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.

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News

Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative Gathers for Regional Training on Improving Campus Life for Jewish Students

Author

Dr. Mara Lee Grayson

Date

February 14, 2025

On a sunny, cold day in January, senior administrators from California colleges and universities gathered to participate in a regional summit hosted by Hillels of Silicon Valley and Santa Clara University in partnership with Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI). The event featured a full day of training on antisemitism, Jewish identities, and practical strategies for supporting Jewish students. 

CCI partners with college and university administrators around the United States to improve the campus climate for Jewish students which has deteriorated rapidly since October 7, 2023 with 83% of Jewish college students reporting that they have experienced or witnessed antisemitism in the last 16 months. Its flagship Campus Cohort Program has engaged more than 100 campuses to participate in a curriculum that combines education, data collection and assessment, and action plan development and implementation. 

This summit included administrators from five local colleges and universities: Santa Clara University (SCU), San Jose State University (SJSU), De Anza College, West Valley College, and Foothill College. Participants included the presidents of SCU, SJSU, and De Anza, as well as senior  administrators and faculty members. 

“We are grateful to our host, Santa Clara University, for partnering with CCI to share the knowledge, strategies, and resources they gained as a participant in CCI’s recently completed fifth cohort with their  colleagues on neighboring campuses,” said Lisa Armony, CCI executive director. While each campus requires unique actions that are aligned with their particular environments, collaborative opportunities enhance this work by bringing administrators together to learn with and from one another.

The day opened with thoughts from Santa Clara University President Julie Sullivan, who emphasized the need to support Jewish students and improve campus life for all students. Hillels of Silicon Valley Executive Director Sarita Bronstein and Santa Clara University Senior Director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Raymond Plaza also offered opening remarks.

Dr. Mara Lee Grayson, director of content development for CCI, and Tina Malka, director of antisemitism, research and education for Hillel International and IAP West Coast director, shared recent data on antisemitism on campus, demonstrating the scope of the problem and its impact on Jewish students. Since October 7, 2023, more than 2,800 incidents of antisemitism, including more than 1,000 instances of hate speech, and close to 100 physical assaults, have been reported to Hillel International by college and university students. These numbers reflect the broader increases in antisemitism in the past 16 months.

Then, administrators reflected on their own identities as a starting point for understanding Jewish students’ lived experiences and shared their reactions to the first two videos in Hillel International’s Understanding Antisemitism series. 

Later, Dr. Grayson, a former professor of rhetoric and composition, explored the tropes and codes of contemporary antisemitism, as well as the relationship between how Jews may be perceived or depicted as members of a racial group based on physical or biological characteristics and campus antisemitism. For example, while some students have been targeted because of perceived physical markers of Jewishness, others have been excluded from support initiatives due to the perception that Jews are white. These sessions were designed to provide administrators with the skills to recognize coded antisemitism and communicate productively about it with their colleagues and students.

Together with facilitators, participants then viewed the newest video in Hillel International’s Understanding Antisemitism series. Malka, the co-creator of the three-part series, introduced “Antisemitism Today,” which examines how antisemitism manifests today on college campuses and in broader society following the horrific attacks in Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

This summit was the third in a series of recent collaborative intensive training sessions for administrators at U.S. universities. These additional workshops and trainings  are an important part of CCI’s efforts to provide administrators at colleges and universities across the country with the knowledge and tools needed to improve life on campus for Jewish students and all students

As Bronstein reminded participants in her opening remarks: “Addressing antisemitism is not only about protecting one community; it’s about safeguarding the values of democracy, inclusion, and mutual respect that underpin the health of our society.”

Learn more about Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative and its newest cohort. 

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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.

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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.

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News

From the Desk of Adam Lehman: Building on Record Engagement and Increasing Jewish Belonging on Campus

Author

Adam Lehman

Date

February 4, 2025

Friends,

With the new semester underway, our Hillel teams are building on momentum from the fall term to advance our core work in creating thriving Jewish life on campus, while continuing to forcefully address the issues of antisemitism and hostile campus environments that can undermine the ability of Jewish students to fully express their identities.

