News

BBYO Today, Hillel Tomorrow

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 20, 2025

Over Presidents Day weekend, the Hillel International Student and Alumni Marketing team traveled to Denver, Colorado for BBYO’s International Convention (IC), the largest gathering of Jewish teen leaders worldwide. Over 3,600 high school students from across the country and around the world braved sub-zero temperatures and blizzards to experience several days of learning, leadership training, celebration, and service.

Our favorite moments from the weekend included:

1. Free swag!

Who doesn’t love free Hillel swag?!? We gave out branded tote bags and fanny packs, fuzzy socks, stickers, and more — plus freedom tags to display our continued commitment to bring home the hostages held by Hamas — so students could show off their Jewish and Hillel pride throughout the conference and back home.

2. A Puppy Pawty

We had the joy of partnering with the cutest puppies from Lifeline Puppy Rescue. Students got to spend some quiet time during the conference cuddling with five adorable (and adoptable!) pups. Hillel understands the importance of mental health and wellness, and we hope this was a welcome break for the students and staff who stopped by.

3. Traveling to University of Denver and University of Colorado at Boulder

The Denver area is home to the multi-campus Hillel of Colorado and Hillel at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU Boulder), which has one of the largest Jewish student populations in the country. The University of Denver Hillel was the perfect location for BBYO to host “The Jewish Kitchen: A Culinary Exploration of Our People,” where students went on a culinary journey through the diverse flavors of the Jewish diaspora with hands-on cooking sessions led by Jewish and Israeli food experts Micah Siva, Skye Estroff, and Jake Goldberg.

And at CU Boulder, Hillel student leaders led campus tours and participated in a panel discussion for nearly 300 BBYO teens where they shared their insights into preparing for college and getting involved with Jewish student life on campus.

4. Connecting seniors to their campus Hillels

As many high school seniors prepare to head off to college in the fall, Hillels on campuses across North America will be ready to welcome them to their Jewish home away from home for the next four years. And as seniors make their college decision, we encourage them to sign up for the Hillel Graduation Giveaway! We also partnered with our friends at the Jewish fraternity AEPi to host a meet and greet for high school seniors with Jewish students from CU Boulder to learn about Jewish life on college campus.

5. Highlighting Hillel’s mission

Two Hillel International Springboard Fellows, Melanie Silver from Hillel at Washington University in St. Louis and Samantha Brody from Boston University Hillel, were invited to speak during a summit on pluralism at the Adult Experience Track of IC. They discussed their work on campus to connect with all kinds of Jewish students by bringing a spirit of genuine openness and inclusivity.

Find your Hillel and learn more about Jewish life on campus at Hillel’s College Decision Hub.

The post BBYO Today, Hillel Tomorrow appeared first on Hillel International.

News

At the Super Bowl Black-Jewish Unity Summit, Connection is the Winner

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 20, 2025

Super Bowl Sunday drew millions of eyes to New Orleans for the biggest football game of the year. That same weekend, at historic Xavier University, well-known athletes gathered with Black, Jewish, and Black and Jewish students for a powerful conversation about their roles in fighting hate. 

This Unity Summit was a continuation of the Black-Jewish Unity Dinner series, created in partnership by Hillel International, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS). These gatherings, now in their second year, bring together Jewish students and students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), to build on the historical bonds between Black and Jewish communities. In doing so, they create opportunities for a new generation of college students to connect, communicate, and build relationships. 

“We know that antisemitism and racism are very real challenges that the Jewish and Black communities face, and by coming together to learn about how we are all impacted, we can work to build a better future. ,” said Dani Levine, director of social impact at Hillel International. “It is crucial that we acknowledge our histories, learn from one another, and unite in our efforts to fight hate and discrimination.”

With a  dedicated focus on the power of college athletes to serve as campus leaders, the Unity Summit included a panel discussion with notable sports and media figures, including, Dearica Hamby, WNBA Champion, two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, and forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, Nancy Lieberman, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and two-time Olympian silver-medalist, Leonard Fournette, professional football running back and Super Bowl champion, Greg Joseph, NFL place kicker and one of the only active Jewish players in the 2024 NFL season, and Jake Retzlaff, the first-ever Jewish quarterback to play at Brigham Young University. Some other special guests stopped by throughout the event, including Malcolm Butler, Meek Mill, and Gayle King.

