More than 75 students and community members attended “A Dialogue on Peace in the Middle East” at California Polytechnic University, featuring former U.S. envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross, and former Palestinian Authority negotiator Ghaith Al-Omari. Hosted by Hillel San Luis Obispo (SLO), and Cal Poly’s Student Affairs and Communication Studies Departments, the event offered a model for productive discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as part of Hillel’s 2025 Teach-in Tour.

Hillel International, in partnership with the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism and the United Negro College Fund, organized a Black-Jewish Unity Dinner at Coppin State University in Baltimore. More than 50 students from Baltimore-area colleges and universities gathered for discussions and activities focused on building understanding and collaboration between Black and Jewish student communities.

Over 330 students and community members attended the University of Florida Hillel’s Passover Seder. A memorial at the entrance honored the 59 Israeli hostages held in Gaza, with a sign reading “Don’t Passover Them.” UF Hillel Executive Director Rabbi Jonah Zinn emphasized the connection between the ancient Exodus and the story Passover, and the contemporary struggle for freedom faced by the hostages.​

Over 75 Hillel student leaders joined more than 20 Jewish content creators and journalists in New York City for the third annual Hillel International Content Creators Forum. The event featured workshops and mentorship sessions aimed at equipping students with tools to advocate for and educate others about Israel and Jewish culture through digital and social media. Notable speakers included 2021’s Miss Israel Noa Cochva, Holocaust survivor (and TikTok educator) Tova Friedman, and digital creator Melinda Strauss.

The University of Maryland hosted the 13th annual National Hillel Basketball Tournament (NHBT), drawing over 1,000 attendees and 50 teams from 32 universities across the country. Teams competed for the coveted “Kiddush Cup” while participating in Shabbat meals and hearing from keynote speakers who focused on strengthening Jewish identity and building community. A team from the University of Pittsburgh claimed the men’s Tier 1 Championship, while a team from Yeshiva University claimed the title on the women’s side.

Dalia Ziada, an Egyptian human rights activist, is visiting 45 college and university campuses this year as part of Hillel International’s Teach-In Tour to engage U.S. students on Middle East issues. Ziada aims to challenge misconceptions and spark open dialogue about the region’s complexities.