Champaign, Illinois Designates Honorary Street for Hillel Founder Rabbi Benjamin Frankel
SJP at University of Colorado Boulder Calls for Release of 2025 Boulder Terror Attack Perpetrator
Hillel Leadership Passport Connects Students to High-Impact, National Convening on Jewish Security
Maryland Hillel Holds Alternative Graduation After University Commencement Rescheduled to Shavuot
After the University of Maryland moved its primary commencement ceremony to the beginning of Shavuot, Maryland Hillel quickly organized an alternative graduation ceremony for Jewish students. The ceremony brought together more than 70 graduates and their families, and included remarks from UMD President Darryll Pines and Dean for Undergraduate Studies William Cohen. Emma Steinhause, a graduating senior, said the event “turned what could have been a really difficult moment into one of the most meaningful nights of my college experience,” adding that the swift response from the Jewish community and university leadership made her feel “truly seen and supported.”
Justice Department Files Third Lawsuit Against UCLA, Alleging Antisemitic Harassment
Suspect Arrested Following Months of Antisemitic Graffiti at San José State University
Hadar Institute Launches New Campus Rabbi Partnership with Hillel
Johns Hopkins Hillel Rabbi Brings Mindfulness-Focused Approach to Student Life
Rabbi Yonatan Arnon, a senior Jewish educator and rabbi at Johns Hopkins Hillel, is introducing mindfulness-based programming to help students build connections and navigate academic pressure. Drawing on experience in settings ranging from prison chaplaincy to campus life, Arnon is expanding Hillel offerings to include Jewish learning, interfaith engagement, and wellness-focused initiatives.
University of Pennsylvania Appeals Order to Release Information on Jewish Students and Staff
The University of Pennsylvania appealed a federal court order requiring it to provide the names and contact information of Jewish students and employees to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as part of an investigation into university antisemitism. The university argued the subpoena raises constitutional concerns, and asked the court to pause enforcement while the appeal proceeds. The order followed a March ruling that said the request could help identify potential witnesses to discrimination on campus.
Springboard Fellow Designs Interactive Holocaust Education Initiative
Kate Hartman, the Springboard Fellow at George Mason University Hillel, led immersive Holocaust education efforts for Yom HaShoah this year, designing programming to deepen student engagement with historical memory. Drawing on her own experiences studying the Holocaust, she created a campus “gallery walk” inspired by stolpersteine, memorial stones placed across Europe to honor victims of the Holocaust.
Brandeis Study Finds Nearly Half of Jewish Students Experience Antisemitism on Campus
A new study from Brandeis University found that 47% of Jewish college students reported experiencing antisemitism on campus. The survey also examined how students define antisemitism, including when criticism of Israel crosses into hostility toward Jews. Researchers said the findings reflect a broader rise in antisemitic incidents and continued challenges for Jewish students navigating campus life.
Rutgers Hillel Honors Rabbi Esther Reed’s 25 Years of Service
Rutgers Hillel will honor Rabbi Esther Reed as she steps down after nearly 25 years with the organization. Rabbi Reed served as chief operating officer and a central leader in campus Jewish life. She helped expand student engagement, strengthen programming, and guide Rutgers Hillel through periods of growth and change. Members of the community will recognize her contributions at an upcoming event celebrating her long-standing impact on Jewish student life.
Former Hostage Omer Shem-Tov Speaks at The Ohio State University
Omer Shem-Tov, an Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas for over 500 days following the October 7th attacks, recently spoke at The Ohio State University. He shared his experience in captivity, including time spent in underground tunnels, and described how it reshaped his outlook on identity and resilience. The event drew nearly 350 students and community members, and attendees said Shem-Tov’s remarks exemplified “faith and resilience.”