Attendees spent time together in small-group conversations, while on-site content creators created real-time content to share with their communities. More than 100 Black and Jewish college athletes were in attendance, representing Xavier University, Tulane University, Dillard University, and Loyola University.

“Athletes have to come together across difference everyday to work towards a shared goal. Student athletics are some of the most diverse spaces on college campuses, and we were grateful that so many student athletes were able to share their experiences with each other and apply the lessons they’ve learned from the sports world to the important work of fighting bias. ” Levine said. ”

The event also highlighted the special microgrant opportunity offered from Hillel International that invests in the ongoing connections and collaborations between Black and Jewish students. Students who attended the Summit or any Unity Dinner were eligible to receive up to $1,000 in microgrants to host a follow-up event of any kind — the only requirement being that it is organized by at least one Jewish and one HBCU student. 

As of February 2025, Unity Dinners have engaged hundreds of students throughout Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Houston, and New Orleans. We’re excited to continue the series later this year with students from across the country. Learn more about past Unity Dinners.

The post At the Super Bowl Black-Jewish Unity Summit, Connection is the Winner appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Nearly One-Third of American Jewish College Students Feel Faculty Members Have Promoted Antisemitism or Learning Environments Hostile to Jews: New Survey

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 18, 2025

Survey also found 43% of Jewish college students avoided expressing their views about Israel on campus or to classmates because of fears of antisemitism 

Nearly one-third (32%) of American Jewish college students report feeling that faculty on their campuses have promoted antisemitism or fueled a learning environment that is hostile to Jews, according to new data from American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Hillel International. As part of AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report, AJC and Hillel International partnered to document Jewish students’ experiences during their time on campus. The report details how American Jewish college and university students are experiencing antisemitism, both in and outside of the classroom.

The data points to a troubling trend: many Jewish students feel they cannot trust all faculty to foster the educational environments they deserve – free from anti-Jewish and anti-Israel bias.

“How are Jewish students supposed to show up and engage in class or have trust in their educators if they feel that their professors are creating a hostile environment for Jews on campus?” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “If students feel that they need to just keep their head down and earn their grade, they are not fully participating in the educational experience that they have a right to and deserve. Educators and administrators need to take action to ensure that their classrooms and campuses are places free from hate, bigotry, and harassment so that all students – including Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist students – have the opportunity to grow and thrive.”

AJC’s State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report comes on the heels of the encampment protests that erupted on campuses across the country during the 2023-24 school year. Of the Jewish students who witnessed anti-Israel campus protests or demonstrations and/or pro-Palestinian encampments after October 7, 2023, half (51%) said that these protests or encampments made them feel unsafe on campus.

Additionally, roughly one-third (35%) of current American Jewish college students and recent graduates report having personally experienced antisemitism at least once during their time on campus, with 20% reporting that it happened more than once. One-fifth (22%) of Jewish students report feeling or being excluded from a group or an event on campus because they are Jewish.

Further, nearly one-third (32%) of American Jewish students said that they have felt uncomfortable or unsafe at a campus event because of their Jewish identity. These results point to many Jewish students feeling that they cannot fully be themselves and they, like the majority of American Jewish adults, are changing their behavior out of fear of antisemitism: more than three in 10 (34%) students said they have avoided wearing, carrying, or displaying things that would identify them as Jewish, and 43% avoided expressing their views on Israel on campus or to classmates. 

“As Jewish teens and their families make decisions about where they will spend their college years, it is crucial that they know they will be safe and able to fully express their Jewish identities,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. “Jewish students should feel safe to express their Jewish identities no matter where they are on campus – whether at Hillel or in the dorms, the library, or the classroom.”

The survey also asked U.S. adults about the encampments and 63% of U.S. adults expressed concern about the encampments on campus – with one-third (33%) saying that they should not be allowed and 30% saying that they need stricter regulation from universities – because some of them fostered antisemitism, blocked students from getting to class, or broke campus rules. Only 11% of U.S. adults said the tent encampments on campus were acceptable and should be allowed and the remaining 26% said “I don’t know enough to say.”

Importantly, reports of antisemitism on campus are playing a role in Jewish high school students’ college decisions. Roughly two-thirds (68%) of American Jews who are parents of a high school student said reports of antisemitism on campus are very (51%) or somewhat (17%) important in deciding where their student will attend college or university. 

