News

From the Desk of Adam Lehman: Key Learnings from Hillel Professionals

Author

Adam Lehman

Date

August 1, 2025

Friends,

Last week, we gathered at WashU in St. Louis for Hillel International’s New Professionals Institute (NPI), welcoming 208 new Hillel staff members. As I shared at the NPI opening, this convening is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s energizing and inspiring to see and feel the enthusiasm and vitality of so many new professionals as they prepare to carry forward our Hillel mission.

New Professionals Institute is also a learning opportunity for me, as I connect with the many diverse professionals who have chosen to invest their careers at Hillel. This year was no exception, and I’m sharing here four of my key learnings from the convening:

The Power of Investing in Our Talent Pipeline:

We onboarded our 10th class of Hillel Springboard Fellows, with 53 new Fellows in this year’s class. Our Springboard Fellows are high-potential early career professionals who develop and apply innovative approaches to engaging students in Jewish life on campus during a two-year fellowship — fellows like Ariel Hekier, our first-year Innovation Fellow at Tufts Hillel in Boston. Ariel is an honors graduate from Duke, who chose the Springboard Fellowship over a prestigious overseas fellowship. 

While I was very impressed by the new class of Springboards, it was also gratifying to see the many former Springboard Fellows who have been promoted into new, more senior roles as campus Hillel Executive Directors, Assistant Directors, and Directors of Jewish Student Life. Sofie Ramirez Soto, the former Innovation Fellow at NYU Hillel, is a wonderful example of this progression as she takes on a new role leading Hillel’s work at Washington & Lee in Virginia as their new Jewish Life Program Director. 

When we started the Springboard Fellowship, our goal was to not only infuse new energy and innovation at our campus Hillels, but also to enrich the overall pipeline of professional talent for Hillel and the broader Jewish world. This year’s New Professionals Institute was validation of the ways in which we’re advancing this critical talent pipeline objective.

Supporting the Whole Student:

We’ve also invested in growing the presence of licensed Mental Health and Wellness professionals within campus Hillels. This year, we’ll have nearly 40 social workers, therapists, and other certified and highly trained wellness professionals embedded at campus Hillels, including the nine new wellness professionals we onboarded last week. 

In meeting with this cohort, I was struck by the way in which they saw their opportunity to work at Hillel as a way to apply their expertise in service of a community about which they care deeply. And we know from earlier cohorts that our mental health and wellness professionals not only provide critical support to Jewish students, but also to our other Hillel professionals as they help students navigate the unique stressors of being a Jewish student and young person on campus today. 

Healing Campus Culture Through Relationship Building:

We also hosted our first-ever cohort of Campus Impact Advisors. These 13 professionals focus on both advocating for Jewish students facing bias and discrimination on campus, and strengthening relationships between Jewish student communities and other communities on campus. 

While most of the professionals in this cohort have only been on campus for six months, they shared with me numerous examples of how they’ve already deepened relationships with allies on campus — through partnership with interfaith councils, inviting other faith and identity communities into Shabbats, Passover Seders, and other Jewish communal experiences — and joining those other communities for their events and celebrations. 

Ensuring Sustainability for Every Hillel:

We have worked hard at Hillel International to raise the financial resources necessary to meet the growing needs of Jewish students during this unique period. In addition to supporting the increasing talent, programming, security, and advocacy needs of our current campus Hillels, we also need to invest greater resources in a new wave of schools that are attracting larger numbers of Jewish students — schools like Clemson University (South Carolina), Southern Methodist University (Texas) and James Madison University (Virginia). We’re grateful to all of you who have recognized the critical needs of supporting Jewish student life through the challenges of this period and have stretched your investments to meet these needs.  

Just as our new professionals turned the page to a new chapter in their careers, we began a new book in the Torah cycle, turning the page to Devarim. In the first parsha, or chapter (also Devarim), Moses recounts to the Israelites key aspects of history and learnings from their 40-year journey from Egypt to Sinai to the banks of the Jordan, to prepare them for their entry into the Promised Land. In the same spirit, our New Professionals Institute infused key aspects of our Hillel history, values, and mission so all of our new professionals can in turn inspire all of the students we’re privileged to support and serve, along their sacred Jewish and life journeys. 

Shabbat Shalom,

The post From the Desk of Adam Lehman: Key Learnings from Hillel Professionals appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Hillel International’s New Professionals Institute Sets New Pros Up for Success

Author

Hillel International

Date

July 24, 2025

Attracting, developing, and retaining top talent is at the heart of Hillel International’s strategy for shaping the future of Jewish campus life. That commitment was on full display at the 2025 New Professionals Institute (NPI), which brought nearly 200  professionals to Washington University in St. Louis for two days of immersive onboarding, relationship-building, and learning.

NPI is a cornerstone of Hillel’s talent development strategy, providing new professionals with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to lead meaningful Jewish campus experiences. The program emphasizes not just role readiness, but long-term growth and connection across the Hillel movement.

“We as a Hillel movement are committed to you,” said Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman in opening remarks at the conference. “Your professional life at Hillel will be the best part of your professional career within your lifetime. That’s my commitment to you, we are going to do everything in our power to achieve that.”

