Latest News from Campus

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.

Former hostage Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and rescued by Israeli forces after 245 days in Hamas captivity, shared her story of survival and resilience with the University of Texas – Austin (UT Austin) Jewish community. Texas Hillel Executive Director Rabbi Stephanie Max facilitated the conversation with Argamani and shared, “The act of telling them [hostage stories] will remain critically important.”

Hillels across Canada are expanding counseling, peer-support circles, and wellness programming to help Jewish students manage heightened stress, anxiety, and safety concerns linked to increased antisemitism on campus. Staff are partnering with mental health professionals and offering more one-on-one support, group sessions, and resilience-building programs so students can access care while staying engaged in Jewish campus life.

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.

Houston Hillel board members recently visited the weekly student lunch at University of Houston Hillel’s student lounge. The visit aimed to strengthen the connection between Houston Hillel’s lay leaders and students, offering firsthand insight into campus life.

Students on college campuses from across the U.S. who participate in the Israel Leadership Network (ILN) gathered in Austin, Texas, for a weekend focused on defining their personal why — why Israel matters to them, why they’ve chosen to lead conversations about Israel on their campuses, and how to inspire others to do the same. The weekend included sharing best practices, exploring how to engage diverse Jewish student populations, and building concrete plans for Israel-related programming at their respective colleges and universities.