Eating falafels, listening to contemporary Hebrew music, and making Hebrew name bracelets, students gathered outside the Science Center yesterday afternoon to celebrate the third annual Israel Fest.

Sponsored by Harvard Hillel and staffed by members of Harvard Students for Israel (HSI), the event featured upbeat pop music, informational booths, Israel-themed crafts, and Israeli food.

Anna R. Rosenblum ’06, the Israel Fest coordinator, explained that the event is a “non-political celebration of Israeli culture” and aims to expose students to the many sides of Israel.

“A lot of times our image of Israel is colored by news reports and media hype, but there is a thriving Israeli culture, musical, literary, and artistic, and that’s what we’re here to celebrate,” said HSI President Sunny M. Yudkoff ’06.

Posters set up under the white tent detailed issues such as women’s rights in the Middle East and Israel’s technology and environment.

One booth offered students a chance to write notes for the Western Wall—a sacred site in Jerusalem where visitors place prayers and wishes written on slips of paper.

“We have a friend going to Israel who will bring all the notes,” said Yudkoff.

Another booth run by the Hagshama Department of the World Zionist Organization offered information for Jewish students who wish to travel to Israel themselves.

While some students wandered over to the festival to explore aspects of a different culture, many students said they were there for the food, especially the falafels.

“I like to learn and share and eat falafels,” said Jenna M. Mellor ’08. “I love the music.”

“That was the best 25 cents I’ve spent in a while,” said Joshua C. Sharp ’08, after buying an Israeli meal for a quarter.

During Israel Fest, a Stand Up Against Hate Rally organized by the Harvard Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, and Supporters Alliance was also being held outside of the Science Center. The rally gave out pink bandannas to students who wanted to show support for the cause. (Please see story, page 1.)

Rosenblum reacted to the potential space conflict by agreeing to turn off Israel Fest’s upbeat Hebrew pop music during the rally and by encouraging members of Hillel to attend both events. Wearing a pink bandanna herself, she chose to prominently display a relevant informational poster about gay rights in Israel at the front of the Israel Fest tent.

Many students converged on the lawn after the rally, wearing the bandannas and enjoying hummus, showing the cooperation between the two different groups.

—Staff writer Anne E. Bensson can be reached at abensson@fas.harvard.edu.