On the “joy before oy” side of the equation, we are on pace for yet another new record in overall student engagement and participation through Hillel this school year. Here are just a few examples of the incredibly diverse array of programs, experiences, and relationships fueling this growth:

• Students from different faith and religious groups, including Hillel Davis & Sacramento, came together for the Interfaith Moveable Feast event at the University of California, Davis. In addition to sharing meals together at the home of each religious group on campus, students learned more about the different cultures and faiths of fellow students.
• Hillels in Ontario, Florida, and Texas have organized and supported regional student leadership convenings to connect and empower hundreds of Jewish student leaders seeking ways to strengthen their leadership on campus.
• As the Jewish community marked one year since the October 7 attack on Israel, campus Hillels around the world gathered to mark the solemn anniversary with programs and vigils, called for the return of the hostages, and provided opportunities to engage the full campus community in remembrance.
• In November, Hillel International organized the Yallapalooza Concert Seriesat premier venues in NYC, Boston, and Philadelphia. More than 3,500 students from 300 different Hillel communities enjoyed live performances from Israeli and Jewish artists headlined by Grammy-nominated musician Matisyahu, 2018 Eurovision winner Netta, 2023 Eurovision finalist Noa Kirel, and artists who performed at the Nova Music Festival on October 7.
• Two student leaders at Ohio State University Hillel launched a newsletter called “Bridges of Support” to help the university’s Jewish community learn about how Hillel is providing support to Jewish Buckeyes. “It’s a way for us as Hillel board members to tell the rest of the Jewish community what’s going on and add a little bit of good news to people’s days,” said OSU Hillel Co-President Abby Mehr.
• Over winter break, students from Hillels in the state of Florida traveled to Poland on a life-changing Hillel-led trip to learn about the history of the Holocaust and how it continues to impact antisemitism today. The group also visited local Jewish communities and Hillel Warsaw to learn about contemporary Jewish life in Poland.
• And this coming March, Hillel International will host the nation’s largest annual gathering of pro-Israel student leaders at our Israel Summit.

Even as we continue to invest in the talented professionals, unique Jewish experiences, and leadership development opportunities that engage, inspire, and empower Jewish students through Hillel, we also remain focused on improving the underlying conditions required for Jewish students to safely and fully engage in Jewish life and learning.

As a broader Jewish community, we can be proud of the progress we’ve made during the past year in catalyzing meaningful change in the ways universities address antisemitism. Many university partners are responding more quickly, aggressively, and effectively to address issues as they arise, including through more active enforcement of university policies and codes of conduct.

These changes have translated into a significant drop in the number of mass campus disruptions that sparked many issues of harassment and intimidation during the prior academic year. Even so, we continue to see a historically high level of problematic incidents targeting Jewish students, Jewish student organizations like Hillel, and Jewish and Israeli faculty and staff. In our just-released survey we conducted with ADL and College Pulse , more than 83% of Jewish students said they have witnessed or experienced antisemitism on campus since Oct. 7, 2023. In this challenged campus environment, more than 40% feel the need to hide their Jewish identity, an enormously problematic indicator of the breadth of issues Jewish students are reporting.

These numbers are more than statistics. They reflect the lived experiences of a large number of Jewish students who are being marginalized, excluded, and subjected to other forms of bias and discrimination. You can read more about the study and how we’re responding in this op-ed I co-authored with the ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt.

In the face of these issues, we are continuing to invest in a multitude of resources and strategies to better equip Jewish students to confront these challenges, to promote their resilience, and to change the underlying campus conditions. In the fall, we launched Campus4All.org , a resource to educate and empower students to respond when faced with harassment or discrimination. More than 160,000 people have already taken advantage of Campus for All, and we’ll be continuing to add to the content and resources it offers students. Our Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), operated in partnership with ADL, The Brandeis Center, and law firm Gibson Dunn, provides free legal support from some of the nation’s top law firms to ensure that every Jewish student facing unlawful discrimination has legal recourse.

We’ve grown our Campus Climate Initiative to 100 participating universities, educating and training their administrators on the nature of contemporary antisemitism, facilitating policy-level changes to improve the way they respond to Jewish student issues, and ensuring their accountability in delivering on these improvements. We’re also adding new “Community Impact” professionals to Hillel teams at select campuses to serve as dedicated advocates for Jewish students and channel the efforts of aligned partners, faculty, alumni, and administrators in driving positive change. Finally, we continue to invest in the core Jewish education, engagement, and community building experiences that motivate and equip students to express their Jewish identities with joy, pride and confidence.

