News

Hillel鈥檚 College Decision Experts Weigh In: Choosing a College with Confidence

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

March 20, 2026

For prospective college students, spring is the time to navigate the final stages of the college decision process 鈥� and fortunately, 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Virtual College Prep Series is here to help.

鈥淭his is a pivotal moment,鈥� said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of 糖心vlogl at the most recent Virtual College Prep session. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e done the searching, in some cases you have already done the touring and comparing. Now you鈥檙e here, thinking seriously about which campus to call home for the next four years.鈥�

With the final deadlines to choose a college fast approaching, this latest session brought in expert advice from college counselors, campus Hillel executive directors, and student leaders, including Co-founder of Ivy Experience Eric Karlan; University of Delaware fourth-year student Michelle Rosner; CU Boulder Hillel Executive Director Elyana Funk, and Tulane Hillel Executive Director Gary Brandt. Their practical guidance, personal insights, and strategies are all designed to help Jewish high school students confidently pick the school that鈥檚 right for them.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e not just picking a school right now, you are picking your home,鈥� said Eric Karlan, one of the co-founders of , a college admissions consulting agency that works with students across the world. He recommends thinking beyond academics, college rankings, and resume-building, and concentrating on the factors that will most significantly impact everyday life.

To help make those decisions, Karlan suggests making a 鈥渃ons鈥� list 鈥� not a pros and cons list, but just the cons. Why? Because the cons of a school, he explained, reveal more about what day-to-day life could be like. Sometimes those cons might be directly related to the university experience, such as the number of dining experiences offered on campus, but they might also be about the surrounding community, whether it鈥檚 the distance to the nearest grocery store, or whether public transportation is readily accessible. 

鈥淪tudents will thrive more if they鈥檙e happier with their lives as a whole,鈥� Karlan said.

Michelle Rosner, a fourth-year student at the University of Delaware and a member of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet, agreed. 鈥淏e honest and realistic with yourself and what actually matters to you in a college experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f there鈥檚 something that is really so important to you鈥� make sure that the schools that you鈥檙e really considering actually offer that and have that in the way you need it.鈥�

Students and staff involved with Hillel are some of the best experts you can find on what Jewish students need to thrive on campus. 

鈥淎cross North America, and really around the world, we鈥檙e seeing record numbers of Jewish students walking through Hillel鈥檚 doors, where they鈥檙e finding connection, community, belonging, and Jewish joy,鈥� Lehman said, noting that in the past year, close to 200,000 students have connected with Hillel on 850 campuses. 鈥淛ewish life on campus at this moment is vibrant and it is meaningful, and it is providing a core part of the valuable experience for so many young people that we鈥檙e in a position to serve.鈥�

鈥淏eing part of the Jewish community has pretty much shaped almost every part of my college experience,鈥� said Rosner. 鈥淭hrough Hillel, I鈥檝e had the chance to take on leadership roles鈥� and to help create programs that make Jewish students [feel welcome] and help newer students find their place on campus.鈥�

Regardless of whether a student is planning to be an active part of Hillel, the panelists all agreed that visiting a school鈥檚 Hillel can help a student make the most informed college decision. Spending time at Hillel and speaking to students and staff there can give prospective students an opportunity to ask specific questions, get more information about the environment for Jewish students, and even meet other Jewish students in their specific academic program. 

But if an in-person visit isn鈥檛 possible, these experts say not to worry! There are still plenty of ways to get a sense of how a school supports Jewish students. Hillel鈥檚 College Decision Hub is a one-stop shop for everything related to the college decision process, from campus visits to applications to selection, and is a great first step for digging into the realities of a university鈥檚 Jewish life.

In fact, while seeing how a school supports its students in practice matters, it鈥檚 also important to understand its policies and the actions of the administration. Elyana Funk, executive director of CU Boulder Hillel, noted that the way an administration responds to antisemitic incidents on campus, or applies regulations and policies to hold students accountable, is an important way to get a sense of the campus climate.聽

鈥淲e want [students] to feel connected, we want them to feel seen, and we want them to know that there are people who care about them, both students and staff,鈥� Funk said. 鈥淲e want them to feel like they belong.鈥�

That sense of belonging is something that our panelists reported seeing more prospective students looking for as they make their decisions. 鈥淧rospective families are looking for campuses that are leaning into this concept of Jewish joy, where Jewish experiences are not necessarily centered in fear or solidarity around things they鈥檙e escaping from other places, but most importantly where they can feel comfortable being Jewish,鈥� said Gary Brandt, executive director of Tulane Hillel.

