UF Hillel Commemorates Three Years Since October 7th
University of Rochester Hillel Breaks Ground on New Jewish Student Center
Hillels Across North America Mark Three Years Since October 7th
Thousands of Jewish students at Hillels across North America marked three years since the October 7th attacks with vigils, exhibitions, art projects, speakers, and opportunities for reflection. At Hillel of Buffalo, students participated in a remembrance gathering and heard from Nova Festival survivor Atir Vinnikov, while University at Albany Hillel created a “Wings of Hope” art installation honoring those killed at Kfar Aza. Other Hillels, including University of Chicago, Penn State, and SLO Hillel, hosted campus-wide programs that shared the stories of those affected by October 7th and created space for students to find support and comfort.
Students Find New Perspectives on Israel Through Birthright
Hillel Rio Brings Hundreds Together for Sukkot
Op-Ed: Cultivating Lifelong Learning Through Israel Education
Springboard Fellow Kate Hartman Helps Jewish George Mason Students Navigate College Life
Kate Hartman, a Springboard Innovation Fellow at George Mason University Hillel, spends her days planning programs, meeting students one on one, leading Jewish learning fellowships, and strengthening Jewish life on campus. Her recent experience as a student leader informs her work, helping her connect with current students in a way that feels both relevant and supportive as they navigate college life.
Jewish Students in the Pacific Northwest Find Community and Meaning at Snowy Hillel Retreat
Jewish students from seven Northwestern campuses gathered at Mount Hood for a “Summit in the Snow,” where they forged new friendships, explored Jewish values, and served others by assembling care kits for people experiencing homelessness. Shared activities like skiing and community-building deepened connections and left attendees inspired to bring that sense of belonging back to their own campuses.
Florida Lawmakers Propose Bipartisan Expansion of Jewish Campus Safety Initiative
Florida legislators Sen. Alexis Calatayud and Rep. Allison Tant are championing a bipartisan plan to enhance security and support for Jewish students at universities statewide. The Florida Hillels Jewish Student Safety Initiative would expand from three universities to seven, with an estimated reach of more than 25,000 Jewish college students. The program combines stronger safety improvements with education, relationships, and support services to help Jewish students feel connected, supported, and empowered.
California Campus Hillels Mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day Alongside Survivors
Students at Claremont Hillel and Hillel at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) observed International Holocaust Remembrance Day by hearing directly from Holocaust survivors. Organizers highlighted that these firsthand accounts help students connect to history, build empathy, and reinforce the responsibility to confront antisemitism when they encounter it.
Service Partnerships Offer Pathway to Make a Difference, Counter Isolation
In a recent joint op-ed, the leaders of Hillel International, Jewish Federations of North America, and Repair the World highlight the growing role of Jewish volunteer service as a meaningful way to address challenges together, dismantle prejudice, and cultivate empathy. For Jewish students, they write, service can become a spiritual grounding, providing a pathway to hope and healing amid campus dynamics that can isolate and marginalize them.
Columbia University Appoints Jennifer Mnookin as New President
Columbia University’s Board of Trustees selected University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin to serve as the next president of the university, with her term beginning July 1. Mnookin, the university’s first Jewish leader in three decades, will take the helm following nearly two years of controversy over antisemitism and anti-Israel protests at the New York City campus. Brian Cohen, executive director of the Kraft Center for Jewish Life, Columbia’s Hillel, emphasized that despite recent challenges, Columbia maintains a strong Jewish community – and he expressed hope that Mnookin’s experience and leadership will help build on that foundation.