News

糖心vlogl鈥檚 New Student Cabinet to Shape Future of Jewish Campus Life

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

July 21, 2026

Student leaders will elevate the voices of nearly 200,000 Jewish students from over 850 campuses around the world.

 糖心vlogl, the world鈥檚 largest Jewish campus organization, today announced the 20 members of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet for the 2026-2027 school year. The selected students will collaborate with 糖心vlogl staff as trusted advisors, bringing diverse perspectives to task forces and serving as ambassadors of the Hillel movement. 

This year鈥檚 group is spread across the United States, Canada, Israel, South America, and Poland. Members were nominated by their campus Hillel for their exceptional leadership and commitment to enriching Jewish student life on campus. 

“The Student Cabinet provides exceptional Hillel student leaders drawn from across our global movement the opportunity to guide and influence critical conversations about Jewish life on campus today and in the future,鈥� said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of 糖心vlogl. “We depend on the valuable insights and reflections from our Student Cabinet leaders, and we鈥檙e very excited to work with this new cohort of Student Cabinet members in the year ahead.鈥�

Founded in 2015, the Student Cabinet helps shape Hillel’s mission of putting the voices of students first. The initiative is a core part of Hillel鈥檚 in empowering the next generation of student leaders.

Rachel Lennard of the University of Oregon and Ben Small of the University of Pennsylvania will serve as the incoming Cabinet鈥檚 co-chairs and represent their peers as members of the 糖心vlogl Board of Directors.

鈥淗illel serves as a second home for Jewish college students around the world, providing a nurturing environment for their personal and professional growth,鈥� said Lennard. 鈥淚 am honored to contribute my perspective and advocate for my peers, as Hillel continues to be  a beacon of support for Jewish college students worldwide.鈥� 

鈥淗illel strives to thoughtfully support its students through creative and continuously evolving strategies,鈥� said Small. 鈥淭his year, I am excited to represent the brilliant students who power their campus Hillels and proudly serve their diverse, vibrant Jewish communities.鈥�

Below is a full list of the members of the 2026-2027 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet: 

• Adina Fridman, New York University, 鈥�27听
• Aleksander Nowak-Burkiewicz, University College of Professional Education, 鈥�27
• Ashley Mason, University of Pittsburgh, 鈥�27
• Austin Lambert, Rice University, 鈥�28听
• Ben Small, University of Pennsylvania, 鈥�27
• Ben Werner, University of Colorado at Boulder, 鈥�28
• Claire Conner, Northwestern University, 鈥�27
• Ethan Goetz, University of Miami, 鈥�27
• Gabriela Sznajderman, PUC-RIO, 鈥�27
• Isabelle Ehrlich, University at Buffalo, 鈥�27
• Jada Monroe, University of Georgia, 鈥�28
• Joseph Joffe, Brown University, 鈥�27
• Kate Blumberg, McMaster University, 鈥�27
• Lia Mitrani, Florida International University, 鈥�27
• Lilith Greene-Friedman, Dickinson College, 鈥�27
• Rachel Lennard, University of Oregon, ’26
• Ruby Berney, Bryn Mawr College,听 鈥�27
• Sam Korff, Dartmouth College, 鈥�27
• Shalhevet Tzur Fisher, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 鈥�28
• Teddie Waxler, DePaul University, 鈥�27

The post 糖心vlogl鈥檚 New Student Cabinet to Shape Future of Jewish Campus Life appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

Dear Hillel

Hillel Stories

International Student Cabinet

Dear Hillel: Saying “Yes” to Hillel

Author

Mateen Markzar

Date

May 14, 2026

鈥淒ear Hillel鈥� showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and belonging with their campus Hillels. Mateen Markzar, a fourth-year student at Brown University and a member of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet, shares how saying yes to Hillel defined his college journey from day one. Read Mateen鈥檚 letter to Hillel:

Dear Hillel, 

Four years ago, a box showed up on my doorstep. I hadn鈥檛 ordered anything from Amazon, my Brown welcome package had already arrived, and my mom swore she hadn鈥檛 bought anything either.

So I checked the label. It was from Brown RISD Hillel.

I tore it open expecting a T-shirt and maybe a sticker or two. Instead, inside was a schedule of fall welcome events and a coffee mug.

