Penn Hillel Students Inspire Healing…with Jewish Teddy Bears

Penn Hillel students are comforting people in need of healing — one teddy bear at a time. Audrey Singer, 21, and Aden Horowitz, 21, founded Mishe Bear, a startup that sells plush teddy bears to provide comfort to those who are ill. Each bear holds a customizable note and a heart-shaped card containing the “Mi Sheberach,” a Jewish prayer of healing.

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Florida Hillels host “Spread Cream Cheese, Not Hate” Events to Combat Antisemitism

Florida Hillels have found an incredibly successful — and delicious — way to counter antisemitism on college campuses. “Spread Cream Cheese, Not Hate,” which originated at University of Florida Hillel in 2020, spreads awareness about antisemitism. The event is simple: Sign a petition against antisemitism and receive a fresh bagel and T-shirt.

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Hillels around the world celebrate Good Deeds Day

Jewish students at more than 80 Hillels around the world came together to celebrate Good Deeds Day, an international day of volunteering on April 3.

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Reflections of a Hillel President

Hillel taught me what it meant to have a community, a kehillah, that I could count on and trust to never judge me. I learned to find my voice and use it to inspire others. I have begun to trust myself and be proud of who I am and what I do.

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Hillels Give New Energy, Bring More Students to Shabbat

Stretching from coast to coast, Hillels are reimagining Shabbat experiences to empower students to connect with Judaism and become Jewish leaders. Their creative efforts offer an alternative to traditional Shabbat services, which involve structured prayer in a synagogue.

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This Year, In Person

I’m celebrating Passover at Hillel for the first and last time

Passover has always been our gateway to come together. A way to see how everyone has grown. But as I neared college, I knew that my seder was going to look different. At least temporarily. I needed to give myself space to find new Passover traditions with my Jewish community on campus.

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University Presidents, Diversity Officers Learn New Tools to Address Antisemitism at Summit

College and university presidents and diversity officers from across North America learned best practices and new tactics to improve the campus climate for Jewish students this week at the University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism.

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Meet the American Pitcher Who Brought New Turf to Israel

American-Israeli baseball player Zach Weiss played in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Weiss, now a relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, says his experiences as a Jewish athlete go far beyond representing Team Israel in 2020. Here are the highlights from our conversation with Weiss.

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University Presidents to Address Antisemitism and Campus Climate for Jewish Students in New York Summit

College and university leaders from more than 40 schools are attending two-day summit, sponsored by Hillel International and American Jewish Committee, in collaboration with American Council on Education

College and university presidents from across the United States will come together on April 11-12 for a summit on the unprecedented increase in antisemitic activity and the marginalization of Jewish students on campus. The summit is being presented by Hillel International and American Jewish Committee (AJC), in collaboration with the American Council on Education (ACE).

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Hillel International Announces 2022-2023 Student Cabinet Co-Chairs

Jessica Yeroshalmi and Jordan Robinson to head seventh cohort of international student leadership

Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, announced today the co-chairs of the seventh cohort of its Student Cabinet, a committee of top student leaders that provide advice, opinions and perspectives to Hillel International leadership.

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Berkeley Hillel Works to Reduce Carbon Footprint Through Solar Panels

Last fall, as fierce winds and low humidity increased fire risk, utility companies cut power to millions of Californians to prevent electrical lines from sparking and igniting blazes. Jewish students at UC Berkley decided to take the problem into their own hands to bring solar panels to the Hillel to avoid future outages.

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Hillels rally to support Ukraine, educate students about the crisis

Hillels around the world have been organizing programs to educate students about the situation in Ukraine and how they can show their support.

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My Limitless Identity

Hillel taught me to embrace every part of who I am

At Hillel, I learned to walk into a room as my whole self, never leaving part of my identity behind. I was finally Jewish enough. For so many years, I created walls because I came from an interfaith family. Hillel taught me that my intersectionality was an asset in Jewish spaces, as it taught me to be open-minded, understanding, and compassionate.

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Jewish Students Shine in ‘Jeopardy! National College Championship’

The "Jeopardy! National College Championship" featured 36 college students who went head-to-head for a $250,000 prize. Read about a handful of Jewish contestants who connected with their faith during the game.

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Hillel International Launches Emergency Relief Fund to Support Jewish Students, Professionals Impacted by Crisis in Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine rages into its second week, Hillel International is launching an Emergency Relief Fund to support the urgent needs of Hillel professionals and students in the impacted region, as well as Hillel’s humanitarian work supporting Ukrainian refugees.

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No student should feel unwelcome at our Hillel because it's not accessible.

Hillels Launch New Initiatives for Jewish Disability, Awareness, and Inclusion Month

Hillels across the country spearheaded new initiatives to make their spaces more inclusive this Jewish Disability, Awareness, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Every February, Hillel observes JDAIM to amplify the voices of Jewish people with disabilities and spread awareness in the Jewish community.

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Hillel Bridges the Gap from High School to College at BBYO’s International Convention

More than 2,500 Jewish teens gathered in Baltimore from Feb. 17-20 for BBYO’s International Convention (IC), the organization's first global in-person event in two years. IC serves as the keynote event of the year when teen leaders from 40 countries join together along with educators, thought leaders, philanthropists, and others to celebrate, dream, and take action.

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Remembering Cheryl Aronson z”l

An Unrivaled Passion for Israel and Jewish Life

The global Jewish community was left reeling on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 by the tragic passing of Cheryl “Tzippi” Aronson z”l. She was 58 years old. Aronson, who worked as a Jewish professional for nearly four decades, was a stalwart pillar in the world of Israel engagement and a beloved friend to her colleagues and friends. She left a vibrant legacy that will impact the Jewish world for years to come.

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After Losing My Dad, My Hillel Community Helped Me Grieve.

My dad was diagnosed with cancer in April 2019, and I leaned on Syracuse Hillel as I grappled with fears of losing him. Rabbi Goldstein offered compassion and support during weekly chats over coffee. Hillel friends constantly texted me with loving messages. My Jewish community was there for me — every step of the way.

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Charoset Across Cultures

Students from across the Hillel movement and various cultures share their family recipes for the Seder plate essential. Just as different ingredients come together to create this valuable and delicious dish, so too do Hillel students to create meaningful Jewish communities on campus.

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