Latest News from Campus

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.

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.”

At Duke University, students organized Passover seders and communal meals across campus, with programming supported through Jewish organizations including Hillel and Chabad. These events brought together students from a range of backgrounds to participate in traditional Passover rituals and gatherings designed to encourage community engagement.

Hillel at Ohio University (OU Hillel) and Ohio State University Hillel (OSU Hillel) are helping students stay connected to their Jewish identity through Passover traditions that blend religious observance with campus life. Executive Director Juli Goodman of OU Hillel emphasized that these events reflect Hillel’s student-driven approach: “Hillel really is the welcome center for the Jewish community. We want to let students try out different aspects of their identity and be comfortable in it.”

WashU Hillel is bringing hundreds of students together for Passover seders featuring traditional symbolic foods and kosher meals. The events connect students to Jewish tradition, while fostering community and celebration on campus. Hillel is also running a “Do Your Own Seder” program, allowing students to host friends in their homes with Hillel providing food or subsidizing grocery costs

Hillel International partnered with the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate and UNCF to bring students from Alabama colleges together for a Unity Dinner focused on strengthening relationships between Jewish, Black, and Black and Jewish students through open discussions about identity-based challenges.