Hillel’s Impact: Joy and Jewish Pride on Campus
At Hillel, the 2024-2025 school year was one of joy, strength, and belonging for Jewish college students. During challenging times, Jewish students know that they can always find care, community, and connection at Hillel — thanks to dedicated and generous supporters like you. We couldn’t do this important work without you. Thank you for everything you do for the nearly 190,000 students who lead, grow, and shine at Hillel each and every year.
Belonging
At Hillel, every Jewish college student is welcome. From their very first day on campus, Jewish students find a warm and supportive community at Hillel, where they can explore Jewish life, build lasting friendships, and celebrate being Jewish in a safe space.
850+ campuses where Hillel serves Jewish students
187,000 Jewish college students connect, grow, and learn at Hillel each year
60,000 Jewish students participated in welcome back-to-school programs
I’ve realized the most important part of Judaism is community. That’s what I’ve found at Hillel.
Lauren Azrin, Dartmouth College
Hillel was the backbone of my Jewish experience and I am forever grateful to the community and opportunities I found there.
Jack Landstein, University of Michigan
Through Hillel, I’ve found not just a community, but a family.
Alyssa Wallack, University of Southern California
Spotlight: Hillel FreshFest
Hillel’s FreshFest early move-in programs for first-year Jewish students, along with welcome back events and block parties, help ease the transition to college, enabling first-year students to connect with their peers, build Jewish community, and feel a strong sense of belonging from day one. Thanks to FreshFest, thousands of Jewish students had the opportunity to move into their dorms early and start college with a built-in support system.
Jewish Joy & Community
For more than 100 years, Hillel has helped Jewish college students celebrate Jewish life safely, proudly, and joyfully. At Hillel, Jewish students find a home away from home on campus.
More than 5,000 students from 350 campuses attended Hillel’s first-ever fall Concert Series, Yallapalooza
Over 1,500 Jewish students played in the 13th annual National Hillel Basketball Tournament hosted by Maryland Hillel
No matter how dark things got, Hillel was a source of joy. The staff at Hillel helped me deepen my Jewish identity, get an internship, and provided a welcoming, supportive community when I needed it most.
Natalie Ryba, Hunter College
Hillel has changed me as a person. It has made me more confident. It has made me a leader. This wouldn’t be possible without the support and encouragement of an amazing staff, a group of people who have believed in me and my ideas. I am so incredibly thankful for them and the community they have cultivated.
Grace Overman, University of California, Los Angeles
One of my favorite memories of joy was our Halloween Shabbat…It was magical and meaningful, a night where laughter, learning, and tradition intertwined.
Hope Donovan, Western Michigan University
Spotlight: Yallapalooza
At Hillel, college students boldly and proudly celebrate being Jewish. During a time when more than 40% of Jewish students say they have hidden their Jewish identity on campus, events like Hillel’s Yallapalooza concert series helped students express their Jewish pride without reservation, further connecting them to Jewish and Israeli music, culture, and community.
Safety & Security
Hillel’s top priority is keeping Jewish students and staff safe on campus – first, foremost, and always. From security upgrades to free legal support, Hillel ensures students can proudly and safely express their Judaism.
$1.4 million awarded in security grants to hundreds of campus Hillels for security personnel and building upgrades over the past two years
There are thousands upon thousands of students just like us, who because of Hillel, feel a little bit braver walking onto campus every morning.
Zachary Patterson, Duke University Hillel International 2024-2025 Student Cabinet Co-Chair
During the times I was shaken, scared, or angry in recent months, I repeatedly found comfort among the Jewish community. Shabbat dinners at Hillel, and especially student-led services before then, were crucial to my mental well-being.
Emma Friese, Emory University
Hillel from the beginning of my college experience has been a place I can rest, have fun, and make friends…Hillel was a comforting constant whenever I needed.
Joshua Rojas, Florida State University
Spotlight: Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL)
Working with our partners at the ADL, Brandeis Center, and Arnold and Porter, Hillel provides free legal assistance and representation to Jewish college students who have been impacted by antisemitism through our Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), at www.legal-protection.org. Nearly 1,000 Jewish college students have received support from CALL over the last two years, ensuring that students who faced antisemitic acts of harassment or violence get the help they need.
Student Leadership
Hillel empowers Jewish college students to lead with confidence, compassion, and purpose. Through educational programming, internships, summits, and hands-on campus roles, students gain real-world leadership experience that inspires and empowers the next generation of Jewish leaders.
More than 30,000 students connected with Israel, its people, and its culture
2,000+ Jewish college students participated in Hillel leadership experiences
Over 600 Jewish students participated in regional leadership summits in Texas and Florida
I found that advocating for Jewish life became my passion.
Abi Schcolnik, University of Miami Hillel International 2024-2025 Student Cabinet Co-Chair
The information and lessons I learned [at Hillel’s Israel Summit] energized and inspired me.
Julia Nikkhoo, Dartmouth College
Hillel gave me a space to lead, grow, and connect with others who believe in creating a better, stronger future for Jewish students everywhere.
Shiri Gil, Columbia University
Spotlight: Hillel Israel Summit
In February of 2025, more than 500 Jewish college student leaders from over 200 universities gathered in Chicago for Hillel’s eighth annual Israel Summit — the largest pro‑Israel college student gathering in the world. At the Summit, Jewish student leaders deepened their knowledge of Israel, strengthened their voices, and built the skills they need to lead with clarity and confidence in today’s challenging campus climate.
