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
Over 100 Attend Speech Given by October 7 Survivor at Cal Poly
More than 100 people attended a speech at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) given by an Israeli survivor of the October 7 Hamas attack, who shared first hand testimony of the massacre. Hosted by San Luis Obispo Hillel (Hillel SLO) and Mustangs for Israel, the event aimed to raise awareness and counter misinformation about Israel and the October 7 attacks. Hillel SLO and Mustangs for Israel also created a powerful display featuring a teddy bear surrounded by red paint to symbolize the children killed in the attack, along with posters telling the stories of the victims.
Michigan Tech Hillel Celebrates Jewish Life with Shabbat Dinners and Community Building
Jewish life at Michigan Technological University is experiencing a revival through Michigan State University Hillel’s regular Shabbat gatherings which offer students a strong sense of community and tradition. With a small but growing Jewish presence on campus, these efforts create an inclusive space for students to connect, celebrate their heritage, and deepen their Jewish identity. In addition to Shabbat dinners, upcoming initiatives include challah-baking lessons, a Passover seder, and a campus-wide event featuring a Holocaust survivor.
Israel Confirms Identity of Four Murdered Hostages to be Returned: Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, Oded Lifshitz
Israeli officials confirmed that the bodies of Shiri Bibas (32) and her two young children, Ariel (5) and Kfir (2), along with 84-year-old journalist and peace activist Oded Lifshitz, will be returned to Israel tomorrow after being held captive for over 500 days. The Bibas family and Lifshitz were abducted from their homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Yarden Bibas, the father and husband, was released earlier this month after nearly 500 days in captivity. Their families have been notified, and the nation mourns their heartbreaking loss.
Antisemitic Rhetoric Fuels Clashes at Anti-Israel Protest in Brooklyn Jewish Neighborhood
An anti-Israel protest in Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish Boro Park neighborhood escalated as protestors chanted antisemitic rhetoric, including “Settlers, go back home” and “Zionists go to hell.” Protestors and counter-protestors clashed in physical confrontations, prompting police intervention and at least one arrest. New York political leaders condemned the protest, citing concerns over the antisemitic rhetoric.
Six Hostages To Be Released on Saturday
Israel confirmed that six hostages will be released on Saturday as part of the initial phase of the ongoing hostage release and temporary ceasefire agreement. The group includes Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who have been held captive by Hamas since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Also among the hostages to be released are Tal Shoham, abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri, and three men — Omer Shem-Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Eliya Cohen — who were taken captive at the Nova music festival on October 7.
Families of Hostages Mark 500 Days Since October 7
On the 500th day since October 7, 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel and took hundreds of Israelis hostage, a number of families of current and former hostages rallied across Israel with supporters, organizing fasts and protests to demand the release of the remaining 70 hostages. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum organized a 500-minute fast and roadblocks across the country, as families voiced their anguish and called for action.