University of Colorado Boulder group Hillel, which offers “birthright” trips to Israel for Jewish students, held an event titled “Israel Fest” on April 10, 2025 on Farrand Field. This event, looking to bring together the colonizers of the CU Boulder campus touted “Free food” “Good vibes” and the opportunity to “Win a 50[-inch] TV.” The Israel Fest, which pushed students looking to enjoy the sun off Farrand Field, offered games like corn hole, gaga and frisbee all decorated with Israeli flags and colors. They also offered information about their individual organizations at tables with music booming throughout the Farrand region.
CU’s Hillel, who receives funding from local donors and Hillel International — who in turn receives funding from the Marcus Foundation, an organization formed by a Home Depot co-founder, and from the Jim Joseph foundation — offers free 10-day-long “Buffright” trips to occupied Palestinian territories for 40 CU students where, according to CU Hillel, students have the opportunity to “[h]ike in the desert, float in the Dead Sea, walk on the ancient stone in Jerusalem, and swim in the Tel Aviv beaches…” as well as, according to former Buffright student Sophie Friedman, “[meet] some Israeli soldiers….”
These are the same Israeli soldiers who are currently ethnically cleansing Palestinians in their own land. CU Hillel’s “Israel Fest” follows a heightened wave of resumed killing in Gaza and the West Bank after breaking a ceasefire deal met with Hamas, as well as continued destruction and killing in Lebanon and Syria. Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 50,887 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since October 7, 2024.
El Diario de la Gente 
Leave a comment