News

Embracing My Asian Jewish Heritage

Author

Hillel International

Date

May 29, 2025

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we are sharing stories from Jewish students who are celebrating both their Jewish and their Asian identities.

For Asian American Jewish students like Naomi Stephenson, a junior at Brandeis University, honoring both sides of that heritage is an important part of her life — not only because they’re both deeply important, but because they’re deeply interconnected.

“I can’t bisect myself and have one version of myself walk around and be Asian and the other half of myself walk around and be Jewish,” Naomi said. “I’m both.”

Growing up in Belmont, Massachusetts, Naomi was raised by her Ashkenazi Jewish father and her Thai mother, who converted to Judaism before Naomi was born. Her family attended Shabbat services and were active members of their synagogue, and also took annual trips to Thailand, where they would stay for a few weeks at a time. 

While she was always aware of her biracial identity, sometimes others didn’t treat her Asian and Jewish heritage as connected.

“For a long time, the environment around me taught me to treat my Thainess and my Jewishness as separate sides of me,” she said, recalling a family tree activity from Hebrew school about Jewish ancestry, in which she was essentially told that the Thai half of her family “wasn’t really relevant.” 

Naomi connected strongly with her Jewish identity, enjoying her bat mitzvah experiences and helping out with her synagogue as a teen leader. She chose Brandeis University for her college education, where she studies international relations, history, and French, in part because she wanted to attend a school with a strong Jewish community. She knew she wanted to get involved right away, so she started going to Hillel in her first year. 

Hillel became a regular part of Naomi’s life at Brandeis. But she didn’t start to really bring her Jewish and Asian identities together until she connected with the Lunar Collective, an organization that cultivates connection, belonging, and visibility for Asian American Jews.

“They became the outlet for that side of my Jewish community,” Naomi said. “That was when I really started to claim being an Asian Jew. I didn’t realize how deeply you could feel seen, and feel in community, and feel like your whole self is being celebrated.”

Through her involvement with Lunar, Naomi hosted an Asian Jewish Seder in collaboration with Brandeis Hillel last year, and ran another one this past spring. “Lunar has their own haggadah that centers the Asian Jewish experience, which was really special,” she said. “There was something very holy about the fact that I could bring together people who are Asian Jews, people who had Asian Jewish partners, people within this Asian Jewish community who might not have interacted with each other before.”

Naomi is now part of the Lunar Leading Light Fellowship, a program for emerging young adult leaders of Asian Jewish heritage. Fellows work together to build Asian Jewish communities in their own cities, through planning and facilitating local events. 

“It’s been very empowering to realize that I don’t need to separate the two parts of myself,” she said. “All of that Jewish life I’ve engaged with — Hebrew school, my bat mitzvah, leading davening, leading in Hillel — I did all of that while being Asian.”

Naomi’s experience represents a growing shift in Jewish movements in communities to recognize the diversity of Jewish cultures, experiences, and identities. 

“I feel like our voices are being heard a lot more,” Naomi reflected. “The Jewish community is growing more and more diverse, and that’s something that’s wonderful and so important and beautiful. Being at Brandeis and Hillel have taught me that there are ways of being Jewish that I never imagined or encountered before going to Brandeis, and those ways of being Jewish are just going to keep expanding.”

The post Embracing My Asian Jewish Heritage appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Connecting Jewish and Chinese Identities

Author

Hillel International

Date

May 28, 2025

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we are sharing stories from Jewish students who are celebrating both their Jewish and their Asian identities.

Brooke Cohen, a rising senior at Brown University, has always been taught that her Chinese and Jewish backgrounds are more connected than they are different.

“My parents always told me that Chinese and Jewish values are very similar, from respecting your parents to caring about great food,” she said. “Both cultures share so much, and my parents encouraged me to see it that way.”

Brooke grew up in Singapore, where the Jewish community consists of an estimated 2,500 people. Brooke’s father is Ashkenazi Jewish, and her mother, who is Chinese, converted to Judaism as a young adult. But the maternal side of Brooke’s family has been connected to Judaism for generations.

