Lights in Action Records

In 1991, hundreds of Jewish students turned out to protest an anti-Semitic speaker at Columbia University. An article, printed in the Columbia Daily Spectator by Columbia University student Ze'ev Maghen, argued that protesting anti-Semitism was futile and instead of responding to anti-Semites, Jewish students should focus their energy on celebrating their Jewish heritage. Inspired by the article, students from New York area schools organized a massive celebratory bonfire, or kumzitz, in Washington Square Park to celebrate the eighth night of Hanukkah. Following the kumzitz, Jewish students from Columbia, Yeshiva University Stern College for Women, and New York University founded a new student group, Lights in Action (LIA), taking the name from the kumzitz's theme of “hundreds of lights going into action.” ¹

Lights in Action was dedicated to promoting Jewish identity and Zionist commitment among college-aged Jews. Starting in 1992, LIA created and distributed student-written, bi-annual mailings on Jewish/Zionist identity, developed Sabbath programming (Shabbat), and distributed colorful, well-produced posters, calendars and Shabbat cards that stressed the positive experiences of Jewish culture and worship. Included were the student retellings and commentaries on the book of Genesis, Exodus, and “Doin’ it in Your Dorm Room” Shabbat and holiday observance guides. ²

LIA was a network entirely run by students dedicated to inspiring Jewish pride and unity among college students, through educational literature, projects, and retreats, with an initial goal to reach 50,000 students. Lights in Action had a deep commitment to pluralism, and many students were attracted to LIA because of the diversity of students involved; from deeply religious Jews, non-religious Jews, Hispanic Jews, children of intermarriage, gay, lesbian, and bisexual Jews, artists, students interested in social justice and many more. ³ LIA made it possible for these different groups to come together for a common goal and be allowed to express themselves in a safe environment among like-minded people. In 1994, as its budget expanded, LIA grew and formalized its organizational structure and was able to move its operations from a dorm room to an office, and take on professional staff persons (recent graduates) who coordinated fundraising and student activists. A year later, Lights in Action was incorporated and had established itself in a Manhattan office space, as their new headquarters. LIA also established a student-led Summer Institute in Israel, developed and distributed materials to over 175 campuses across the United States and Canada, developed seminars in conjunction with Hillel and the Aleph Society, and became a delegate member of the World Union of Jewish Students. ⁴

In 1996, Lights in Action received funding for a two-year independent evaluation of the effectiveness of their activities and programs. The evaluation produced a 1997 report outlining a plan to conduct a national survey of Jewish university students, among other initiatives. The national survey of was conducted by LIA in 1998. Though LIA received positive responses from students about their mailings, activities, and programs, the organization began to experience a decrease in the number of students who attended their programs. LIA mailings were also reaching fewer college campuses. Lights in Actions struggled between being a grassroots movement and wanting to be an established organization. Concurrently, larger Jewish student organizations also began to create programs similar to the programs Lights in Action had established. In 1999, LIA initiated a strategic planning process to plan for the future of their organization. Out of this process came two major proposals to change the organization: a major revamp of their website into a more dynamic, interactive website, to help students gain access to distributed material more easily and quickly; and to hire an experienced professional full-time staff person, to coordinate fundraising, provide continuity, and free up the younger staff to work with students. ⁵ The initiatives were not able to turn LIA around. In the fall of 2001, many of the Lights in Action's foundation grants expired as the decrease in student interest affected LIA's ability to secure needed grant money and Lights in Action was forced to shut down.