Sessions focused on building the skills, confidence, and clarity professionals need to engage students and lead with purpose from day one. Key topics included:

• “Building Real Relationships,” which provided concrete practices for fostering deep connection, belonging, and purpose through student engagement.
• “Growing Your Student Leadership Pipeline,” where professionals explored leadership development strategies and tools for empowering students as co-creators of Jewish life.
• “Managing this Moment,” where professionals learned to respond to challenging campus dynamics with clarity, confidence, and care.
• “Flourish at Hillel,” which introduced a well-being framework rooted in Jewish values. 
• “Leading Authentically,” which guided managers through reflection on leadership style and its impact on team culture and outcomes.

This targeted content was designed to ensure that new professionals are equipped to succeed in their current roles, and are supported to grow into leadership positions over time.

“I’ve met so many other new professionals with similar backgrounds to me and have loved connecting with them before I head to campus for the new school year,” said Kennesaw State Hillel Springboard Fellow Jordan Bennett, citing the spent building relationships with the Springboard cohort. Key topics included: 

• Defining success in their roles
• Navigating student life and campus culture
• Identifying key support structures and resources
• Working within higher education institutions

NPI is designed to do more than orient professionals to their roles—it’s an investment in their leadership, engagement capacity, and long-term career trajectory within Hillel. By providing vision, connection, and skills, NPI helps professionals begin their Hillel journeys with confidence and a strong sense of purpose.

For Cayla Schreier, Hillel for Utah’s director of student and community engagement, NPI was a valuable place to learn about engagement strategies that will give students a sense of belonging on her campus. “Hillel has a place for everyone,” she said.

As the academic year begins, these professionals return to campus with expanded skill sets, meaningful peer networks, and a clear vision for their role in shaping vibrant Jewish student life.

The post Hillel International’s New Professionals Institute Sets New Pros Up for Success appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Hillel International Announces 2025-2026 Student Cabinet

Author

Hillel International

Date

July 8, 2025

New Student Cabinet will strengthen Jewish life and student engagement across more than 850 campuses globally.

Washington, D.C. – Hillel International, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization, today announced the 20 members of the 2025-2026 Hillel International Student Cabinet. The selected students will collaborate with Hillel International’s professional staff and board leadership to advise on student experiences, represent diverse perspectives, and help shape innovative approaches that strengthen Jewish campus life for students worldwide. 

Selected through a highly competitive process, the 20 Cabinet members represent students at the more than 850 campuses Hillel serves worldwide, linking the student experience and organizational leadership. This year, eight universities are represented for the first time, and the 20 members hail from universities in six countries: Brazil, Germany, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

“The Student Cabinet ensures that student voices remain at the core of everything we do at Hillel International,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. “The fresh perspective and ideas of these remarkable student leaders are invaluable as we work across the Hillel movement to foster meaningful opportunities for Jewish belonging, community, and leadership for all Jewish students.” 

Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach are serving as the incoming Cabinet’s co-chairs.

“Hillel is more than just a place for Jewish students to gather – it’s a place where they grow into who they’re meant to be,” said Ariela Moel, a member of the class of 2026 at the University of Southern California. “It’s an honor to take on this role and help make that kind of transformation possible – not just on my campus, but around the world – so every Jewish student can find their way home to themselves.” 

“So many Jewish students are feeling disconnected or unsure of where they fit in on campus,” said Einav Tsach, a member of the class of 2026 at the University of Maryland, College Park. “We want Hillel to be that space where every Jewish student feels they belong. This year, we’re hoping to really speak to what students need—whether that’s community, culture, or just a place to relax and be themselves.” 

Below is a full list of the 2025-2026 Hillel International Student Cabinet members. 

Cabinet Members: 

• Gabrielle Barsky-Giles, Queen’s University, ‘26
• Michal Berlove, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, ‘26
• Zoe Cosgrove, University of Michigan, ‘27
• Sydney Grossman, Vanderbilt University, ‘26 
• Hadley Kalson, University of Vermont, ‘26
• Kara Klaiman, University of Virginia, ‘26
• Rachel Lennard, University of Oregon, ‘27
• Sam Leschins, University of Florida, ‘26
• Matthew Levine, The Ohio State University, ‘26
• Mateen Markzar, Brown University, ‘26
• Kylie Miller, Roosevelt University, ‘26
• Ariela Moel, University of Southern California, ‘26
• Andrew Petlak, University of California, Berkeley, ‘26
• Sara Quintero, Northeastern University, London Campus, ‘26
• Michelle Rosner, University of Delaware, ‘26
• Ori Segev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, ‘26
• Elina Shikher, University of Potsdam, ‘26
• Benjamin Small, University of Pennsylvania, ‘27
• Marelo Topper, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, ‘27
• Einav Tsach, University of Maryland, ‘26

The post Hillel International Announces 2025-2026 Student Cabinet appeared first on Hillel International.

News

I Left Tel Aviv Early, But I Didn’t Leave Empty

Author

Hadassah Sternfeld

Date

June 25, 2025

For months, I had been counting down the days until my trip to Israel with the University of Florida Hillel. It was a dream I spoke into existence over and over, telling friends, family, teachers, and even strangers how excited I was. I imagined myself living for the summer in a country I love, immersing myself in its culture, and participating in an internship that aligned perfectly with my future goals.

And for a while, I got to do exactly that.

I’m incredibly grateful I was able to fully experience my Birthright trip. Those 10 days were some of the most joyful, meaningful, and affirming I’ve ever had. From hiking Masada at sunrise to singing on the bus, praying at the Kotel, dancing with strangers who became friends, and eating endless amounts of falafel and shawarma, our group made every moment count. I felt more alive than I had in a long time. Being in Israel reminded me who I am, reconnecting me to my roots and to the bigger story I’m part of – not just as a Jewish woman, but as someone deeply committed to caring for others, to connection, and to community.