That coffee mug ended up being a sign of what would become the defining community of my college experience (and helped keep me caffeinated these four years).

I grew up deeply involved in Jewish life. I went to Hebrew school and Jewish summer camp, joined my synagogue鈥檚 youth group and board, and served as the Religious and Cultural Vice President of NFTY Southern California. Because of that background, I always knew Hillel would be part of my college experience.

What I didn鈥檛 know was how much it would mean to me.

If you asked me which word defines my experience with Hillel, my answer would be 鈥測es.鈥�

Because that鈥檚 the word you hear most there from students and staff.

Do you want to lead High Holiday services? Yes.
Do you want to gather your friends from Hillel for a night of karaoke? Yes.
Do you want to organize a bus for Jewish Brown students to drive 12 hours to Washington, D.C., for the March for Israel? Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Hillel helped make my ideas, and my friends鈥� ideas, a reality. It became a home on campus, a warm face when we walked in the door, endless snacks and coffee when we needed them most, and, most importantly, a community that will stay with us long after we leave.

Like so many Jewish students, the attacks on October 7, 2023, split our college experience into 鈥淭he Before鈥� and 鈥淭he After.鈥� Expectations about friendships, classes, professors, and campus life, suddenly shattered as antisemitism skyrocketed and campus grew tense. But with Hillel鈥檚 support, we took those shattered pieces and built something stronger.

Hillel became the place where we could carry that weight together. The structure on the corner of Angell and Brown Street stopped feeling like just a building. It became a refuge that was uplifting, protective, and safe. A place where we could show up fully, without needing to explain ourselves.

And in gratitude, but also inspiration, I started saying yes when those at Hillel asked me to show up.

I said yes to playing guitar and singing at the vigil organized by Hillel and Chabad following October 7th, to help us heal and process the tragedy through song and prayer. I left knowing and seeing how big and supportive the Jewish community at Brown is. 

I said yes to Yallapalooza, a 糖心vlogl-sponsored concert series featuring some of Israel鈥檚 biggest artists. No one could have prepared me for the moment Matisyahu reached out his hand and pulled me onto the stage while I waved my Israeli flag in the air. I left feeling more connected than ever to my Jewish friends across the country.

I said yes to Hillel鈥檚 alternate spring break trip to Brazil, where I was the only senior in a group of first- and second-year students. I said yes to stand-up paddleboarding for the first time, facing my fear of heights on Sugarloaf Mountain, and waking up at 6 a.m. to watch the sunrise over Ipanema Beach. I left understanding what it meant to stretch beyond my comfort zone while also serving as a leader and role model for younger Jewish students.

And then, after saying yes to so many incredible Hillel experiences, came the most impactful one yet: I said yes to becoming part of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet.

Being part of the Student Cabinet has been one of the most transformative experiences of my college career. At the summit in Washington, I connected with 糖心vlogl leadership, saw firsthand the global scale of Hillel鈥檚 impact, and learned how to engage with Jewish professionals.

But more than anything, I found community with students from across the country and around the world. Students from flagship state schools, top universities, and small liberal arts colleges all shared the same commitment to building Jewish life on campus.

When I began college, I went in thinking I might help shape Hillel. Now, I am leaving realizing how much Hillel shaped me.

I鈥檓 leaving these four years changed by the people I met, the mentors who challenged me, the speakers who expanded how I think about the world, and the community that reminded me how proud I am to be Jewish.

Through all of it, the highs and the lows, Hillel remained a constant and the backbone of my college experience.

So next time you see a flyer for a Shabbat dinner, a Birthright trip, or some random event on campus, say yes.

You never know where it might lead.

The post Dear Hillel: Saying “Yes” to Hillel appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

Dear Hillel

Hillel Stories

International Student Cabinet

Dear Hillel: Leading with Pride and Joy

Author

Einav Tsach

Date

May 11, 2026

鈥淒ear Hillel鈥� showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and belonging with their campus Hillels. Einav Tsach, a fourth-year student at the University of Maryland and co-chair of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet, shares how Hillel shaped his community and leadership in the years following October 7th. Read Einav鈥檚 letter to Hillel:

Dear Hillel,

Right before sunset on Friday evenings, something special happens on Mowatt Lane in College Park, Maryland. With Shabbat setting in, scores of Jewish students from all corners of the University of Maryland (UMD) flood the sidewalk. They鈥檙e on their way to Maryland Hillel for Shabbat services. Despite not always knowing each other, everyone greets the people they pass with 鈥淪habbat shalom.鈥� 

That moment of ritual – one of deep tradition and pride – is only a small part of what it鈥檚 like to be a member of my school鈥檚 nearly 6,000-strong Jewish community. Whether it鈥檚 attending services, eating at the kosher dining hall, stopping by weekly coffee hours, planning an event, going on a Birthright Israel trip, or just spotting another student around campus with a Magen David necklace, the Jewish community at my Hillel is all-encompassing and vibrant.

