News

eJP: What happens when students lead Jewish learning: An experiment in Jewish male engagement

Author

Rabbi Rob Gleisser and Mollie Feldman

Date

June 30, 2026

Originally published on June 19, 2026 in eJewish Philanthropy,Ģżā€œ,ā€Ģżby Penn State Hillel Senior Jewish Educator Rabbi Rob Gleisser and ĢĒŠÄvlogl Senior Director of the Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Experience Mollie Feldman, explores a new model for engaging Jewish male students in Jewish learning.ĢżHere are excerpts from the piece:

“On a Tuesday night at Penn State, groups of fraternity brothers gather in their living rooms to talk about masculinity, responsibility and what it means to be a Jewish man. There is no rabbi or teacher at the front of the room. The conversation is led by a peer, for their peers…

For decades, Hillel has built learning programs designed to help students explore Jewish ideas in meaningful, relationship-centered ways. This model has proven remarkably effective at cultivating Jewish identity and a sense of belonging on campus. 

And yet, a set of converging trends is impacting the landscape in which this work unfolds: First, as noted, male student engagement continues to lag behind that of their female peers. Second, students increasingly trust their peers much more than they trust institutions or traditional authorities. Third, weā€™ve found fewer students are stepping into leadership roles in the post-COVID-19 era, absent compelling frameworks for doing so. These trends are both root causes and outcomes of one another, affecting Jewish life on campus as well as Jewish communities beyond the college years. 

The Men to Mensches (M2M) program, developed at Penn State Hillel and supported by the Maimonides Fund, offers a response to these converging realities, as well as the larger problem outlined in Wainer, Kurtz and Kenterā€™s piece. M2M is a four-session, peer-led, Jewish values and identity conversation that takes place within an existing male-networked community, such as a fraternity or an athletic team…ĢżĢż

This spring, ĢĒŠÄvlogl piloted M2M on 17 campuses to test whether the model that succeeded at Penn State Hillel can scale. 

This R&D approach aims to address this sector-wide male engagement challenge: seek out inspiring and impactful campus initiatives, understand the conditions that make them successful and invest in testing them across the movement. By scaling local innovations through national pilots, we can generate new knowledge, identify promising practices and actively explore strategies to strengthen male engagement and contribution across Jewish life. 

Our hope is not only to replicate the success seen at Penn State Hillel, but to learn and to challenge our own assumptions in ways that might strengthen the broader Jewish ecosystem.”Ģż

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Hillel Stories

Jewish Identity

Jewish Learning

Self-Care is Torah Too

Author

Cal Newmann

Date

February 23, 2026

Cal Newmann is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the president of VCU Hillel. They shared their story in celebration of Jewish Disability, Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month.

Before I began attending events at Hillel, I rarely interacted with the Jewish community where I live. I was raised in a multifaith household, and it wasnā€™t until my early 20s, during the COVID-19 pandemic, that I finally found the time and space to connect with my Jewish heritage.

When Hillelā€™s then-executive director approached me about getting involved on campus a year later, I was ecstatic. I didnā€™t even realize there was a Jewish organization at Virginia Commonwealth University. I jumped right in, and I havenā€™t looked back.

Because of my disability, Iā€™m rarely able to go to synagogue. My sleep disorder makes it so I need to be in bed before most services start, and my chronic pain makes sitting in one place for too long prohibitive. Hillel has given me a way to fully participate in my Jewish community. It also offers me the chance to share what Iā€™ve been given: acceptance, connection, and a true sense of belonging. Through Hillel, Iā€™ve met many other Jewish students, including other disabled students, and that has made a huge difference in my life ā€“ reminding me that Iā€™m not alone.

Iā€™m also a little older than most college students, which can make it hard to find people my age at a four-year institution. Through Hillel, Iā€™ve been able to connect with Jewish students and members of the Jewish community who feel closer to where I am in life. As student president, Iā€™ve also had the chance to step into leadership and help others who are just beginning their own journeys to find their footing, the way I once did.

Right now, Iā€™m participating in a Shabbat Hosting Lab cohort, and I love the spirit behind it: making Shabbat your own. As a student with a heavy workload, as well as a disability, the message of accessibility in Jewish practice really resonates with me. The process of exploring what Shabbat means in my life has been powerful, and Iā€™m excited to host some non-traditional Shabbat gatherings with Jewish friends in a Discord community Iā€™m part of.