As far back as the mid-nineteenth century, Shanghai had a small but active Jewish population. In the 1940s, Brooke’s great-grandfather was a business partner with a Jewish man who fled from Germany, one of the 20,000 Jews that sought refuge in Shanghai during the Holocaust. He became an honorary uncle — “Uncle Willie” — to Brooke’s grandmother. Later, Uncle Willie helped her mother’s family escape from Shanghai to Hong Kong, just before the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the 1960s. 

“He was a Jewish man from Germany, and China saved his life,” Brooke said. “And then he saved my family’s lives.”

Because of that history, Brooke’s grandparents had a deep respect for Judaism and the Jewish community, and were supportive when her mother converted to Judaism. Her father, who took a Mandarin class in the 1980s and later studied in China, is fluent in Chinese. 

“I really like how both sides of my family have had a lot of respect for one another, and a lot of deep understanding,” Brooke said. “That’s something I’ve been wanting to personally explore even more.”

Born and raised in an expat community in Singapore, Brooke attended Singapore’s only Jewish day school, where she learned both Mandarin and Hebrew. By third grade, her class consisted of fewer than 10 students, and her parents had to make the decision to move her to an international school with a larger student body.  Even though her Jewish community was small (she recalls only six or so students in her bat mitzvah class), her rabbi made sure to help her connect with other young Jews from around Asia. He organized annual weekend trips to places like Japan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, where the students could meet each other and form friendships. 

When Brooke decided to attend college in the United States and chose Brown University, she found the experience of being surrounded by hundreds of Jewish students for the first time to be a special one. 

Brooke quickly dove into the Hillel community, regularly attending Shabbat dinners and other programs and joining the student cabinet. She also participated in the Lauder Fellowship, a year-long program organized by the World Jewish Congress for Jewish student leaders seeking to represent and advocate on behalf of the global Jewish community. 

“Meeting people my age who are also Jewish has been such a new thing for me,” Brooke said. “So I’ve been very eager to be in these Jewish spaces, and soak up everything I can.” 

This has held true for Brooke even through challenging moments for the Jewish community at Brown since October 7, 2023. 

“Even though it sometimes felt lonely on campus, I finally had a community of students that were similar to me, or coming from a similar background to me,” Brooke said. “This was so different from when I was the only Jewish student in my high school during the 2021 conflict between Israel and Hamas, and I had to navigate it alone.” 

Since coming to college, something important to Brooke has been finding ways to deepen her connection to both her Jewish heritage and her Chinese background, taking Mandarin classes and delving into her family history to learn more about her grandparents and great-grandparents — as well as Uncle Willie. 

“I do sometimes feel a bit of push and pull with my identity,” Brooke said. “But I feel very Chinese and very Jewish. And I’m still learning and discovering more about where I fit in that puzzle.”

In the long term, Brooke hopes to someday write a book about her family’s story. Call us when it’s ready, Brooke — your Hillel community would love to read it!

The post Connecting Jewish and Chinese Identities appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Celebrating Jewish Deaf Students At Gallaudet Hillel

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 27, 2025

February marks Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), a time to highlight the achievements and contributions of Jewish individuals with disabilities. We are honored to share the story of Sofia Seitchik, a dynamic leader and the program director of Hillel at Gallaudet University, the nation’s only university designed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Through her transformative work, Sofia has created a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community at Gallaudet, ensuring Jewish Deaf students have access to their faith, culture, and traditions in a fully accessible environment.

When Sofia Seitchik signed her contract as program director for Hillel at Gallaudet University on October 4, 2023, she knew she was stepping into a critical role. However, she had no idea just how quickly she would need to act to support her students in a time of crisis. Within days, on October 7, the world witnessed the devastating terrorist attacks in Israel, sending shockwaves through Jewish communities everywhere. In response, Sofia swiftly organized a campus vigil at Gallaudet. She also united five Jewish organizations serving the Deaf community to provide space for mourning, solidarity, and advocacy for the hostages taken to Gaza.

Her ability to lead in the face of adversity stems from her years of experience as a business owner, transformational coach, and dedicated member of the Jewish Deaf Congress. However, it is also rooted in her journey of resilience.

A Journey of Identity and Empowerment

Born in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sofia grew up under the Soviet Union’s restrictions on religious freedom, and she was unable to fully express her Jewish identity in her homeland. From the age of 3 to 15, she attended a residential school for the Deaf in St. Petersburg, Russia. At 16, she immigrated to the United States, where she embraced a land of freedom and new possibilities—learning American Sign Language, openly practicing Judaism, and fully embracing her identity as a Jewish Deaf woman.