“Academic freedom is foundational to higher education. However, academic discourse and debate can and must take place in an environment that is free from bias and discrimination. Our data, and work with students across the country, unfortunately show that American Jewish college students are feeling a pervasive lack of trust in their institutions and professors to maintain an atmosphere that is not biased against them. And we know that students who feel threatened cannot learn,” said AJC Center for Education Advocacy Director Laura Shaw Frank, Ph.D. “We are working directly with campus administrators to help them foster educational environments that prioritize critical thinking and viewpoint diversity which, in turn, also foster greater inclusion for Jews, Zionist views, and all students on campus. Educators must recognize that a significant majority of American Jews, including young American Jews, say caring about Israel is an important part of their Jewish identity.”

The surveys of American Jews and U.S. adults were conducted for the nonpartisan American Jewish Committee by the independent research firm SSRS. The Jewish American survey collected data from a nationally representative sample of 1,732 Jews, ages 18 or older from October 8 – November 29, 2024. Most respondents participated via a self-administered web survey and the remainder were interviewed on the phone. The U.S. adult survey collected data from a nationally representative sample of 2,056 general population adults, 18 or older, from October 10 – November 25, 2024, via the SSRS Opinion Panel. The margin of error for Jewish respondents is +/-3.3 percentage points and for total U.S. adult respondents is +/-3.0 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

The post Nearly One-Third of American Jewish College Students Feel Faculty Members Have Promoted Antisemitism or Learning Environments Hostile to Jews: New Survey appeared first on Hillel International.

News

500 Days After October 7, the Hostages are Still in Our Hearts

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 16, 2025

Content Warning: This piece contains reference to the October 7 terrorist attacks, including mentions of kidnapping and murder. Please read with care.

It has been 500 days since October 7, 2023. Hamas still holds 70 hostages in unspeakable conditions. Jewish people and their allies around the world are working for their release, telling their stories, and saying their names. Lidar, a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow based at a university in California, shared this story about his friend Sasha Troufanov, who was a hostage in Gaza for 498  days before being released this past weekend. 

For Lidar, advocacy for his friend Sasha Troufanov, taken captive by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and released this past weekend on February 15, 2025, has become an important part of his work with Jewish college students. Sasha’s story also has become an inspiration to Lidar’s students at a time of increased antisemitism and isolation in their classes and on campus.  

Lidar and Sasha became friends as young adults. “I was a little intimidated by him when we first met,” Lidar said. “He’s a big, tall, strong guy, and I was the new guy, and he wasn’t really talking to me. But then we went to an event together, and we started to talk, and I realized he was just the nicest guy. He was always smiling, always funny.”

Sasha’s parents lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz, which was brutally attacked on October 7, 2023. A day earlier, Sasha and his girlfriend, Sapir, had gone to visit his parents for Shabbat. The next morning, Hamas terrorists unleashed terror upon the kibbutz, murdering Sasha’s father, Vitaly, and taking Sasha and Sapir hostage, along with Sasha’s mother, Yelena, and grandmother, Irena. The three women were freed during the first hostage-release deal in November 2023, but Sasha remained in captivity until this weekend, with very little known about his condition.

“There were two videos of him released last year, but we didn’t know anything more, and none of the hostages who came home talked about seeing him,” Lidar said. 

Sasha’s friends and family were given new hope recently when they learned that Sasha was on the list of hostages to be released in the first phase of this current hostage release and ceasefire deal, but  they remained anxious about his condition. “Seeing Sasha come home alive was everything I could have hoped for over the last 16 months,” Lidar said. 

In reflecting on Sasha’s time in captivity, Lidar said that he made sharing stories about his friend part of his daily routine. “One of Sasha’s habits was that every day at three o’clock, no matter what was happening or what he was doing, he’d have a coffee break,” Lidar said. “No matter what, three o’clock is coffee time. After he was kidnapped, some of his friends in Israel started doing ‘coffee for Sasha’ every day at three o’clock, and I started doing it here on campus.  It was  a way of pausing together and bringing some of his personality and his warmth everywhere we went.”

Thinking about how long Sasha was in captivity – and about the many hostages who remain in Gaza today –  is difficult. “I remember the first Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of terror) after October 7, we all thought that there was no way we’d get to a year without the hostages coming home,” Lidar said. “And now it’s been 500 days, and it’s just not on people’s minds in the same way anymore.”

