University students celebrated traditional Israeli customs throughout campus and the surrounding community this week.

Israel Illini Vice President Julie Levitt, senior in LAS, said Israel Week was “extraordinarily successful” yet again this year.

She said all scheduled events went off without any trouble as Israel Illini and other registered student organizations drew nearly 2,000 students to the 64th anniversary celebration of Israel’s independence, also know as Yom Ha’atzmaut, held Monday on the Quad. Attendance has increased from the approximately 1,000 people who attended last year, said Erez Cohen, Israel programs coordinator for Illini Hillel.

Alli Gattari, freshman in LAS, said she attended Monday’s celebration and free falafel giveaway on the Quad because she wanted to learn more about Israeli culture and customs. She said she learned about Israel Week after signing up to work at Hillel on Fridays next semester to support her friends who cannot work Friday evenings because they observe Shabbat. Gattari said she attended the “informative” event to learn more for when she begins her job in the fall.

Later Wednesday evening, Israel Illini held a fundraising event at Fire Station Pizza and Pub for the non-governmental organization Jewish Hearts for Africa. The event raised about $500 for the organization that is working to provide a medical clinic using green and solar technology in Uganda. The event was co-sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma and the African Cultural Association. This was the first time Israel Illini teamed up with Jewish Hearts for Africa.

Elsewhere in Champaign, Sinai Temple held its own Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration Wednesday evening. It featured a dinner and a discussion about water rights and conservation projects in Israel, said Stephanie Pregent, education director for Sinai Temple. She said the temple also celebrated a special solidarity Shabbat service last Friday that featured songs from Sinai’s religious school students.

Cohen said Israel Week will conclude Friday evening with Hillel’s Israeli Shabbat at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Despite the controversy that sometimes pervades discussions about Israel, Cohen said this was avoided throughout the week because he and other Israel supporters let those with opposing views “do their things and exercise their right to freedom of speech without interrupting them.” He said he hopes this model will yield positive results in the future as well.

“If we develop a healthy way for people to showcase their opinions … as long as we don’t actively go and bash their events … there might be an opening for discussion in the future,” Cohen said.