Carolyn Klausner and Jacob Rond, Jewish students from Wayne State University,  have been named as the recipients of the prestigious 2025 Elaine C. Driker Award — given to Hillel of Metro Detroit students committed to Jewish life in Detroit. Klausner, a third-year physical therapy student, is dedicated to educating others about Israel and celebrating Israeli culture. Rond, a sophomore mechanical engineering student, is dedicated to engaging with the supportive Jewish community.

Karen Diamond, an 82-year-old victim of last month’s firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado of peaceful demonstrators advocating for the release of Israeli hostages, died from her wounds. Marc Soloway of Bonai Shalom congregation in Boulder remembered Diamond as “someone who has given so much of herself over the years to the Bonai community and beyond.” Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the suspect of the attack, will now face two counts of murder.

Liri Albag, a former Hamas hostage, will return to military service this week. She has decided not to return to her previous position as an observer, and instead seeks a role in communication and advocacy efforts.

During their set at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, British punk band Bob Vylan led the crowd in chanting “Death to the IDF.” The festival organizers condemned the hate speech and incitement of violence, and the BBC, which livestreamed the performance, later apologized for not canceling the broadcast. U.K. police have launched a criminal investigation, and the U.S. has revoked visas for Bob Vylan.

The Brooklyn Nets made NBA history with back-to-back first-round picks when they drafted Israeli point guard Ben Saraf at number 26 and Yale University and University of Michigan center Danny Wolf number 27.The Nets selections instantly doubled the number of Jewish players in the league, with Saraf and Wolf joining Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings) and Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers). Both Saraf and Wolf embrace their Jewish heritage and see their careers as an opportunity to challenge stereotypes.

Hillel Israel and Hillel International, with critical support from the Matanel Foundation, launched the inaugural Matanel Fellowship for Global Jewish Leadership, choosing 15 Jewish students from around the world to participate in a year-long program amid surging antisemitism on college campuses. This fellowship aims to connect Jewish people around the world and foster the fellows’ “sense of responsibility” for the global Jewish community. Manatel Fellow and Tel-Hai College student Avihu Sela said that connecting with Jewish people from around the world is “something we need right now.”