This past week’s Torah portion, Parshat Bo, bridges from the tragedy of our people’s enslavement in Egypt to the triumph of the Exodus. We too are living through times of tragedy and triumph, including the miracle of the growing group of hostages finally being released from their captivity over the past two weeks. Through it all, at Hillel we remain resolute in our mission, and confident in our capacity to inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders who will bring light to the Jewish people and broader world. Thanks for everything each of you does in support of our work and mission.

B’shalom,
Adam

The post From the Desk of Adam Lehman: Building on Record Engagement and Increasing Jewish Belonging on Campus appeared first on Hillel International.

News

eJewish Philanthropy: Antisemitism on Campus is a Crisis We Must Address Together

Author

Adam Lehman and Jonathan Greenblatt

Date

January 31, 2025

Editor’s Note: President and CEO of Hillel International Adam Lehman and CEO and National Director of ADL Jonathan Greenblatt shared their thoughts with eJewish Philanthropy on what Jewish students need from their universities in order to combat antisemitism.

“Antisemitism on Campus is a Crisis We Must Address Together” was originally published in eJewish Philanthropy on January 30, 2025. To read the complete article, please visit ejewishphilanthropy.com.

“Although we each lead a major Jewish organization, today we address you not just as CEOs but also as fathers of current and recently graduated Jewish college students. Our children’s experiences, and the experiences of so many Jewish students today, are so different from when we were in college. And we’re not talking about TikTok, digital textbooks and AI chatbots; we’re talking about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses. 

Across the United States, Jewish students are facing a crisis. According to a survey we conducted together with College Pulse, more than 83% of Jewish students have witnessed or experienced antisemitism on campus since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists attacked the Jewish state. In this campus environment, more than 40% feel the need to hide their Jewish identity, and 1 in 4 have taken extra security measures to protect themselves. These numbers are more than statistics. They reflect the lived experiences of a large number of Jewish students who are being marginalized, excluded and subjected to other forms of bias and discrimination.     

One student surveyed poignantly shared that in the months since Oct. 7, ‘there was no respect for the safety of all students. Antisemitism was rampant and the campus became extremely polarized. Attacks both verbal and physical were common and Jewish friends had to hide their faith to be socially accepted.’

This survey provides a sobering snapshot of life for Jewish students today. Antisemitism manifests on campuses in various ways, including offensive and demonizing comments about Jews or Israel and vandalism targeting Jewish spaces and even individual student dorm rooms and apartments. We found it particularly stunning and alarming that more than 1 in 4 Jewish students reported observing antisemitic activity or statements by faculty members. 

Nearly half of non-Jewish students surveyed expressed agreement with statements rooted in antisemitic tropes, such as ‘Jews weaponize anti-Jewish prejudice to silence criticism of Israel.’ We also found that non-Jewish students who hold extreme anti-Israel attitudes were more likely to minimize the issue of antisemitic prejudice on campus. Antisemitism has become pervasive and normalized, deeply affecting campus culture.

This normalized hostility and discrimination has profound consequences. Jewish students report withdrawing from social activities, hiding their identities and views and feeling unwelcome in their classrooms. In numerous cases, Jewish students have even chosen to transfer out of schools altogether in order to get away from pervasively hostile conditions. These are red flags that demand immediate attention from university leaders.”

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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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News

Uplifting Hillel Heroes: Adam Lehman Reflects on Hillel International’s Tenth Global Assembly

Author

Hillel International

Date

December 19, 2024

As the calendar year comes to a close, Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman sat down with us to reflect on his favorite moments from the tenth Hillel International Global Assembly (HIGA), which brought together more than 1,200 Hillel professionals, supporters, sponsors, and students for a three-day annual conference centered on growth and leadership. 

Question: What do you look forward to most about HIGA every year and why?

Lehman: For me, HIGA is an amazing opportunity to catch up with hundreds of colleagues and friends from across the Hillel world, and a unique moment to feel the incredible power and potential of our movement. HIGA operates according to its own laws of “Hillel physics” — somehow, 96 hours of virtually nonstop gathering, learning, brainstorming, debating, and schmoozing serve as the most energizing days of the year, elevating the reasons we all are so committed to our work at Hillel and the awesomeness of our Hillel crew.