At the end of the day, all of the advice our panelists offered came down to just a few key points: ask questions, stay curious, and enjoy this process.

鈥淏e open to also trying new things and stepping outside of your comfort zone,鈥� Rosner said, when asked what final advice she would offer high school students. 鈥淪ometimes, your second choice actually ends up being the better choice鈥� Trust that things will work out the way they were meant to be.鈥�

The post Hillel鈥檚 College Decision Experts Weigh In: Choosing a College with Confidence appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

News

Hillel Asks the Experts: Navigating Antisemitism on Campus

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

December 5, 2025

Over the past three years, more than 200,000 Jewish students and young adults have participated in Hillel programs and relationships, from leading Shabbat meals and activities to organizing holiday celebrations to attending leadership programs and joining volunteer service opportunities. 

At the same time, antisemitic incidents on college campuses in the United States. and Canada have reached alarmingly high rates following the October 7, 2023 attacks 鈥� the highest in history. While  vandalism and physical assaults are down significantly this academic year, many prospective Jewish college students and their families are still apprehensive about their upcoming college experience.

As high school students and their families navigate the college search process, 糖心vlogl is committed to ensuring you have the information you need about what Jewish life on campus is like right now and all the ways Hillel is helping students navigate the changing environment. The latest installment of 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Virtual College Prep Series, does exactly that. Here are five top takeaways from this session, offered by our community of experts!

1. Some of the most important work in combating antisemitism and changing campus climate happens behind the scenes.聽

One of the clear takeaways in the aftermath of October 7 and the immediate swell of antisemitic activity was that many colleges and universities didn鈥檛 have clear systems or mechanisms for enforcing the policies designed to keep their students safe. To address the issue, 糖心vlogl expanded existing education and training programs for campus administrators and staff  and launched new programs to meet the moment.

鈥�We’ve now trained more than 3,000 [administrators] on the nature of contemporary antisemitism,鈥� said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of 糖心vlogl, in remarks during the session. 鈥淲e’ve worked with them on how they can improve their policies around time, place, and manner restrictions for protest activity, disciplinary consistency鈥� and also providing that education for professionals and students.鈥�

. 鈥淥ne of the things that we did is we went out and educated universities to really understand their own rules and how to enforce rules,鈥� added Jon Falk, vice president for Israel Engagement and Confronting Antisemitism. 鈥淸It has] also been vitally important when it comes [to educating]students in student government, fraternities and sororities鈥� about antisemitism, but also teaching them about Jews, right? It’s really important to teach people who Jews are.鈥�

Students feel the impact of these trainings over time,  and having clearer policies and procedures for enforcement is making a difference in the amount of antisemitic incidents on campuses across the country.

2. Take a holistic view of each campus you鈥檙e considering 鈥� sometimes campuses that made the biggest headlines for antisemitic incidents also have some of the most vibrant Jewish communities.

鈥淭ake a college tour and really talk to people about what鈥檚 going on鈥� is one of our most frequently repeated tips on these webinars 鈥� but there鈥檚 a reason for it! 

There are Hillel communities, Falk said, that his team has supported through numerous incidents, but the amount of Jewish programs they offer far exceeds those incidents. For example, Falk noted that some campus Hillels have one hundred times as many students at Shabbat dinner as they do students who have experienced an antisemitic incident. He reiterated the importance of looking at the entire campus experience, and thinking about the overall community each student is looking for. 

Sophie Kalmin, a fourth-year student at Emory University who serves as the president of Emory Hillel as well as a representative to  糖心vlogl鈥檚 Israel Leadership Network, agreed. 鈥淒on’t let a headline or a social media post you saw about a school intimidate you from applying there,鈥� she said.

3. Hillel professionals aren鈥檛 your only resources on campus: There are student leaders at every level of the Hillel community who have your back.

Campus Hillel professionals make a difference every single day in supporting Jewish students on campus, and they work in partnership with more than 10,000 students engaging in active leadership roles 鈥� on campus, at the regional level, and even on the national level. 

