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
Virginia Tech Hillel Blends Jewish Tradition with Sustainable Food Practices
At Virginia Tech Hillel, Executive Director Amanda Herring and Chef Greg Herring have transformed kosher campus dining by integrating Jewish values with sustainability. They source regenerative kosher meat and partner with local farms to reduce waste, turning surplus produce into preserved goods like tomato sauce. Their approach not only honors ancient Jewish traditions, but also educates students on ethical food sourcing, fostering a community centered around mindful eating and environmental stewardship.
Activist Noa Tishby Amplifies Voices of October 7 Survivors at Ohio State Hillel
Activist, actress, and best-selling author Noa Tishby recently spoke at Ohio State University (OSU) Hillel, where over 300 students and community members gathered to hear two survivors of the October 7 Hamas attacks share their personal stories. OSU Hillel CEO Naomi Lamb reflected on the powerful evening, saying, “Hearing both of the survivors talk about their stories of what happened to them on Oct. 7, I felt was the most heartbreaking and at the same time, the most heartfelt stories anyone could hear.”
Houston Hillel Fosters Vibrant Jewish Community for Graduate Students
Jewston, a program of Houston Hillel, facilitates meaningful connections for Jewish graduate students and young alumni across Houston-area universities and medical institutions, including Rice University, the University of Houston, and the Texas Medical Center. The initiative hosts social programs like bagel brunches and leadership development opportunities, while also supporting students in responding to antisemitism on campus.
Hillel San Luis Obispo Hosts Middle East Peace Dialogue Featuring Expert Negotiators
More than 75 students and community members attended “A Dialogue on Peace in the Middle East” at California Polytechnic University, featuring former U.S. envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross, and former Palestinian Authority negotiator Ghaith Al-Omari. Hosted by Hillel San Luis Obispo (SLO), and Cal Poly’s Student Affairs and Communication Studies Departments, the event offered a model for productive discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as part of Hillel’s 2025 Teach-in Tour.
Government Freezes $2.2 Billion in Funding to Harvard
The U.S. government announced that it would pause $2.2 billion in federal research grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University. The funding freeze follows Harvard President Alan Garber’s announcement that the university was refusing to comply with a set of government demands that he said in a statement “infringe on academic independence or constitutional rights.” In recent weeks, the administration has also paused funding at the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Princeton, Cornell, and Northwestern citing concerns about antisemitism on campus.
Ohio State University Hillel Director of Advancement Cydney Goldberg Honored by Birthright Israel
Cydney Goldberg, Director of Advancement at Ohio State University Hillel, was honored by Birthright Israel at OSU HIllel’s recent “Shabbat at the Shoe” event. The program brought together students and alumni for a Shabbat celebration at Ohio Stadium (nicknamed “The Horseshoe”), one of the largest on-campus stadiums in the world. Goldberg, a dedicated leader in Jewish student engagement, has organized over 20 Birthright trips to Israel, strengthening ties between students and the Jewish community.