News

Connecting with a Global Jewish Community Through Birthright Israel

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

June 16, 2026

Each year, thousands of Jewish college students travel to Israel with Birthright Israel and their campus Hillels, gaining a powerful experience of Jewish identity and belonging alongside a community that will be there for them even after the trip ends. For over 80,000 participants, Hillel: Birthright Israel has been one of the most meaningful Jewish experiences of their college careers.

As conflict continues in the Middle East, many Jewish students are once again watching headlines from thousands of miles away and wondering how to understand what Israelis are experiencing on the ground. But for those who travel to Israel on a Birthright trip, the rich meaning of this ten-day journey cannot be overstated. The trip takes students from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea to Tel Aviv, offering a glimpse into sites that are both ancient and modern 鈥� and along the way, students build impactful relationships with each other and with Israelis, whose lives continue to be shaped by grief, resilience, uncertainty, and hope. 

For Ben Novorr, director of Jewish student engagement at University of Kansas Hillel, who recently returned home from Israel, staffing Birthright trips has become a way to deepen those relationships with Israelis and with Israel itself year after year.

鈥淓ach time I staff Birthright, I leave with a slightly different takeaway when it comes to my own Jewish identity or connection with Israel,鈥� said Novorr, who has led five Birthright trips with KU Hillel, including one this month. 鈥淲hen you visit a place enough, you start to feel like there is a community there that you are a part of, and even if you are only there once a year, it is waiting for you when you return.鈥�

That sense of connection can look different for every participant. Birthright trips may share a structure, itinerary, and set of educational goals, but no two students experience Israel in exactly the same way.

For Judah Schuster, a rising fourth-year student at the University of Kansas, who traveled with Novorr this year, Jerusalem was one of the places that left a lasting impression. Every Hillel: Birthright Israel bus stops in Jerusalem for a ritual where the group pauses together to make the shehecheyanu blessing 鈥� a moment of gratitude for bringing them to this special place and time. 

鈥淏oth times I鈥檝e been to Israel, the Old City [of Jerusalem] never disappoints,鈥� Schuster said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always impactful seeing one of, if not the most, important cities in the world鈥� [And] seeing the ways in which the four very distinctive quarters combine to make up the city is so fascinating.鈥�

For Brenna Gross, another rising senior at the University of Kansas, one of the most meaningful moments of the trip came through service. While volunteering at Netiv HaAsara, an Israeli agricultural village, she helped make sunflower bouquets and pick strawberries from the ground.

The work was simple, she said, but the ties she made with Israel were deep.

鈥淢aking sunflower bouquets and picking strawberries directly from the ground seemed simple, but it gave me a tangible connection to the people and communities of Israel,鈥� Gross said. 鈥淏eing able to contribute, even in a small way, helped me feel more connected to the resilience and strength of the people who live there.鈥�

Given the recent conflicts between Israel and Iran, safety was top of mind for many participants. Birthright Israel’s extensive security measures and continuously updated protocols helped students focus on the purpose of the trip: learning and building relationships.

鈥淏efore traveling, I was worried about having to be in a bomb shelter for the majority of the trip and that our itinerary would be greatly impacted by the war.鈥� Schuster said. 鈥� [But] there was not a single time on the trip where I was worried about my safety.鈥�

Yet Gross was deeply moved by the lasting impact of conflict on Israelis and Israeli communities.

鈥淎s an American Jew, it is sometimes hard to process what happened on October 7th,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut after visiting the sites, specifically Nova, I was fully able to understand how this could have happened to anyone. Seeing the texts between the victims and their families and friends was gut-wrenching, especially the fact that a majority of the victims were people my age. While it may have been one of the hardest days of the trip, it was easily one of the most impactful.鈥�

Unlike traveling alone, a Hillel: Birthright Israel trip gives students and staff a shared experience they can carry back to campus together. Gross reflected, 鈥淚 hope to keep the inspiration alive by staying involved in Jewish life on campus, sharing my experiences with others, maintaining the friendships I made, and continuing to engage in conversations about Israel and Jewish identity.鈥�

鈥淚 choose to be a Hillel professional and to be a Birthright staffer because my passion is creating Jewish community,鈥� Novorr added, reflecting on the ways students built community throughout the trip. 鈥淲herever we are and whoever we are, we are better together.鈥�

Whether it鈥檚 standing together in the hills of Jerusalem, forming new friendships with Israelis in Tel Aviv, or taking that inspiration back to Hillels across the country, Jewish students are finding a deeper sense of belonging and connection through Birthright Israel. 

