San Diego universities are seeing record levels of Jewish student involvement in Hillel this year. At the University of California San Diego alone, nearly 600 students participated in Hillel events during the first week of classes. Karen Parry, CEO of Hillel of San Diego, credits the “strength, resilience, and fortitude” of Jewish students for sparking this shift.
Ohio State University (OSU) Hillel is marking its 100th year as a welcoming hub for Jewish students at the university. The Hillel building has become more than just a place for services and has turned into an essential “third space” where students can gather on campus. Nathaniel Grossman, Director of External Affairs at OSU Hillel, noted that the building is always hosting students throughout the day, providing a variety of events and programming.
Two Syracuse University students have been charged with a hate crime after allegedly throwing pork into a Jewish fraternity house during the Jewish new year celebration of Rosh Hashanah. The university condemned the act and referred the students for potential disciplinary action. Local authorities emphasized the charges reflect the targeted nature of the incident against Jewish students during a high holiday.
Oberlin College President Carmen Twillie Ambar addressed concerns of antisemitism during Hillel’s annual meeting, emphasizing and outlining the institution’s commitment to supporting Jewish students. Three Jewish students spoke on a panel about what Hillel means to them, highlighting the importance of Hillel on campus.
A federal judge ordered that more than $500 million in grants be reinstated to UCLA, citing lack of sufficient reasoning for the freeze. The federal government previously froze approximately $584 million in federal research funding to UCLA over accusations of antisemitism during the Gaza war protests on campus.
Miami University Hillel welcomed Sarah Shmoel as its new executive director. She previously held roles at Ohio University Hillel, Cincinnati Hillel, and Tel Aviv University Hillel, along with volunteering with Miami Hillel during graduate school. Shmoel plans to focus on building a strong Jewish community and integrating Jewish life into campus culture.