Latest News from Campus

The City University of New York (CUNY) Hillel Hubs program is an innovative effort to redefine CUNY campus Hillels as social service hubs for students. Launched in 2022 as a partnership between Hillel and UJA-New York, the program provides funding for Hillels to hire on-site social workers and centralize crucial resources including kosher food pantries, mental health services, academic and career counseling, and cash assistance.

San Diego universities are seeing record levels of Jewish student involvement in Hillel this year. At the University of California San Diego alone, nearly 600 students participated in Hillel events during the first week of classes. Karen Parry, CEO of Hillel of San Diego, credits the “strength, resilience, and fortitude” of Jewish students for sparking this shift.

Ohio State University (OSU) Hillel is marking its 100th year as a welcoming hub for Jewish students at the university. The Hillel building has become more than just a place for services and has turned into an essential “third space” where students can gather on campus. Nathaniel Grossman, Director of External Affairs at OSU Hillel, noted that the building is always hosting students throughout the day, providing a variety of events and programming.

Miami University Hillel welcomed Sarah Shmoel as its new executive director. She previously held roles at Ohio University Hillel, Cincinnati Hillel, and Tel Aviv University Hillel, along with volunteering with Miami Hillel during graduate school. Shmoel plans to focus on building a strong Jewish community and integrating Jewish life into campus culture.

The Toronto International Film Festival briefly removed The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, a documentary about Noam Tibon’s mission to save his family during the Oct. 7th Hamas attacks. After public pressure, the festival reinstated the film, which then won the People’s Choice Award for documentaries.

The United States Postal Service issued a new stamp honoring Elie Wiesel, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Holocaust survivor and humanitarian. Wiesel, who died in 2016 at age 87, is the 18th individual to be recognized in the USPS Distinguished Americans series. The stamp features a portrait of Wiesel and reflects his enduring legacy in promoting human rights and combating hate and antisemitism.