After Birthright, I began the next part of my adventure: an eight-week internship through Birthright Israel Onward. I was placed at Save a Child’s Heart, an Israeli nonprofit providing lifesaving cardiac care to children from underserved countries. Each day brought new challenges and beautiful moments. I split my time between the children’s home, where I helped plan activities and supported patients and their families, and the hospital, where I accompanied kids to their appointments and provided comfort in an unfamiliar environment. Many of the kids didn’t speak the same language as me, but laughter, music, soccer, and simple acts of kindness became their own kind of language. These moments made Israel feel less like a place I was visiting and more like home.

Then, everything changed overnight.

On June 13, my friends and I had just returned from a night out in Tel Aviv. We were asleep for a couple of hours when sirens woke us at 3 a.m. We had no idea what was happening, but we knew that we needed to get into a bomb shelter, fast. Throughout the night, we sought refuge in the shelter multiple times, unsure what the coming days would bring. By morning, we were told to pack for three days. All Onward programs were being relocated to a hotel in Tel Aviv for our safety.

I remember packing in a daze, hoping I’d return to my cozy apartment on Nachalat Binyamin Street, near the shuk and my favorite gelato place, Arte. But at the hotel, things felt different.

That Friday night, I lit Shabbat candles alongside some people I loved and others I had just met. We shared songs, stories, and laughter over dinner, until another siren went off. As we rushed to a shelter, we looked up and saw the sky light up with rockets. But once inside, during a moment that could have been terrifying, something beautiful happened as we filled the space with songs and spontaneous prayers. Our melodies drowned out the sound of the booms, replacing fear with unity. We clung to one another, to hope, to joy, and to the community that has always carried our people through.

The following day, we were officially told that our program was ending early and we would be relocated for our safety. I returned to my apartment to pack my belongings, and for the first time, everything felt real. As I walked my usual route one last time, I noticed a sticker memorializing my friend Gili Adar, who was killed at the Nova festival on October 7. I had passed that spot every day for over two weeks and never noticed it before. In that moment, amid grief, confusion, and heartbreak, it felt like a sign that she was watching over me and keeping me safe.

That evening, all of Onward gathered again for Havdalah. Among us was a family who had lost their home to a rocket the night before. They had been in their bomb shelter at the time, saving their lives. As they stood before us and recited the Hagomel prayer, a blessing said after surviving a life-threatening event, the room filled with emotion. We sang and danced with them, showing them they weren’t alone, and that Israel is still strong. Our voices said that we, the Jewish people, are still here – alive, united, and full of light, even in the darkest of moments.

Once we relocated, we did our best to adapt. Onward tried to lift our spirits with programming that included a concert, a blind dating game, yoga, and more. Still, it felt surreal to be having fun while much of the country remained in shelters. That’s when I came to understand the Israeli spirit means you keep living. You keep showing up. 

After a few days, we learned we’d be evacuated to Cyprus by cruise ship. Those final days were filled with memory-making: walks along the water, late-night talks, and holding onto every last moment. Our evacuation took 72 hours and spanned four countries, three flights, two buses, and one boat. There were moments of chaos – trying to navigate the crowded cruise ship, being stuck on the tarmac for hours, and running on little to no sleep – but also moments of magic. Laughing with my friends over dinner on the boat, blasting Israeli music on the bus ride to the airport in Cyprus, and watching the sunrise over the Eiffel Tower on just a few hours of sleep reminded me that joy can exist even in the most uncertain times. 

When our final flight landed back in the United States, I felt a wave of relief I didn’t know I’d been holding in. After nine days of uncertainty, packed bags, shifting plans, and unanswered questions, my feet were finally on solid ground. It wasn’t the ending I expected, but it was an ending I was lucky to have. I’m so deeply grateful to be home, safe, and forever changed by the experience.

Now, I’m choosing to focus on what I gained, not what I lost.

My time at Save a Child’s Heart changed me. I worked with kids who traveled across the world to access care they couldn’t get at home. I ran activities at the children’s home and accompanied them to the hospital, offering comfort and distraction during difficult moments. Even without shared language, we connected through coloring pages, songs, and hand games. That work reminded me why I want to become a pediatric nurse. It was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.

It’s easy to grieve how suddenly it ended. But I’m learning that even incomplete stories can be beautiful. I got to live in Israel for a brief time. I walked to the shuk. I ate Arte gelato. I laughed and played with kids. I danced in bomb shelters with strangers who felt like family. I lived my dream, even if only for a moment.

I don’t know when I’ll return, but I do know that I will. There’s so much more I want to do, and so much more I want to give. Though my experience ended early, everything I learned, felt, and gave will stick with me forever. Am Yisrael Chai.

Hadassah Sternfeld is a rising fourth-year student at the University of Florida, studying health science and women’s studies. She is passionate about building meaningful connections, making an impact, and celebrating Jewish life.

The post I Left Tel Aviv Early, But I Didn’t Leave Empty appeared first on Hillel International.

