Dear Hillel

Hillel Community

Student Stories

Dear Hillel: Finding Light When I Needed It Most

Author

Alyssa Wallack

Date

May 16, 2025

“Dear Hillel” showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and Jewish life with their campus Hillels. Alyssa Wallack, a fourth-year student at the University of Southern California, shares how finding her way to Hillel after the tragedy of October 7, 2023, changed her life for the better. Read Alyssa’s letter to Hillel:

Dear Hillel,

It’s no exaggeration to say that Hillel has truly changed my life. 

Before the October 7 attacks on Israel, my involvement with Hillel was minimal. I knew it existed on campus, but I hadn’t made the effort to connect. I was busy with classes, my sorority, and the usual college activities that fill our calendars. But after that day, everything shifted — both in the world and in my own life.

I was struggling. The news was devastating, and I felt alone in how much it affected me. People who I thought understood me didn’t. My sorority no longer felt like home, and I felt like I was begging people to care at a time of crisis for the Jewish community. I was craving a space where I didn’t have to explain or justify why I felt the way I did. Where I could just breathe, feel, and be understood.

Then I saw that USC Hillel was taking students to the November 2023 March for Israel in Washington, D.C. I barely knew anyone going, but something in me said, “Go.” And I did.

That trip was transformative. I was surrounded by people who just got it. No explaining, no justifying — just shared pain, pride, and purpose. On the way to the airport, I sat next to someone I’d never met before, and by the end of the ride, we were already planning to hang out back in L.A. That girl, someone who started out as a total stranger, is now one of my best friends. 

After returning to campus, I realized how much I had missed by not being involved with Hillel. I started paying attention to everything Hillel was offering through Hillel International and USC Hillel. I knew I needed to make up for lost time.

When I learned Hillel International was hiring interns, I applied immediately. Becoming a student marketing intern opened doors I never knew existed. My supervisor quickly became one of the best mentors I’ve had: supportive, understanding, and genuinely invested in my growth. Virtual coffee chats with people across different departments became a highlight of my week. Those conversations offered not just professional guidance, but also real personal connection at a time when I needed it.

I also joined the Hillel International Israel Leadership Network (ILN), which connected me with Jewish student leaders across the country. I attended the 2025 Israel Summit in Chicago, where over 500 students and allies came together for workshops and conversations that deepened my understanding of Jewish identity and advocacy. And at the Hillel International Content Creators Forum in New York City, I heard from deeply inspiring speakers, and was pushed creatively, walking away more confident in my voice and what I want to say.

But more than the events or programs, what sticks with me are the people. The friends who feel like family. The mentors who believe in me and push me to grow and learn. The moments that remind me why I’m proud to be Jewish. Through Hillel, I’ve found not just a community, but a family. When I needed it most, Hillel came as a light in the darkness. It provided a space where I could be vulnerable, ask difficult questions, and grow both as a Jewish individual and as a leader. 

Looking back, I see two versions of my college self: “before Hillel” and “after Hillel.” Before, I was going through the motions of the college experience. After, I found purpose, community, and a deeper connection to my identity.

For anyone on the fence about getting involved, don’t wait for a crisis to find your community. Hillel has been an unexpected blessing in my life, and I only wish I had opened my heart to it sooner. I’m grateful that when I needed a light, Hillel was there, arms wide open, ready to welcome me home.

The post Dear Hillel: Finding Light When I Needed It Most appeared first on Hillel International.

Dear Hillel

Hillel Community

Student Stories

Dear Hillel: Four Years of Joy and Growth

Author

Jack Landstein

Date

May 15, 2025

“Dear Hillel” showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and Jewish life with their campus Hillels. Jack Landstein, a graduating senior at the University of Michigan, studying economics, entrepreneurship, and Jewish studies, writes about how his four years at Michigan Hillel helped shape his college experience. Read Jack’s letter to Hillel:

Dear Hillel,

I can’t believe the welcome barbecue I attended as a first-year student in 2021 was four years ago! I came to the event eager to meet new friends and find a home at the University of Michigan. Now, as a graduating senior looking back at everything Michigan Hillel gave me, I am so grateful for the friendships I made and the home I will always have in the Jewish community here.

Reflecting on the last four years, here’s what stands out in my Hillel journey from each year:

• First year: I jumped right into Jewish life at Michigan, planning a Greek life lunch that helped build relationships between my fraternity and the Hillel community. With over 50 fraternity brothers in attendance, it was a great introduction for me and many of my friends to Hillel’s warm, welcoming space. 
• Second year: My second year on campus was marked by my first time at the annual Hillel retreat. I served as a retreat leader where I had the opportunity to introduce over 100 new students to Michigan’s Jewish life and show them how important it would be in their time on campus. A bonus highlight from my second year was a big Israel Week bash at Rick’s, the local campus bar, with all of my friends and the whole Jewish community.
• Third year: The third year of college was filled with leadership opportunities as I joined Hillel’s executive board (e-board) and worked to create positive change for the Hillel community. From making Shabbat dinner a cozier, more delicious experience (best challah in town!), to actively combating antisemitism on campus, to lifting up moments of Jewish joy whenever possible, my year on the e-board is one that I am so proud of. 
• Fourth year: This year came too fast! My involvement in Hillel grew to the national level as I became co-chair of Hillel International’s Fellowship: Ambassadors for Birthright, attended the Hillel International Israel Summit in Chicago, and actively recruited students for Birthright to help deepen their connection to Israel and their Jewish identities. Spending time with my friends this year and reflecting on the highs of Jewish joy showed me how resilience and hope can bring light to dark times.

