fredda Leff Presidential Fellow in the Office of the Dean at Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and Uri Westrich, the Ronald P. Stanton Presidential Fellow in the Office of the Dean at Yeshiva College. “One of our main goals is building community relations,” said Billet, who organized the Hanukkah party with Westrich and some of their colleagues. “We are a school in Washington Heights, they are a school in Washington Heights. Jews and Dominicans are neighbors. We may have different cultures but it is important not to be afraid of the unknown.” The students heard the heroic stories of Judah the Maccabee and Judith and Holofornes, spun dreidels, joined in singing Hanukkah songs, lit the menorah candles and tasted traditional delicacies such as latkes and sufganiyot [jelly donuts]. The morning program concluded with a round-table discussion centered on questions the students had submitted about Hanukkah and Jewish life in general. “It surprised me and made me think a lot,” said GW junior Rudy Gonzalez. “I found the culture fascinating,” added classmate Felix Restituyo. As part of the outreach initiative, Billet periodically joins with undergraduates to help GW students review and edit essays for college applications and scholarships. “It is likely that the adults in their lives do not speak English and cannot help them with school work and college preparation. They can’t afford tutors either,” said Billet. “Working with young adults who are pursuing a higher education gives the students young role models and helps them to set goals for their own futures.”