Lidar hopes that people around the world will continue to keep the remaining 70 hostages in their hearts and prayers, tell their stories, and work to secure their release.  “While they’re still [in Gaza], we can’t fully breathe,” he said. “We all need to keep talking and remember that they’re still there, and we need to do everything in our power to get them back home.” 

Hear from Israel Fellows across the country about their experiences in the aftermath of October 7 and how they are sharing their stories with Jewish students on college and university campuses. 

The post 500 Days After October 7, the Hostages are Still in Our Hearts appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Jewish Sustainability in Action: Hillel on the Farm

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 11, 2025

Taking care of the land we live on is more than just a Jewish tradition — it’s part of Jewish law.

Campus Hillels across North America are finding ways to tie together their Jewish connection to the land with sustainability and environmental practices. Check out these stories from three Hillels partnering with local farms to make a difference.

University of Vermont Hillel: Hillel Fresh and Seeds for Students

UVM’s Hillel Fresh program started as a way to combat food insecurity among students, and expanded significantly during the pandemic to ensure that students could have access to Shabbat meals even without Hillel hosting. Each student who signs up for Hillel Fresh receives a bag with all the ingredients they need for Shabbat, along with a Jewish learning text and a list explaining where all the food came from.

In the last three years, Hillel Fresh expanded to include its own farming plot on the University’s research farm. During the summers, the farm is managed by Seeds to Students interns who care for the crops while engaging in weekly Jewish learning around agriculture, land ownership, and sustainability. This year, all the produce from the summer was used during the fall semester in Hillel Fresh bags. 

Sophie Warth, a fourth-year student at UVM majoring in Food and Culture, is the Director of Hillel Fresh and Seeds to Students. Under her leadership, the program has grown to include medical and graduate students in its distribution in addition to undergraduate students, making a more significant impact in combating student food insecurity. In reflecting on her experience with these two programs Sophie said, “The most meaningful parts of working with Hillel Fresh and Seeds to Students have been combining my connections to my Hillel community with the relationships I’ve built with the local farms involved in Hillel Fresh. Being on the farm, working with the land, and taking a product from seed to harvest have also been invaluable experiences” 

Berkeley Hillel: Jewish Responses to Climate Change

Chance Reiniesch has made expanding Jewish programs around sustainability and farming his mission at University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) Hillel. Growing up on a farm, Chance spent a lot of time gardening and growing, and he’s been working to bring more programming around Jewish social justice, climate justice, and sustainability to his college community. 

Berkeley’s Hillel had a number of small partnerships and programs, but Chance saw room for growth. As the Social Action Associate, Chance expanded a program with University of California Gill Tract Farm, a local university farm that teaches people about indigenous land practices and donates food back to the community. He also helped launch the L’Shomra: Jewish Responses to Climate Change fellowship, where students examine their relationship with the world and their responsibility to protect it — and learn from contemporary sources and Jewish ancestral wisdom. Ben Witeck, a third year student at UC Berkeley, said, “My Judaism has always pushed me to engage in pressing areas of social justice. Connecting ancient and modern land-based practices as integral parts of my Jewish identity has been both a meaningful and powerful experience.”

Students also have the opportunity to take bi-monthly trips to other local farms, and to participate in weekly actions with Urban Adamah, a Jewish community farm dedicated to combating food insecurity in its area. 

One of Chance’s favorite parts of Berkeley Hillel’s sustainability work is the pollinator garden. Students were inspired to build out the garden, working with Hillel staff to plant different species and organize gardening shifts to help it flourish. To Chance, the garden speaks to Berkeley Hillel’s holistic commitment to environmentalism, and allows them to actively show connections between gardening and Jewish learning and ritual. Figs from the garden’s fig tree are used for the annual Tu B’Shvat seder — a sweet way to renew the community’s connection to the earth as responsible caretakers.

Colorado State University Hillel: RAM Kibbutz

CSU Hillel has a unique claim to fame: they’re the first student-led organization to be certified by Adamah. Starting from a farm-to-table program focusing on sustainability in sourcing and preparing Shabbat meals, CSU Hillel decided to create their own campus “kibbutz,” including a vegetable garden and a chicken coop.

