News

Anne Frank tree takes root at University of Iowa

Author

Rachel Bernstein

Date

June 9, 2022

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Hillel seniors sign off with reflections on college experience

Author

Gabriel Lesser, Emma Lichtenstein and Rachel Bernstein

Date

May 19, 2022

Cap, gown, tassel — check.

Hillel seniors are preparing to cross the graduation stage this summer. Meet the soon-to-be college graduates who say the Hillel effect lasts long after they leave campus.

Alanna Margulies, Johns Hopkins University, Class of 2022

“Hopkins Hillel encouraged me to explore my Judaism beyond celebrating holidays and keeping kashrut. I became part of the Modern Orthodox community, and little by little, I began observing Shabbat. I turned off my phone, powered down my laptop, and spent time with my friends. I chose to live an observant Jewish lifestyle, but that didn’t mean I had to give up the things I loved. I still celebrated Shabbat with all of my friends from different denominations, and I still participated in college activities that were important to me before and are still important to me now. 

I knew I wanted to make a difference on campus, and that’s why I began participating in leadership roles. I’ve been an intern for the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (OU-JLIC), president of the Israel Middle East Forum, and social and marketing chair for the Hillel student board. In these positions, I learned how to create community by planning events, like ‘The Great Latke vs. Hamentashen Debate,’ where I recruited professors and worked collaboratively with other members of the Hillel community. Most recently, I was Hopkins Hillel’s student board president, where I was able to become more confident as a leader and continue using my voice. As a leader, I’ve learned how to make ideas come to life, and that’s what’s truly meaningful to me. 

As I prepare to graduate, I’m thinking about my Jewish future. I’ll need to be much more intentional about the communities and activities I’m a part of because I won’t have the structural support of Hillel anymore. I’ve definitely grown a lot as a Jewish young adult, and it’s become something that’s personally meaningful to me. As I move into adulthood, I’ll need to build my own community around me, and in many ways, I want to emulate what we have at Hillel.”

Harrison Rosengard, Brandeis University, Class of 2022

“My first day on campus, I saw someone wearing a Brandeis Hillel shirt and pulled him aside to learn more. He took me to services that Friday, and that encouraged me to go every week. From there, my involvement with Hillel continued to grow. I signed up for the Jewish Learning Fellowship, a seminar to help students deepen their Jewish understanding. That was my first experience with Jewish learning that wasn’t sitting in a classroom and reading prayers. From there, my passion grew. 

Originally, I came to Brandeis thinking I would study science. Once I got to experience Brandeis Hillel, the community that is here, the other people my age who are excited to be Jewish, something just felt right. The community was so vibrant and lively that it made me go from Jew-ish to someone who keeps Shabbat, who keeps kosher, who wants to devote his life to a Jewish community. Now, I want to be a rabbi. I want to support people — spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. 

I can’t think of an aspect of Hillel that wasn’t a meaningful role, a meaningful experience in some way, shape, or form. There is no other group of people who can match the energy, the spirit, the welcoming attitude, and the fun times that I’ve had here at Hillel. I’m going to infuse that same energy into my community when I become a rabbi. For my entire career, I want to do whatever I can to get close to that same level of passion and enthusiasm at Brandeis Hillel.” 

Lauren Milstein, University of Southern California, Class of 2022

“Before I was even accepted into USC, a close family friend gave me the most recent edition of the Hillel College Guide Magazine. One article, called ‘Freshfest,’ was about a USC Hillel retreat for incoming Jewish freshmen and transfers. Reading the article further solidified my goal to go to USC and my desire to be a part of the Jewish community on campus. 

The following spring, I was accepted into USC, and that summer, I actually went to Freshfest. I experienced so many of the things described in that magazine article, like making s’mores and lifelong friends. The words from that story leapt off the page in real time. That inspired me to pay it forward as a freshman engagement fellow at Freshfest in 2019 and 2021. 

And when I wasn’t at Freshfest, I was still involved with USC Hillel. It always provided a place of lively conversations and snacks, as well as a wonderful way to connect with my Jewish heritage and identity, whether through Shabbat dinners, Passover seders, or networking events with Jewish alumni.”

