News

Revelations on the Omer: How Hillel Made Its Counting Count

Author

Lily Coltoff

Date

May 30, 2025

For the past seven weeks, Hillel professionals have been connecting over WhatsApp for Sefirat haOmer, the Counting of the Omer, marking each of the 49 days from the second night of Passover to the holiday of Shavuot, the day when the Jewish people received the Torah. To help celebrate each day, Hillel educators and leaders from across the world have been sharing their reflections on the theme of revelation and answering the question, “What does it mean to experience revelation in the modern day?” Here are some of their thoughts:

Sofia Seitchik – Gallaudet Hillel

“Why revelation? What does it mean?” asked Sofia Seitchik, program director of Gallaudet Hillel. “Not only does it receive  [the] Torah, but it also awakens our soul, our history, and our identity… The Omer’s purpose is to connect us to our roots and spiritual growth, [allow us to] reflect our lives by counting on each day, and, step by step, to transform.” Sofia, who was born Deaf and grew up in the former Soviet Union, compared her own journey of finding a more inclusive and welcoming community in the United States to the transition from Passover to Shavuot, a transition from slavery to freedom, then to enlightenment.

Samantha Brody – Boston University Hillel

Samantha Brody, Springboard Ezra Fellow at BU Hillel, focused on the liminal space between Passover and Shavuot. “The Counting of the Omer, while it doesn’t require the same level of preparation and all the cooking that Pesach and Shavuot do, it actually takes more time. Counting the Omer draws attention to the space between the two holidays and the journey that b’nai Yisrael [the Jewish nation] goes on from when they leave Egypt until they’re ready to receive the Torah.” She stressed the importance of the Omer taking time to count, saying, “Counting the Omer reminds us that, in revelation, and in our own learning today, there isn’t instant gratification.” 

Zion Tunstall – University of California, Santa Cruz Hillel

Zion Tunstall, director of Jewish student life at Santa Cruz Hillel, took a different approach to revelation, sharing, “When we think of revelation, we often think of Sinai… We imagine that truth arrives in grand, dramatic moments, that wisdom comes from above, far away, somewhere out there. But Torah does not only arrive in spectacle. Torah can come softly.” She goes on to describe some of that Torah, saying, “Maybe, the most sacred truth of all, is that we are not only carrying our own wisdom. We are the living, breathing, revelation of every hope, every prayer, every whispered dream our ancestors carried across deserts, seas, and centuries.”

Rabbi Rob Gleisser – Penn State Hillel

When thinking about receiving revelation, Rabbi Rob Gleisser, senior Jewish educator at Penn State Hillel, took a more comedic approach and an opportunity to showcase his musical talents. He sang, “When we think about Sinai, we’re taught we were all there, that means me and you/We received the Torah – that means all the Israelites, that means all the Jews.” He goes on to imagine what it might look like for all of Am Yisrael – the Jewish people – to be at Sinai, describing, among other examples, “Your executive director was basically davening with Doja Cat. /Seinfeld was telling jokes to your first-year Springboard and Ben Platt.”

We hope you enjoyed this taste of Omer Torah that Hillel professionals have been sharing over the last several weeks. Interested in learning more about Shavuot? Check out our guide to celebrating this Torah and cheese-centered holiday! 

The post Revelations on the Omer: How Hillel Made Its Counting Count appeared first on Hillel International.

News

At the Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, Springboard Fellows Explore the Possibilities of Rabbinic Life

Author

Hillel International

Date

May 8, 2025

Hillel International Springboard Fellows are young professionals looking to embark on a meaningful career, and who choose to focus their energy on building thriving Jewish communities on college campuses. They spend two years empowering Jewish students to find their voice, inspiring their journeys, and leaving their mark on campus life and the Jewish future. 

A core focus of the Springboard Fellowship is helping fellows discover what they want to do next in their careers and then helping them build the skills and connections they need to move forward in that journey. 

That’s why Springboard Executive Director Leah Palestrant and Hillel International Associate Vice President for Jewish Learning Danielle Kranjec decided to organize a recent Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, an immersive weekend experience in New York City for Springboard Fellows interested  in exploring the rabbinate in the future. Designed to provide space for personal reflection, exposure to a diversity of careers as a rabbi, and the opportunity to meet with current rabbinical schools and students, participants were able to experience how rabbis are shaping Jewish communal life in various ways.