“In Uzbekistan, Jewish women faced oppressive restrictions, with no voice or chance to dream during the communist era,” Sofia said. “When I arrived in the United States, I realized I wanted to inspire other Deaf women to overcome barriers and follow their dreams and aspirations.”

With few mentorship and coaching programs available for Deaf women, Sofia took matters into her own hands and formed Global Deaf Women. For 15 years, she provided transformational coaching services, empowering Deaf women to become entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities. Her work didn’t go unnoticed; when the Jewish Deaf Congress faced organizational struggles, they sought her expertise in fundraising and community building, which led her to play a crucial role in sustaining the organization.

Transforming Jewish Life at Gallaudet

Sofia’s leadership at Gallaudet Hillel has revitalized Jewish life on campus. In just over a year, she has organized more than 20 events, fostering a sense of belonging among Jewish Deaf students who often face unique barriers in accessing Jewish education and traditions.

“Most Deaf individuals are born into hearing families that do not learn sign language,” Sofia explained. “This creates a communication gap, making it difficult for Deaf Jewish young adults to understand their religious customs deeply. At Gallaudet Hillel, I am working to bridge that gap by providing accessible Jewish education and cultural experiences.”

Her initiatives have included:

• Shabbat and holiday celebrations, such as a Hanukkah event featuring Shirly Pinto, the first Deaf Israeli Member of Knesset, drew over 120 attendees.
• The first-ever Passover Seder hosted by Gallaudet President Roberta Cordano symbolized institutional support for Jewish Deaf students.
• Educational programs with Deaf Jewish leaders, including Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff, who provided insight into lessons about Judaism through accessible, visual language.
• The groundbreaking premiere of “Antisemitism: A Long History of Hatred,” the first ASL film on antisemitism made by and for Deaf audiences, was attended by over 250 people in person and online.  This film was inspired by Hillel International’s antisemitism video series. 

A Vision for the Future

Sofia’s passion for accessibility in Jewish life extends beyond events; for her, it is about creating a movement where Deaf Jewish students feel seamlessly included in their faith and traditions.

“Accessibility within Judaism isn’t always easy for the Deaf community,” she acknowledges. “My goal is to provide a space where Jewish Deaf students can practice, celebrate, and strengthen their Jewish identities in their own language and feel at home on campus.”

Thanks to Sofia’s dedication, Jewish Deaf students at Gallaudet are thriving and finding connection, education, and a profound sense of belonging. As Hillel at Gallaudet continues to grow, Sofia remains steadfast in her mission: ensuring that Deaf Jewish students can embrace their heritage with pride, knowledge, and full access to their community.

For more information about Gallaudet Hillel or to support its programs, visit gallaudethillel.org.

The post Celebrating Jewish Deaf Students At Gallaudet Hillel appeared first on Hillel International.

Diversity and Inclusion

Hillel Community

LGBTQIA+

Reflections from a Hillel Intern on Pride Month

Author

Emma Mair and Liora Knizhnik

Date

June 24, 2024

This year, Pride Month coincides with the reading of Sefer BaMidbar, the Book of Numbers. At the outset of the book, we learn that God spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, a topic addressed by the rabbis in BaMidbar Rabbah, an 11th century book of midrash, or rabbinic allegory. 

Why did God choose to speak to Moses in the desert, of all places? The sages taught the Torah was given through fire, water, and desert, because each of these three things are given freely to all of humanity. Thus, Torah, too, should be given freely to all of humanity.

When I came across this interpretation, I immediately thought of Hillel’s tagline, “All Kinds of Jewish.” Through Hillel, any Jewish college student is welcome to freely access Jewish tradition, culture, and community. Any Jewish college student should be able to walk into a Hillel building and feel not only like efforts are being made to include them, but that they belong just as much as anyone else. Gay, straight, trans, cis: Hillel can be your home away from home. 

