University of Michigan Apologizes After Faculty Member’s Divisive Commencement Speech
Swarthmore College Reports Hundreds of Acts of Vandalism from Anti-Israel Protestors
USC Community Gathers for Jewish American Heritage Month Celebration
The University of Southern California hosted its first Jewish American Heritage Month celebration, bringing together students, faculty and community members for remarks, music, and refreshments. Speakers included Provost Andrew Guzman, who celebrated the richness of Jewish campus life, including the vibrant community at Hillel. The program also featured student performances, including an original instrumental piece, and marked the start of an annual campus observance.
Opinion: Jewish American Heritage Month Led Me Back to My Jewish Identity
Federal Court Pauses Ruling Requiring Penn To Turn Over List of Jewish Students, Faculty
NFL Leaders Encourage Black And Jewish Students To Build Connections Through Unity Event
Johns Hopkins Hillel Rabbi Brings Mindfulness-Focused Approach to Student Life
Rabbi Yonatan Arnon, a senior Jewish educator and rabbi at Johns Hopkins Hillel, is introducing mindfulness-based programming to help students build connections and navigate academic pressure. Drawing on experience in settings ranging from prison chaplaincy to campus life, Arnon is expanding Hillel offerings to include Jewish learning, interfaith engagement, and wellness-focused initiatives.
University of Pennsylvania Appeals Order to Release Information on Jewish Students and Staff
The University of Pennsylvania appealed a federal court order requiring it to provide the names and contact information of Jewish students and employees to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as part of an investigation into university antisemitism. The university argued the subpoena raises constitutional concerns, and asked the court to pause enforcement while the appeal proceeds. The order followed a March ruling that said the request could help identify potential witnesses to discrimination on campus.
Springboard Fellow Designs Interactive Holocaust Education Initiative
Kate Hartman, the Springboard Fellow at George Mason University Hillel, led immersive Holocaust education efforts for Yom HaShoah this year, designing programming to deepen student engagement with historical memory. Drawing on her own experiences studying the Holocaust, she created a campus “gallery walk” inspired by stolpersteine, memorial stones placed across Europe to honor victims of the Holocaust.
Brandeis Study Finds Nearly Half of Jewish Students Experience Antisemitism on Campus
A new study from Brandeis University found that 47% of Jewish college students reported experiencing antisemitism on campus. The survey also examined how students define antisemitism, including when criticism of Israel crosses into hostility toward Jews. Researchers said the findings reflect a broader rise in antisemitic incidents and continued challenges for Jewish students navigating campus life.
Rutgers Hillel Honors Rabbi Esther Reed’s 25 Years of Service
Rutgers Hillel will honor Rabbi Esther Reed as she steps down after nearly 25 years with the organization. Rabbi Reed served as chief operating officer and a central leader in campus Jewish life. She helped expand student engagement, strengthen programming, and guide Rutgers Hillel through periods of growth and change. Members of the community will recognize her contributions at an upcoming event celebrating her long-standing impact on Jewish student life.
Former Hostage Omer Shem-Tov Speaks at The Ohio State University
Omer Shem-Tov, an Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas for over 500 days following the October 7th attacks, recently spoke at The Ohio State University. He shared his experience in captivity, including time spent in underground tunnels, and described how it reshaped his outlook on identity and resilience. The event drew nearly 350 students and community members, and attendees said Shem-Tov’s remarks exemplified “faith and resilience.”