Question: What were your top two or three moments from HIGA this year?

Lehman: It’s difficult to narrow down literally hundreds of special HIGA moments to just a few. With that caveat, I’ll highlight three moments that stand out. 

First, I loved being able to celebrate our incredible “Hillel Heroes” during the opening plenary. It was fun to switch up our approach to the plenary, meaningful to honor the many “superpowers” of our professionals, and memorable to see some of our heroes in action (who can forget Jared Isaacson [from Cleveland Hillel] doing his best Superman impression?) 

Next, our co-hosts at the awards plenary, Charles Cohen and Rachael Cohen, created several unforgettable moments — from their “Wicked” opening, to their hysterical Hillel yoga class, to their stroll through Hillel’s history of groundbreaking inventions. We can only hope that Rachael and Charles don’t get recruited away to Broadway or Hollywood before the next HIGA! 

Third, it was great to be able to spend dedicated time with many of our professional cohorts. I learn so much through those discussions and also appreciate the chance to share gratitude for the unique contributions of each of these cohorts.

Question: How do those moments translate into Hillel’s work throughout the rest of the year? What do you hope will be the greatest impact that HIGA has on the movement this year?

Lehman: HIGA serves to recharge all of us for another year of sometimes hard, yet always meaningful Hillel work. HIGA also allows all of us attending to form and deepen our Hillel relationships in ways that, in turn, promote collaboration across the Hillel movement. This year’s HIGA provided me the further opportunity to speak about specific Hillel International priorities that will inform our next phase of work together, and which are captured in these excerpts from my remarks at the Opening Plenary.

Question: Finishing up with the topic that everyone really wants to hear about: How does the Hillel House Band pick its set? And what was your favorite song from this year?

Lehman: Like our Hillel movement overall, the Hillel House Band is a highly collaborative, inclusive group! As such, members of the band all have a chance to weigh in on song selections and our fearless band leader, Seth Reder, facilitates decisions from there. While I love that we have House Band classics that we perform every year (including “Wagon Wheel”!), I really enjoyed our new additions this year, which included Casey Kelly’s “Hillel Shalom,” a rewriting of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso.” If forced to choose, I would say my favorite addition was “Hot To Go!” both because of the group energy performing it and the fact that one of my daughters taught me the “HTG” dance 🙂.

Hear from other professionals about their experiences at HIGA and read about the incredible Hillel Heroes who won awards this year. 

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News

Inspiring Connections: A Springboard Fellow’s Memories from HIGA 2024

Author

Shayna Kling

Date

December 17, 2024

Shayna Kling is the social justice Springboard Fellow at the University of Miami (UM). Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Shayna is an alum of The Ohio State University. At UM Hillel, Shayna works on developing social justice programs with students, engaging first-year Jewish college students, and social media marketing for UM Hillel. 

Shayna recently attended the Hillel International Global Assembly (HIGA), the annual conference for Hillel professionals from all over the world — a high energy, information packed week of connection and inspiration. Shayna kept a journal of her experiences and reflections that we are excited to share with you. 

Monday, Day One:

From the second I arrived at the hotel, I felt the HIGA energy starting and prepared myself to get into conference mode, aka extrovert mode. One of my favorite parts of HIGA is seeing Jewish professionals I know from different parts of my life: friends from my Jewish youth group in high school; my counselors from Camp Wise, a Jewish summer camp in Ohio; State Buckeyes alumni from my alma mater; and of course, my cohort of Springboard Fellows and the UM Hillel staff! I absolutely LOVE the intersection of people from so many areas of my life and the Jewish geography that ensues.

I began the conference with other members of my Springboard Fellowship cohort, and we reflected on what we hoped to gain from HIGA, who we would want to engage with before the end of the conference, and some of the potential challenges we could encounter. I loved the intentionality of these sessions, and how it grounded and connected us before programming took off. I also appreciated that I had the Springboard cohort and so many familiar faces at my side.

Next up was dinner and the opening plenary! This year, I decided to join the Hillel House Band, an annual HIGA tradition featuring Hillel’s instrumentalists and singers, and we opened up the conference in a huge ballroom with songs that brought me back to my camp days. It was indescribable to bring my love for singing into the Hillel community! 