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Brown/RISD Hillel Fosters Jewish Connection Through Pop-up Art Exhibition

Author

Rachel Bernstein

Date

May 12, 2022

Just before winter break, as many Brown/RISD Hillel students were packing their bags and saying goodbye to their friends, two sophomores were fretting about their artwork.

Campus art studios were closing for break, meaning Mira Goodman, 20, and Thalia Bonas, 19, would need to lug their seven large oil canvases off campus and through an airport. 

For Bonas and Goodman, both of whom are studying visual arts at Brown University, painting these canvases was part of an effort to make up for lost time. After months of pandemic isolation, the artists channeled their pent-up creativity into artwork last fall. 

Now, they had captivating paintings and nowhere to put them.

The students had a thought: Maybe Hillel could store their artwork. They reached out to Molly Goldmeier, the assistant director of Brown/RISD Hillel. 

“We said ‘Wow, this is an awesome opportunity for an exhibit,” Goldmeier said. “So our Hillel became a gallery.”

She said many students would never expect Hillel to transform into an art gallery. Beyond Shabbat dinners and holiday gatherings, Hillel can enrich Jewish life by elevating student passions, Goldmeier said.

“We’re always looking to add value to the student experience,” Goldmeier said. “Even if it is just as simple as storing art. We’re a very creative Hillel with a lot of spirit on our team.”

Brown/RISD Hillel opened the exhibit in early February. Over the next six weeks, Goodman and Bonas received texts from friends who visited the Hillel exhibit. 

Bonas said working with Hillel to exhibit her art was an amazing experience. 

“It was so kind of them to offer to store and showcase my work,” she said. “I really appreciate all the help and effort they provided to help make it happen.” 

The artwork was diverse, ranging from depictions of Jewish celebrations to various romantic relationships. One of the paintings depicted a family seder. Multiple students said the grandfather depicted in the painting looked like their own grandfather.

“Hillel has consistently been a supportive environment for me as an artist,” Goodman said. “So for them to suggest creating a show out of my pieces showed how much they care about encouraging local artists like me to create and display work.”

The pop-up exhibit fostered connectivity between Jewish art lovers, and inspired more students to envision their work on the gallery walls. Motivated by the success, Brown/RISD Hillel organized two other art exhibits featuring depictions of Jewish spiritual objects created by more than 30 students.

Goldmeier is looking forward to more art-inspired events at Hillel, which she hopes will bring more Jewish students together.

She said, “Artwork brings out emotion in people and touches everyone in a different way.”

Rachel Bernstein is a senior at University of Southern California.

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News

Hillels Give New Energy, Bring More Students to Shabbat

Author

Rachel Bernstein

Date

April 19, 2022

Hillels are on a mission: to reenergize Shabbat. 

Stretching from coast to coast, Hillels are reimagining Shabbat experiences to empower students to connect with Judaism and become Jewish leaders. Their creative efforts offer an alternative to traditional Shabbat services, which involve structured prayer in a synagogue.  

Dalilah Bernier, a ����vlogl Springboard Ezra Fellow at Hillel Milwaukee, said these innovative services deepen Jewish connectivity, as they offer new opportunities for students to learn more about each other and Jewish values.   

Shabbat is central to Judaism and Jewish life, she added. The consistency and variety of these weekly gatherings help students connect with each other.

“The motivation for students to create their own services stems from their desire to break from the ordinary prayer experiences they’re used to,” Bernier said.

Oregon Hillel, where celebrating Shabbat outdoors is the norm, is one of those Hillels that is creating new and extraordinary Shabbat experiences. 

The popular winter program, called Retreat in the Snow, brings about 80 students to Bend, Oregon for a weekend of skiing and Jewish learning. When the weather gets warmer, a smaller group of students head to the Pacific Coast for a weekend retreat, which includes a Shabbat service overlooking the ocean.

Hillel for Utah also organizes Shabbat experiences in the great outdoors. 

The Snow and Desert Shabbaton, focusing on the connection between Judaism and Israel, is a favorite. Students have used microscopes to compare particles in the Great Salt Lake with Israeli water sources, including the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Other Shabbat experiences at Hillel for Utah have included goat yoga and weekend hikes in the mountains.