The post Connecting with a Global Jewish Community Through Birthright Israel appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

Dear Hillel

Hillel Stories

Israel

Jewish Identity

Dear Hillel: Connecting Jewish Communities Across the World

Author

Ori Segev

Date

May 12, 2026

鈥淒ear Hillel鈥� showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and belonging with their campus Hillels. Ori Segev, a graduate student at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and member of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet, shares how she found her way to Hillel in the last year of her undergraduate experience 鈥� and how deeply Hillel changed this year for her. Read Ori鈥檚 letter to Hillel:

Dear Hillel,

My Hillel story is a little unusual, because until my final year of undergrad, I had never even heard about Hillel. I was fully focused on my studies in the Hebrew Literature department at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and on the friends that I already knew.聽

And then I found my way to Hillel Israel by accident. I met a staff member, Yossi Morris, in the hallway of the Jewish Thought department, and six months later, because of that random moment, I joined a 鈥淵eha-do-it!鈥� program he was leading. It was a five-session journey of exploring various Jewish practices through a pluralistic lens. I loved the freedom to experiment and the way the program encouraged us to explore our heritage through hands-on, experiential learning.

That program changed me. Over the five sessions, I met people from across campus who I otherwise would never have met. I got the chance to explore my Jewish identity in the way I had always hoped to during my university years. I created Jewish-inspired art, joined Shabbat dinners, and even discovered a synagogue in my own neighborhood in Be鈥檈r Sheva that I didn鈥檛 know existed. 

But more than anything, I found a sense of community, which became even more important after the attacks on October 7, 2023. Hillel quickly became the central place for all of us to come together, support each other, explore our Jewish identities, and think about what our future in Israel might look like.

And it didn鈥檛 stop there. I got more involved, went on Shabbatonim where I met students from Hillel centers across the country, and started showing up to more and more community events at Hillel Ben-Gurion. By the end of that year, Hillel had become a huge part of my student experience. I built a deeper connection to Judaism and formed friendships that are still a big part of my life.

At the end of that year, I completed my undergraduate program, started my master鈥檚 degree in Hebrew literature, and joined the Hillel Ben-Gurion staff. Now I was the one leading the 鈥淵eha-do-it!鈥� program, the same course that made me fall in love with Hillel in the first place! 

I worked with an incredible group of students, and together we went on a really meaningful journey. We shared Shabbat dinners, studied in chavruta (traditional partner-based learning), and explored the city together to learn more about the Negev. Being part of the Hillel Ben-Gurion staff quickly became a core part of my identity and my day-to-day life.

I also got to see Hillel from a new perspective. I helped organize events like our Thanksgiving dinner for Israeli students and olim (new immigrants to Israel), musical Kabbalat Shabbat services, and local volunteering initiatives. Hillel gave me the space to bring ideas to life and try things I had always wanted to do, but never had the chance to before. One of the most impactful opportunities has been representing Hillel Israel on the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet over the past year. 

When I interviewed for the cabinet, I described it as something similar to the work of the nehutei, the Talmudic sages who traveled between the Land of Israel and Babylon, connecting Jewish communities and sharing ideas. 

And that鈥檚 exactly what this last year has felt like, traveling between Israel and the United States and sharing ideas and hopes with 20 other incredible Jewish students from around the world. We spent time building real connections and thinking together about the future of Jewish life on campus. 

Those conversations and shared hopes led me to design the 鈥淜别丑颈濒濒辞迟鈥� program that I lead today. 鈥�碍别丑颈濒濒辞迟,鈥� or 鈥淐ommunities,鈥� brings together students from all six Hillel Israel centers across the country. In each session, students meet with someone from a different Jewish community around the world 鈥� giving each student in the cohort the opportunity to take on the role of the nehutei, just like Hillel gave me.

Looking back, that random hallway conversation didn鈥檛 just shape my university experience; it completely changed how I see myself. Hillel showed me that I鈥檓 part of something much bigger, a global Jewish community connected by shared history, values, and hope.

I feel incredibly grateful to be part of this community, and even more grateful to keep building those connections, together.

The post Dear Hillel: Connecting Jewish Communities Across the World appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

News

Across North America, Jewish Students Celebrate Israel with Hillel

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

April 22, 2026

Thousands of Jewish students across North America came together this week to celebrate Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut, Israel鈥檚 Independence Day. Hundreds of campus Hillel programs brought celebrations to life at colleges and universities across the country 鈥� from , to Hillel at Kent State鈥檚 weeklong celebration featuring its 鈥淪huk on the K鈥� Israeli market, to parties hosted by drawing hundreds of students and alumni. Together, these events created vibrant, joyful spaces for students to celebrate Israel through culture, food, music, learning, and community.