The opening plenary was high energy and inspiring. Adam Lehman, the president and CEO of Hillel International, the HIGA co-chairs, and other Hillel leaders and students talked about how each of us is a Hillel superhero – and how impactful our work is to this generation of Jewish college students, and those who will attend college in the future. I felt empowered as I sat next to my fellow University of Miami Hillel staff members, in our UM themed flannels, and reflected on all the hard work we’ve done this year. We also got to hear from our very own Abi Schcolnik, who is the co-chair of the Hillel International Student Cabinet and a senior at UM! We all felt so proud watching her from the audience, and witnessing how much Hillel has shaped her and allowed her to grow as a leader. 

We ended the night with a Florida Hillels reunion, and let me say, the Florida Hillel vibes are top notch. Everyone is so welcoming, which means chatting never feels like networking, but like getting to know a new friend.

Tuesday, Day Two:

On my second day at HIGA, I led my own session! I decided to take on more responsibility this year, since it’s my second year in the Springboard Fellowship, and my coworkers encouraged me to teach others about social media marketing and the processes I’ve created at UM Hillel. I co-led the session, which was called “Digital Glow-up,” with the amazing Abby Stoetzer, manager of Jewish life and digital marketing at Queens College Hillel. We gave step-by-step suggestions for improving a campus Hillel’s social media from the ground up, starting with brand kits and content calendars, and then moving into more creative ideas to amp things up. I left feeling grateful that Hillel offers opportunities to grow and develop professionally through collaboration and sharing ideas.

With that in mind, I went to another session that focused on the way crafting and creating can heal differences and connect people. I’ve always loved hosting crafting events with my students, but hadn’t thought about it as intentionally as this session encouraged me to do. As a group, we created a beautiful Hamsa using paper quilling, with the plan to give it to Hillel Israel to thank them for all they’ve endured this past year. 

For lunch that day, I went to a marketing and communications cohort meetup, because I often work on social media projects for my Hillel. It was great to connect with many other like minded professionals who have so much knowledge to share. I also learned how many Hillel International staffers work behind the scenes making creative content, running marketing campaigns, and working on digital fundraising.

We had a Springboard social justice cohort meeting in the afternoon, where we reflected on the successes and challenges of the past year and a half. As a Social Justice Springboard Fellow, I have planned and collaborated on over a dozen volunteer events where students have the opportunity to give back to our local community. I love that I’m able to expand the perspectives of my students and take them out of their college bubbles to help local Miamians. We’ve worked with organizations like Camillus House, Repair the World, the local Ronald McDonald House, and so much more. 

After reflecting on these experiences, we brought the conversation back to our roots, and everyone shared where their passions from social action started and why they’re here now. It was a great reminder of why we do this work.

To finish the day, I hung out at a local Boston bar with many of my friends from Springboard, and we celebrated our achievements together.

Wednesday, Day Three:

My two favorite sessions from the final day at HIGA were “How to Make Meetings as Fun and Productive as You Are” and “Moving from Springboard to Assistant Director.” 

As I sometimes plan meetings for our Hillel, I enjoyed hearing about the organization and logistics that go into planning meetings, and the session gave me insight into the work of our leadership team, as well as ideas for how we might adjust in the future.

During the “Springboard to Assistant Director” session, we talked about how to set yourself up for success and growth within your Hillel. This session solidified the importance of professional development, and gave me more confidence in the skills I’ve built up to this point. We thought a lot about what could be next for us as second year Springboard Fellows, and I felt empowered to ask for more responsibilities and learning opportunities at my own Hillel to continue this journey.

Following that session, I had a Springboard focus group, where I listened to feedback from the cohort. It also pushed me to reflect on the team relationships I’ve built at UM, and realize how grateful I am for those relationships and the work we do there.  

The last part of the day was the closing awards dinner, where outstanding Hillels and Hillel professionals are recognized for their incredible work. UM and the Florida Hillels won an Innovation Award for the Hillels of Florida Poland trip that the UM executive director helped bring to life. The hosts of the awards celebration were hilarious, and I loved the humor they brought to their roles. It also was great to hear about the amazing initiatives that other Hillels are working on, and how they are creatively bringing students together. And it was so uplifting to hear how dedicated Hillel International is to building bridges and pluralism, and how much hope there is for the Jewish future. 