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From Hillel Dinners to Gourmet Cooking: Nicolai Mlodinow’s Class Act Journey

Author

Hillel International

Date

June 23, 2025

Born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Pasadena, Nicolai Mlodinow grew up in a food-centered family. Both his parents cooked, and they encouraged Mlodinow to learn to make both sweet and savory foods for himself. By the time he got to college at San Diego State University, Mlodinow preferred cooking at home to going out to eat, but it wasn’t until his sophomore year that cooking for others became a central part of his life. 

“I was living in an apartment on campus, and one of my roommates smelled what I was cooking,” Mlodinow recalled. “He was like, ‘What if I just gave you a swipe of my food hall money, and you made some for me?’”

That roommate dinner turned into a campus sensation. Mlodinow began regularly hosting dinner parties in his apartment — not just cooking for friends, but often sharing meals with people he’d never met before. 

Stories about Mlodinow’s cooking spread through campus, all the way over to SDSU Hillel, where Mlodinow had been involved since his first year, attending programs and Shabbat dinners. So when Hillel reached out to ask him if he’d consider cooking a Shabbat dinner for the community, he embraced the challenge.

Pulling from his experience growing up eating multicultural food in South Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley, which has the largest Chinese population outside of China, Mlodinow designed a Chinese-Ashkenazi-Jewish fusion menu. Offerings included egg drop matzah ball soup and red boiled chicken, a traditional Chinese preparation that Mlodinow tweaked with Israeli seasonings and spices.

“I grew up going to places where no one spoke English, so when we ordered food we would just point to what we wanted — and it was awesome, because that’s how you actually learn someone else’s flavors, their spirit, their culture, because there’s no other form of communication,” he said. “And I thought that fit so well with Hillel’s mission of bringing people together from all walks of life.”

The first dinner was a huge success, and started Mlodinow on a new stage of his culinary journey. He ended up running Hillel Shabbat dinners every other week throughout the rest of his college career, and when he graduated and went into marketing, he missed those Shabbat dinners so much that he went back to hosting dinner parties in his apartment — a tiny studio in Chicago. 

“I would invite some friends over and cook them this giant meal with 50 different inspirations,” he said. “It was so much fun. And then one day, one of them came up to me and said, ‘Hey, you’re clearly really passionate about this. You’re clearly working very hard at this. If you ever decide you really want to be a professional chef, let me know.”

Mlodinow took him up on his offer, and embarked on a culinary journey that would take him through internships, kitchen stints, and learning experiences at six Michelin-starred restaurants, including Temporis, where he trained under chef Troy Jorge.

“He really mentored me,” Mlodinow said. “He took a chance on me. I wasn’t expecting someone to care that much.”

Mlodinow had kept up his day job while building his skills in and out of different professional kitchens, starting up a healthcare tech company. But two and a half years ago, Mlodinow took his culinary ventures full-time, partnering with Shreena, a foodie and tech entrepreneur who became central to helping create and actualize Mlodinow’s restaurant concept, Class Act.

“The opening menu is a 13-course tasting menu around the theme of growing up,” Mlodinow explained. “It’s fine dining, avant garde-style cuisine, but based around extremely nostalgic foods I had growing up.”

Cooking for Hillel is part of that nostalgia. 

“Dinners for Shabbat are always family-style, right?” he said. “We’re literally breaking bread, passing things around together, and connecting through food. It’s the idea that food is a language that I can use to explain my culture, my values, and beliefs to someone else — they don’t have to be Jewish, or have any idea about our food, to experience it and come away feeling like you speak my language.”

“It’s a form of communication,” he added. “And it’s a beautiful one, because everyone universally understands it, as soon as they’re born.”

Class Act’s brick-and-mortar location is slated to open this summer in Bucktown, a vibrant neighborhood north of downtown Chicago — quite a journey from Mlodinow’s college apartment. He’s had to give up a lot to make his career bloom, from missing friends’ birthday parties to having to ask his brother to hold his wedding on a Tuesday so he could attend, but as far as Mlodinow’s concerned, it’s all been worth it. 

Asked what advice he’d give today’s Hillel students thinking of taking a similar path, Mlodinow’s answer is simple: 

“What Hillel really taught me, and what’s now the entire core of my restaurant, is that food can be more than just something that tastes good,” Mlodinow told Hillel International. “It’s a form of communication, and connection. If you’re in the thick of it, remember why you started. And if you’re just starting, let your passion lead the way. You can worry about the other things later.”

The post From Hillel Dinners to Gourmet Cooking: Nicolai Mlodinow’s Class Act Journey appeared first on Hillel International.

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Meet Hillel International’s 2025 Summer Interns!

Author

Hillel International

Date

June 4, 2025

Welcome to all of Hillel International’s new and returning summer interns! Every year, students from all over the United States join Hillel International to form an incredible cohort of interns and learn about different aspects of the organization. Learn more about this year’s interns:

Jonathan Becker (he/him) is thrilled to be serving as the social impact intern with Hillel this summer! His commitment to Jewish social justice work began as a member of Jewish Youth for Community Action in high school. As a third-year history and Hispanic studies major at Whitman College, Jonathan has continued to seek out Jewish community as a member of Whitman’s Kehilat Shalom. Additionally, he has continued to pursue justice through his work with Whitman’s Community Engagement Volunteer Programs, where he has served as leader of the Stream Team, an environmental conservation program, program leader of Project Sidewalk, a project focused on accessibility and mobility, and the student leader for diversity, equity, inclusion, and volunteer recruitment. Jonathan has also played a crucial role in campus-based voter registration through being the co-chair of Whitman Votes. Jonathan loves Judaism and social justice work, and is beyond excited to be part of the social impact team this summer.

