Oklahoma Hillel held Hanukkah events, including a party where students prepared traditional Hanukkah foods, before and during finals week – bringing their Jewish community together for celebration, connection, and support. Participants emphasized the importance of togetherness and resilience during the holiday and busy end‑of‑semester period.
The 2025 Hillel International Global Assembly (HIGA) brought together over 1,100 professionals in Boston to celebrate Jewish joy, belonging, and resilience on campus. The opening plenary featured powerful “Leadership in Action” stories from Hillel professionals, remarks from CNN’s Van Jones and former White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz, music from Nefesh Mountain, and a set from comedian Alex Edelman.
Rabbi Gershon Litt, director of Hillel at William & Mary, received the 2025 Jeffrey R. Solomon Prize from Birthright Israel, which honors Jewish professionals who make a “profound and lasting impact on young adults.” Over nearly two decades, Litt has led more than 40 Birthright Israel trips and dedicated his time to educating students about Jewish and Israeli history and culture.
Houston Hillel’s Shabbudies program at the University of Houston brings students together on Friday afternoons to “a warm, low-pressure space… where students can unwind, grab a snack, do something creative and ease into Shabbat in a way that feels accessible and genuinely restful.” The experience offers an alternative to commuter students and others who have difficulty attending traditional Shabbat dinners on campus – and provides a new way to deepen connections with Houston’s Jewish community.
Israeli basketball player Yarden Garzon plays for the Maryland Terrapins while balancing campus life and keeping in touch with her family in Israel, including her twin sister. While the distance has taken an emotional toll, Yarden leans on Maryland Hillel for support and connection.
Rabbi Ari Israel, who has led Maryland Hillel as executive director for over two decades, is playing a key role in the creation of a new center for Jewish life on campus — Maryland Hillel’s new building. The site for the new space returns Hillel to its original location, where it served students from 1941 to 1981. The nearly 40,000-square-foot building will include kosher dining, study spaces, a Beit Midrash, multipurpose rooms, and features designed to support Jewish student leadership, Israel education, and antisemitism awareness.