That community became my anchor during my second year at UMD, when war broke out in Israel, where I lived until I was eight. As Hamas launched rockets, massacred more than 1,200 people, and took over 250 hostages into captivity during the October 7, 2023 attacks, a hateful wave of antisemitism was unleashed on campus. My non-Jewish friends stopped talking to me after I spoke out against Hamas, and student organizations I was involved with turned me away. I remember a surreal conversation with my grandfather, a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor, who heard the news from campus and called to check on me. 

At that time, normal life felt impossible. I felt an acute sense of loneliness as I tried to carry on with my routine on campus. It seemed that no one around me could relate to what I was going through.

I turned to Hillel, where, under the most difficult circumstances, I found healing. I found hundreds of other students who felt the same way I did, and a passionate staff that stood ready to support us. 

We uplifted each other by organizing vigils, tabling on campus to share our perspectives, and wrote op-eds to spread the word even wider about the hatred Jewish students were confronting. We campaigned against the BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) movement in the UMD student government, projecting a united front as a community, and modeling our commitment to civic engagement. We held dozens of meetings with our university administration to advocate for the needs of Jewish students. 

As I deepened my involvement on my campus, I also had the privilege of traveling nationwide to conferences and gatherings at other campuses, where I met fellow Jewish leaders. Each time, I was blown away by my peers鈥� resilience, and their drive to shape a more inclusive reality for Jews on campus.

The ceaseless work on my campus, and my involvement with Hillel led to my appointment as the co-chair of 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Student Cabinet. This year, I worked with a global group of students whose leadership on their campuses鈥� Jewish communities was inspiring. The Student Cabinet co-chairs also sit on 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Board of Directors, where I saw firsthand how Hillel puts students at the forefront of everything we do.

The trust and empowerment I received from my Hillel community shaped me as a person. Hillel proved the impact that鈥檚 possible when we work together and lead from a place of pride in who we are. The lessons I learned as a Hillel leader are ones that will stay with me forever.

Perhaps even more importantly, I credit Hillel with introducing me to the people who are, and will remain, my closest friends. Our connections were formed through moments etched in my memory: four years of Israel Fest, hours of bonding and connecting with each other on Shabbat, running around Tel Aviv on Birthright Israel and Onward Israel, barbecues with my fellow Israeli students, late-night strategizing in the Hillel conference room, and so, so much more. 

As I write this letter ahead of graduation, I realize that my time at Hillel represents the most significant period of growth of my life. With just a few days left on campus, I know that these moments are limited and the memories are precious. I move forward with true gratitude.

The post Dear Hillel: Leading with Pride and Joy appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

Hillel Stories

International Student Cabinet

Israel

When They Came Home

Author

Ariela Moel

Date

October 22, 2025

Ariela Moel, co-chair of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet, shares her personal reflection on what it meant to witness the recent hostage release and ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. 

I have the privilege of representing Jewish students around the world 鈥� students who, last week, shared a single heartbeat. When news broke of a deal to release the hostages held in Gaza, time itself seemed to pause. Across continents and campuses, from dorm rooms to Hillel lounges, we waited together.

No time zones mattered, as we all stayed up to watch them come home: students from Los Angeles to New York unable to sleep, parents in the South and Midwestern United States whispering prayers, and in Israel, an entire nation holding its breath. When the hostages walked off those planes, after more than 700 days in captivity, nationhood stopped being an abstract concept and became a feeling. Geography disappeared. We were all in the same place, watching the same screens, feeling the same impossible thing finally happen.