Another part of Judaism Iā€™ve embraced has been learning about the principle of pikuach nefesh, preserving life. Jewish law doesnā€™t just allow me to take care of myself ā€“ it requires it.

The best representation of pikuach nefesh that Iā€™ve experienced is how Iā€™ve learned to navigate observing Yom Kippur. Because of my disability, I canā€™t fast on Yom Kippur. For a long time, I worried that meant I was doing something wrong, or that I wasnā€™t ā€œJewish enough.ā€ But Iā€™ve come to understand that practicing differently doesnā€™t make me a bad Jew. It means Iā€™m observing with intention.

A rabbi once offered this framing for observing Yom Kippur to me: instead of putting cream and sugar in my coffee, take it black. Or better yet, drink water. That advice helped me let go of guilt. Sometimes I feel like Iā€™m missing the point of Yom Kippur, the idea of afflicting oneself. Then my own body reminds me that I live with affliction every day. The meaning of the holiday, for me, becomes something else: reflection, humility, and care. Iā€™ve taken this lesson with me into my everyday life as well. 

Iā€™m endlessly grateful for Hillel as a place of belonging. Being student president these past few years has helped me build leadership skills, meet other Jewish students, and most importantly, make new friends.

Even though Iā€™m a senior and will be graduating at the end of spring, Iā€™ll still be around for another year as part of my masterā€™s program. Iā€™m genuinely looking forward to what comes next.

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News

Voting is Very Jewish: Reflections on Civic Education at Hillel

Author

Danielle Kranjec, Dani Levine, Anna Worrell and Zoe Levine

Date

November 3, 2025

Jewish students across the United States are exercising their right to vote on Election Day today. At Hillel, we believe that civic action and education arenā€™t only ways to engage students on campus ā€“ they are the deepest expressions of our Jewish values. 

For generations, Jews in America have embraced the opportunity and responsibility to participate in democratic life. Today, we draw on ancient wisdom to meet the challenges of the present, ensuring that Jewish students are prepared to make a positive difference at their universities, and also to embrace their civic responsibility as voters, impacting their cities, states, and communities.

Hillelā€™s work to educate students and engage them in the work of citizenship takes several paths. Through our nonpartisan voter initiative, MitzVote, Hillel has helped thousands of students register and show up informed at the polls. Last year, more than 40 campuses hosted a , weaving together the ideas of civic engagement and ritual life. 

On the education side, learning about why civic engagement matters as a Jewish value led us to develop Jewish Values and Civic Engagement, a student learning cohort with curriculum created in partnership with the . This four-week series, first offered in 2024, offered students a chance to wrestle with complex questions at the intersection of Jewish identity and American democracy.

In the cohorts that gathered in the weeks leading up to the November 2024 election, students came from a wide range of backgrounds ā€” first-years and graduate students, seasoned activists and first-time voters. The conversations were deeply personal and often emotional. Some students brought stories of community organizing; others were still deciding whether they would vote at all. One participant, a survivor of gun violence, was inspired to start a chapter of Students Demand Action on their campus.

Despite differing political views, students found common ground in the shared project of Jewish learning. They explored what it means to be part of a covenantal tradition that values justice, humility, peace, and responsibility. They embodied the rabbinic principle of mahloket lā€™shem shamayim ā€” disagreement for the sake of heaven ā€” modeling the kind of pluralism that strengthens both Jewish life and democracy. 

Nessa Bleill, a student at the , enjoyed the civic engagement cohort at Hillel because it opened her eyes to ā€œhow Jews differ in their civic opinions and where these beliefs stem from,ā€ saying, ā€œI feel civic conversations are importantā€¦ in the Hillel space because [they are] essential to connecting fully to your Jewish identity.” The idea that communities can be strengthened through understanding our differences is a crucial element of this cohort learning experience.

In addition to cohort learning, Hillel is uniquely positioned to guide students during a formative time in their journeys where they might be voting for the first time, testing their values in real world contexts, or exploring issues that shape their long-term civic commitments. Ellie Moseman, a student at the University of Wisconsin, shared that participating in civic engagement work at her Hillel made her feel that she was truly making a difference in her community. She said, ā€œIt is so important to give students a voice and help them give back.ā€ And Hillel is committed to providing those opportunities for students on every campus.