Adam Fox, CSU Hillel’s Director of Jewish Student Life, took the initiative to expand the kibbutz beyond a sustainability initiative and added a component of student empowerment and wellness. Noticing that students having a bad day or struggling with the stress of campus life often came to the kibbutz to watch the chickens, he applied for a mental health and wellness grant from Hillel International to add ducks to the kibbutz family, and later received another grant to train student interns to care for them. Student leaders take on the role of “Chicken Tenders,” who are in charge of the care of new ducks Nibbler and Glenda, along with the kibbutz’s existing chickens. 

Adam sees the kibbutz not just as a key part of the Hillel community, but as a way to bring in students who might not otherwise be engaged by giving them an opportunity to connect through sustainability. Since October 7, he’s seen an increased interest in the kibbutz as more students looked for ways to connect to their Jewish identity and spend time in a supportive Jewish space. RAM Kibbutz offers a place and a community for students to connect to and rely on one another — just like a real kibbutz.

The post Jewish Sustainability in Action: Hillel on the Farm appeared first on Hillel International.

News

What is Tu B’Shvat?

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 11, 2025

It’s cold, it’s snowing, the trees are bare… in many parts of the world, that is. But in Israel, the earliest flowers are starting to bloom and it’s time to celebrate a Jewish holiday called Tu B’Shvat. Tu B’Shvat celebrates the Jewish people’s indigenous connection to the land of Israel through marking the beginning of the agricultural year in Israel and uplifting Israel’s seven native species, among other practices.

The name of this festival is actually its date: “Tu” is a pronunciation of the Hebrew letters that represent the number 15, and it falls in the Hebrew month of Shvat. Throughout history, Tu B’Shvat has taken on different meanings for the Jewish people in Israel and across the world.

Where do Tu B’Shvat Rituals and Celebrations Come From?

By the early modern period (16th century), rabbinic scholars in the city of Tzfat had developed a Tu B’Shvat meal similar to a Passover seder. This seder celebrated the seven native species of Israel: pomegranates, olives, dates, figs, grapes, wheat, and barley. 

According to Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), all living beings hide within them a spark of divine presence. Similarly, fruits, nuts, and grains hide within them seeds of new life and potential growth. Human actions can release these sparks and help increase God’s presence in the world. On Tu B’Shvat, the Kabbalists would eat certain fruits associated with the land of Israel as a symbolic way of releasing these divine sparks.

Tu B’Shvat rituals grew and changed over time. By the late 19th century, early tree-planting Zionists used Tu B’Shvat as an opportunity to celebrate their agricultural work of “making the desert bloom” in Israel. Today, planting trees in and out of Israel is one way of celebrating Tu B’Shvat.

An important part of Jewish consciousness is rooted in environmentalism and ecological activism. Many people think about Tu B’Shvat as an ancient Jewish Earth Day and spend the holiday learning about the Jewish tradition of environmental advocacy and volunteering for efforts connected to the land and sustainability. 

Ways to Celebrate Tu B’Shvat This Year:

• Host a Tu B’Shvat Seder, a ritual meal that celebrates different aspects of the holiday! You can find everything you’ll need in this resource from Hillel International.
• Participate in a beach or park cleanup. Tu B’Shvat is the perfect invitation to get your hands dirty by caring for our planet.
• Plant some seeds (indoors or outside depending on where you live) and watch them grow! Consider planting a Passover herb garden with parsley, dill, scallions, and other herbs you can use in your seder (Passover is only three months away!).
• Go to the grocery store and purchase some fruits or vegetables you’ve never tried before. Host a tasting for friends to determine which bite is the best.
• Make a donation to a local environmental organization, or volunteer your time to support their work in keeping your community healthy.
• Hang with some trees. If it’s warm enough where you live, enjoy some reading or snacking beneath the shade. If you live in a colder climate, take a brisk walk in a wooded area and enjoy the beauty of snow-covered trees.