Over the past year, I have interned for the Center for Student and Staff Wellbeing at Hillel International, learning invaluable lessons about how validating and affirming one’s identity can affect well-being. Our holistic wellness is deeply important, and the ability to look at someone’s soul and affirm who they are and that they belong is crucial in today’s world. Research shows LGBTQ+ young people with at least one accepting adult in their life report significantly lower rates of attempted suicide. It is absolutely essential that LGBTQ+ college students find accepting adults at Hillel, peers with shared experiences, and programming that supports their well-being and equips them to tackle the challenges of their world.

When I first interviewed for the intern position, Hillel International Associate Director of Student and Staff Wellbeing Sarah Cohn asked me how I practiced self-care. At the time, I was chair of the Jewish Student Union at my college, working multiple jobs, completing a double major, and applying to rabbinical school, all while being generally heartbroken by the state of the world  – and feeling the weight on my shoulders to repair it. I told Sarah that I didn’t need a self-care practice, since the work I was doing was fulfilling, meaningful, and important to me and others. As you might imagine, this was not the best response during an interview for a position on a wellness team. Sarah called me on it, and I am profoundly indebted to her. 

The Center for Student and Staff Wellbeing team helped me realize just how essential an individual wellness practice is. It should not be secondary to our lives, something we do only when we have the time. It is foundational, and it’s how we learn to flourish and thrive – especially in a world that often wants to keep us subdued.

It’s been a privilege to work at Hillel International for the past year and see the many kinds of important work that Hillel does for Jewish college students, including:  

The Center for Student and Staff Wellbeing offers grants to help campus Hillels bolster their well-being programs, hire mental health and/or wellness professionals, and create spaces dedicated to improving wellness. 

The social impact team offers microgrants to help campuses become engaged in social justice work. This could be anything from facilitating LGBTQ+ interfaith spirituality groups to volunteering with marginalized populations. Working across identity and talking across difference is how we build a world in which we all become liberated. 

Several years ago the Center for Jewish and Israel Education adopted a policy lovingly called the Kranjec Test that increases the voices of women and other minority genders on our source sheets. For millennia, Jewish texts and our study of them have been dictated by men. Hillel is at the forefront of pushing for change in this arena, so many brilliant voices that have been left off to the side for too long can be brought into the center. 

Ari Levy, Hillel’s associate vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion recently completed Keshet’s Shivyon Project, a year-long, cohort-based project of training, consultation, and learning. Keshet conducted an internal assessment, hosted a full-day of learning, worked with Ari to create a sustainable plan for action, and established tools for ongoing work to support LGBTQ+ staff at Hillel. Ari’s support and the institution’s support of LGBTQ+ personnel is essential, and I am grateful for it. 

This past year has also been my first as a rabbinical student at Hebrew College’s Rabbinical School, not to mention a painful and immensely challenging year for the Jewish people. My queer and Jewish identities have always intersected, and I am deeply committed to promoting LGBTQ+ belonging in Jewish community and tradition. To train as a spiritual leader while working for Hillel International and witnessing the culture that Hillel promotes has been an incredible privilege. It gives me hope for the future of mainstream Jewish society,  one in which “All Kinds of Jewish” are accepted and belong. 

This Pride Month and every day moving forward, may Hillel continue to be a leader in cultivating communities in which all can freely access Jewish tradition, culture, and community because they feel affirmed and a deep sense of belonging.

Emma Mair is a rabbinical student at Hebrew College, located north of Boston. She likes to celebrate Jewish joy, ask bold questions, and facilitate meaningful experiences for all kinds of people. 

The post Reflections from a Hillel Intern on Pride Month appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Welcome to Hillel: The Ramirez Sisters Head Back to School

Author

Hillel International

Date

August 30, 2023

Roll Call:

College students across the country are headed back to school. At the University of Central Florida (UCF) and at New York University (NYU), two sisters are kicking off the school year as brand new Hillel staff members. Melina Ramirez, Engagement Manager at UCF Hillel, and Sofie Ramirez, Springboard Innovation Fellow at NYU Hillel, are excited to welcome students back to campus and to continue their own Hillel journeys. 

Growing up in a small Jewish community on Long Island, Sofie and Melina were both deeply involved in their childhood synagogue, as well as BBYO. 