Putting my energy and ideas into Michigan Hillel gave purpose and meaning to my four years at college. Michigan Hillel was the backbone of my Jewish experience and I am forever grateful to the community and opportunities I found there. As I look forward to my future, I am excited to see where my Jewish journey takes me next.

The post Dear Hillel: Four Years of Joy and Growth appeared first on Hillel International.

Dear Hillel

Hillel Community

Student Stories

Dear Hillel: How Hillel Found Me

Author

Shiri Gil

Date

May 14, 2025

“Dear Hillel” showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and Jewish life with their campus Hillels. Shiri Gil, a fourth-year student at Columbia University, studying cognitive science, shares how connecting with the global Hillel community changed the way she thought about being Jewish and Israeli on an American campus. Read Shiri’s letter to Hillel: 

Dear Hillel,

I had never heard of Hillel before coming to study at Columbia University. Growing up in Israel, it wasn’t part of my world. That changed when I arrived on campus and met Yakov, the Jewish Agency Israel fellow on our campus who introduced me to the Content Creators Forum, a Hillel International initiative that brings together digital content creators to advocate for Jewish life and confront antisemitism. Something about it instantly resonated with me. After October 7, 2023, in a time of fear, isolation, and rising antisemitism, I knew I needed to be surrounded by people who understood — people who had family in Israel, who shared the weight of being visibly Jewish, and who didn’t need an explanation to get it.

That’s how I found Hillel. Or maybe how Hillel found me.

I flew to the Content Creators Forum not knowing what to expect, and I fell in love — not just with the program, but with the people. Students from all over North America came together to make an impact, tell their stories, and stand up for our community. Their creativity, courage, and sincerity moved me. In a funny twist of fate, I even met my second cousin Yuval — someone I had never met before, who happened to be studying in Florida and attending the same conference.

The experience gave me something I didn’t know I needed: a deep sense of belonging, purpose, and strength. As a former IDF soldier, being open about my background at Columbia wasn’t always easy. The exposure came with risk. But through Hillel, I found community — people who were going through similar challenges and navigating similar fears. That support gave me courage.

Since then, I’ve deepened my involvement with Hillel International, its Israel Leadership Network, and grown my online advocacy for Israel and Jewish life. I attended the Hillel International Israel Summit, and I had the honor of co-chairing the Content Creators Forum this year. It was a full-circle moment — meeting new, passionate, and incredibly brave students who reminded me why this work is so important.

Hillel shaped my college experience in ways I never imagined. It gave me a space to lead,  grow, and connect with others who believe in creating a better, stronger future for Jewish students everywhere.

As an Israeli living far from home, I found a family at Hillel. I found purpose. And I found hope for our Jewish future.

The post Dear Hillel: How Hillel Found Me appeared first on Hillel International.

Dear Hillel

Hillel Community

Student Stories

Dear Hillel: Redefining Jewish Community Every Day

Author

Eitan Linsider

Date

May 13, 2025

“Dear Hillel” showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and Jewish life with their campus Hillels. Eitan Linsider, a fourth-year student at the University of Maryland, College Park, reflects on the transformative shifts in the Maryland Hillel community after October 7, 2023. Read Eitan’s letter to Hillel:

Dear Hillel,

When considering where to go to college, I knew Jewish life would be central to my decision. Community has always been a defining part of who I am, shaping my values, my identity, and how I interact with the world. That’s why, from day one, I understood that the University of Maryland Hillel would be integral to my college life.

One of the most meaningful parts of my college experience has been building relationships with the Hillel staff, led by our incredible executive director, Rabbi Ari Israel. The Hillel team is dedicated to enriching the experiences of all Jewish students and groups on campus. Their guiding motto, “student run, staff supported,” perfectly captures their dedication to ensuring students can all make the most of our time here.

That’s why, thanks to those relationships, what truly defines my college experience isn’t any single event; instead, it’s the day-to-day life, during times of calm and crisis, that has been enriched by being a part of this community. During freshman year, I found myself at Hillel multiple times a day —whether it was for davening (prayers), enjoying kosher meals three times a day, doing homework with classmates, or playing ping pong with students who would quickly become my closest friends. From the moment I sat down at my first Shabbat meal, I knew Hillel would become my home away from home.

And then, two months into my third year as a student, Hillel became so much more. In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, Hillel quickly became a lifeline,  a place of refuge in a sea of new uncertainty. And in every sense of the word, Maryland Hillel delivered for our Jewish community. For students like me, who were already part of the daily rhythm at Hillel, our identities were reaffirmed. For other Jewish students, many of whom had never stepped inside the building before, it became a vital space where they could feel safe. 