“The Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton was a sacred experiment — one that created space for fellows to engage in deep, communal discernment about their Jewish leadership journeys,” Palestrant said. “We witnessed how transformative it can be when emerging leaders are invited to explore spiritual questions with curiosity, courage, and a diverse array of rabbinic models.”

Held on the Upper West Side and developed in partnership with Hadar and several rabbinical schools and institutions of Jewish learning, the shabbaton offered fellows the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of rabbis, synagogues, and communities where they encountered multiple models of what it means to live and lead as a rabbi today. 

“Before the shabbaton, I felt anxious about telling people that I was considering rabbinical school. I worried that I didn’t know nearly enough to be a serious candidate,” said Claire Shroder, Springboard Innovation Fellow at Ithaca College. “But I learned that nearly all of us shared similar doubts.” 

She continued, “Many of us were asking ourselves the same core questions. I had been wondering, ‘Is there anything else I can do in my life that would be just as meaningful?’ But what I needed to ask was, ‘How can I best serve the Jewish community? What will bring me purpose and joy?’ The shabbaton gave me the space and time to reflect deeply on those questions.”

Fellows took part in reflective and interactive exercises and text study sessions, all grounded in the norm of “curiosity over certainty.” Over the course of the weekend, participants were able to participate in workshops, learning sessions, and deep discussions about prayer and tradition, Jewish communal life, and questions about the future of Jewish American leadership and the American rabbinate. 

In reflecting on the workshops and sessions, Amichai Levy,  Springboard Fellow at the Hillel Council of New England shared, “The Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton was such a cool experience… [It] really expanded my thinking about what rabbinical school could look like for me, and is encouraging me to think about this path much more seriously.” 

Interspersed with these programming sessions were all of the joyful, energetic activities expected at a Hillel shabbaton: prayer, music, community-building, and (of course!) delicious food.

“I was especially grateful for the opportunity to see the many ways people experience Judaism,” Shroder said. “From the Kabbalat Shabbat service at Romemu, where everyone got up and danced, to the Mincha service at Hadar, where page numbers weren’t called and everyone used a different siddur — I felt God in every space where people gathered.

On the final day of the Shabbaton, participants met with representatives and current students from Hebrew Union College, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, rabbinical schools for the Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox movements, respectively. Fellows were able to learn more about the different programs, hear stories from current students about the rabbinical school experience, and ask their own questions. They closed with a last collective reflection session, zeroing in on the question: What’s next in your rabbinic journey?

“I’m excited to have so many meaningful conversations in the weeks ahead as I continue exploring my path,” said Shroder. “If everyone considering rabbinical school could experience something as transformational as the Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, we’d never have a shortage of future rabbis.”

Learn more about the Springboard Fellowship and its impact.

The post At the Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, Springboard Fellows Explore the Possibilities of Rabbinic Life appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Northeastern University Hillel Hosts a Community B’nai Mitzvah Celebration to Remember

Author

Hillel International

Date

March 19, 2025

This past weekend, at Northeastern University Hillel, nine students were called to the Torah for a special, community-wide Hillel b’nai mitzvah ceremony.

“Becoming [a] bat mitzvah at 20 years old was one of the best decisions of my whole life,” said Noa May Zebley, a student at Berklee College of Music who participated in the program. “I feel like I have been able to make a choice that is truly my own, reflects my intentions, and starts a new chapter.”

The students’ journey began in January,  when nine students came together to form a b’nai mitzvah study cohort, embarking on two months of Jewish learning, reflection, and personal growth. In addition to practicing the Hebrew blessings, and learning and exploring the Torah portion for the ceremony — parashat Ki Tisa, notable for the story of the golden calf — students engaged in peer-to-peer study, exploring the themes and ideas of the Torah portion together. 

Jacob Kline, who also serves as the vice president of Jewish life at Northeastern Hillel, knew how important it was that the program include the traditional aspects of a b’nai mitzvah, while still remaining welcoming and accessible to students of all kinds of Jewish backgrounds and experiences. 

“We’ve worked really hard to ensure they have an experience that meets the Jewish requirements for a b’nai mitzvah, and [is] meaningful for the participants who are being called to the Torah,” he said. “We’ve spent time meeting one-on-one with each participant, hearing their many different reasons for seeking this Jewish milestone at this point in their lives, and have created a custom traditional program that supports each of them through this exciting journey.”

