Latest News from Campus

Jewish students from across the Bay Area gathered for a ceremony hosted by San Francisco Hillel that used artwork to help students process October 7th and its aftermath. Participants attached their yellow ribbons, pins, and dog tags to a paper-mache tree, marking a significant milestone as all the hostages, living and deceased, have been returned home.

UCLA Hillel was joined by guests including Chancellor Julio Frenk, Distinguished Professor Stuart Gabriel, and assembly member Jesse Gabriel for a “Celebration of Jewish Resilience” program. The event focused on defining resilience as a proactive pursuit of visibility rather than quiet endurance, specifically addressing the rise in campus antisemitism since October 7. Speakers highlighted the roles of Hillel, university leadership, and student advocacy in building visible, supported Jewish communities.

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 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.

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.

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.