Latest News from Campus

University of Rochester Hillel broke ground on its first-ever dedicated space, the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life, which is being made possible by a landmark $3.5 million pledge from alum David Greenbaum and his wife, Laureine. The center, which is expected to open next fall, will include a Beit Midrash, kitchen, and room for Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, learning, cooking classes, game nights, and other community gatherings. “Having this beautiful designated space will be transformational for Jewish campus life, ensuring students have a true Jewish home away from home to gather, learn, celebrate, and grow together,” said University of Rochester Hillel Executive Director Joy Getnick.

Hillel Rio is welcoming hundreds of Jewish students and young adults to its sukkah throughout Sukkot for meals, learning, holiday rituals, and community gatherings. Students are integral to every part of the Sukkot experience: from helping to build and decorate the sukkah to shaping programming held inside it. “Having a sukkah is especially meaningful because it represents what Hillel is all about: a welcoming home where we celebrate our Jewish identity and feel a sense of belonging,” said student Gabriela Sznajderman. “It’s incredible to have different activities every day during the chag (holiday), bringing us together and strengthening our community.”

GW Hillel and the university’s Center for Interfaith & Spiritual Life are participating in Hillel International and Repair the World’s Bridging Service Fellowship, a yearlong program bringing 10 Jewish and non-Jewish students on their campus together for community service, interfaith dialogue and leadership development. Fellows will volunteer with local organizations, participate in learning and text study, and build relationships through shared service projects, including the InterFaith Council of Metropolitan Washington’s Unity Walk. The program has expanded from more than 100 students across 10 campuses during its pilot year to more than 200 students across 16 campuses this year.

As more students return to Israel through Hillel’s Birthright Israel trips, Hillel at the University of Rochester Assistant Director Michael Pollak explores how first-time and returning participants experience the country differently. After staffing multiple trips, Pollak reflects on how students can encounter familiar places, build relationships with Israeli peers, and engage with Israel through new experiences and conversations, including visits to the Nova Festival memorial.

Hillel of San Diego reports record start-of-year engagement across its four campuses, with more than 800 students participating and nearly 25% reaching the organization’s “deeply engaged” threshold of attending Hillel more than six times. Students are also seeking consistent weekly programs, meals, and community support while taking on leadership roles: from organizing a Shabbat service program at San Diego State University to managing recruitment and events at the University of San Diego and Cal State San Marcos.

CU Boulder Hillel welcomed more than 100 students and community members for a panel featuring Israeli author and activist Noa Tishby, Lebanese Christian activist Jonathan Elkhoury, and Bahraini Muslim activist Fatema Al Harbi. The speakers discussed identity, Israel, and building relationships across differences as part of their Voices of the Middle East college campus tour. During a Q&A, students raised questions about navigating campus tensions and embracing Jewish pride, with the conversation emphasizing personal connection and dialogue.