“At its core, this experience is about more than just learning prayers and traditions — it is about finding belonging, purpose, growth, joy, and empowerment,” agreed Rabbi Jacob Weiss, Northeastern Hillel’s rabbi and wellness chaplain, who helped design the program and work with participants. “Students are given the opportunity to reflect on their Jewish identity in a way that is meaningful to them, exploring their connection to Torah, community, and personal values.”

Students in this first cohort came from every current graduating year, from first-years to seniors, and also included a graduate student and two alumni. While each student had a different reason for participating, what they all shared was a desire to actively claim their Jewish identity, and a commitment to participating in Jewish community.

“I was drawn to participate in the b’nai mitzvah because I didn’t get the chance to have a bat mitzvah as a child but always wished that I did,” said Maya Kozlov, who is graduating this year. “I knew that it would be an exciting part of my journey with Judaism and the service would be a special memory for me.”

For Rabbi Weiss, one of the most meaningful aspects of the program was working with each student to discuss the ways that they found resonance with the Torah portion and the ways it came to life for them, and also helping a handful of the students navigate the process of choosing and claiming a Hebrew name for themselves.

“One student came to me and said they were probably going to write about something that they have been really challenged by and disagree with,” he said. “So it’s been really cool to see them hone their own values and bring the Torah to life in their own way.”

The experience culminated in a community-wide ceremony featuring an inclusive, student-led prayer service. Friends and family were invited, and each participant was called to the Torah as a b’nai mitzvah. The ceremony was followed by a festive brunch, where the students shared their divrei Torah and reflected on what this journey has meant to them.

“Becoming a bat mitzvah at 19 has given me the chance to better understand my relationship with Judaism in a purposeful way,” said first-year student Caroline Berman. “I am so happy that the Hillel community was there to support me throughout the process!”

Yasher koach (great job), and mazel tov to all of the participants!

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News

Notes from Springboard Fellows: Jewish Learning on Campus is About More Than Just Knowledge

Author

Hillel International

Date

January 14, 2025

Notes from Springboard Fellows is a series of deep dives into the work of first and second year Springboard Fellows who play transformative roles in their Hillel communities. Read on to learn more about Chaya Mamer, the Ezra Jewish Education Fellow at Guelph Hillel with Hillels of Ontario.

Interested in becoming a Springboard Fellow? Apply today.

Jewish educators have a unique role in their communities, and college communities are no exception. Chaya Mamer, an Ezra Jewish Education Springboard Fellow at the University of Guelph, has made teaching and studying Torah the core of her work with students, encouraging them to use knowledge and exploration to find new ways of forming relationships, deepening their Jewish identities, and developing a sense of curiosity in all aspects of their lives. 

Chaya grew up in Calgary, Canada, and attended the University of Waterloo as an undergraduate, where she studied political science and business with a minor in economics. She was deeply involved in Hillel Waterloo and Laurier, where she served as a student staff member, ran a campus food bank, and ultimately became student president. Inspired by the Springboard Fellow at her Hillel, Chaya knew she wanted to dedicate her life to Jewish nonprofit work. 

After she witnessed the upheaval on college campuses following October 7, Chaya realized she wanted to help build bridges between communities. 

She knew this work would require compassionate, sensitive, and innovative approaches to learning and teaching, and with that in mind, she identified the Springboard Fellowship as a strong pathway to that goal — specifically, the Ezra Jewish Education track of the program.

Ezra Jewish Education Fellows follow in the footsteps of the biblical Ezra, who reengaged and reinvigorated the Jewish community by reading the Torah aloud in the town square on Shabbat and market days, and translating it for people to understand. Ezra’s commitment to teaching, engagement, and innovation is a model for fellows to bring Judaism off the page and into life on campus. 

“With the Ezra track, you can come in with whatever your knowledge base is and you’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow,” she said. “And then you have the opportunity to learn how to share your knowledge with others.”

Over the past six months of her fellowship, Chaya has been able to put her learning into action. And while she’s been an educator for her students, it’s not a one-way relationship — they’ve been teaching her, too. “They walked onto campus this year with joy and courage,” she said. “Seeing them flourish has kept me inspired all semester.”