For two years, my optimism waned as the hostages remained trapped in Gaza, day after day. But my fellow students and I hoped anyway. Those yellow ribbons that appeared everywhere were scrappy, defiant declarations that we refused to let go, even when every probability screamed at us to be 鈥渞ealistic.鈥� Hope is what you cling to when optimism runs out. Hope is what made us stay up through every time zone. And hope, sometimes, is just enough to beat the odds.

This week was not October 6, 2023. We don’t get to go back to before, to pretend the trauma never happened, to return to the privilege of innocence. It’s October 8 鈥� still the day after the day that changed everything. When you woke up and realized the world was different now. That you’re different too. And somehow, you have to figure out how to move forward anyway.

The hostage release proves hope was worth holding onto. It was a moment of immense relief amid continued challenge and heartbreak, when those yellow ribbons 鈥� symbols of stubborn, clear-eyed hope 鈥� finally meant what we’d been aching for them to mean all along.

Ariela Moel is a fourth-year pre-law student at USC and the co-chair of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet.

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News

Welcome to Hillel: A Letter from 糖心vlogl’s Student Cabinet Co-Chairs

Author

Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach

Date

August 21, 2025

The 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet is a group of Jewish student leaders, deeply involved in their campus Hillels, who were nominated and selected to serve in an advisory role for 糖心vlogl. They represent the voices and interests of Jewish students across the global Hillel community. This week, the Student Cabinet gathered in Washington D.C. to get to know each other, meet Hillel professionals who will support their work, and plan for the year ahead.

Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach, co-chairs of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet, share a welcome for all Jewish college students walking onto campus this year. Read their thoughts below:

Dear Friends,

Mazel tov! Whether you鈥檙e beginning your college career or continuing your college journey, there鈥檚 something so special about starting another year  marked by meaning, personal growth, challenges, unexpected turns, and most importantly, memories that will last a lifetime. 

Our names are Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach, and we鈥檙e Jewish college students 鈥� just like many of you. Every step we鈥檝e taken in our leadership journeys as Jewish students has brought us to where we are today, as co-chairs of 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Student Cabinet, where we work to elevate the voices of Jewish students everywhere.

If you鈥檙e a first-year student, we know that you may be nervous. College is a big deal 鈥� we鈥檙e exploring a new and unique chapter in our lives, and that change can sometimes be tough. When we finished high school, we were full of excitement and anticipation, but also had some jitters. Now though, we are so grateful for all the opportunities we鈥檝e experienced as Jewish students in college. In this moment, we encourage you to lean in, be present, and imagine the incredible moments you can find as Jewish students. 

We are part of a community that includes Nobel Prize winners, Supreme Court justices, comedians who change how the world laughs, and activists who change how the world thinks. And now it鈥檚 our turn.

College is where we discover that everything we learned growing up was training for deepening our interests and finding our future path. At Hillel, we鈥檝e watched this realization happen countless times. And now, as part of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet, we have the honor of working with students who are living this journey. 

We see the future lawyers turning childhood debates about bagel toppings into thoughtful conversations about contemporary issues. We see the journalism student who uses the Jewish storytelling tradition she grew up with as the perfect preparation for telling unforgettable human stories. And we see the future doctor who finds inspiration to heal the world through the comforting food and Jewish values they learned from their grandparents.

And the friendships? The people we have met at Hillel have become our communities and our anchors to support us as we explore new skills and facets of our identities. After just a few Shabbat dinners, we discovered that we鈥檙e part of a new family. 

As a Jewish student at Hillel, our differences are celebrated and our unique perspective is treasured.听In college, we craft our own meaningful Jewish stories.

We write this knowing that recent events, including the horrors of Oct. 7, 2023 and their aftermath, have magnified both the challenges our community faces and the incredible strength we possess. Jewish students carry this profound understanding of what it means to support one another and to stand up for our values with courage.

We can鈥檛 wait to see all you do as you begin – or continue – this exciting chapter of your story. And we can鈥檛 wait to help tell your story on the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet. 

With absolute confidence in you,

Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach

2025-2026 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet Co-Chairs

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News

糖心vlogl Announces 2025-2026 Student Cabinet

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

July 8, 2025

New Student Cabinet will strengthen Jewish life and student engagement across more than 850 campuses globally.