Chloé Laverson, an alumna of Hillel for Utah, said some of her favorite college memories were celebrating Shabbat at Hillel. Laverson, 22, served as president of Hillel for Utah prior to graduating last May. 

“Hillel for Utah Shabbatot are so inclusive and welcoming,” said Laverson, who holds a degree in strategic communications from University of Utah. “I always knew I had Shabbat night plans.” 

Towson University Hillel is also revamping Shabbat, empowering students to make services their own. 

Leora Match, the program director at Towson Hillel, said students have updated the Hillel siddur, or prayer book, to make the language more accessible. 

“The assortment of prayer books we had were either hard to follow, had archaic English translations or lacked good transliteration,” Match said. “We needed a user-friendly siddur that would allow anyone, regardless of their Jewish upbringing or experience, to seamlessly follow along.”  

Rachel Kamel, 21, a junior double majoring in mass communications and electronic media and film, was instrumental in creating the new siddur. For over a year, she worked on the prayer packet while serving as ritual chair and president at Towson Hillel.

“These spiral-bound packets have many additional readings, prayers, and songs to give students the ability to make Hillel Shabbat their own,” Kamel said. “Because of our updated prayer packets, services are more accessible to students of all backgrounds.” 

Kamel, along with a group of Towson Hillel student leaders, spearheaded the project through fall 2021. The final siddur contains Hebrew transliteration, English translation, and Jewish art created by students. Towson Hillel used a professional printing company to produce copies so they would last for years to come.

Bradley University Hillel recently took on a similar challenge when it set out to craft a siddur that catered to students of all Jewish backgrounds. 

“I like that it has the camp songs that we actually want to sing,” said Michael Siler, a junior mechanical engineering major. “It’s something that we made.” 

Revamping the Hillel siddur was a three-month project. The prayer book includes traditional prayers and songs from iconic Jewish singers and songwriters, such as Debbie Friedman and Matisyahu. 

“It’s less intimidating than your traditional siddur,” said Micah Brody, a sophomore double majoring in math and computer science. “It’s more welcoming.” 

All of the services at Bradley Hillel are run by students and filled with Jewish learning, music, and dancing. 

Executive Director of Bradley Hillel Matt Lorch said, “Among all these Hillels, there is hope that these new traditions of Kabbalat Shabbat will bring more students together in the celebration of Judaism and inspire other Hillels to explore their own versions of services.”

Rachel Bernstein is a senior at University of Southern California.

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News

This Year, In Person

Author

Rachel Bernstein

Date

April 14, 2022

I often think I have an average-sized family, but when I see everyone seated at their unassigned but basically assigned seats on Passover, I think twice. The table has gotten longer and longer each year. It ends up stretching from the living room to the entryway, as if trying to contain the ruach (Hebrew for “spirit”) that Passover brings out of each of us. Of course, it never can.

We go around the table, reading and singing in Hebrew and English from the iconic Maxwell House Haggadah. The pages are familiar. We learn about the four children: one wise, one wicked, one simple, and one who does not know how to ask. We sing classic songs, including “Echad Mi Yodea” (“Who Knows One?”) and “Chad Gadya” (“One Little Goat”).

Passover has always been our gateway to come together. A way to see how everyone has grown. At each seder, we’ve created moments that’ll be remembered for years to come, and we’ve asked questions beyond the Four Questions we know by heart. I’ve always adored these traditions.  

But as I neared college, I knew that my seder was going to look different. At least temporarily. I needed to give myself space to find new Passover traditions with my Jewish community on campus. 

Shortly after starting college at the University of Southern California, I found a Jewish home at Hillel. I spent Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Hanukkah with new friends who became family. One of my favorite memories was carrying the Torah around the sanctuary on Rosh Hashanah. As 2020 rolled around, I was more than ready to experience my favorite holiday – Passover – with my Hillel community.

The pandemic put a wrench in those plans.

So, I turned to Zoom. Of course, a virtual Hillel seder could never replace an in-person experience. We sang all of the familiar songs, but they just felt wrong. Judaism is meant to be experienced with family — the one you’re born into and the one you create for yourself.  

During the days that followed, USC Hillel found ways to infuse meaning into our Passover. The ritual committee created a student cookbook with family recipes so we could learn from one another and share new traditions. We did virtual “matzah breaks” in place of our normal “bagel breaks.” These creative efforts gave me community, but they also made me yearn for an in-person Passover even more. 