鈥淸These students are] enthusiastic, they have energy, they’re committed, and they care about what’s inspiring to them and about inspiring each other. We’re seeing more and more students raise their hands. They want to lead, they want Hillel as their place for leadership,鈥� said Jillian Juni, executive director at Syracuse Hillel. 鈥� They see the value in what Hillel has to offer, and they’re able to articulate that value 鈥� to stakeholders, to their peers, to each other, and to prospective students.鈥�

4. Forming your own opinions through real-life experience is important for students聽 and parents.

One of the things that makes college so unique is that campus environments are always changing. Often, a school鈥檚 past track record of antisemitic incidents or insufficient administrative response is not indicative of what it will be like in the future 鈥� or even the reality today.

Rather than relying on past years鈥� incidents, Rabbi Kenny Weiss, executive director of , and the other panelists emphasized the importance of building joyful Jewish communities in the here and now. By taking that approach, Weiss says, 鈥� [The] energy has actually been funneled into creating a more vibrant Jewish life on our campuses.鈥�

Taking it a step further, Juni shared that it鈥檚 not just important for students (and parents) to form their own opinions about their campus environments, but to do so in real life 鈥� outside of what they read online. 鈥淲e鈥檙e always encouraging students… to just spend more time with people,鈥� she said. 鈥淪pend less time on social media, helping them develop their skills to think critically, [and] engage in conversations with their peers and their teachers.鈥�

One great Hillel resource to support students in building those skills and feeling more confident exploring those conversations is , an award winning, one-stop-shop for educating and empowering Jewish college students to build safer, more welcoming campus communities.

5. Don鈥檛 let fear define your college journey. No matter what, Hillel will be there for you.

At the end of the day, students must decide for themselves what role a school鈥檚 historic approach to antisemitism or prevalence of incidents plays in their decision. What鈥檚 most important, said Kalmin, is putting what you want from your college experience ahead of the what-ifs. 

鈥淒on鈥檛 let your detractors, don鈥檛 let your worst fears determine what these four years are going to be like for you,鈥� she said, recounting that much of her college experience has been shaped by the environment on campus after October 7, when she was a second-year student. 鈥淚鈥檝e had lots of really hard moments at Emory because of anti-Israel advocacy, because of antisemitism, but I learned so much… I had the support from Hillel鈥� and it鈥檚 really shaped me to be who I am. It brought me here.鈥�

鈥淭he one thing I鈥檝e seen more than any鈥� is that [Jewish students] continue to come to Hillel,鈥� Falk said. 鈥淵ou would assume, oh, antisemitism is on the rise, I鈥檓 going to go hide in my dorm. We鈥檙e seeing the opposite, right? They鈥檙e coming to Hillel. They鈥檙e doubling down on Jewish life.鈥�

And no matter what else is happening, on campus or off, Hillel will be there to help them find joy and belonging.

For all the insights and takeaways from our student and professional panelists, check out the full webinar recording. Good luck to all prospective students and families 鈥� and if you have any questions, Hillel is always here to help!

The post Hillel Asks the Experts: Navigating Antisemitism on Campus appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

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Hillel Asks the Experts: Top Tips for Making the Most of Your College Search

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

October 24, 2025

糖心vlogl鈥檚 Virtual College Prep Series is back, ready to support a new cohort of students and families through their college search and preparation journey! This month, the series returned with 鈥淢ake the Most Out of Your College Search,鈥� focusing on how Jewish students and their families can strategically and effectively find the right fit for their college experience.

糖心vlogl wants you to know that Jewish student life is thriving on college campuses, across North America, and around the world. Over the past three years, more than 200,000 Jewish students and young adults have been engaging in Hillel programs and relationships, from Shabbat meals and activities to holiday celebrations to leadership programs to community service opportunities. 

鈥淲e are seeing record numbers of Jewish students walking through our doors to be a part of vibrant and thriving Jewish student communities,鈥� said Adam Lehman, 糖心vlogl president and CEO, in his welcome to participants. 鈥淭he opportunities are truly extensive, and can be an amazing source of community, new friendship, and growth for your Jewish student.鈥�

Hillel is here to offer as many resources as possible to help prospective Jewish students and their families as they go through the exciting but sometimes daunting college search process. Here are five top takeaways from this Virtual College Prep session, shared by our community of experts!