Another powerful aspect of Chaya’s experience as a Springboard Fellow is the ability to connect with a large group of other young professionals with whom she shares goals and interests. She’s found the support of her cohort to be deeply meaningful. “The early months and years of your career can be really lonely,” she said. “I’m grateful to be able to reach out to people who are at the same stage and in similar roles.”

Recently, Chaya joined the Fellow Advisory Committee, a group of fellows who act as liaisons between their cohorts and the Hillel International Team Springboard, after being inspired by how much Team Springboard cared about hearing feedback and perspectives from her peers. Working with Springboard Fellowship Manager Ava Gurman, Chaya became part of the cohort communications committee, representing the unique Canadian Jewish community. She’s enjoyed being a bridge between Team Springboard and the fellows, as well as getting to know fellows from both active cohorts.

Chaya sees the Springboard Fellowship as an opportunity to work within the Hillel movement and learn what the organization does, and to be part of its next stage of growth in a meaningful way. She also has some advice for prospective Springboard Fellows. 

“Approach your application and your interview process with a desire to improve and support your community. Trust yourself — your experience and perspective is invaluable,” she said.

To learn more about the Springboard Fellowship and see if it’s right for you, visit hillel.org/springboard-fellowship/ today.

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News

Letters from Alyssa: Why Finding Gratitude is a Jewish Value

Author

Alyssa Wallack

Date

November 26, 2024

Hi Friend,

The other morning, I was doing my usual rush to grab coffee between classes (if you know me, you know I pretty much live on coffee). Before I could say anything, Maria, the barista who has been my morning lifeline for four years, was already reaching for my cup. “Oat milk latte for Alyssa?” she asked. 

Suddenly,  this simple interaction made me pause. In Judaism, there is a  beautiful value called hakarat hatov – which literally means “recognizing the good.” It’s about actively noticing and acknowledging the blessings in our lives, from the biggest moments to the smallest interactions.

Here’s what I love about hakarat hatov – it’s not just about feeling grateful, it’s about recognizing the source of every moment of goodness. It’s about understanding that my morning coffee isn’t just about the drink. It’s about Maria, who remembers my order, and has been a small, yet integral, part of my college journey. It’s about recognizing that, even in challenging times, threads of connection and kindness weave through our daily lives.

Ahead of Thanksgiving, it’s also worth recognizing that Judaism’s conception of gratitude is much deeper than just saying thank you. When we practice hakarat hatov, we’re actually fulfilling a mitzvah, a sacred obligation to bring more holiness into the world.

Judaism teaches us to notice the good, to acknowledge it, and to never take it for granted. Whether it’s saying the shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing to mark new beginnings, lighting Shabbat candles on Friday nights, or even saying a simple blessing before we eat – our tradition gives us so many opportunities to pause and practice hakarat hatov. These moments of gratitude aren’t just rituals; they’re reminders to stop and recognize the goodness around us.

So this Thanksgiving, as we gather around tables laden with turkey (or tofurky!) and stuffing, we’re actually participating in a practice that is deeply connected to Jewish values. We’re not only celebrating an American holiday – we’re fulfilling a sacred obligation to recognize and acknowledge the good in our lives.

Here’s how I’m planning to bring more intentional gratitude into my Thanksgiving this year:

1. Before the meal: Instead of the usual, quick “what are you thankful for?” roundtable, I’m going to invite my family to share a moment when someone else at the table impacted their life positively this year. It’s one thing to say I’m grateful for my family; it’s another to specifically acknowledge how we have blessed each others’ lives.
2. During the meal: I’m challenging myself to practice gratitude for things we often take for granted. The farmers who grew our food, the workers who transported it, the people who stocked the grocery shelves – our Thanksgiving meals are possible because of countless individuals, many whom we’ll never meet.
3. After the meal: I’m planning to write thank you notes to people who have impacted my life this year but might not know it – professors who wrote recommendations, the campus maintenance staff who always greet me with a smile, and the barista who remembers my order.

The beauty of hakarat hatov is that it’s about more than feeling grateful – it’s about expressing gratitude in ways that strengthen our connections and make goodness more visible in the world. When we acknowledge the good we receive, we become more aware of opportunities to create good for others.

So this Thanksgiving, as you pass the cranberry sauce and debate whether pumpkin or apple pie is superior (apple, obviously!), remember you’re not just participating in an American tradition. You’re engaging in the sacred Jewish practice of hakarat hatov, bringing more awareness, more connection, and more holiness into the world.