When Melina started school at Florida Southern College, a school with a very small Jewish population, it was a new experience for her to be one of the only Jewish people that most of her classmates had ever met. She quickly became involved in the tight-knit Hillel community, and after graduation, decided that connecting with a larger, vibrant Jewish community, like the one she grew up with and the one she found on her gap year in Israel, was a priority for her career and life choices. After working for BBYO and her local JCC, she found her way back to Hillel where she is starting her first year as a Hillel professional. 

Sofie’s journey also took her to Hillel as a student at Hofstra University on Long Island. Hofstra Hillel became an important part of her college experience as she volunteered as a student leader and worked closely with the Hillel rabbi on campus. After taking some time off following graduation to visit her family in Puerto Rico, Sofie is excited to share her love for Hillel with students at NYU as a Springboard Innovation Fellow.

Welcome to Hillel!

As first-year students move onto campus and begin exploring their new schools and communities, Hillel staff and student leaders are there to welcome them. 

NYU Hillel’s Welcome Week kicked off this past weekend with a brunch that brought together first-year students and their families in the Hillel building. For the next two weeks, Hillel staff will be available to help students move into their dorms, connect with new friends, and chat over coffee. Different types of programs will be available to students depending on their interests. Sofie will run a one-day color war for student athletes that will include team-building exercises as well as classic games like wheelbarrow races and ring toss. She believes that offering space and programming to students with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds is essential to helping first-year students start to feel at home on campus and at Hillel.

At the University of Central Florida, students started arriving on campus in mid-August. UCF Hillel hosted FreshFest, an early move-in opportunity for Jewish students paired with programming and a chance to meet other first-year students before classes began. Twenty first-year students, along with third- and fourth-year student leaders and Hillel staff members had a splash at the nearby Aquatica Water Park. Following two days of getting to know each other, the FreshFest students attended the first Shabbat dinner of the semester with 80 other students from across the university. 

Melina reflected that in addition to FreshFest, her favorite part of welcoming new students was driving around campus to pick students up and bring them to the Hillel building for coffee chats, activities, and hang-out time. She’s excited for the energy of this first week to carry through the rest of the year. 

Wishes for the New Year:

The first weeks of the new school year often lead right into Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Reflecting on the upcoming academic and Jewish year, Melina and Sofie each have dreams they’re hoping to accomplish with their students. 

Melina said, “As students come out of a very isolated experience with the Covid-19 pandemic, we want to make sure there is a warm and welcoming environment waiting for them at Hillel. A big part of that is making sure that each student has a space where they can feel comfortable. As a Jewish Latina, building a space for Jews of color to share their experiences and their voices is so important to me.” 

Sofie added, “Creating an affinity space for Jews of color at NYU means that there will be a unique space for every Jewish student to speak up. I’m excited to run a Yom Kippur program about forgiveness and processing emotions around difficult interactions—I’m looking forward to broadening this space for Jewish students of color.”

As sisters, Melina and Sofie are also looking forward to connecting with each other through their Hillel work and to growing strong, vibrant communities at UCF and NYU.

The post Welcome to Hillel: The Ramirez Sisters Head Back to School appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Connecting Across Faith Traditions

Author

Hillel International

Date

May 22, 2023

In partnership with the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, Hillel International’s Social Impact Department offers Interfaith Outreach Microgrants, which support projects that are the outgrowth of collaborative relationship-building between Jewish students and students from other faith traditions, and that result in expanding and strengthening relationships among students from different faith traditions. Below are some examples of recent multifaith programs from across the country. 

Syracuse University:

Rabbi Ethan Bair and Imam Amir Durić, both chaplains at Syracuse University, were inspired to build relationships between the Jewish and Muslim students on campus as a way to strengthen their individual and shared faith communities. With an Interfaith Microgrant from Hillel International, Imam Durić and Rabbi Bair worked with their student leaders to host a multifaith Passover and Ramadan celebration that would serve as an iftar for Muslim students and an opportunity to observe Passover for Jewish students. 120 students with equal representation from both faith communities gathered for dinner, a Kahoot about the relationship between Judaism and Islam, and powerful conversations about the connections between these two faith traditions.

The celebration was followed by a community service project centered around the value of tzedakah or sadaqah, shared by both faiths. Both Rabbi Blair and Imam Durić remain committed to continued shared learning and celebrations. 

