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
Israel Faces Unprecedented Wildfires Amid 77th Independence Day Celebrations
Israel’s celebrations of its 77th Independence Day, Yom Ha’atzmaut, were subdued this year as massive wildfires near Jerusalem disrupted events. Fueled by strong winds and high temperatures, the fires led to evacuations of 10 communities and the closure of major highways. Despite these challenges, more than 100,000 Israelis gathered in parks where permitted, and President Isaac Herzog held a ceremony honoring soldiers at his residence.
George Washington University Suspends SJP Chapter for One Year Following Repeated Conduct Violations
George Washington University has suspended the school’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) until May 2026 for hosting unauthorized events and obstructing university officials from attending scheduled programming, among other violations of university rules. The group is prohibited from engaging in any campus activities during the suspension period. This action follows previous disciplinary measures, including a three-month suspension in 2023 for projecting anti-Israel messages on campus buildings.
University of Florida Student Leader Reflects on Jewish Identity and Campus Advocacy
Lauren Robbins, a third-year public relations student at the University of Florida (UF), shares her journey of embracing her Jewish identity, from childhood experiences to active involvement in UF Hillel’s leadership programs. Her participation in initiatives like Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate (SCCNH) — a program that Lauren will chair next year as a senior — has strengthened her commitment to combating antisemitism and fostering community on campus.
Hillel of San Diego Student Honors October 7 Victim with Campus Memorial
A student affiliated with Hillel of San Diego created “Project Nitzan” to honor his friend Nitzan Libstein, who was murdered during Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel. The initiative involved distributing black poppy pins to students, and participating in a Yom HaZikaron event at the Lawrence Family JCC, where attendees wore sweatshirts commemorating Nitzan and his father, who was also murdered on October 7.
Maryville Hillel in St. Louis Celebrates 10 Years of Jewish Life and Campus Community
Maryville University Hillel in St. Louis marked its 10th anniversary, highlighting a decade of fostering Jewish life on campus. Signature events include Shabbat dinners, the annual Holocaust survivor speaker series, which draws over 450 attendees, monthly challah bakes that welcome students from all kinds of Jewish backgrounds, and interfaith initiatives such as “Souper Sunday”, held in conjunction with the Muslim Student Association.
Opinion: Harvard Student Says Criticism of Anti-Israel Groups Must Go Beyond Semantics
In this op-ed, Jacob M. Miller, a Harvard senior and former president of Harvard Hillel, argues that the university’s emphasis on defining antisemitism within pro-Palestine and anti-Zionist activism overlooks broader moral issues within the anti-Israel movement. Miller contends that certain actions and rhetoric from pro-Palestine groups, while not always antisemitic by definition, warrant criticism for their insensitivity and potential to incite violence, writing: “Our excoriation of the anti-Israel movement should be based on protesters’ simplistic thinking, extremist rhetoric, support of violence, and denial of Jewish religious teaching and history.”