Rebecca Brumer (she/hers) is a rising third-year student at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and she studies marketing with a minor in communications. She is a Russian Jew and loves expressing both her cultures through (some interesting!) food and history. She got involved with Hillel Milwaukee after the attacks on October 7, 2023 because she needed a community, especially being on a private Jesuit campus. With her involvement, she’s found her closest friends and a passion for spreading awareness about Jewish culture. She’s so excited to start this new opportunity and build new skills!

Ella Cooper (she/her) is thrilled to be serving as the strategic HR intern for Hillel International this summer! She’s heading into her fourth year at the University of Maryland as a communication major with a minor in nonprofit leadership and social innovation, simultaneously pursuing a graduate degree in management studies through the Robert H. Smith School of Business. She serves as a Public Speaking Consultant at UMD’s Oral Communication Center, as well as an Ambassador for the Do Good Institute, UMD’s hub for social impact. She’s excited to apply her knowledge and experiences, strengthen her skillset, and learn from such a dynamic and passionate team.

Maya Doitch (she/her) is a third-year student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is a statistics major with a minor in entrepreneurship, planning to pursue a career in business analytics. She’s been deeply involved with Hillel on her campus and is a proud advocate for the Jewish community. In her free time, she loves cooking, reading, doing Pilates, painting, hiking, and spending time at the beach with friends. She’s incredibly excited to be working with Hillel International this summer and can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Samantha Eidelman (she/her) is a rising third-year at Connecticut College where she designed her own major in social work and healing justice, and minors in Jewish studies. She is also the incoming vice president for her college’s Hillel, where she previously served as the chair of social programming. Passionate about Jewish advocacy and raising diverse voices, she has participated in multiple dialogue initiatives and works closely with staff across campus. She is excited to contribute to Hillel International and enhance the experiences of her fellow students.

Shoshana Fisher (she/her) is a rising fourth-year student at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women. She is majoring in psychology and minoring in political science, with hopes to pursue a career in nonprofit management. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer and chess, reading, and rooting for the Vikings during football season. She is excited to get involved at Hillel as an operations intern and is looking forward to a great summer!

Nicole Gleicher (she/her) is from Long Island, New York. She is a rising third-year student at the University of South Carolina Honors College studying entertainment law. On campus, she is involved with the Phi Delta Phi pre-law fraternity, Chi Omega, and the Anne Frank Center. She has a background in Jewish nonprofit event planning, so she is very excited to get to work with the Hillel conference and events team this summer! Outside of school and work, she loves traveling and attending concerts/festivals. 

Lilith Greene-Friedman (she/her) is a third-year student at Dickinson College, studying international business and Middle East studies. Hillel has been a central part of her college journey — whether through serving on the Hillel student board, participating in the Israel Leadership Network with Hillel International, or simply finding a strong, supportive community on campus. These experiences have helped shape her identity and leadership style in meaningful ways. A few fun facts about Lilith: She loves learning new languages, traveling, and discovering new restaurants with friends. She also grew up attending Jewish sleepaway camp and has spent the past few summers working as a counselor. She is excited to work more closely with Hillel professionals and continue growing through this internship!

Abby Goretsky (she/hers) is a fourth-year graphic design student at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design with a deep passion for her Jewish heritage. She strives to incorporate elements of Judaism into her creative work, making this internship a natural fit. Since October 7, she has been actively raising awareness about rising antisemitism through social media campaigns and panel discussions. Abby is especially excited to join the Hillel International community because her school does not have a Hillel program, so this gives her a chance to connect with other Jewish students. Beyond her involvement with Hillel, she is a life member of Hadassah and a Friends of the IDF Young Leader. She can’t wait to empower other Jewish students and spread Jewish joy. 

Leah Kreindler (she/her), is a rising third-year student at the University of Kansas studying business marketing. She is originally from Texas and has been actively involved with KU Hillel, where she served as a marketing intern the past two years. She is excited to be joining the Hillel International team and looks forward to helping connect more students to the amazing community, programs, and opportunities Hillel has to offer.

Lauren Robbins (she/her) is a rising fourth-year student at the University of Florida, majoring in public relations. Originally from Miami, she is involved with UF Hillel as president of Kulanu and overall chair of Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate. She’s also active in AEPhi and part of Alpha PR, UF’s student-run public relations firm. Passionate about storytelling, advocacy, and social media, Lauren is excited to bring her creativity to Hillel International to share Jewish joy in a way that’s engaging, thoughtful, and fun.

Courtney Saxe (she/her) is a rising second-year student at the University of Arizona. She is majoring in communications and minoring in psychology. She served as the international president of BBYO ’23-’24, traveling to communities all over the world. On campus, she has been involved in Hillel, Chabad on Campus, Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon, and sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. Born and raised in Las Vegas, in her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

The post Meet Hillel International’s 2025 Summer Interns! appeared first on Hillel International.

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Celebrating Israel’s 77th Birthday — Hillel Style!

Author

Hillel International

Date

May 6, 2025

At Hillels around the world, Jewish college students celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s 77th birthday, in diverse and exciting ways. Before jumping into the Hillel celebrations below, check out highlights from Jewish students celebrating Israel across the country: 

University of Colorado at Boulder (CU Boulder Hillel)
Nearly 400 students gathered on Farrand Field for CU Boulder Hillel’s annual Israel Fest. Featuring trivia competitions, lawn games, art projects, and of course, free falafel, Israel Fest gave all CU Boulder students – including members of their “Jewish Herd” – an opportunity to learn about and celebrate Israel.