Tu B’Shvat Resources:

• We Are All Trees: A Tu B’Shevat Seder by and for the Hillel Community: A guide to creating your own Tu B’Shvat Seder from Hillel International’s Center for Jewish and Israel Education & Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Experience.
• What Even IS Tu B’Shevat? A Quick Explainer: Learn more about Tu B’Shvat using this resource, created by Hillel International.
• Celebrate Tu B’Shvat With Your Hillel!: A guide to Tu B’Shvat created by the Hillel International Student Cabinet for students looking to organize sustainability programs at their Hillel in honor of Tu B’Shvat.
• Tu B’Shvat Program Guide: Learn more about creating a Tu B’Shvat Seder and other Tu B’Shvat programs with this guide from student leaders involved with Hillel International partner Adamah on Campus.

The post What is Tu B’Shvat? appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Inside Philanthropy: Record Fundraising for Hillel Amid Rising Antisemitism on Campus

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 7, 2025

Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman recently spoke to Inside Philanthropy in a wide-ranging conversation about Hillel’s centennial campaign and how Hillel supports Jewish college students in these challenging times. 

“We have raised more than $200 million, and we extended the campaign by virtue of continuing interest on many campuses to participate and leverage the reality — both positive and challenging — that Jewish students face in terms of pursuing Jewish life on campus,” Lehman told the publication, sharing that the campaign ultimately exceeded its original $150 million goal by more than $50 million. He added, “We raised more than $70 million since 10/7, [and] during the last year, we have seen an 89% increase in grassroots giving at the Hillel International level — donors giving under $10,000 in a given gift — and a 23% increase in our overall unrestricted giving.”

In this difficult time for Jewish students, these fundraising successes are particularly significant. Following Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, , Hillel International has responded to rising campus antisemitism and discrimination through new programs and campaigns, including partnering with the ADL and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law to put up the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) which provides students with legal support to address antisemitic bias incidents on campus.

Hillel International also expanded the Campus Climate Initiative to train college and university presidents and administrators to strengthen policies that can prevent and address campus antisemitism, and launched Campus For All, an online resource that provides Jewish students with education and resources to counter antisemitism. “[The last 15 months have] led many students to want to better understand what it means to be Jewish and to seek out the comfort and support of our Hillel communities,” Lehman said. 

The success of Hillel’s milestone fundraising campaigns also supports programs that help new Jewish students, making sure they know that Hillel is there to be their home away from home. Hillel invested several million dollars to ensure that Jewish students would find robust, visible Jewish programs and communities when they arrived on campus this fall. Campuses that hosted “Welcome Week” programs and events saw a nearly 30% increase in the number of Jewish students who participated in Hillel programming. 

“We have turned our programmatic framework from one that focuses solely on traditional Jewish life programs to a human-centered-design approach that works with students to design experiences that they have identified as meaningful to them,” Lehman said. “But the foundation of work continues to be the power and beauty of Jewish wisdom, tradition, ritual and community.”

“Record Fundraising for Hillel Amid Rising Antisemitism on Campus” was originally published in Inside Philanthropy on January 30, 2025. To read the complete article, please visit insidephilanthropy.com.

The post Inside Philanthropy: Record Fundraising for Hillel Amid Rising Antisemitism on Campus appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative Announces its Sixth Cohort

Author

Hillel International

Date

February 5, 2025

With this latest cohort, more than 100 colleges and universities have received training to address antisemitism from CCI

 Hillel International is kicking off its sixth cohort for the Campus Climate Initiative (CCI). This flagship program provides a comprehensive strategy to help campus administrators counter antisemitism and build a campus climate in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity.

This year’s cohort includes more than 100 administrators from the following colleges and universities: Clark University, Drexel University, George Mason University, Rhodes College, Simmons University, Stony Brook University, SUNY College at New Paltz, SUNY Purchase College, SUNY Rockland Community College, State University of New York System, University at Buffalo, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, University of Oregon, University of South Florida, University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and Vanderbilt University.

Including this cohort, Hillel International’s CCI has now partnered with college and university presidents and administrators from 102 institutions nationwide. As part of this program, each of these schools creates action plans, rooted in a customized and comprehensive climate assessment, to address antisemitism on campus alongside a community of peers. This collaborative, educational, and practical experience allows administrators to build a network to do this work to foster a positive, inclusive, and welcoming campus climate for Jewish and all students.

“Hillel International is thrilled to welcome these 18 schools and statewide university system into the sixth cohort of our Campus Climate Initiative.  We appreciate their dedication to building an inclusive campus environment, including for Jewish students, and are proud to partner with them towards this goal,” said Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International. “We are thrilled by the growth and success of CCI and proud to have now reached over 100 campuses nationwide.”

