Latest News from Campus

Dartmouth College student Julia Nikkhoo shared her Persian Jewish heritage with her community through Purim celebrations at Dartmouth Hillel. Growing up with family ties to Hamadan, Iran, a city traditionally associated with Queen Esther and Mordechai, she sees the Purim story as a connection to her ancestry. At Dartmouth Hillel’s annual Purim Ball, she shared Persian music and taught traditional dances, introducing other students to Persian Jewish culture.

Hundreds of students gathered at the University of Central Florida’s Memory Mall for a block party celebrating Jewish and Israeli culture. The event, hosted by UCF Hillel, featured food, music, games, and cultural activities designed to introduce students to Jewish traditions.

Jewish college students recently traveled to Wisconsin for a student advocacy summit where they met with state legislators, a state supreme court justice, and Jewish community leaders to sharpen leadership skills, practice strategic communication, and craft action plans for addressing issues on campus. 

Hillel International staff joined more than 3,500 Jewish teens from over 60 countries at the annual BBYO International Convention in Philadelphia. Over the course of four days, Hillel staff connected with students and introduced them to resources like Hillel International’s Virtual College Prep Series, scholarships for incoming students, and the College Decision Hub to help them prepare for college. Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International, said it was “great to see the awesome Jewish joy and pride on display.”

More than 130 Jewish college students from universities across Texas spent a weekend at Texas A&M building friendships, celebrating Shabbat, and diving into conversations about Jewish identity and campus life. The Summit featured student-led learning, a keynote by author and former White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz, and community events like Havdalah and a Texas-style rodeo night. Students returned to campus with a stronger sense of belonging in their statewide Jewish community.

Around 700 students, alumni, and Evanston community members gathered for an annual Mega Shabbat, a large-scale dinner hosted by Northwestern Hillel and local partners. Organizers used the event to strengthen campus and community ties, and create a visible Jewish space centered on shared ritual, food, and student leadership.