University of Miami (UM Hillel)
At UM Hillel, Israel Week truly lived up to its name, with events taking place nearly every day. The week kicked off with a Mimouna celebration – a post-Passover tradition with Moroccan roots – which included mufletas (traditional Moroccan pancakes), a tie-dye station, and a surprise visit from a very special guest: a llama. In the middle of the week, students had the opportunity to hear from Dalia Ziada, a prominent Egyptian peace activist and speaker for Hillel International’s Teach-In Tour, who shared her journey of growing beyond the narratives she was raised with. Later, students celebrated Israel at the TLV Rooftop Party with an Israeli DJ, music, and lots of snacks. Students also enjoyed learning how to make their own Israeli-style hummus from scratch at the Hummus Making Workshop.

Israel Week concluded with an Israel-themed Shabbat dinner, where students reflected on these meaningful events, shared stories, and celebrated Israel’s resilience through community and tradition.

Rutgers University, New Brunswick (Rutgers Hillel)
While it may have the same name as UM’s celebration, Rutgers Hillel took Israel Week in a different direction, while also hosting a wide variety of impactful events. The week began with Israel Week-themed tables outside the student center, featuring educational opportunities and plenty of fun giveaways. The next day, Jewish students hosted a pop-up shuk on campus where students could shop for Israel-themed clothes, accessories, and other goodies.

Rutgers Hillel also held an Israel Week art exhibit inside their building, featuring artwork that showcased students’ personal connections to Israel. Later in the week, students gathered together for a Yom Ha’atzmaut barbecue to celebrate Israel’s independence in community with one another, a theme that carried over to their Israel-themed Shabbat, which closed out the week.

Binghamton University (Hillel at Binghamton)
At Hillel at Binghamton, students participated in an annual Yom Ha’atzmaut Carnival, which highlights and supports a different philanthropic effort in Israel each year. This year, the charity selected was Larger than Life, an organization that supports Israeli families affected by pediatric cancer. 

 The Pipe Dream, Binghamton University’s student paper, reported that Hillel partnered with several organizations to host the carnival, including the Campus Bible Fellowship and Alpha Epsilon Pi. Activities included pin the tail on the camel, Israeli flag making, and a photo booth with backdrops of famous sites in Israel. As Ellie Spivak, vice president for programming at Hillel and a third-year student said, “Israel is a diverse country with so many different types of people, different perspectives, and although Israel serves as a safe haven for the Jewish people, I believe everyone can connect to its rich culture, history, and beautiful land.”

We love seeing everything Jewish students did to celebrate Israel and its 77 years of resilience and rich culture. Curious what celebrations looked like on other campuses? Check out more on Hillel International’s Instagram.

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Get the Expert Advice: Considering Campus Antisemitism in Your College Search

Author

Hillel International

Date

May 5, 2025

To help Jewish parents and families get the information they need about what antisemitism and Jewish life on campus are truly like right now, the latest session in Hillel’s Virtual College Prep Series focused on what campus climates really look like today, how prospective students can get an honest picture of what’s going on at their potential schools, and how Hillel is there to support Jewish students in every aspect of their college experience.

Here are some of our top takeaways on how Hillel is making a difference on over 850 college and university campuses, and which tips to keep in mind for choosing a college in today’s complex environment:

Hillel’s advocacy for Jewish students takes many forms, and makes a difference every single day.

Hillel doesn’t just support students; we also work with administrators to make long-term changes on campus when it comes to antisemitism. Jon Falk, vice president of Hillel International’s Israel engagement and confronting antisemitism program, in discussion with Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman, emphasized the importance of Hillel’s work with administrators to prepare policies and enforcement for those policies to help support Jewish students.  They cited the Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative (CCI), a flagship program that helps college and university presidents and campus administrators counter antisemitism, which has been key in helping administrators understand how to implement changes that reduce antisemitism on campus.

More than 100 colleges and universities participate in CCI, engaging in campus-specific work to foster a positive, inclusive, and welcoming campus for Jewish students and all students. “Where we’ve seen a huge change is when penalties [for policy violations] are really enforced, and… students understand that there is a penalty for hate and a penalty for hatred of Jews,” Falk said.

Lehman highlighted that, in addition to CCI, Hillel International operates Campus for All, “a resource for any Jewish student who wants to learn more about the nature of contemporary antisemitism, learn more about all the misinformation about Jews, Judaism, [and] Israel that [has] been twisted into antisemitic tropes and actions.”  Additionally, Lehman shared more information about the Campus Teach-in Tour, which has educated thousands of students about issues related to Israel and the Middle East, and the Campus Impact Advisors initiative, which ​​empowers campus professionals to prevent and respond to antisemitism.

Taking a campus tour is more important than ever.

Touring a college campus can be one of the most fun parts of the college search process, but it’s also critical to getting an accurate picture of the campus environment. 

“What you see in the news is not necessarily reflective of what’s happening on campus,” said Evan Cohen, vice chair of the Israel Leadership Network and a Hillel student leader at the University of Michigan. “Really checking in on that campus, talking to students who are there, talking to Hillel professionals, understanding what the experience is truly like, is critically important.”

