Air Force Officer and West Point Hillel Graduate Creates Community for Jewish Cadets
Hillel International Welcomes New Board Chair
California Faculty Union Looks to Roll Back Campus Protest Restrictions
The California Faculty Association is backing legislation to repeal a 2024 state law that requires public universities to enforce time, place, and manner limits on campus protests These limits prohibit violence, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination. Jewish advocacy groups supported the original law in response to concerns about campus antisemitism and student safety during protests related to the Hamas-Israel war. Dozens of local Jewish organizations have submitted a joint opposition letter against the new bill.
Donors Support Hillel International’s Ruach Fellowship
Former UVM Hillel Student President Highlights LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Hillel International Scales Peer-Led Jewish Learning Pilot to Boost Male Student Engagement
University of Arizona Student Reflects on Hillel International Internship
Courtney Saxe, a rising fourth-year student at the University of Arizona, extended her summer internship with Hillel International into a multi-year role supporting Jewish campus life and digital storytelling. Saxe credited the experience with giving her a meaningful opportunity to shape some of Hillel’s signature initiatives, including Content Creators Forum, noting, “I gained a new appreciation for the work happening behind the scenes at Hillel International, but what surprised me most was how much my own voice mattered.” She added that she never felt like “just an intern” because her perspective as a student was trusted and valued.
Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow Brings Chaplaincy To Jewish Campus Life
Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow, executive director of Northeastern Hillel, describes how she accompanies Jewish college students through moments of challenge and joy using a chaplaincy-informed approach grounded in presence, listening, and sustained relational support. Northeastern Hillel has piloted an innovative Clinical Pastoral Education program focused on Jewish community chaplaincy, campus life, and mental health that they hope to grow nationally next year.
Expanding Jewish Campus Engagement Beyond The “Coffee Date”
Jay Solomon, chief advancement officer of Hillel Ontario, describes a shift in Jewish campus engagement away from a primary focus on one-on-one “coffee date” relationships toward broader, community-based entry points. He highlights large-scale Shabbat dinners, social gatherings, and informal group experiences as ways college students first connect to Jewish life. Solomon points to these settings as starting points that often lead students into leadership roles and deeper relationships with Jewish campus communities.
Unity Dinners Connect Black and Jewish College Students Across U.S. Campuses
This academic year, Hillel International, the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, and UNCF sponsored 14 Black and Jewish Unity Dinner events across U.S. campuses to spark connection and dialogue between Black, Jewish, and Black and Jewish students. These dinners are building trust and relationships through in-person peer interaction, while countering rising antisemitism and racism. Surveys conducted post-event indicated that over 70% of attendees reported an increased understanding of both communities, while 87% expressed interest in future joint programming.
Southern Methodist University Hillel Grows Jewish Belonging and Safety on Campus Amid Rise in Antisemitism
Hillel at Southern Methodist University and campus leaders are helping Jewish students feel safe and supported following heightened security concerns at the school. In addition to working with campus police to increase patrols and coordination around Jewish student spaces, Hillel has expanded programming and visibility to show students there is a thriving Jewish community for them at the university. “Ever since coming to SMU, I’ve embraced my Jewish identity even more because [Hillel] gave me a place to feel like I’m at home. I really love it,” said second-year student Jaden Simkins.
Hillel International Expands Israel Education Initiatives to Support College Students
In response to the October 7th attacks and the increased need for trusted Jewish educators, Hillel International expanded its Israel education training to better equip campus professionals with the skills they need to support Jewish college students. Through initiatives like Masterclass: Israel and Sipurim, educators are learning how to facilitate honest conversations about complex topics. President and CEO Adam Lehman said students are seeking “trusted relationships, authentic conversation and educational communities strong enough to sustain both honesty and belonging.”