HIGA was a delight this year: full of new connections, laughter, advice and opportunities to ask questions, and I discovered roles in the Hillel world that I didn’t know existed. Best of all, I felt connected to people from all over the world. HIGA 2024 did not disappoint, and I can’t wait for next year!

The post Inspiring Connections: A Springboard Fellow’s Memories from HIGA 2024 appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Hillel International Honors Exceptional Campus Hillels and Professional Staff at 2024 Global Assembly 

Author

Hillel International

Date

December 12, 2024

World’s largest Jewish college organization convened campus leaders in Boston from Dec. 9-12 for 2024 Global Assembly; recognized extraordinary leadership efforts

BOSTON, MA- Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, honored campus Hillels and professionals for their leadership, innovation and commitment to Jewish student life in Boston this week. The awards were presented during the 2024 Hillel International Global Assembly (HIGA), which brings together more than 1,200 professionals, supporters, sponsors, and students from across the world for a three-day annual conference centered on growth and leadership.

“We are so inspired by the campus Hillels and professionals who are dedicated to building vibrant, welcoming communities for Jewish students at a time when they need it most,” said Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman. “I could not be more proud to recognize how these award-winning Hillel professionals have come together to share ideas and learn from each other, to ensure that every Jewish student can celebrate and participate in Jewish life.”

Honored in front of their colleagues and supporters in the global Hillel movement, the awardees were selected for their leadership and impact in advancing Hillel’s mission to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.

The awards and honorees included: 

Individual Awards

The Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence Award recognizes Hillel colleagues whose remarkable passion and outstanding devotion to the Jewish campus community sets a standard for all to emulate. 

• Rabbi Nicole Berne – Associate Director, Metro Chicago Hillel
• Lauren Bloom – Associate Director, Tufts University Hillel Foundation
• Susanna (Susu) Cohen – Chief Development Officer, Grinspoon Hillel at Cornell
• Uri Cohen – Executive Director, Yale Hillel (Slifka Center)
• Rabbi Elana Friedman – Campus Rabbi & Jewish Chaplain, Jewish Life at Duke
• Matt Lorch – Executive Director, Bradley University Hillel
• Rabbi Jessica Lott – Campus Rabbi, Northwestern Hillel
• Amee Sherer – Executive Director, University of Washington Hillel

The Rising Star Award recognizes early-career professionals who have worked at Hillel for at least one full year and have significantly impacted Jewish campus life in just a short amount of time.

• Julian Albright – Student Engagement Director, Indiana University Hillel
• Brian Burke – IACT Director of Israel and Jewish Experiences, Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh
• Khiya Connolly-Sisk – Jewish Student Life Coordinator, Ithaca College Hillel
• Jenna Hasher – Assistant Director of Development, University of Florida Hillel
• Casey Kelly – Springboard Innovation Fellow, Queens College Hillel
• Lielle Ziv – NYU Hillel Bronfman Center

Campus Awards

Innovation

• Florida Hillels, “Florida Hillels’ Poland Experience”
  • Central Florida Hillel
  • Hillel at Florida International University
  • Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach
  • Hillel at Florida State University
  • Hillels of the Florida Suncoast
  • University of Florida Hillel
  • University of Miami Hillel
• Northeastern University Hillel, “London Shabbaton”
• Dynamic Jewish Education: Yale Hillel (Slifka Center), “Tradition and Change: Exploring, Confronting, and Celebrating Gender in Judaism”
• Eleanor Meyerhoff Katz Innovation: NYU Hillel Bronfman Center, “Jewish Athlete Alliance (JAA)”

Excellence

• Metro Chicago Hillel, “Interviewing and Onboarding Systems”
• Northwestern Hillel, “Senior Series”
• Syracuse University Hillel, “FreshFest” 
• Great Place to Work: Hillel 818
• Philip H. and Susan Rudd Cohen Outstanding Campus Award
  • Small Campus – Franklin and Marshall Hillel
  • Large Campus – Hillel of San Diego

The 2024 Award

The 2024 Award recognizes an initiative, program, or effort on campus that has responded to a timely need for the community. The awardee is selected through a popular vote. 

• Ohio State University Hillel, “Restorative Justice Sessions”

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