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
Columbia University Takes Steps to Combat Antisemitism on Campus and Regain Federal Funding
In an effort to regain the $400 million in federal funding that it lost earlier this year, Columbia University announced that it will: require its Office of Institutional Equity to use the IHRA definition of antisemitism, appoint a Title VI coordinator, mandate antisemitism training for students, staff, and faculty, and refuse to recognize or meet with the Columbia University Apartheid Divest coalition, which is banned by Instagram due to promotion of violent material. Brian Cohen, executive director of Columbia Barnard Hillel, said these steps are welcome as their implementation shows an acknowledgement of the antisemitism spike on campus.
UC Berkeley Chancellor Wants to Balance Combating Antisemitism on Campus and Protecting Free Speech
UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons appeared in front of the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee in the latest hearing focused on antisemitism on college campuses. Lyons testified that UC Berkeley has “more work to do” when it comes to antisemitism, but also defended free speech on campus, saying that pro-Palestinian views are not necessarily antisemitic.
Dozens of Colleges Hire Title VI Coordinators Ahead of New School Year
Inside Higher Ed reports that the recent surge in antisemitism on college campuses has led to dozens of universities creating dedicated Title VI coordinator roles to oversee investigations, processes, and policies in compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 related to discrimination based on ethnicity or national origin — including antisemitism. The increase in Title VI support mirrors the opening of Title IX offices in the 2010s.
ADL Survey Finds 1 in 4 Americans Say Recent Attacks Against Jews are ‘Understandable’
A recent Anti-Defamation League (ADL) survey of 1,000 U.S. adults reveals that while 60% of Americans view antisemitism as a serious problem, approximately 25% believe recent violent attacks on Jewish Americans were “understandable.” The recent violent incidents include the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s house, the deadly shooting of two Israeli embassy workers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C., and the firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado. The same percentage also believed that these attacks were staged to gain sympathy for Israel.
Yale Hillel’s Slifka Center Completes New Building Renovations to Strengthen Jewish Life on Campus
Following an $8 million building renovation, the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale (Yale Hillel) has reopened with major upgrades designed to strengthen and better support the Jewish community at Yale. The renovations include an expanded kosher dining hall, improved security, and new communal lounges — creating a more welcoming and functional hub for Jewish life at Yale.
Jewish A Cappella Group Creates Jewish Joy at Binghamton Hillel
Binghamton University’s Jewish a cappella group Kaskeset, supported by Hillel International, gives students a safe place to express their Jewish identity and lean into tradition through music. For students like Jordi and Mya, Kaskeset is a “time capsule of Jewish joy, pride, and togetherness.” Kaskeset is releasing its first EP in five years, featuring songs in both Hebrew and English and contemporary hits.