鈥淚srael is such an important part of Jewish life, and Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut is a chance to celebrate that connection both to our homeland and to each other,鈥� said Becca Paikin, a third year student at the University of Toronto. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an expression of Jewish pride and a deep-seated love for Israel, and we鈥檙e so lucky to have this opportunity to connect through joy and community 鈥� and most importantly, just have a good time.鈥�

At Texas Hillel at the University of Texas at Austin, their annual has been running for an incredible 26 years, and is one of the largest student-led celebrations of Israeli culture on a North American college campus.

鈥淭he Israel Block Party is an amazing example of student leadership, and we鈥檙e proud to be a part of this group,鈥� said Riley Harris and Levi Fox, students at the University of Texas at Austin and  the 2026 Israel Block Party Co-Chairs. 

Jewish students at Kent State University also contributed to the celebratory atmosphere, hosting a full week of Israel-related activities. Their flagship event, 鈥淪huk on the K,鈥� an Israeli market experience that included food, music, art, and trivia, engaged more than 100 students 鈥� despite unseasonably cold weather. But the cold didn鈥檛 stop students from coming out for an Israeli iced coffee bar program, or from looking forward to an upcoming Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut Israeli BBQ Party later this week.

“Israel week has been an amazing opportunity to share the culture that we love so much,” said Rachel Kleinhenz, a Kent State student. “I’ve enjoyed being able to see people’s smiling faces as we share things they don’t know about. I love Israel Week!”

In Canada, Hillel Ontario is gearing up for two massive Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut parties this week, one geared primarily toward grad students and young professionals, the other designed for undergraduates. Both events will include local DJs who are alumni from the Hillel Ontario community, photo booths, flags, dancing, a graffiti wall activation, and more. Organizers are expecting upwards of 400+ attendees at each event.

鈥淚srael continues to be such a meaningful part of Jewish life in Toronto, and Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut is an amazing opportunity to celebrate our connection,鈥� said Marni Weinberg, a Hillel Ontario alumna who graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2020 and plans to attend the grad student and young professionals event. 鈥淓ven years post grad, it鈥檚 clear, now more than ever, how important it is to stay connected and involved in the Jewish community, and moments like this [with Hillel] make it incredibly easy.鈥�

Connection and community were themes at almost every Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut event as Jewish students shared their Israel-related experiences with their friends on campus, sparked conversations about Israel  in a safe and welcoming environment, and .

鈥淎t Texas Hillel, we approach Israel as an integral part of Jewish life and learning, and we create space for students to explore what that means for them,鈥� said Rabbi Stephanie Max, executive director of Texas Hillel. 鈥淔or many, that includes understanding Zionism as the belief in the Jewish people鈥檚 right to a homeland, alongside the opportunity to ask hard questions and engage one another with curiosity and respect.鈥� 

She continued, 鈥淭he Israel Block Party is a powerful example of what it looks like when students take ownership of their Jewish experience.鈥�

Students felt the same way. 鈥淭he idea of being in a room with 400 friends, peers, and community feels incredibly powerful,鈥� said Eitan Feldman, a University of Toronto student who shared that he鈥檚 looking forward to attending the undergraduate Yom Ha鈥檃tzmaut party later this week. 鈥淚鈥檓 especially looking forward to good Hebrew music, good food, good people鈥� it鈥檚 the kind of night where everyone can come together, celebrate, and feel proud.鈥�

The post Across North America, Jewish Students Celebrate Israel with Hillel appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

Hillel Stories

Israel

Leadership and Career Skills

Bringing Leadership to Life at the 2026 糖心vlogl Israel Summit

Author

Yanai Tagor

Date

April 21, 2026

Yanai Tagor is a student at the University of Texas. He shared his experience attending the 2026 糖心vlogl Israel Summit and how it strengthened the friendships he鈥檚 made through Hillel over the years.聽

This year鈥檚 糖心vlogl Israel Summit was one of the most impactful conferences I have attended. With more than 150 student leaders gathered at Penn Hillel for a Shabbaton-style summit, the experience was so deep and meaningful. From the moment we arrived, connecting with the Jewish community at the University of Pennsylvania and experiencing the energy at their Hillel set a powerful tone for the entire weekend. There was a sense that something special was happening, not just another conference, but a convening grounded in purpose, pride, connection, and a shared commitment to Israel and Jewish life.

After two years with Hillel鈥檚 Israel Leadership Network (ILN), my initial sense of belonging has grown into something much larger. What began as participation became a deep connection to this community and to the people in it. Being together in person alongside scholars, activists, and other Jewish leaders reminded me, above all, what makes ILN so unique. The warmth I felt from both staff and peers made it clear that this network is a place of inclusion, where people show up for each other as individuals.