So, I marked my calendar for 2021. When that fell through, I crossed my fingers for Passover 2022.

On Friday, I’ll finally have the opportunity to experience my first and last in-person Hillel seder. I think, in its own way, this will be a special moment. Hillel has been a pillar of my college experience. I imagine it’s the sort of place that makes Passover feel like a family affair. 

As I celebrate my first and last seder on campus, I’m going to take it all in. I’ll walk the familiar route to Hillel and enter the building, decorated with string lights and USC memorabilia. There’ll be traditional and musical seders — the perfect blend of old and new. 

Alongside my friends, I’ll gather around the seder table to ask questions and sing songs. The memories I’ll create with them will be remembered for years to come. I know it’ll be worth the wait.

Rachel Bernstein is a senior at University of Southern California. 

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News

Through Innovation, Small Colleges Bring Big Jewish Community

Author

Rachel Bernstein

Date

December 20, 2021

Hamilton College is located in Clinton, N.Y., a historic village that claims the tagline, “Small town, big community.” Hamilton has a student population of 1,850, only fifty people less than the village itself. The closest large city is Syracuse, about an hour away by car. Despite the distance from urban areas, Hamilton Hillel, known as the “Hillel on a Hill,” provides a thriving, diverse community for its Jewish students. Hillels like Hamilton’s are changing the narrative about finding strong Jewish communities in small colleges and towns. 

The notion that students have to attend a densely-Jewish area to keep connected to a Jewish community is a tired one. Students from both urban and rural areas have found a home at the Hillel on a Hill. For some students, the number of Jewish peers at Hamilton is shocking, says Hamilton College’s resident rabbi and executive director, Rabbi Ethan Bair: “I have met several Jewish students who come from places with even smaller Jewish communities than Hamilton College.” 

Those rural students then have the opportunity to connect with a Jewish community for the first time, while students from bigger cities come to a different realization. “These students are so happy realizing that there are many Jewish students in all of their classes. Meanwhile, students from New York City realize, ‘Oh wow, Jewish culture is not the default,’ and if they want Jewish community, they have to create it,” Rabbi Bair said. 

Zoe Levine, a Social Justice Springboard Fellow at Oberlin College, also notices the diversity of practice within their smaller population of Jewish students: “There is a really large mix of students who were engaged in their Jewish communities growing up and those who are just getting connected to a Jewish community now,” Levine says. 

Oberlin College is another example of a smaller school with a big community. The school has about 3,000 students – the size of some U.S. public high schools — and is a notable music conservatory and liberal arts school. However, the size of the general student population doesn’t reflect the size of the Jewish population. Levine noted that the number of Jewish students is relatively high, even compared to some larger, urban universities. Nearly a third of the student population, Levine says, identifies as Jewish. 

Like Rabbi Bair’s students, Oberlin Hillel students are creating their own community and Judaism by seeking out the familiarity of Hillel or exploring Hillel and Judaism for the first time. As Levine suggests, small colleges are a place where students can more easily pick and choose what they want their Jewish life to look like.  

Part of that ease comes from innovative community-building strategies that promote self-discovery. Hamilton Hillel, for example, celebrated Simchat Torah in collaboration with the rare book specialist on campus. Hamilton, Rabbi Bair said, has a “unique, 120-year-old Torah with multiple handwritings and styles.” The variation of styles implies that the Torah itself was a collaboration. This campus event garnered attention from Jewish students, non-Jewish students, and non-Jewish literature professors. The Hillel on a Hill also works with the Muslim Student Association (MSA) to further the bonds between the two minority religions. Fewer Jewish students on campus means students need to think “outside the box” when building a community.  

Asked where the nickname, “Hillel on a Hill” came from, Rabbi Bair dispels notions of the lone Hillel building sitting upon vast, misty green hills with nary a home in sight. Quite the opposite: the Hillel building is actually on College Hill Road, the main street of the campus. The nickname serves as a reminder that a Jewish community isn’t only found at a large university housed in an urban setting. It’s also found in smaller locales, where people use their available resources to create a community as rich as any large university – and students from all walks of life would do well to take a closer look. 

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