UMass Amherst Student Brings Jewish Ritual Leadership Back to Campus
Hillel International and Repair the World’s Bridging Service Fellowship Returns for Second Year
New Hillel Director Looks to Build Community at Ithaca College
Hillel International Expands Shabbat Opportunities at 130+ Hillels
This fall, more than 130 Hillels will receive grants to expand Shabbat programming as part of Hillel International’s “Shabbat Surge,” a movement-wide effort to strengthen Shabbat experiences during the first six weeks of the semester. The initiative aims to bring more students together around the Shabbat table and create opportunities for connection and community. “There’s something really special about seeing students who might not otherwise cross paths sitting around the same table, laughing, talking, and creating community together,” said Ben Novorr, director of Jewish student engagement at University of Kansas Hillel.
Welcome Week Brings Jewish Students Together on Campus
Hillel International Welcomes Its 10th Student Cabinet Cohort at Annual Gathering
UC Berkeley Hillel to Celebrate 100 Years of Jewish Student Life
Federal Judge Orders U.S. Government to Restore Part of UCLA’s Frozen Funds
A federal judge ordered the U.S. government to restore part of UCLA’s funding that it suspended, ruling that the funding freeze violated a preliminary injunction aimed at protecting research grants. The government previously cut approximately $584 million in funding due to anti-Israel campus protests and encampments in the spring of 2024.
Washington and Lee University Welcomes New Jewish Life Program Director
Sofie Ramirez Soto joined Washington & Lee University as the Jewish life program director after serving as engagement coordinator at NYU Hillel for two years. In her new role, she will enrich Jewish life on campus and contribute to broader spiritual initiatives by overseeing the Hillel House, creating interfaith programming with campus ministers and student leaders, and strengthening connections with Jewish alumni and the Lexington community.
JetBlue Reportedly Served Passenger Kosher Meal Marked ‘Zionazi’
A kosher meal served aboard a JetBlue flight was allegedly defaced with the term “Zionazi.” JetBlue responded, stating it has a zero tolerance for hate and bias and launched an immediate investigation.
U.S. Government Seeks $1 Billion Settlement from University of California in Response to UCLA Protests
The U.S. government is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University of California (UC), alleging the system failed to prevent antisemitic incidents during anti-Israel protests at UCLA in the 2023-2024 academic year. The figure is five times the sum Columbia University agreed to pay to settle similar claims of antisemitism — and could be the largest settlement yet between the government and a higher education institution. UC officials say the payment would “completely devastate” California’s public universities.
Former Congressional Staffer Arrested for Urging Followers to Attack Jewish High School
A former youth organizer for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Iman Abdul, was arrested after allegedly posting a Google Maps screenshot of a Jewish high school in New York City and encouraging her 25,000 Instagram followers to “attack” it because “…Zionists all attend here.” Abdul is being charged with harassment and making a terrorism-related threat.
Adelphi University Places SJP Chapter on One-Year Probation
Adelphi University, a private university in New York, placed its campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on a one-year disciplinary probation after an investigation found that the group’s social media posts created a hostile environment for Jewish students. During probation, the chapter must meet with university officials to discuss appropriate social media use and adhere to university policy.