That sense of connection was especially clear within my own cohort, which I have spent the past year engaging through virtual meetings and relationship building. But it is sometimes challenging to create truly meaningful connections through a screen. This summit helped close the digital gap in a way I had not fully experienced before. Whether we were sharing meals, sitting together in sessions, or having spontaneous conversations in the hallways, being physically present transformed our interactions. It made our work feel more real, more collaborative, and more personal. Through the moments together, I could feel our group鈥檚 momentum strengthening, and it gave me confidence that we will continue to build on this energy as we move toward the end of the academic year.

Another aspect of the weekend that stood out to me was how it connected our personal values and experiences with moments on the international stage. During our session with Co-Founder of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Matan Sivek, his story about his work with the Bring Them Home Now movement deeply resonated with me. Hearing his words, and the honesty and vulnerability with which he shared them, made the broader issues we discussed feel immediate and individual. As a Jewish student and an Israeli, I felt a renewed sense of responsibility and purpose in being a valued part of this community.

That experience, combined with in-depth discussions in our masterclasses about the complexities of the upcoming Israeli elections, sparked a new sense of curiosity and motivation in me. These conversations were not abstract. They felt relevant, urgent, and grounded in the real experiences of our communities.

As the summit came to a close, I found myself thinking not just about what I had learned, but about what comes next. I am excited to bring this energy back to my own campus, to apply new ideas, and to continue building meaningful connections with others in the network. I also feel a stronger commitment to supporting my peers, knowing that we are all part of something larger than ourselves.

While being part of this summit has strengthened my connection to the Israel Leadership Network, it also has deepened my ties to the larger Jewish community. More than anything, it reminded me that our work to educate others and elevate Jewish life is not something we do alone. It is something we build together.

The post Bringing Leadership to Life at the 2026 糖心vlogl Israel Summit appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

News

Top Five Moments from the 2026 Israel Summit

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

March 24, 2026

This past weekend, more than 150 Jewish student leaders representing over 150 campuses across North America gathered at the University of Pennsylvania for the eighth annual 糖心vlogl Israel Summit.

鈥� is honored to be hosting the Israel Summit this year, said Rabbi Gabe Greenberg, executive director of Penn Hillel. 鈥淭he Israel Leadership Network has been a source of great leadership development for many of our own students over the years, and we are excited to be able to participate in the summit in a more active way.鈥�

In a new approach to this annual conference, the 2026 Israel Summit brought together the full cohort of 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Israel Leadership Network (ILN) 鈥� a new generation of Israel-focused student leaders from North American campuses empowered through education, leadership, and community engagement. This year鈥檚 summit also focused on Shabbat as a central point of connection and belonging for the ILN student leaders, in many cases introducing students to the power and meaning of a Hillel Shabbat.聽

Here are our top five highlights from this uplifting and educational weekend:

1. Empowerment, Joy, and Pride Took Center Stage

The tone and approach for Israel Summit this year actively celebrated how pride in Israel and joyful Jewish life reinforce one another, showing that connection to Israel can deepen cultural, spiritual, and communal experiences.

鈥淚’m incredibly heartened to see 150 of the foremost leaders in the campus pro-Israel movement assembled here today.鈥� said Adam Saar, executive chair of ILN. 鈥淭onight’s plenary brings together voices who have been at the forefront of advocating for Israel in the face of real challenges on campus and diplomacy and in the media.鈥�

The 2026 summit centered its plenaries and masterclasses  on giving student leaders the practical skills and insights to model joyful expressions of solidarity and integrate Israel-focused content into their programming when they get back to campus. Notable speakers included Ambassador Dennis Ross; Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter; activist and speaker Elica Le Bon; and Co-Founder of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Matan Sivek.  

鈥淵ou ask yourself – how can I be helpful? How can I be helpful to my community? How can I be helpful to my family?鈥� said Sivek. He reflected on the impact that students had on his work with the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, 鈥淭his all happened because of students – we were all students.鈥�

鈥淭he Israel Summit deepened my knowledge by exposing me to a wide range of perspectives,鈥� said Skylar Elbinger, a fourth-year student at Michigan State University. 鈥淚 was able to have discussions about political, social, and cultural nuances, and the summit challenged me to think more critically and strengthen my pro-Israel perspective.鈥�

2. Celebrating Shabbat Together Offered Rest and Intention

This year, for the first time since 2021, Israel Summit was held at a campus Hillel and structured as an immersive Shabbaton. 

Hillel at the University of Pennsylvania is known for its inclusive and joyful Shabbat experiences, and this summit was no exception. After a day and a half of intensive learning on Thursday and Friday, the transition to Shabbat on Friday evening gave students space to process, connect, and set intentions for the coming day.