Washington, D.C. 鈥� 糖心vlogl, the world鈥檚 largest Jewish campus organization, today announced the 20 members of the 2025-2026 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet. The selected students will collaborate with 糖心vlogl鈥檚 professional staff and board leadership to advise on student experiences, represent diverse perspectives, and help shape innovative approaches that strengthen Jewish campus life for students worldwide. 

Selected through a highly competitive process, the 20 Cabinet members represent students at the more than 850 campuses Hillel serves worldwide, linking the student experience and organizational leadership. This year, eight universities are represented for the first time, and the 20 members hail from universities in six countries: Brazil, Germany, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

鈥淭he Student Cabinet ensures that student voices remain at the core of everything we do at 糖心vlogl,鈥� said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of 糖心vlogl. 鈥淭he fresh perspective and ideas of these remarkable student leaders are invaluable as we work across the Hillel movement to foster meaningful opportunities for Jewish belonging, community, and leadership for all Jewish students.鈥� 

Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach are serving as the incoming Cabinet鈥檚 co-chairs.

鈥淗illel is more than just a place for Jewish students to gather – it鈥檚 a place where they grow into who they鈥檙e meant to be,鈥� said Ariela Moel, a member of the class of 2026 at the University of Southern California. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to take on this role and help make that kind of transformation possible – not just on my campus, but around the world – so every Jewish student can find their way home to themselves.鈥澨�

鈥淪o many Jewish students are feeling disconnected or unsure of where they fit in on campus,鈥� said Einav Tsach, a member of the class of 2026 at the University of Maryland, College Park. 鈥淲e want Hillel to be that space where every Jewish student feels they belong. This year, we鈥檙e hoping to really speak to what students need鈥攚hether that鈥檚 community, culture, or just a place to relax and be themselves.鈥澨�

Below is a full list of the 2025-2026 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet members. 

Cabinet Members: 

• Gabrielle Barsky-Giles, Queen鈥檚 University, 鈥�26
• Michal Berlove, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 鈥�26
• Zoe Cosgrove, University of Michigan, 鈥�27
• Sydney Grossman, Vanderbilt University, 鈥�26听
• Hadley Kalson, University of Vermont, 鈥�26
• Kara Klaiman, University of Virginia, 鈥�26
• Rachel Lennard, University of Oregon, 鈥�27
• Sam Leschins, University of Florida, 鈥�26
• Matthew Levine, The Ohio State University, 鈥�26
• Mateen Markzar, Brown University, 鈥�26
• Kylie Miller, Roosevelt University, 鈥�26
• Ariela Moel, University of Southern California, 鈥�26
• Andrew Petlak, University of California, Berkeley, 鈥�26
• Sara Quintero, Northeastern University, London Campus, 鈥�26
• Michelle Rosner, University of Delaware, 鈥�26
• Ori Segev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 鈥�26
• Elina Shikher, University of Potsdam, 鈥�26
• Benjamin Small, University of Pennsylvania, 鈥�27
• Marelo Topper, , 鈥�27
• Einav Tsach, University of Maryland, 鈥�26

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News

Every Day Since: Life on Campus Since October 7

Author

Abi Schcolnik

Date

October 1, 2024

October 7, 2023 will forever be etched in my memory. That morning, I woke up next to my mom, who was visiting for Parents鈥� Weekend at the University of Miami, and we watched as the shocking and heart-wrenching news from Israel unfolded. That day changed the lives of Israelis and Jewish people around the world, including mine.听

In the months that followed, the feelings I experienced most often were frustration and helplessness. I grappled with the question of how I could contribute meaningfully on campus during a moment that felt so fraught with tension and disagreement. I am proud of my heritage, and felt a responsibility to help combat ignorance and promote understanding about Judaism and the Jewish people, particularly as waves of misinformation and hate directed at Jewish students ripped through my campus. 

I began to talk with my friends, sharing my perspective about the importance of being open to the complexities of the situation unfolding in the Middle East. I said over and over that Israel鈥檚 actions were not driven by a desire for war, but instead were a response to the horrific massacre of that October morning. By initiating conversations and creating spaces for dialogue, I hoped to build a climate of empathy and learning in my community, while prioritizing our shared humanity 

Despite this desire to build bridges, I have encountered antisemitism at times, in the form of subtle comments and dismissive conversations. These interactions have left a mark on me, and caused me to question my identity and beliefs. I am still hurting from an exchange I had with a student in my dorm who refused to accept my help, simply because I displayed an Israeli flag and a mezuzah on my door. During some moments, I felt as if the entire world was against me. It鈥檚 been exhausting and isolating to be a Jewish college student. 