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with awareness of all the blessings that surround you,

Take good care, 

Alyssa

Originally from Los Angeles, Alyssa Wallack is a senior at the University of Southern California. A passionate advocate for Jewish and Israel-related causes, she’s now interning with Hillel International. When not immersed in her studies or various fellowships, Alyssa loves exploring LA’s food scene and connecting with fellow students about all things Jewish.

The post Letters from Alyssa: Why Finding Gratitude is a Jewish Value appeared first on Hillel International.

Jewish Learning

Mental Health

Learning Wellness as a Jewish Value

Author

Daniella Cooper and Liora Knizhnik

Date

May 28, 2024

College is hard, and making time to care for your health and wellness can be even harder.

I didn’t expect that some of my most eye-opening learning about mental health would come from Hillel, but this past fall, I participated in a Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF) centered on wellness and Judaism at the University of Pittsburgh. As a double major in psychology and communication, I’ve always been interested in mental health, but this year was the first time I learned that caring for your mental health isn’t just important — it can be a way to practice your Jewish values. 

Our JLF cohort was led by Emily Levine, Hillel at Pitt’s director of engagement, and Danielle Kranjec, associate vice president of Hillel International’s Center for Jewish and Israel Education/Meyerhoff Center, and focused on health and wellness from a Jewish perspective. I was really interested to understand how mental health and well-being was related to Judaism, since it wasn’t a connection I’d ever made before. I was also interested to see how the curriculum would relate to what I was learning in my psychology classes. 

To my surprise, we talked about Jewish traditions and wellness in a way that was immediately applicable to our lives as college students. We learned about Shabbat and the concept of rest, about what it means to fast — or not fast — on Yom Kippur, what it means to care for a community without sacrificing our own well-being, and so much more.

Being part of this cohort at the time that I did made it even more relevant. Our group only met twice and had barely started to get to know each other before October 7. That day changed everything in so many ways, including our curriculum. Danielle and Emily shifted away from our written lessons, focusing more on discussing what was going on, how we were feeling, and what it meant to be experiencing this moment. Hillel was already working overtime to make sure we had spaces to talk or process, or even just eat and relax to get away from everything happening on campus, but this group felt more intentional and structured. 

For me, as someone with a lot of close friends at school who are not Jewish, having that outlet made a huge difference. My friends were supportive of me, but they didn’t have the same perspective and personal connection to what was happening. I’ll always be grateful I had a support system where everyone was willing to talk and engage from a place of understanding, even when our perspectives or opinions were different. 

One of the biggest lessons I took away from my cohort and the curriculum as a whole was the idea that taking care of yourself is part of the way we can care for our communities. I hold a number of leadership positions — it’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing, and I really love helping other people and looking out for my community. But that often means I’m stretched and at capacity, to the point where my friends will actually take me aside and say, “Daniella, really, you need to step back. You need to take a minute for yourself.” 

Taking a moment for myself is easier said than done. It felt like I was abandoning my responsibilities if I put myself first. But this year, in large part due to the JLF well-being curriculum, I started to understand that by taking some time to care for myself, I was actually putting myself into a better position to support my communities and lead by example. 

I decided to start small, by taking Sunday nights for myself. Instead of doing work or studying, I focused on activities that were  restful and restorative, like finding moments of peace for myself amid all the chaos. I think of it as a sort of personal Shabbat — it’s not a full rest day, but it’s a time each week when I say to myself, okay, this is just for me. 

And I’ve already noticed a difference. When Monday rolls around, I can actually accomplish what I need to do. I can talk to people and not be frustrated with them. I’m in a better headspace, just from taking that time to put my mental well-being first.

Mental health is something that impacts everyone, in different ways. Because of the Jewish Learning Fellowship, I’m going into my senior year with the idea that not only is it important for me to take time for self-care, but that it’s also a way to live my Jewish values, which makes it so much more meaningful for me. Knowing that taking care of ourselves is part of our tradition makes all the difference. I’m able to take what I learned and bring it into my everyday life to be a better leader on campus. 

And most importantly, I’m able to see that taking time for myself isn’t slacking off — it’s part of my Jewish identity, and a meaningful way of being Jewish in the world.