鈥淔or me, Shabbat is a pause,鈥� said Becca Paikin, a third-year student at the University of Toronto. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a moment to step back from everything we鈥檝e been taking in and to reconnect with our community. Some of the most powerful moments at gatherings like these don鈥檛 happen in the sessions, but when we step back and come together.鈥�

Shabbat began with optional prayer services, followed by a full-group dinner (because there鈥檚 no such thing as Shabbat at Hillel without delicious meals!). After dinner, students broke out into evening discussion groups.

On Shabbat, after a morning of optional ritual and prayer experiences and lunch, students began an afternoon of informational sessions. Students chose breakout sessions that were most interesting and relevant to them, with topics ranging from political realities, like 鈥淚sraeli Elections: Key Issues and Coalition Scenarios,鈥� led by David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari of , to discussions focused on the Jewish communal future, like 鈥淏eyond 鈥楨veryone’s Welcome鈥�: A Serious Case for Jewish Pluralism,鈥� led by 糖心vlogl鈥檚 senior vice president for education, community and culture, Rabbi Benjamin Berger. Each session offered takeaways to deepen ILN members鈥� insights and bolster their effectiveness as Israel-focused leaders and educators.

鈥淲hile there will always be complexity in organizing a Shabbaton with a diverse collection of Shabbat practices, I鈥檓 deeply thankful that our ILN students could experience such an inclusive and powerful Shabbat together,鈥� said Joshua Losner, 糖心vlogl鈥檚 director of ILN. 

3. Masterclass Workshops Centered Resilience, Inclusion, and Trust

The summit also focused on giving student leaders training and tools designed to support them in tackling  challenging situations, engaging peers on social media, building or rebuilding coalitions and communities, and being educated about campus safety protocols.

鈥淓very plenary, masterclass, and learning session this weekend is designed to leave you with actionable takeaways to help us address the evolving challenges and dynamics we face on our campuses,鈥� said Saar, in his address at Thursday鈥檚 opening plenary. 鈥淲e will learn from each other and our amazing expert guests, come up with groundbreaking ideas, and generate impact that will extend far into the future.鈥�

Offered in three program blocks, masterclass workshops were led by leaders and experts from both inside and outside the Hillel community. Students could learn about local and national civic leadership from Jason Holtzman, executive director of the , or dig into the legal rights of Jewish students on campus with Mark Rotenberg, general counsel for 糖心vlogl. They could explore relational advocacy and allyship with Hillel鈥檚 Senior Manager of Israel Action Program Maddi Trick, or discuss Israel-centered storytelling on social media with Kami Salman, social media education manager for .

4. Student Leaders Learned from Each Other and Left with a Wide Network of Collaborators

糖心vlogl has always centered student-led learning, programming, and community 鈥� because no one knows what it鈥檚 like to be a Jewish student on campus better than students themselves. 

鈥淲hat makes ILN special is that mentorship here is reciprocal,鈥� said ILN Vice Chair and Emory Hillel President Sophie Kalmin. 鈥淲e teach, and we learn. We lead, and we are lifted.鈥�

While the summit was full of professional experts, some of the most special moments of the event were about creating opportunities for peer-to-peer learning. ILN student leaders exchanged strategies, critiqued ideas, and worked to build collective solutions to lead more collaboratively on campus.

Ari Zucker, a fourth-year student at Cornell University shared, 鈥淚 am returning to campus with a newly formed network of students across the entire U.S. and Canada. The in-depth conversations I had with other students, as well as the opportunities to form great friendships, are priceless. And, of course, I can always reach out to any of the people I met for further advice in the future.鈥�

鈥淲e know Jewish students deeply value connecting with one another,鈥� said Losner. 鈥淭his formed a core objective of  the summit 鈥� to support ILN as a vibrant peer network and student-leader pipeline.鈥�

5. A Shared Sense of Purpose Carried Students Forward 

By the end of the weekend, students left not just with new knowledge and skills, but with a renewed sense of purpose.

Throughout the summit, ILN leaders were encouraged to think about how they would take what they learned and translate it into action on their campuses. Whether through programming, conversations, or leadership roles, students walked away with a clearer understanding of how they can show up for their communities and for Israel.

鈥淚 am excited to bring back the confidence and communication skills to engage in thoughtful, respectful conversations about Israel, even when topics are complex and challenging,鈥� said Elbinger. 鈥淚 also want to share the perspectives and new knowledge I gained to help create a more informed and open environment on campus, where students feel comfortable asking questions and engaging in dialogue.鈥�

“Gathering our core Israel-focused student leaders for inspiration and education at Israel Summit is a critical part of making sure they have the tools they need to be successful educators and advocates on campus,” said Jon Falk, 糖心vlogl鈥檚 senior vice president of campus solutions. “And beyond that, it was clear how much the belonging and community they find through ILN forms the foundation of their confidence and passion.”