Moreover, Falk encouraged students to not be afraid of asking questions about  what the campus environment is like and whether there have been antisemitic incidents on campus. Issues of antisemitism on campus can give you real insight into the reality of the campus environment. 

The safety of Jewish students will always be Hillel’s number one priority.

Hillel’s mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. But that work includes another critical mission: keeping Jewish students safe. While many campus Hillels had existing relationships with campus safety officers, local police, and even private security companies before the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, the past 18 months have led to new investments in safety and security processes and protocols to ensure that Jewish students are safe on campus.

“Our commitment to safety… was always important, and we’ve taken much more of a priority in communicating that, certainly to parents, to students, to our student leaders, so they understand a little more of our inner workings, and even to our broader community,” said Debbie Yunker Kail, executive director at Hillel at Arizona State University. “If we don’t have that foundational safety and security, the rest of the growth that we’re all here to do and that students… came to college to receive, that can’t happen.”

Building confidence in your Jewish identity can make all the difference.

Being Jewish on campus can be difficult, even when there is a vibrant and thriving Jewish community. But all of our experts agree that building confidence — in yourself, your values, and your Jewish identity — can help you navigate even the most challenging situations.

“Even if we weren’t living in such a complicated Jewish moment… part of the spiritual journey of the university setting is encountering ideas that are different from the ones that you grew up around, encountering ideas  that you might disagree with, and having to hold your space to grow but also to remain confident in your perspectives on the world,” said Rabbi Josh Bolton, executive director of Brown & RISD Hillel. 

Some of the campuses with the highest level of antisemitism also have some of the most vibrant Jewish life.

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to finding the right school, but one important thing to remember in your search is that when it comes to evaluating the Jewish environment on campus, it’s important to take a full-circle look.

“There are campuses that have had, sadly, multiple antisemitic incidents, but there were  10 different [Passover] seders being held on that campus,” said Falk. “So it’s not a zero-sum game. That, to me, is so important in understanding the full picture of the campus environment, both some of the troubling pieces around antisemitism and then really grasping vibrant Jewish life.”

“There’s so many ways that we find joy on campus,” Cohen said. “From attending Shabbat dinners, where we… sometimes have hundreds of students, to growing my circle of Jewish friends.” 

Even during challenging moments, Cohen underscored that Hillel finds ways to bring Jewish students together, showing and building their resilience.

Catch the full recording to hear all the tips and resources we couldn’t fit into just one blog post.

The post Get the Expert Advice: Considering Campus Antisemitism in Your College Search appeared first on Hillel International.

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Selecting the Right School for You: Advice for Jewish High School Students and Families

Author

Adam Lehman

Date

April 22, 2025

It’s that time of year again. And I don’t mean tax season, Passover, or the NFL draft. I’m referring to college decision time. Millions of prospective college students and their families will be making a final decision on where to attend school ahead of College Decision Day on May 1st, as part of the “regular decision” admissions process. 

While students and their families always need to consider a multitude of factors in making their decisions, for prospective Jewish students, this period has required the additional and often sensitive consideration of where they will feel welcomed and free to express their Jewish identities.  

As the world’s largest Jewish college organization, we have more than 100 years of unmatched expertise when it comes to understanding, supporting, and growing Jewish life on campus. With that expertise, I want to offer the following framework for prospective Jewish students and their families as they make their college decisions.

Find the Fit – Beware of any resource advocating a “one-size-fits-all” assessment of what Jewish life and experience will be like at a given campus. As with the many other factors you’ll consider in choosing a college or university, you’ll want to find a school that fits your Jewish life needs, interests, and personality. Finding this fit has always been a priority for traditionally observant Jewish students looking for schools offering kosher food and regular prayer services.  Applying this “fit filter” is equally important when evaluating the campus climate for Jewish students, even in (and especially in) this sometimes fraught period.

Fortunately, even the campuses with the highest volume and intensity of antisemitic incidents and issues impacting Jewish students often offer robust Jewish life opportunities. Even at schools like Columbia and Barnard with very public and well-documented instances of antisemitism, many Jewish students speak to the incredibly strong, well-resourced Hillel serving more than 1,200 Jewish undergraduates students there, complemented by extensive Jewish and Israel clubs and academic offerings. This very prominent example underscores that you need to look at the complete Jewish life offerings and experiences on a campus and honestly assess how you’ll both draw on the positives and navigate any negatives.

Factor in the Full Story – At Hillel, we have addressed thousands of issues of discrimination, bias, harassment and worse directed toward Jewish students across hundreds of campuses during the past 18 months. We are working tirelessly to both support individual students impacted by these issues and to improve the underlying campus climate for Jewish students at the schools involved. 

While it’s of course relevant to consider specific incidents that have occurred at a school you’re considering, it’s unwise to just factor in the “headline” (especially as headlines grow in relation to government actions being pursued in the name of addressing campus antisemitism). Instead, critical questions should be considered: Was the issue in question an isolated incident involving one or a small group of students violating campus policies, or is there a pervasive culture of intimidation translating into repeated incidents? How has the university responded to issues — with clear enforcement of their policies in a way that ensures a safe environment for Jewish students and all students, or with equivocation and inaction? And, what has the actual student experience been in relation to incidents on the campus? 