Daniella Cooper is a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studies psychology and communications. She spent the past two years on board Challah for Change and is currently serving as the president of the Panhellenic Council.

Students at 54 campus Hillels across North America participated this year in their Hillel’s Jewish Learning Fellowship’s (JLF) program “Ancient Wisdom for Modern Wellbeing,” an experiential, conversational 10-week seminar. 

The post Learning Wellness as a Jewish Value appeared first on Hillel International.

News

From Hillel to HUC-JIR: Growing into Jewish Leadership

Author

Jamie Gottlieb

Date

July 13, 2023

My path to rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC) and my journey in Jewish leadership began as a student at American University Hillel. It was there that I discovered my passion for Jewish text study,  and found joy in working within my Jewish community. The supportive staff at AU Hillel mentored me and helped me transform my passions into a career. 

Encouraged by their guidance, I pursued a Hillel International summer internship, which became a transformative two-year experience. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I continued interning remotely for the Campaign Services team at Hillel International, fueled by my love for serving the Jewish people. 

After my two years at Hillel International, I accepted a position at the College of Charleston (CofC) Hillel to serve as the engagement and program associate, and then as the assistant director, and it inspired me to continue my work in the Jewish community. In May of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, I moved to Charleston, South Carolina, leaving behind the familiar comforts of my community, but at the same time, I was filled with enthusiasm and anticipation for the future.  However, stepping into the unknown was difficult. The pandemic brought unprecedented changes to our lives, forcing me to navigate unexpected experiences both personally and professionally. 

Even amidst the change and uncertainty, I found myself thriving as a Jewish leader in the inclusive and empowering environment at CofC Hillel. In my two years there, I worked with passionate student leaders and staff to establish CofC Hillel’s first-ever Jewish LGBTQ+ affinity group, revitalized Shabbat on their campus, and fostered a vibrant and active community. Achieving these milestones only deepened my connection to my work and empowered me to grow into my role as a Jewish leader.

These experiences led me to HUC, which, at its core, values empowering Jewish education, leadership, and community. 

I spent my first year as a rabbinical student at HUC’s Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem where I was given the resources and space to grow as a student, Jewish leader, and as a person. Alongside brilliant faculty, I learned about the complexities of the land of Israel, Jewish tradition, Jewish history, and the Hebrew language. I’ll never forget the way in which the team of educators in my liturgy class breathed life into the siddur, or prayerbook. Although I had felt spiritually connected to prayer in the past, it wasn’t until that moment that I felt it come alive in my fingertips as the course taught me the multitude of Jewish stories contained within the siddur’s pages.

HUC also provided me with opportunities to engage in thought-provoking conversations about Israel. The respectful environment provided space and opportunities to engage meaningfully and genuinely in conversations about Israel. HUC’s commitment to embracing challenging conversations cultivated a community of well-rounded and open-minded leaders that I am proud to be a part of. 

As I reflect on my journey as a Jewish leader, from AU Hillel to CofC Hillel, to becoming a rabbinical student at HUC and my time spent in Jerusalem, I feel truly blessed to spend the next four years in New York studying and honing my skills as a Jewish leader. I see the many ways I can integrate the invaluable experiences from my time at Hillel with the rich knowledge I’ve gained from HUC and flourish as a leader who brings meaningful and authentic perspectives on Judaism to all kinds of Jewish people.

The post From Hillel to HUC-JIR: Growing into Jewish Leadership appeared first on Hillel International.

Jewish Identity

Jewish Learning

Go Make Friends at Hillel: Rebecca’s Story

Author

Rebecca Kominsky

Date

May 15, 2023

It was the first day of move-in for my first year at University of Maryland, College Park. My dad helped me move into my dorm and then, to my complete shock, dropped me off at Maryland Hillel with the firm suggestion, “Go make friends.” I was terrified until I walked in and started meeting the warmest and most welcoming group of people I have ever encountered. It quickly made me feel connected to a strong community before I even stepped foot inside a classroom. 

Throughout my time in college, Hillel helped me find a balance between the rigorous scientific work that was involved in my psychology and neuroscience classes, and the spirituality and community that are also so important to me. Attending Friday night davening (prayer services) and Shabbat afternoon “slow shira” or communal Shabbat singing, gave me a chance to tap further into the spiritual connection to Judaism that I began to explore during my gap year in Israel. 