This year鈥檚 summit highlighted pride through joyful Jewish and Israel-focused cultural programming. It offered practical training for student leaders in antisemitism response, coalition-building, and their ability to publicly express their Jewish identity and love for Israel. It empowered them as peer-to-peer ambassadors for conversations about Israel, building their capacity to positively impact campus communities.

And it gave them space to celebrate their own achievements 鈥� honoring the impact so many of those student leaders have already had.

鈥淭o our past and current ILN members: thank you,鈥� Kalmin said in her remarks at Thursday鈥檚 plenary. 鈥淵our work strengthens Jewish life everywhere you go, and your commitment ripples far beyond any single event or campus quad.鈥�

The post Top Five Moments from the 2026 Israel Summit appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

Hillel Stories

Israel

Every Day is Different in the Life of an IACT

Author

Jeanine Albero

Date

March 4, 2026

Jeanine Albero is the IACT at Pennsylvania State University.

As a first-year IACT (Inspired, Active, Committed, Transformed) at Penn State Hillel, one thing I love about my job is that there鈥檚 no 鈥渢ypical day,鈥� simply because every day is different. Some days I鈥檓 on campus, meeting with Jewish students and coordinating programs, and other days, I鈥檓 halfway across the world staffing a , showing students the amazing history and culture of Israel.

Regardless of the activity, spending time with students is always the best part of what I do, which is a good thing, because it鈥檚 also the core of my work. Inspiring students to join a Birthright Israel trip (and keeping in touch with them before and after their Birthright Israel experiences) is a key aspect of my role, and the conversations I have with students go much deeper than talking about their trips. Whether we鈥檙e having coffee chats or just connecting in the halls of the Hillel building, we discuss everything from their classes, to their friendships and relationships, to Penn State culture. 

Our students are also out there serving our wider community, and I make sure to support them. I serve as a staff advisor for , a student-run initiative here at Penn State Hillel that delivers free, hot matzah ball soup (chicken or vegetarian) along with cough drops and tissues to students who are feeling under the weather. Seeing the way these students provide a little taste of home to our Penn State community is one of the most meaningful parts of my job, and watching them grow in their roles as cooks, student supervisors, and deliverers is such an honor.

Every day, I鈥檓 lucky enough to have at least one, and often many incredible moments that remind me just how special this work is. On a recent Birthright Israel trip, my students and I visited the Gaza Envelope and the site of the Nova music festival, where a heartbreaking massacre took place on October 7th, 2023, and I was able to be there as a resource for them, and to learn from their resilience and compassion as they processed those emotional moments. On our last night in Jerusalem, we sang karaoke together, and I found myself tearing up when three students sang 鈥淟andslide鈥� by Fleetwood Mac, a song about reflection and change. It made me realize how much these students shape my own growth and development as a Jewish professional.

At our recent One Fein Shabbat, which  connected prospective Birthright participants, Birthright alumni, and other Jewish students on campus, so many of my trip alumni came to sit with me and reminisce about our shared experiences in Israel. At the end of the meal, they showered me with hugs, sharing how much fun they had reconnecting and relaxing with their friends. 

That moment helped me see the full impact of my work, giving students a space to be themselves, explore their connection with Israel, and build the confidence to take the leap and travel to Israel with Birthright. In fact, this Birthright Israel recruitment season ended up with the most buses ever sent from Penn State Hillel: four in total for this coming summer. It鈥檚 so inspiring to know that my work with students makes them want to deepen their connection with Israel, and to share this transformative journey with me.

From coffee chats to Birthright Israel trips, Shabbat programs to giant batches of matzah ball soup, I feel so lucky to be doing this work here at Penn State Hillel, connecting with students and broadening their experiences with Hillel, Israel, and Jewish life on campus.

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News

How Hillel Israel is Finding Joy

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

March 4, 2026

On college campuses around the world, Jewish students celebrated Purim with carnivals, service activities, dance parties, and a variety of other programs focusing on bringing their communities together for this holiday centered on Jewish joy and resilience.

But for Hillel communities across Israel, Purim looked very different this year. With the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, large Purim gatherings were replaced with neighborhood Megillah readings, tiny costume parties, and exchanges of food and gifts 鈥� all happening in miklatim, or shelters, as missiles continued to fall.