The tensions of the last year also caused the painful fracturing of some friendships, which ended because of my Jewish identity and the differing beliefs we held. As I became more vocal about the realities facing the Jewish community, I discovered that not everyone was willing to engage in open and meaningful dialogue. In fact, some friends chose to distance themselves, leaving me to navigate this painful year alone.

But as we approach the one-year commemoration of October 7, I鈥檓 reflecting on the friends and the community who have stood by my side as I continue to speak up. I have learned to recognize true friendship when I find it, and lean on the relationships and communities that share my values and bring me joy. Throughout a year of anger and loss, the people who have been willing to sit down and talk, celebrate each other鈥檚 heritage, and prioritize empathy over ignorance are the ones who I believe will dismantle the barriers that divide us. May the coming year be one of understanding, resilience, and community. 

Abigail Schcolnik is an international student at the University of Miami and serves as the co-chair of 糖心vlogl’s student cabinet.  

Every Day Since is a series of original stories about the impact of October 7 on Jewish students and professionals on campus. Read the first part in the series about Eyal, a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow who came to the United States to connect with Jewish college students, but faced unexpected challenges and antisemitism in the wake of October 7.

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News

Abigail Schcolnik and Zachary Patterson to Co-Chair 2024-2025 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

July 1, 2024

Student leaders to help shape Hillel experience for 180,000+ Jewish students worldwide

WASHINGTON 鈥� As Jewish students prepare to return to campus following an unprecedented year of antisemitic incidents, 糖心vlogl announced the co-chairs of its Student Cabinet for the 2024-2025 academic year, demonstrating the centrality of student leadership to fostering Jewish joy and identity.

Members of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet represent a cross-section of campus experiences, Jewish backgrounds, geography, and academic interests. The Cabinet is committed to representing student needs, connecting campus communities, and providing counsel to the lay and professional leadership of the organization. 

Tasked with leading the Cabinet, the co-chairs will help guide the Hillel movement at a pivotal moment for Jewish life on campus. The Cabinet co-chairs serve as critical spokespeople for Jewish students and their experiences daily in the classroom and the campus quad, and the positive, central impact of Hillel.

Abigail (Abi) Schcolnik of the University of Miami and Zachary Patterson of Duke University have been selected to lead the ninth cohort, serving as key leaders at a moment when Hillel is engaging more Jewish students than ever. As co-chairs of the Student Cabinet, Schcolnik and Patterson will also serve as members of the 糖心vlogl Board of Directors.

鈥淔or the last several months, Jewish students have been challenged and expressions of their Judaism have come under threat,鈥� said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of 糖心vlogl. 鈥淭he Student Cabinet has a critical role to play in advocating for their peers and engaging them in enriching Jewish experiences. Abi and Zachary bring vital perspectives to the Hillel movement, and I鈥檓 eager to work alongside them in the year ahead.鈥�

Abi Schcolnik is a rising senior at the University of Miami and was born in Argentina, and raised in Uruguay. She is the former president of Miami Hillel, where she has been an active member of Hillel since the beginning of her first year. At UM, Abi is involved in the swim team, the DEI committee, and the disciplinary hearing panel. Outside of campus, Abi serves as a Geller International Senior Fellow and as a Lauder Fellow.

鈥淚 am excited to continue growing the Hillel movement and ensuring that every Jewish student on college campuses worldwide feels safe and belongs in Hillel,鈥� said Abi Schcolnik, incoming co-chair of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet.

Zachary Patterson is a rising junior at Duke University, double majoring in public policy and economics. Originally from San Diego, Zachary formerly served as a member of the San Diego Board of Education from 2019-2022. At Duke Hillel, Zachary previously served as the Vice President of Membership. Zachary is also an active brother in Alpha Epsilon Pi. Zachary leads an organization called the National Student Board Member Association, which works to train, support, and unify students on school boards. Zachary is a recipient of the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award for his work on student representation in educational governance. 