“We are thrilled that the University of Minnesota has joined the Campus Climate Initiative to create a more inclusive community for all students,” said Emily Boskoff, Executive Director at Minnesota Hillel. “This is a powerful opportunity to not only fight antisemitism, but to also deepen our collective understanding of the bias and hate that affect our students on a daily basis. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the University of Minnesota and Hillel International to foster an environment where every student feels valued, respected, and safe, and to ensure that the fight against antisemitism and all forms of hate on our campus remains at the forefront of our efforts.”

CCI has continued to expand its offerings to universities including hosting the largest summit on antisemitism on campus featuring over 75 presidents in Fall 2024, expanding its staff to help schools implement their campus action plans, and working across networks of colleges and universities to reach larger audiences at the state and regional levels.

The sixth cohort kicked off on February 3 at a two-day, in-person seminar. The program will conclude in December 2025.

The post Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative Announces its Sixth Cohort appeared first on Hillel International.

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Notes from Springboard Fellows: Thinking Outside the Box

Author

Hillel International

Date

January 30, 2025

Notes from Springboard Fellows is a series of deep dives into the work of first and second year Springboard Fellows who play transformative roles in their Hillel communities. Read on to learn more about Craig Carroll, the Springboard Fellow at American University. 

Interested in becoming a Springboard Fellow? Apply today.

Craig Carroll, a first-year Springboard Fellow at American University, started thinking about working for Hillel early in his college career. “I was what you might call a pipeline kid,” he joked. “Hillel was like my second major — I spent all my time at the Hillel building.”

By the time he was a senior, Craig knew he wanted to pursue a career where building relationships was key. “I really wanted something that was people-focused,” he said. “And where the main work is in connecting with people. Because that is what I love doing, and I’m very good at it.”

The Springboard Fellowship brings recent college graduates with raw talent, passion, and skills needed to reimagine and redesign Jewish student life to college campuses across North America. This was the perfect opportunity for Craig to combine his love for the Jewish world with his desire to work in an environment where every day would be different, where he’d get to focus on connection and community-building, and where he’d find great mentoring and professional development.

For Craig, having the support and structure of the Springboard environment has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the fellowship. “Springboard really puts such an emphasis on the growth process,” he said. “It’s made clear what you need to work on and where you need to do better, but it’s not expected that you’ll have all the answers immediately.”

One area where Craig invested a lot of professional development work has been building creative problem-solving skills and learning to facilitate brainstorming sessions with students. He recalled a moment earlier in his fellowship when he and his supervisor were working with students to plan a Wellness Shabbat, and had to go back to the drawing board several times to make sure their programming ideas aligned with what the community was looking for, and Hillel’s values regarding a Shabbat experience. 

“It can be hard to encourage students to turn their ideas into reality,” he said. “Sometimes they hold themselves back if they think an idea is too weird, or if they don’t think they’re the right thing…”

To work through this problem, Craig called on the insights he’d gained from a workshop at Hillel International’s New Professionals Institute (NPI). “We were given a problem to solve, and our instructions were to come up with the worst possible idea to solve the issue. Then we passed it along the table, and the next person had to make it even worse, and so on. What it encouraged us to do was come up with ridiculous ideas and then say, ‘What could make this into a good idea?’ And then model it into something better.” With this strategy in mind, Craig, his supervisor, and the student leaders were able to put together a successful and engaging Wellness Shabbat, and many other programs since.

Asked what advice he’d give a prospective Springboard Fellow, Craig suggested that the most important thing an applicant can do is self-advocate. “You’ll want to make sure you ask for what you need,” he said. “And sometimes that means coming in with your own needs and advocating for them. That’s what I did, and I ended up very happy and fulfilled in my work.”

Join a network of changemakers like Craig and transform Jewish student life— visit hillel.org/springboard-fellowship and apply today!

The post Notes from Springboard Fellows: Thinking Outside the Box appeared first on Hillel International.

News

83% of Jewish College Students Have Experienced or Witnessed Antisemitism Firsthand Since Oct. 7 Attack, Survey Finds

Author

Hillel International

Date

January 30, 2025

• 41 percent of Jewish students felt the need to hide their Jewish identity;
• One-in-four Jewish students felt compelled to take security precautions;
• Two-thirds of Jewish students lack confidence in their university’s ability to prevent antisemitic incidents

Eighty-three percent of Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, according to a new survey by ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), Hillel International, and College Pulse.      

