Latest News from Campus

Three years after the October 7th attacks, Shalhevet Tzur Fisher, a student leader at Hillel Jerusalem and member of Hillel International’s Student Cabinet, reflects on how the massacre and the war that followed shaped her and her friends’ university experience. She describes studying while sirens sounded, navigating grief alongside the ordinary routines of student life, and trying to make plans for the future amid daily uncertainty. Through Hillel, she found community, friendship, hope, and opportunities to connect with Jewish students around the world.

Rabbi Melissa B. Simon, senior director of Israel Education at Hillel International, explores how books can help Jewish educators and students engage with Israel through curiosity, conversation, and sustained learning. She highlights Hillel International’s practice of giving books to educators and incorporating diverse titles and subject matter into professional learning, creating opportunities to encounter different perspectives and continue exploring questions beyond a classroom, seminar, or trip.

The United States and Israel launched a joint attack on multiple locations in Iran, with the U.S. and Israeli governments announcing on Saturday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed as a result. Islamic Republic state media confirmed Khamenei’s death. On Sunday and Monday, waves of strikes on Islamic Republic governmental targets continued as the Islamic Republic retaliated with a barrage of missiles against Israel, nearby U.S. bases, and other countries in the region including the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus. This is a developing story.

Deni Avdija secured his place in NBA history after coaches selected him as a Western Conference reserve for the 2026 All-Star Game. His standout season with the Portland Trail Blazers helped him become the first Israeli player ever named an NBA All-Star.

The IDF located and retrieved the remains of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili — the last remaining Israeli hostage taken captive on October 7, 2023 — returning him to Israel for burial after 843 days. His family and national leaders honored his service and sacrifice, noting that his return marks the end of the hostage crisis.

The IDF confirmed that the body of 21-year-old Tanzanian agricultural intern Joshua Loitu Mollel, who was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7th attacks at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, was returned to Israel this week. Mollel had arrived in Israel just weeks before the attack to participate in an agricultural training program. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said that although he was not an Israeli citizen, “we feel like one of our own is back.”