I also explored incredible leadership opportunities through Hillel. I participated in an Israel education fellowship that taught me more about the complex history of the Jewish state. My friend and I started a beit midrash program for women, a text-based, intensive Torah study opportunity that opened up all kinds of conversations and new opportunities for women at Hillel. I also had the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia with Hillel and the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to learn about JDC’s different initiatives there. 

Of all these opportunities and gifts, the greatest gift Maryland Hillel gave me was that of community. As I left Maryland and went on to pursue research in Neuropsychology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a PhD in Clinical Psychology at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, I found a community of Maryland alumni waiting for me in New York who cared passionately about their own Jewish identities and who immediately welcomed me… Just like they did on my first day at Hillel all those years ago. 

The post Go Make Friends at Hillel: Rebecca’s Story appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Study, Love, Serve – How Two Hillel Professionals Got Their Start

Author

Hillel International

Date

January 19, 2023

On Missy Goldstein’s first day at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion’s (HUC-JIR) School of Education in Jerusalem, she bumped into Rob Gleisser on her way to pick up her welcome packet. Rob was a rabbinical student who had already been in Israel for a few weeks in a pre-ulpan program (an intensive Hebrew language immersion program). Missy and Rob hit it off right away and kept gravitating toward each other as they got settled in their first year at HUC-JIR. There was only one problem: they had each decided they wouldn’t date anyone in their year in Jerusalem as they focused on self-growth and friendships. 

Despite their best efforts to slow things down, by the end of the year Rob and Missy had a plan to date long-distance until Missy completed her degree, at which point she would join Rob in Cincinnati as he continued with rabbinical school. A few years later, they got married and moved to State College, Pennsylvania, where Rob became the Senior Jewish Educator at Penn State Hillel and Missy would be a  Campus Marketing and Development Manager for Hillel International. 

Growing up, Missy was surrounded by family members who were longtime Jewish professionals, and she decided early on that she would take the same path. After finishing a post-college education fellowship, Missy started two Masters degrees at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education and the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management: one in Jewish education (which is now the Masters in Educational Leadership program) and one in Jewish nonprofit management. As she continued with her studies, she felt more drawn to nonprofit work and changed her focus solely to nonprofit management. 

When reflecting on her studies at HUC-JIR, Missy highlighted that a program called “Wacky Wednesdays” was particularly impactful in inspiring her journey. Each Wednesday, Missy and her cohort would visit different organizations in the Los Angeles area to learn about the variety of opportunities available in the Jewish nonprofit world. Missy credits Wacky Wednesdays, along with meaningful internships at NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change and the Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center that she held while at HUC-JIR, with cementing the skills that she would bring with her to the Hillel movement.

Rob’s journey to HUC-JIR and Hillel took a different, but related path. He grew up in a large Reform congregation in Cleveland and was involved in Reform Jewish leadership from a young age. Inspired by the community organizing work he did in high school and his involvement in Ohio State University Hillel, Rob decided that he wanted to be a rabbi and that, as the center of Reform Jewish education, HUC-JIR was the place where he would study to achieve that goal. 

Rob’s studies at HUC-JIR helped form the approach to text study that he still uses in his work with students at Penn State Hillel. In studying feminist, Marxist frameworks for ancient Jewish texts, Rob realized that each student’s unique experience could be a frame through which that student could view and connect with those texts. 

Missy and Rob both found professional and personal inspiration at HUC-JIR for their careers in the Hillel movement. From meeting each other to connecting with stellar Jewish professionals throughout the HUC-JIR network, their experiences at HUC-JIR formed a strong foundation for the incredible work they do today. 

For more information on HUC-JIR, please visit www.huc.edu.

The post Study, Love, Serve – How Two Hillel Professionals Got Their Start appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Finding Light in the Darkness

Author

Danielle Kranjec

Date

December 21, 2022

There is a reason why so many cultures have light as a central element in winter holidays. In the dark, cold days of winter, focusing on light and joy can be even more important than in the warmer, light-filled days of spring and summer.

Similarly, moments of Jewish joy can inspire hope, in times that are dark both materially and existentially. Although not considered a major holiday religiously, Hanukkah has become an important ritual observance for so many reasons. One reason may be that, among its many historical messages and interpretations, the shining lights of the Hanukkah menorah call to everyone.