1. When it comes to starting your college list, begin with the most limiting factors.

鈥淲hen we think about college, we associate that with education, obviously,鈥� said Eric Karlan, co-founder of , a college prep organization that has served students in 41 states and 20 countries. 鈥淏ut when we say things like, 鈥業 want to study biology鈥� or 鈥業 want to study economics,鈥� those aren鈥檛 very limiting factors鈥� there are hundreds, thousands of universities all across the country [that meet those criteria].鈥�

Instead, Karlan suggests, start with 鈥渟uperficial鈥� factors 鈥� things that are unrelated to prestige or academics, but instead represent requirements that will actually help narrow down your potential list. For example, that could be wanting to be at a school of no more than 10,000 students, or a school that鈥檚 within a three-hour drive of home. 

For Jewish students, limiting factors might also be about the size of the campus Jewish population, or the types of resources available for Jewish community members, such as kosher food, regular services, or opportunities to study abroad in Israel. He also recommends thinking about your own individual sense of what will make for a meaningful college experience.

鈥淎nd then we get to a point where we can narrow things down, where you can say, okay, there are thousands of schools, but now we have it down to 100, and then 50, and then 10 to 15 schools鈥︹�� Karlan explained.聽

2. Be open to unexpected possibilities in your search.

At 糖心vlogl, we spend a lot of time looking at the data of where Jewish students are choosing to enroll. Over the last few years, we鈥檝e seen a growing trend of Jewish students attending schools that have historically had smaller Jewish populations, and might not traditionally be campuses that Jewish families think of when it comes to a thriving Jewish experience.

鈥淭he whole landscape has changed, especially for Jewish students鈥� Come into this process open-minded, and don鈥檛 dismiss any schools based on reputation [or] headlines.鈥� Karlan said, particularly noting a shift toward Jewish students attending schools in the Southeastern United States.

Part of that open-mindedness, Karlan explained, is making sure to go beyond headlines about campus environments or misconceptions about a particular geographic area. 糖心vlogl resources like the College Decision Hub and can give more in-depth information about what a particular school offers and how its students experience the campus environment. But when it comes to getting the full picture, everyone in the session agreed that one resource stands out: conversations with students, staff, and faculty on each campus.

鈥淭he best source for finding out about Jewish life on campus is to actually talk to the students,鈥� said Sarah Fried, 糖心vlogl鈥檚 chief external affairs officer. 

3. By the end of a college visit, you should be able to identify what makes that school unique from other options on your list.

Visiting a college campus is one of the most effective ways to see what sets a particular school apart 鈥� and that means gaining a clearer understanding of the factors that are most important to you, and paying attention to things that might surprise you.

In addition to reaching out to the department where you might want to major before you visit, Karlan also suggests reaching out to Hillel to get a sense of the Jewish community, find out if you can attend a Friday night service, and talk to current Jewish students or recent alumni. 

College visits also give students a chance to see the many different forms that a 鈥渢hriving Jewish community鈥� can take. Naomi Lamb, CEO at The Ohio State University Hillel, and Charles Cohen, executive director of , both spoke about what life is like in their organizations 鈥� and while each represents communities with vibrant Jewish life, they鈥檙e very different,

OSU Hillel offers a campus hub for all things Jewish, including a kosher restaurant, a fitness center, programming and learning spaces, and even a bagel cafe. In contrast, Metro Chicago Hillel connects multiple campuses across the city, offering students a 鈥渃hoose your own adventure鈥� approach where they can spend time attending any or all of the different schools鈥� programming.

Hillel鈥檚 goal is to make sure every Jewish student can find the right Jewish home away from home 鈥� and the best way to make sure you find the right fit is to stop in and say hello.

4. Consider the type of environment you鈥檒l want in challenging times, too.

October 7, 2023 was a turning point for colleges and universities everywhere, as Jewish students found themselves suddenly experiencing unprecedented levels of antisemitism, exclusion, and even physical violence. Ariela Moel, co-chair of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet and a student leader at University of Southern California, described the way that her community came together in the wake of the October 7th attacks, and offered her an entry point into coalition-building and involvement in the broader culture shift on campus.

鈥淚 discovered my voice under pressure, and saw my community shift from a social circle to more of a civil society on campus.鈥� she said. 鈥淚 made it my mission for the rest of my collegiate career to start building dialogue spaces, start learning聽 to disagree cleanly in a way that鈥檚 respectful, and Hillel really guided me through that.鈥�

Moel鈥檚 advice for prospective students is to expand the types of questions they ask as they consider their college experience. For example, what happens on campus when there are difficult situations? What kinds of communities emerge during times of conflict? Does campus leadership defend open inquiry and safety?