Moreover, more than a quarter (27 percent) of Jewish students surveyed said they had observed antisemitic activity by faculty, compared to only 6 percent of non-Jewish students. The survey also found that two-thirds (66 percent) of Jewish students (and 60 percent of non-Jewish students) were not confident in their university’s ability to prevent antisemitic incidents.

“Since the October 7 attack in Israel, Jewish students have felt increasingly threatened, unwelcome and unsupported on campus, both by students and faculty,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “It is unacceptable that Jewish students cannot be confident in their university’s ability to address and prevent antisemitic incidents, and that they now live in a world in which they feel compelled to conceal their identity and beliefs. These findings underscore the urgent need for university leaders to step up and protect Jewish students.”

“These findings paint a deeply concerning picture of what Jewish students are facing on campuses today,” said Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International. “As we work to ensure that campuses are free from antisemitism, we are committed to creating spaces where Jewish students can build vibrant communities and express their identities with pride. No student should ever feel the need to hide who they are or take extra precautions to protect themselves while they’re living and learning at school.”

Other key findings include:

• 22.9 percent of Jewish students have felt compelled to take additional security precautions.
• Only about half (49.6 percent) of Jewish students reported feeling “very” or “extremely” comfortable with others on campus knowing their Jewish identity; 41 percent actively felt the need to hide their Jewish identity, and only 27 percent felt comfortable with others on campus knowing their views of Israel.
• More than one-in-ten Jewish students (13 percent) have withdrawn fromcampus or social activities, compared to only 2 percent of non-Jewish students.
• An overwhelming majority of students (92.5 percent) who had reported witnessing or experiencing an incident of antisemitism on campus did not report the incident to campus authorities.
  • Low awareness about what to do and a lack of confidence that they would get the help they needed drove many students to not report incidents of campus antisemitism.
  • A clear reporting policy was among the most frequently cited policies of importance to Jewish students (51 percent).
• Extreme anti-Israel attitudes were strongly related to minimization of the issue of anti-Jewish prejudice on campus among non-Jewish students.

Along with other leading Jewish communal and anti-hate organizations, ADL and Hillel International have been at the forefront in countering antisemitism on campus through ADL’s Ronald Birnbaum Center to Combat Antisemitism in Education (CCAE) and Not On My Campus campaign, and Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI), Campus4All.org website, and on-the-ground presence on hundreds of college and university campuses nationwide. 

In November 2023, ADL and Hillel International also launched the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), a free legal protection helpline for students who have experienced antisemitism, along with the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

By heeding ADL’s Six Asks and joint ADL-Hillel guidance – developed in collaboration with leading Jewish communal partners – and adopting tailored data-driven solutions, educational institutions can work to ensure that all students, including Jewish students, can thrive in a safe and welcoming campus environment.

Methodology

In partnership with Hillel International and College Pulse, ADL fielded a survey of college students at 135 universities across the United States in the fall semester of 2024. This survey was conducted by College Pulse, an online survey and analytics platform focused on American college students. College Pulse’s proprietary panel includes more than 950,000 college students from more than 1,500 institutions of higher education across all 50 states. This survey employed an oversample of Jewish students, with 1,030 Jewish students and 1,140 non-Jewish students responding. Responses from non-Jewish students were gathered from 135 colleges and universities, while responses from Jewish students were gathered from 128 of these colleges and universities.

About ADL

ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.

About Hillel International

Founded in 1923, Hillel has been impacting the lives of Jewish college students and countering antisemitism on campus for more than 100 years. Hillel International is a global organization that welcomes students of all backgrounds and fosters an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. As the largest Jewish student organization in the world, Hillel builds connections with emerging adults at more than 850 colleges and universities. During their formative college years, students are inspired to explore, experience, and create vibrant Jewish lives.

About College Pulse

College Pulse is a survey research and analytics company dedicated to understanding the attitudes, preferences, and behaviors of today’s college students. College Pulse offers custom data-driven marketing and research solutions, utilizing its unique American College Student Panel™ that includes over 950,000 college students and recent graduates from more than 1,500 two- and four-year colleges and universities across all 50 states.

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