鈥淥ur daughters are six and three, and they were so excited for their school Purim parties 鈥� especially after weeks spent carefully preparing a costume,鈥� said Grace Baker, director of development for Hillel Israel. 鈥淲e celebrated at home while doing our best to create moments of joy and stability, mainly by baking together and filling our days with creative Purim activities. But it isn鈥檛 the same as being surrounded by classmates and teachers in a festive classroom.鈥�

Most colleges in Israel are on break right now, so students are home with their families, but Hillel staff members are regularly reaching out to check in and offer support. And while the majority of programs planned for Hillel students were cancelled, some shifted to online programming instead. 

For Purim, Yishai Goldflam, deputy director of Hillel Israel, hosted a small megillah reading in his living room for a few elderly neighbors with limited mobility, and between sirens, Hillel Israel Executive Director Noga Brenner-Samia read the megillah on Zoom in her shelter, accompanied by her neighbors.

鈥淲e are not giving up on costumes and hamentaschen,鈥� Goldflam said, joking that he hoped the sirens would synchronize with mentions of Haman during his reading, replacing the usual need for groggers and noisemakers.

Hillel is also supporting students and professionals who were traveling in Israel when the conflict began. 鈥淚n my little world, I was blessed to be able to give support to two amazing Hillel professionals from Krakow, Poland who got stuck here,鈥� said 糖心vlogl Associate Vice President of Global Israel Experiences Esther Abramowitz. 鈥淭hey were actually at Ben Gurion airport on Saturday morning when the missiles started and the airport shut down. They were brought to Jerusalem, but their luggage wasn鈥檛!鈥� Abramowitz was able to help them safely evacuate with a group of Maccabee Task Force participants from the University of Michigan. 

A student from Hillel Ben-Gurion University (BGU) who is currently stranded abroad has remained in close contact with Yehudah, a Holocaust survivor he volunteers with through Hillel BGU, over the last few days. When a missile struck Be’er Sheva and damaged Yehudah鈥檚 home, the student mobilized the Hillel BGU community, recruiting volunteers to help Yehudah move his belongings from his damaged apartment to a nearby hotel.

Other Hillel professionals are managing challenges closer to home. Reut Noyman, deputy director of Hillel Israel, had her apartment severely damaged in one of the first missile attacks, and has been called up to reserve duty.

鈥淎t this point, I am just thankful that no one [in my building] was hurt,鈥� she said.

Despite the anxiety, uncertainty, and constant interruptions of daily life, Hillel Israel staff are still doing all they can to support students from afar and finding ways to spread joy: sharing mishloach manot (bags of treats traditionally exchanged on Purim) with neighbors in their shelters, and honoring the mitzvot of Purim by reading megillah in small groups or together on Zoom.

Capturing the full range of her experience over the last few days, Abramowitz reflected, 鈥淚 am alive and living in Jerusalem and that is my complicated, beautiful, grateful, joyous and upside down reality.鈥�

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Hillel Stories

Israel

Israel at Last: Building Friendships and Belonging Through Birthright Israel

Author

Kylie Miller

Date

January 14, 2026

Kylie Miller is a fourth-year student at Roosevelt University, studying musical theater dance. She is president of Roosevelt Hillel and a member of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet. Kylie recently traveled to Israel as part of a Birthright Israel trip organized by 糖心vlogl. Here are her reflections from her trip:

I grew up with a strong Zionist identity, in a household and synagogue where Israel was always part of the conversation. From a young age, I heard about Birthright Israel trips and understood them as a meaningful opportunity to connect more deeply with our history, our people, and our land. Long before I ever applied, I knew that going to Israel through Birthright Israel was something I wanted for myself. And after many cancellations and uncertainties in the aftermath of October 7th, finally making that journey this winter felt especially powerful.  

Though all 10 days of the trip were impactful, there were a couple of notable moments along the way. One of the most impactful moments of the trip was visiting Kibbutz Gonen, in Northern Israel, and spending time with resident Mayan Lesh and his family in their home, which they call the 鈥淗ouse of Inspiration.鈥� They welcomed our group inside, shared the story of building their home using environmentally friendly materials, and invited us to experience their space not as visitors, but as guests. While there, we learned about sustainable building practices, and even made our own small bottles of za鈥檃tar to take home.

Being welcomed into a family鈥檚 home, even briefly, was grounding. It reminded me that Israel is so much more than the historical sites or headlines 鈥� it鈥檚 people, families, and lived values. That sense of warmth and intentionality stayed with me long after we left, along with the za鈥檃tar I brought back to the United States.

Another defining part of the trip was the time we spent with the Israeli soldiers who joined our group. For five days, they traveled with us, through Tel Aviv for Shabbat, down south for a Bedouin tent experience, and eventually to Jerusalem. Some of my favorite memories of the entire trip came from conversations with them: talking about where they鈥檙e from, their military service, their friendships, and their hopes for the future. They became more than people accompanying us, they became friends.