I was already incredibly proud of the community that Maryland Hillel has built, and watching it grow to embrace so many more students in the face of rising antisemitism has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my college experience.  One event that stood out to me in particular was Shabbat 1000, an annual Friday night Shabbat dinner that held special significance shortly after October 7. The goal was to provide a place of solace in a time of deep distress for students in the Jewish community, each of whom was processing what had happened in their own unique way. Our campus gym quickly filled with students eager for a sense of community. This event, along with a thousand plus attendee vigil held on October 9, 2023, marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Maryland Hillel community. 

At every step in the months that followed, Hillel staff stood beside us, supporting our efforts, and providing a welcoming environment where students could proudly and confidently be Jewish. Most events were planned around the Hillel conference room table, and whenever we needed help brainstorming ideas or figuring out how to make them happen, the staff was there to support us. I am beyond thankful for everything they have provided this community. As I move into the next stage of my journey, I am so grateful to have made the decision to attend the University of Maryland and get involved with Maryland Hillel.

The post Dear Hillel: Redefining Jewish Community Every Day appeared first on Hillel International.

Dear Hillel

Hillel Community

Student Stories

Dear Hillel: Finding Belonging and Opportunity at Hillel

Author

Hope Donovan

Date

May 12, 2025

“Dear Hillel” showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and Jewish life with their campus Hillels. Hope Donovan, a fourth-year student at Western Michigan University (WMU), shares how getting involved with Hillel after she transferred to WMU helped her find belonging and joy in her Jewish identity. Read Hope’s letter to Hillel:

Dear Hillel,

When I transferred to Western Michigan University (WMU) from Loyola University, New Orleans — a  private Jesuit college — I was searching for a sense of belonging, one that I had been looking for my whole life. I didn’t grow up with one cohesive Jewish identity. As a child of divorce, I felt stuck between two religions, often caught between identities, never fully rooted in either. Finding Hillel at WMU finally gave me a space to feel whole.

Hillel became more than a student group — it became a sanctuary. At the Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan (HCAM), which is building vibrant Jewish communities at 10 campuses throughout the state, I stepped into a leadership role that helped me find confidence, purpose, and community. And as Hillel president at Western Michigan University, I’ve learned what it means to advocate fiercely for Jewish students, to manifest joy in unexpected spaces, and to inspire others to show up as their full selves. As I get ready to carry these lessons with me into my post-college life, I wanted to share some of my most powerful memories from the last few years.

One of my favorite memories of joy was our Halloween Shabbat. We went all out with a costume contest, carnival games, “spooky” challah, and themed storytelling from our vice president of education who brought Jewish folklore to life with tales of dybbuks (evil spirits) and golems. It was magical and meaningful, a night where laughter, learning, and tradition intertwined.

Not all of my memories have been so lighthearted. After October 7, 2023, like so many Jewish students across the world, I felt the sting of antisemitism more sharply than ever before. In my world as an artist and student, I sometimes feel like an outlier, forced to explain or defend my Jewish identity. But Hillel has been a source of strength. My community there reminded me I’m not alone, and then gave me the courage to speak out. Because of Hillel, I’ve found the confidence to have difficult conversations with faculty and administration, to stand firm in my beliefs, and to represent my community with pride.

For the first time, I began creating Jewish art — openly, proudly, and with intention. Through Hillel, I found the confidence not just to make art about my Jewish identity, but to speak about it publicly. One of the most personal pieces I’ve ever created was a portrait of a Holocaust victim — my ancestor — whose memory I honored through paint, research, and storytelling. It was incredibly profound to give visual form to a legacy that had once felt distant. Whether I was painting the Western Wall or exploring themes of memory, ritual, and resilience, I knew my Jewish community understood and appreciated my work. Art became my bridge between cultural tradition and self-expression, and sharing it at Hillel events and exhibitions helped me claim that space as an artist and a Jew.

I’ve also been lucky to grow through national opportunities with Hillel International. At gatherings like the Hillel International Content Creators Forum in New York City and Israel Summit in Chicago, I’ve connected with Jewish students from across the globe who are passionate, curious, and unapologetically themselves. These experiences helped me see the bigger picture of Jewish joy and belonging, and provided me the tools to bring that energy back to my campus.

This summer, I’ll be going on Birthright Israel with Michigan State University (MSU) Hillel — a trip I’ve dreamed of for years. I can’t wait to stand at the Kotel, to hike through landscapes I’ve only seen in books, and to explore how Jewish identity connects us across the world. It’s the next chapter in a path that Hillel helped me discover.

Hillel has shaped not just my college experience, but my life. It gave me the space to explore my Jewishness without fear or limitation. Most of all, it showed me that Jewish leadership doesn’t look just one way. It can be quiet and bold, artistic and analytical, rooted in tradition and reimagined for today. Hillel empowered me to step forward, speak out, and trust that I have something meaningful to contribute. Thank you, Hillel, for helping me become the leader I never knew I could be.

With love and gratitude, 

Hope Donovan

The post Dear Hillel: Finding Belonging and Opportunity at Hillel appeared first on Hillel International.