In the darkness of night, the ability to create light and enjoy it nourishes a deeply human impulse to create meaning and positive change. The opportunity to create a moment, where light and joy can come into existence, even in the face of darkness and struggle, is a beautiful inheritance from our ancestors. 

In Hillel, so much of our work is centered on empowering young people and their communities to do exactly that: create Jewish meaning and positive acts of change in their own lives. Although many students have already left campus this year as Hanukkah begins, it is important to remember that this is just one of many opportunities for what we do across the movement every day: pause, bless, and make space to let ourselves create light for others.

In that spirit, we asked Hillel professionals to share with us what brings them joy and light in their celebration of Hanukkah this year. Here’s what they said:

The Light of Family

Steven Field,
IACT Coordinator, University of Pennsylvania Hillel

To me, the light of Hanukkah is important in dark times because it connects me to my family. 

When I was a little kid, my family brought in Hanukkah the same way every year. After dinner, we lit the menorahs, one for each grandchild. Each shamash candle lit the shamash of the menorah next to it, each person spreading light and warmth to the person to our right. We would recite the blessings together and exchange gifts, with the light of Hanukkah shining in the background. To me, it felt simple and perfect. 

Life now feels different. Family members are aging, the table is bigger with new faces from my step-dad’s family, and yet I also feel the absence of loved ones lost. My adult schedule means I spend less time with my family than I would like. Despite all of this, each year, we come together to share and revel in warmth and light. Lighting the candles with my loved ones reminds me that, no matter how the times change, my family will always be a place of warmth and connection for me.  

What Is Jewish Joy?

Merav Fine Braun,
Executive Director, Hunter College Hillel

The chills I get when I hear Mizmor L’David.
Doron reminding me to give tzedakah (charity) before we say the blessing over Shabbat candles.
Did I mention Shabbat candles?
Kneading challah dough while on a conference call. Even if the conference call is about antisemitism.
Especially when the conference call is about antisemitism.
The conference call always ends up being about antisemitism.
What are we going to do about it?
Watch Eitan pat his head.
In his baby sign language that means, “Mama, can you get me a kippa please?”

Wrapping myself up in Jewish learning, reading, wisdom, movement … that’s my kind of hug.
A good hug starts with the breath, you know.
Your ribs expand, and your heart meets the heart of the person you are hugging.
Your breath and your heartbeats intermingle and become a single movement.
It’s like shuckling (swaying in prayer), but for your whole soul.
Did I mention shuckling?
It’s when your Jewish joy seeps out while you seek your truth.
You try to keep it in, but it becomes impossible.
It’s your body in motion, in rhythm with the divine.
It’s a dance. It’s a hug.
I mentioned hugs, didn’t I?

Learning text—Talmud, Torah, listening to students tell me why they stan the latest T. Swift album with the same zeal that I see them argue politics.
They love to paint nesting dolls, too. Do you?

And we all want to know: should it be kugel or plov?
I vote for neither.
Give me potato bourekas or give me death. No hyperbole in Jewish joy.

We always have food. Jewish joy is feeding a hungry belly and
A hungry soul and
Hunger.

What is Jewish joy?
It’s all the minutes between one Shabbat and the next Shabbat.
It’s measuring time until Cheshvan and then wishing for a holiday.
It’s hosting and being hosted.
It’s dancing and learning to dance.
It’s prayer, but you don’t need a book or a synagogue or a minyan.

Jewish joy is you.

Spread the Light

Amit Dadon,
Jewish Agency Israel Fellow, Ohio State University Hillel

Jewish communities often come together when bad things happen, especially when antisemitism is more prevalent than it has been in years. Our ability to do that is blessed, but it’s not the whole picture. It is so important that we also be able to gather our community around brightness and light.

It can be hard to remember the light and the joy through the stresses of everyday life and the hectic schedule of a college or university term. But what keeps us moving forward is the wonder and joy our students encounter when they learn something new in a Jewish text or they connect with an aspect of Israeli culture that is exciting and meaningful to them. 

Our ability to create a joyful atmosphere for our students is the foundation of a healthy and strong community. We hope this foundation will inspire our students to unite with us around the positive side of life and that together we will create a thriving community that will be able to spread the light around us. 

The thing about light is that it gives back to us as we give it to others. When students support their friends, the light they spark reflects back upon themselves and upon the Jewish community. That light will always continue to spark, as long as we help to ignite it.

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