She also encouraged prospective students to learn about how a college community can continue to be supportive after graduation by asking questions like: What are alumni networks like? Are they engaged and well-connected? Will they answer an email or help you get a foot in the door?

鈥淢y bottom line would be to choose a place that will have your back on the worst week of your college career and also will still sharpen you on the best week,鈥� she advised.

5. Finally, for parents and families: Let your students take the lead on defining their own meaningful Jewish college experience.

One of the most common questions 糖心vlogl and campus staff hear from families of prospective Jewish students is, 鈥淗ow do I get my student to go to Hillel?鈥� 

The answer is simple: You can鈥檛. It鈥檚 up to your student to make their own Jewish experience. But ultimately, that鈥檚 a good thing.

鈥淗illel is a huge organization that offers many, many different opportunities to engage, and that can look many different ways for every Jewish student,鈥� Lamb said. 鈥淲e want to tap into whatever their unique identity is鈥� and then where and how can they potentially connect with Hillel as it relates to something that is important to them…鈥�

Along the same lines, Cohen encourages families to have open conversations about Jewish life and identity not right before a student is applying for college, but as soon as students are able to start discovering Jewish identity and community for themselves. 鈥淔or the students we serve, it鈥檚 about finding their own way,鈥� he said.

Good luck to all prospective students and families 鈥� and if you have any questions, Hillel is always here to help!

The post Hillel Asks the Experts: Top Tips for Making the Most of Your College Search appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

News

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

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

May 5, 2025

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

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

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

Hillel doesn鈥檛 just support students; we also work with administrators to make long-term changes on campus when it comes to antisemitism. Jon Falk, vice president of 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Israel engagement and confronting antisemitism program, in discussion with 糖心vlogl President and CEO Adam Lehman, emphasized the importance of Hillel鈥檚 work with administrators to prepare policies and enforcement for those policies to help support Jewish students.聽 They cited the 糖心vlogl Campus Climate Initiative (CCI), a flagship program that helps college and university presidents and campus administrators counter antisemitism,聽which has been key in helping administrators understand how to implement changes that reduce antisemitism on campus.

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

Lehman highlighted that, in addition to CCI, 糖心vlogl operates , 鈥渁 resource for any聽Jewish student who wants to learn more about the nature of contemporary antisemitism, learn more about all the misinformation about Jews, Judaism, [and] Israel that [has] been twisted into antisemitic tropes and actions.鈥澛� Additionally, Lehman shared more information about the Campus Teach-in Tour, which has educated thousands of students about issues related to Israel and the Middle East, and the Campus Impact Advisors initiative, which 鈥嬧�媏mpowers campus professionals to prevent and respond to antisemitism.

Taking a campus tour is more important than ever.

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

鈥淲hat you see in the news is not necessarily reflective of what鈥檚 happening on campus,鈥� said Evan Cohen, vice chair of the Israel Leadership Network and a Hillel student leader at the University of Michigan. 鈥淩eally checking in on that campus, talking to students who are there, talking to Hillel professionals, understanding what the experience is truly like, is critically important.鈥�

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

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

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

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

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

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

鈥淓ven if we weren鈥檛 living in such a complicated Jewish moment鈥� part of the spiritual journey of the university setting is encountering ideas that are different from the ones that you grew up around, encountering ideas  that you might disagree with, and having to hold your space to grow but also to remain confident in your perspectives on the world,鈥� said Rabbi Josh Bolton, executive director of Brown & RISD Hillel. 

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

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

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

鈥淭here’s so many ways that we find joy on campus,鈥� Cohen said. 鈥淔rom attending Shabbat dinners, where we鈥� sometimes have hundreds of students, to growing my circle of Jewish friends.鈥� 

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

to hear all the tips and resources we couldn鈥檛 fit into just one blog post.

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

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

Author

Adam Lehman

Date

April 22, 2025

It鈥檚 that time of year again. And I don鈥檛 mean tax season, Passover, or the NFL draft. I鈥檓 referring to college decision time. Millions of prospective college students and their families will be making a final decision on where to attend school ahead of College Decision Day on May 1st, as part of the 鈥渞egular decision鈥� admissions process. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Lehman is the President and CEO of 糖心vlogl

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