Latest News from Campus

Franklin & Marshall College Hillel celebrated 60 years of Jewish life and community and the 18th anniversary of the Klehr Center for Jewish Life during the college’s True Blue Weekend. More than 100 students, alumni, families, and supporters gathered for Shabbat celebrations, dialogue  with Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman, and events honoring the community’s history. The weekend also highlighted major investments in the future of Jewish life on campus, including the establishment of the Ralph W. Taber Endowed Directorship of Jewish Life and a $1 million gift that will, in part, supporting campus dialogue and engagement across differences.

More than 300 students, alumni, university leaders, and community supporters gathered to celebrate the opening of Newman Bernstein Hillel at Florida Atlantic University. The renovated center features updated spaces for studying, socializing, and Jewish programming, covered outdoor seating, and a dedicated entrance to make Hillel more accessible and visible on campus. The $2.6 million renovation was funded by Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach, with a lead capital gift from philanthropist Debbie Newman Bernstein and additional support from community donors, including the Weinberger family.

Jewish student leaders from 11 Ohio campuses gathered for a two-day statewide leadership retreat hosted by Kent State Hillel and Hillel at Miami University of Ohio. The retreat brought students together to share experiences, learn from Jewish community leaders, and develop practical skills. Through roundtable discussions and educational sessions, participants explored ways to strengthen Jewish life on their campuses and bring new ideas back to their communities. The gathering also gave students, including those from campuses with smaller Jewish populations, an opportunity to build relationships with peers and connect with a broader network of Jewish student leaders.

More than 100 Jewish student leaders from 10 Hillels across Georgia gathered to develop leadership skills, build relationships, and explore ways to strengthen Jewish campus life as part of the Leven-Silberman Leadership Institute, a Hillels of Georgia initiative designed to empower the next generation of Jewish leaders. Through interactive workshops, mentorship, networking with local professionals, and collaborative sessions, students returned to their campuses with new connections and ideas for bringing their communities together.

Ohio University Hillel held a weekend celebration and rededication ceremony for its newly renovated space – the Terry & Sam D. Roth Center for Jewish Life – designed to help Jewish students connect, explore their identities, and build community on campus. Made possible in part by a $500,000 gift from alumni Terry and Sam D. Roth, who met at Hillel in 1960, the center features an updated kosher kitchen, mini-café, wellness lounge, and outdoor patio. During the celebration, the Roths also announced an additional $100,000 commitment toward a new building fund that Ohio Hillel is establishing to support the future of Jewish life at Ohio University.

Maryland Hillel celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Hillel Center at the University of Maryland, College Park this past weekend with students, community members, and special guests, including University President Darryll J. Pines, Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman, and Maryland Hillel CEO Rabbi Ari Israel. The two-level facility, which opened this fall, includes a kosher dining hall, café, classrooms, prayer and study spaces, multipurpose rooms, and areas for student gatherings and events. The center will host Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, Israel programming, leadership meetings, and activities for the university’s Jewish community – one of the largest in the nation.