Wake Forest University: 

During Passover and Ramadan, students from across multiple faith communities gathered together for a communal Interfaith Seder and Iftar. Over 60 students who identify as Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and more attended the event. Aman Kimani, the President of the Hindu Student Association shared, “It was a really impactful and immersive experience to learn about each other’s cultures and religions – not just with Jewish and Muslim people, but with people who hold all kinds of beliefs and traditions.” 

University of Miami:

The University of Miami Hillel recently hosted an Interfaith Shabbat program, led by student leaders from multiple faith communities. Katherine Pratha, one of the student organizers of the event, shared this reflection, “We had a fantastic time at InterFaith Shabbat! I truly enjoyed the ability to work with student leaders from other faiths on an event that meant so much to me. Coming from an interfaith family, dialogue surrounding shared traditions and differences has always been a conversation of value to myself and my learning. The ability to learn from other students of other faith practices while sharing the Jewish tradition of Shabbat with communities at the University of Miami was an enriching experience that I sincerely hope to repeat.”

For more information on Hillel International’s Interfaith Microgrants, connect with the Social Impact team at socialimpact@hillel.org. 

The post Connecting Across Faith Traditions appeared first on Hillel International.

Diversity and Inclusion

Speaking Up and Making Change: Madison’s Story

Author

Madison Essig

Date

February 28, 2023

It can be hard to have a disability and make friends at school. In high school,  I was involved with Washington Hebrew Congregation and loved being a leader in my Jewish community. So when I was searching for a way to form a community for myself at George Mason University, I went to see what was happening at Hillel.

Joining Hillel gave me a sense of family on campus and I met great people there who became my friends. My Hillel family gave me a space to explore my Jewish identity and inspired me to get involved in other leadership opportunities.

When I arrived on campus, I was shocked to learn that George Mason LIFE students (students who participate in a four-year program for people with disabilities) were not eligible to serve as full members of the student government.  I was determined to change that for myself and other students who were passionate about leadership. Madison’s Bill, a piece of legislation that I introduced, allowed students with disabilities to join the student government. 

I took the first step by winning a student senate seat to represent the voices of marginalized students like returning education students, international students, and students with disabilities. 

Across campus, there continued to be opportunities for me to speak up for inclusion. From making Greek life more inclusive to advocating for kosher dining on campus to changing how George Mason defines their enrolled students with disabilities, I spoke up and my Hillel family was with me every step of the way. 

I became only the fifth person in the United States with Down’s Syndrome to graduate from a four-year college. I hope my journey and the work I did as a student and beyond inspire others to speak up and make space in their lives for inclusive change. 

The post Speaking Up and Making Change: Madison’s Story appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Five Ways Hillel Mental Health Professionals Improve Jewish Life on Campus

Author

Hillel International

Date

January 24, 2023

Yael Kornfeld, Hunter Hillel Social Worker, recently sat down with Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute North America, on the Hartman Institute’s podcast, Identity/Crisis, to discuss her work. Here are five ways that her work and the work of social workers across the Hillel movement are improving the lives of Jewish students on campus.

While the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for mental health support on campus, it did not create that need.

Yael shared that Merav Fine-Braun, Executive Director at Hunter Hillel, identified the need for mental health care at Hillel in 2019 when she learned that 80% of Hunter College’s students experience food insecurity. From the beginning, building out a role for a social worker on Hunter Hillel’s staff was about addressing basic needs for every Hillel student, from mental health to housing. 

Students on different campuses have unique needs.

Hunter’s student population has a diverse range of students from different socioeconomic, geographic, and religious backgrounds. Having a mental health professional who is an expert in a specific student population and who is familiar with the culture and needs of the students is critical. “Many of our students are either first-generation immigrants, or their parents are… It’s so important to have someone at Hillel with the cultural competency to understand where our students are coming from,” Yael reflected. 

Mental health professionals embedded in Hillels have a particular effectiveness in reaching students who need care.

As Yael said, “A very basic tenet of social work is meeting the client where they are. So if students are coming into Hillel, let’s be there. Let’s be ready to support them in the place that they’re already comfortable coming to.” 

Hillel mental health professionals work in concert with university counseling centers to make sure students are receiving comprehensive services.