Another moment that stayed with me was our visit to Masada. I had been there once before, but this time felt completely different. As we explored the fortress, our tour guide, Talia, brought history to life by sharing the story of Masada throughout our journey. Standing at the top, looking out over the desert, and even seeing a rainbow stretch across the sky was unexpectedly powerful. The combination of physical effort, storytelling, and shared experience made Masada feel less like a historical site and more like a moment of connection with both the past and the present.

Similarly, our visit to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, was a deeply meaningful experience. I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and visited the Holocaust Museum there often, so I thought I knew what to expect. But Yad Vashem was different. The structure of the museum, the way the tragedy of the story unfolded, and the emotional weight of walking through it were unlike anything I had experienced before. 

Our tour lasted several hours and began outside, among trees planted in honor of those who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Throughout the entire museum, the roof had a strip of glass that allowed you to see the trees at any moment if you simply looked up. Our guide told us this was meant to serve as a reminder of the incredible people who helped the Jews escape, as you were seeing that garden memorializing those brave people. Having that glimmer of hope, if you ever needed a breather from the intensity, was a beautiful touch. Inside, the exhibits pulled me into the historical reality and the emotional impact of the Shoah in a way that felt deeply personal. Even with my prior knowledge, the experience challenged and moved me, reminding me why memory, education, and responsibility are so central to Jewish life.

After years of waiting and uncertainty, this Birthright trip felt like coming home. Returning to Israel 鈥� especially in this moment 鈥� deepened my sense of responsibility to Jewish peoplehood and leadership. As a member of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet, I鈥檓 carrying these experiences back to campus with me, using what I learned about connection, resilience, and community to help strengthen Jewish life for my peers. This trip shaped how I see Israel and Jewish identity, and will no doubt influence how I show up as a Jewish leader.

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Hillel Stories

Israel

Finding Meaning and Community at the Israel Leadership Network Shabbaton

Author

Keira Kepets

Date

November 5, 2025

This year, I鈥檝e been honored to serve as the CUNY representative to 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Israel Leadership Network (ILN) and president of the Hillel at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. From day one, I have been inspired by the support and community I found. Whether I鈥檓 looking for a new idea, up-to-date information about what鈥檚 happening in Israel, or help crafting a statement or designing a program, the ILN community of student leaders and professional staff is always there to share resources and advice. I can鈥檛 think of a better way to spend my senior year at John Jay College than being part of this community of leaders.

Recently, the ILN community gathered for a Shabbaton in Austin, Texas. For three days, we bonded as a group, shared ideas on how to make the pro-Israel movement thrive on campus, and exchanged stories about how we鈥檝e already started making a difference.

The central theme of this year鈥檚 Shabbaton was about finding and expressing our 鈥渨hy鈥� 鈥� why Israel matters, why it鈥檚 important to speak up about our connection to Israel on campus, and why we, personally, have chosen to make this central to our college experience and leadership work. Over the course of the weekend, we had deep conversations not just about our own motivations,but also how we can help other students on campus identify their own 鈥渨hy.鈥� 

Since each campus is so unique, every member had different experiences and stories to share. Each of us is an expert on our own campus community, and I found it so interesting to learn about how other student leaders engaged people at their schools, and compare their approach to mine. I learned so many new ways to help students on my campus get involved in pro-Israel programming, and I鈥檓 already excited to start putting them into practice.

A conversation that really stood out to me was one I had with another student leader about how we can bridge the gap between Jewish students from different religious backgrounds in our pro-Israel programming . As a Modern Orthodox Jew, this conversation inspired me  and will be an  important area of focus for me this year. The skills I鈥檝e been learning withILN give me the confidence to start building connections and community with students from all kinds of Jewish backgrounds.

It was also so meaningful to participate in beautiful Jewish rituals and prayer over Shabbat. The service on Saturday night was especially meaningful 鈥� we gathered outside under the stars and wrapped our arms around each other as we said goodbye to Shabbat and welcomed in a new week. In that moment, I looked around the full circle and felt that I truly knew and connected to every amazing person in the group. 

I can鈥檛 think of a better way to have kicked off this year鈥檚 cohort of Israel leadership on campus. Beyond the productivity and programming of the weekend, it was uplifting to see and connect with more students like me: leaders who are here to make college campuses a more welcoming and inclusive environment for pro-Israel students.

Keira Kepets is a senior at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she is majoring in fraud examination and financial forensics. She is passionate about Israel and Jewish advocacy, is a part of many Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, and currently serves as the CUNY trustee in the Israel Leadership Network.

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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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