Often the best, and only, way to really evaluate that experience is by talking to Jewish students at the campus, or with Hillel or other Jewish life professionals who are interacting with a broad cross-section of Jewish students there. As a case in point, I recently attended a beautiful “Shabbat at the Shoe” celebration at The Ohio State University (OSU). Hundreds of Jewish students were joined by senior members of the OSU administration, including President Ted Carter, Administrators Chris Kabourek, Dr. Melissa Shrivers and Dr. Rabi Bellamkonda, Jewish faculty, and supportive community members. Our Hillel at OSU is excellent, and Jewish students who regularly participate in Hillel programs shared with me the great experiences they’ve had on campus, even during the past 18 months. 

Has OSU been free from issues impacting Jewish students? Absolutely not. At the same time, the university has been fast, firm, and fair in addressing those issues, ranging from removing encampments that violated university rules to addressing cases of individual student misconduct, and in fostering an overall healthy campus climate for Jewish students, and all students.

Forecast the Future – Four years ago, none of us could have imagined what the state of Jewish life on campus would be today. And there’s no reason to believe Jewish life on campus will look the same four years from now. If you’re a big college football fan, you could look at the commitment of the school to their football program and their success in recruiting to assess the likely trajectory of the football team over the following four years. And you can apply a similar approach to predicting the trajectory for Jewish life. Is the school investing resources to address issues impacting Jewish students (like Title VI compliance officers)? Does the school value having faith-based organizations, such as Hillel, serving students? Does the leadership of the school articulate and act on these values? 

Arizona State University was not always considered a leading destination for Jewish students. Flash forward to 2025 and ASU features a large and growing Jewish student population; a university administration that stands up and shows up for the Jewish student community; and a great Hillel known for its success in student engagement and programmatic innovation. 

By applying the guidance above, we’re confident that all prospective Jewish students can find schools that will fit their needs and interests, including when it comes to engaging in joyful, meaningful, and positive Jewish life experiences and communities. At the same time, Hillel remains deeply committed to ensuring that all colleges and universities return to and remain places where Jewish students and all students can thrive, learn, and express their identities free of fear or discrimination. 

Adam Lehman is the President and CEO of Hillel International

The post Selecting the Right School for You: Advice for Jewish High School Students and Families appeared first on Hillel International.

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Black-Jewish Unity Dinner Series Continues in Baltimore

Author

Hillel International

Date

April 15, 2025

The Black-Jewish Unity Dinner series is back — this time in Baltimore!

On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, about 50 students gathered in the J. Millard Tawes Center Ballroom at Coppin State University, one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), located in the heart of Baltimore. An opportunity to “break bread and build bridges,” the dinner brought together Black, Jewish, and Black and Jewish students from multiple schools to highlight shared values, build new connections, and deepen understanding between communities.

“Black and Jewish communities have had a connection for a really long time, especially in the civil rights movement,” said Abby, a Jewish student at Johns Hopkins University. “[And] both the Jewish students and the HBCU students I met tonight joined our respective institutions looking for a sense of belonging and we’ve found that through our communities.”

This unity dinner was the latest in the Black-Jewish Unity Dinner series, organized by Hillel International in partnership with the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) and UNCF (United Negro College Fund). These gatherings, now in their second year, connect Jewish students with students from HBCUs to build on the historic bonds between the Black and Jewish communities. The goal? 

To create opportunities for a new generation of young leaders to connect, communicate, build relationships, and work together on the issues that matter to both communities.

Like the other dinners in the series, the evening’s program included both speakers and interactive activities. Dr. John Eaves, founder of BJLOT, emceed the event, and Dani Levine, senior director of social impact at Hillel International, facilitated an activity for students to use discussion cards to share their experiences and connect with one another on social, communal, and intellectual topics.

“Students, you are center stage today,” Dr. Eaves said. “You are the reason we’re here. We can hold complex identities and have complex conversations and reforge our historical communal ties.”

While students had many different reasons for signing up to attend the dinner, from wanting to learn more about other cultures to wanting to make new connections, the takeaways seemed universal: Our communities have a lot in common, and we need to stand together against those who would try to divide us.

“We’re actually really very similar,” said Dasani, a student at Morgan State University. “Even though we formed our connection during the civil rights movement, now we can use our voices to speak out for people and focus on our connections and similarities.”

“It’s good to see young adults from other religions and cultures and connect to each other. We are the face of the future,” she added.

In addition to conversations about racism, antisemitism, campus climates, and civil rights history, students were able to discuss their own perspectives on the issues that have made it harder to build relationships between Black and Jewish communities, and how they can work together to heal those connections. 

“Misinformation has pulled our two communities apart, and we want to fight that and bring each other together,” said Gabrielle, a student at Morgan State.

Rabbi Josh Snyder, executive director at Goucher College Hillel, agreed. “We can talk about why it’s important to join together to fight hate, but we have to be in relationship with each other,” he said. “It has to be about our relationships.”

Students, faculty, and administrators from seven institutions participated in the dinner, including Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Goucher College, Johns Hopkins University, Morgan State University, Towson University, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County. 

The Baltimore event was the seventh installment in the unity dinner series, which has engaged hundreds of students as of this spring. To invest in the ongoing connections and collaborations between Black and Jewish students, students who attended are eligible to receive up to $1,000 in microgrants to host a follow-up event of any kind, as long as it is organized by at least one Hillel-participating student and one HBCU student.

“To our students, we need your leadership right now. We need you to answer the call to fight for justice and community,” said Dr. Jenkins. “Be the agents of change — even when it’s not easy.”

We’re excited to continue the series this spring with students from across the country. Learn more about past unity dinners.

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