鈥淎t a time where many Jewish students feel unsafe on campus, Hillel must be at the center of efforts to both encourage robust discussion and stop pervasive antisemitism,鈥� said Zachary Patterson, incoming co-chair of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet. 鈥淚 am excited to help strengthen Hillel鈥檚 commitment to inclusive Judaism and Zionism.鈥�
Schcolnik and Patterson will officially begin as co-chairs on July 1, 2024, serving throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.

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Hillels Around the World

International Student Cabinet

Reviving Jewish Life in Poland

Author

Radek Pintara

Date

January 26, 2024

Warsaw has always been my home. I was born here and grew up in and around the city. It鈥檚 central to who I am, and serving the Jewish community here has been a foundational part of my life for many years.

Jewish identity in Poland has been hard to preserve. In the aftermath of World War II and Communism, many Jewish families lost their connection to Judaism and the Jewish people. I feel grateful that my family鈥檚 Jewish connection was never lost and that I grew up knowing I was Jewish and participating in Jewish holidays and celebrations. 

As a teenager, I started to notice how small the Warsaw Jewish community was, and at the same time, started learning about the vibrant history of the Polish Jewish community before World War II. Thinking about how much our community has gone through in the last century inspired me to attend synagogue and get involved with Hillel. At Hillel, I gained a new perspective on what it means to be part of a Jewish community. Hillel is a place where everyone can spend time together no matter their background. We are all connected because we are one big family.

I also started volunteering for the Warsaw Jewish Community Center and the local American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) chapter. When the war broke out in Ukraine last year, I was offered the chance to go with the JDC to the Ukrainian border and help people fleeing the war settle in Poland. 

While at the border, I saw hundreds of exhausted, terrified faces. On my first day, I met a family who had fled with two bags, their dogs, and nothing else. I looked at their faces and I couldn鈥檛 understand how they could be experiencing this pain in 21st-century Europe. Here was another war and right before my eyes were Jewish families fleeing war yet again. 

In that moment, one of the women from the family told me that their dog鈥檚 name is Simcha (joy); that small ray of hope reminded me of the resilience and deep eternal joy of the Jewish people.

I returned home from the border determined to find ways to connect my small Jewish community in Warsaw to the global Jewish community. When applications opened for the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet (HISC), I knew that I wanted to serve on the Cabinet and use that service to bring joy and connection to my community.

The students on the HISC remind me that we are the future leaders of the Jewish community, and it is our responsibility to uplift and inspire other young Jews.”听

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Holidays

International Student Cabinet

Jewish Identity

How I Own My Star

Author

Abi Schcolnik

Date

December 13, 2023

My commitment to my Jewish identity was always strong, but took shape when I decided to leave my home in Uruguay to attend university in the United States. If I was going to go so far away from home, my mother strongly urged me to pick a school听with a big Jewish community that could support and care for me. I chose the University of Miami (UM) for its rich Jewish life and its large, active Hillel.听

From the day I walked onto campus, I signed up for every Hillel event and program available. Nourishing my Jewish self and letting it grow into a powerful part of my identity felt even more important as I adjusted to being in a different country and culture. I knew I could always find a place in the Jewish community. This comfort and joy also inspired me to take on leadership positions, both at UM Hillel and with the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet.听

Since October 7th and the start of the Hamas-Israel War, I feel pain and grief daily, both on behalf of our global Jewish community, and more personally, in connection with my cousins and friends who live in Israel and are directly impacted by the war. While the President and administration at UM continue to be actively supportive of Jewish students, I have lost friendships over conversations related to Israel and antisemitism. I have also experienced backlash for my identity and opinions, and have had to hide aspects of my Jewish identity and connection to Israel in order to maintain my own safety.听

In response, I for my Judaism and my community. When I see pictures and videos on social media of people sharing their Jewish pride and owning their stars, it reminds me that I鈥檓 part of a global family that carries rich values and traditions that inspire my life. #OwnYourStar reminds me that I am a Jewish citizen of the world and that I have a responsibility to share my love of Judaism and the Jewish people with everyone I can.听

With all of the pain and heartache of the past two months, it is a source of joy to light Hanukkah candles every night with my family and watch the small flames brighten the dark night. Those lights bring me hope that the Jewish people will continue to bring light to the world as we go through this moment of darkness.听

#OwnYourStar is a 糖心vlogl call to share visible Jewish pride on social media this Hanukkah. Learn more here!

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