One of the biggest questions about having mental health professionals work full time at Hillel is where their work intersects with university counseling services. Yael emphasized that Hillel mental health professionals and university counseling services work in collaboration with each other and often fill different mental health needs for students.

Mental health and wellness are crucial to student success.

Hillels have always been dedicated to supporting and enriching Jewish students’ lives. Through Yael’s work and the work of other mental health professionals at Hillels across the world, Hillels are meeting students’ emotional and mental needs in addition to their communal and spiritual needs. 

Yael and the other mental health professionals working in Hillels all over the country have shown the need for Hillels to provide mental health support on top of the diverse array of programming and guidance that they already offer. Thank you to the Shalom Hartman Institute North America for continuing this important conversation.

The post Five Ways Hillel Mental Health Professionals Improve Jewish Life on Campus appeared first on Hillel International.

Diversity and Inclusion

Leadership and Career Skills

When our student community sees themselves represented in leadership roles, they feel more safe, secure, and seen on campus.

Author

Hillel International

Date

June 27, 2022

The post When our student community sees themselves represented in leadership roles, they feel more safe, secure, and seen on campus. appeared first on Hillel International.

News

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

Author

Gabriel Lesser

Date

March 1, 2022

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

Naomi Hess, a senior majoring in public policy at Princeton University, has been hosting JDAIM events at Princeton Hillel since her freshman year. 

“We already had all sorts of amazing intersectional Shabbat events here on campus,” Hess said. “I wanted to make sure that people knew about the intersection between Judaism and students with disabilities.” 

Hess, who has muscular dystrophy, is continuing to spread disability awareness alongside a Hillel committee that reaches out to speakers and helps bring the events to fruition.

Katie Heinzer, a senior studying Slavic languages and literature at Princeton, has helped facilitate JDAIM events at Princeton Hillel. Heinzer moderated an event last year with Judy Heumann, an internationally recognized Jewish disability rights activist. 

“It was a really good opportunity for the Princeton campus to realize how important the intersection is between disability advocacy and Jewish life,” Heinzer said. “This year, I’m really excited to host more events regarding accessibility, and to have another speaker speak to our campus.”

To help advance the intersection between disability advocacy and Jewish life, students at American University Hillel partnered with Repair the World, a social justice organization that helps Jewish students get involved in service projects. For their project, American University Hillel students worked with the Center of Jewish Education in Baltimore to learn how to caption videos to increase accessibility for the deaf Jewish community.

“The students are training to caption videos, so that even after the training ends, they can continue to use their skills for more service work as long as it’s needed, which is really exciting,” said Sarah Bernstein, a Hillel International Springboard Fellow at American University.

Not only are students assisting with accessibility in virtual formats, Hillels have also made changes to improve physical accessibility. 

At University of Minnesota Hillel, the building recently underwent an 11-month renovation to install a new elevator, multiple ramps for entryways, more accessible bathrooms, and wider doors.

“During the process, there was a lot of discussion. Why put in an elevator? Why spend that much money when you may have one or two students who need it?” said Benji Kaplan, executive director of Minnesota Hillel. “And our answer was: No student should feel unwelcome at our Hillel because it’s not accessible.”

In addition to programming on Hillel campuses during JDAIM, Hillel@Home also hosted a series of online events.

One of these events was a conversation with Chella Man, who talked about his experience balancing his identities as a trans, deaf, Jewish, and Chinese-American man. Man is also speaking at Princeton this month to continue spreading disability awareness and inclusion.

Rabbi Ira Dounn, a senior Jewish educator at Princeton Hillel, feels inspired by his students, many of whom are champions for inclusion all year round. 

“During Yom Kippur services last year, one of the aliyot I had was for Naomi Hess and her advocacy for disability rights,” Dounn said. “And I said, ‘Please stand in spirit or body to support the cause.’ The entire room stood up, which was truly beautiful.”

Hess said Hillel is an inclusive space where everyone is willing to learn. 

“Rabbi Ira started this tradition of saying, ‘Please stand if you’re able,” Hess said. “And this is just a really small, linguistic change. But it shows that he and Princeton Hillel are absolutely thinking about people whose experiences are different from the norm, which means a lot to me.”

Gabriel Lesser is a sophomore at Johns Hopkins University.

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