That commitment to helping students engage with democracy is more and more relevant in our current political climate. For American Jews, particularly Jewish college students, civic participation is more than a right. Itā€™s a mitzvah, a sacred responsibility rooted in our deepest values. As former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day Oā€™Connor reminded us, ā€œThe practice of democracy is not passed down through the gene pool. It must be taught and learned by each new generation.ā€ At Hillel, weā€™re proud to be doing exactly that.

Civic learning and engagement at Hillel donā€™t happen in isolationā€” this work grows out of relationships, community, and Jewish tradition. Hillelā€™s participation in the , convened over the past year by and the , helped us to contextualize this work in the landscape of civic initiatives across the Jewish community. 

Weā€™re proud of every student voting today, and of every student living their Jewish values through civic engagement. 

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News

A Time for Return: Returning to Each Other in the New Year

Author

Amichai Levy

Date

September 29, 2025

Each year, the beginning of a new academic year coinciding with a new Jewish year leaves us wondering ā€” what can we learn from each new beginning to inspire reconnection, growth, and well-being for the year ahead? In this installment of our High Holiday series, ā€œA Time for Returnā€, Amichai Levy, Springboard Fellow at the , shares practical steps for students to repair and return to relationships with each other.Ģż

Read the first installment of a “Time for Return” from Rabbi Ben Berger, senior vice president of Jewish education, community, and culture at ĢĒŠÄvlogl.

College is a time of immense growth, but that growth doesnā€™t always come easily. As you head into a new school year, youā€™ll encounter new challenges and new people, and you will make mistakes. Itā€™s a part of life. We sometimes hurt others without even meaning to, and the big question is always: What do we do when that happens?

The Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur offers a profound framework to help answer this question. It centers around the concept of teshuvah, a Hebrew word often translated as “repentance,” but more accurately meaning ā€œto return.ā€ In a world that often demands perfection, teshuvah reminds us that we all fall short, and that our path forward is not about being flawless but about turning toward our best selves and our relationships.

The Dangers of Absolutes

In our culture today, we often see extremes in how we handle conflict. On one hand, there’s a strong push to reject criticism. The idea is that as long as you’re not hurting anyone, you have the right to do whatever you want in the name of personal freedom. 

But this can sometimes create an inability to turn inward to accept constructive feedback or see how our actions might unintentionally affect others.

On the other hand, sometimes people are condemned and ostracized for even minor faults or accusations, regardless of the full story. This can result in public humiliation and a sense of absolute finality, leaving no room for growth or forgiveness. Itā€™s the exact opposite of the ā€œlive and let liveā€ approach.

Both of these extremes miss a crucial point: our relationships are the fabric of our lives. Our actions donā€™t exist in a vacuum; they ripple out and impact the people around us. Teshuvah offers a meaningful alternative, an approach that is neither completely permissive nor totally unforgiving. It helps us accept that people are flawed and that mistakes happen, and it gives us a path to repair and rebuild.

The Power of Return

Yom Kippur is a day of deep self-reflection. Itā€™s a call to take stock of our faults and the ways weā€™ve hurt others. The holiday liturgy describes a powerful idea: that our actions have the power to change our fate. It says that teshuvah, along with prayer and giving back, can “mitigate the severity of a decree.”

This isn’t about an abstract, all-powerful judge; rather, it’s about the transformative power of our own choices. As Rabbi Alan Lew, the former spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Sholom in San Francisco, writes, teshuvah is a reciprocal process. We have to take the first step, but we can’t do it alone. The possibility of transformation is always there, but we must choose to turn toward it. This journey isn’t always a straight line, but a process of returning again and again. Every step away is also a step toward home.

This is a powerful ethic for college students. You will inevitably say the wrong thing, forget to show up for a friend, or act selfishly. When you do, you donā€™t have to get stuck in shame or despair. Instead, you can lean into the idea of teshuvah. You can be honest about your shortcomings and try to make things right. You can offer a genuine apology and work to understand the other personā€™s perspective.

A Call to Action

So, what does this look like in practice? Here are a few ways to bring this idea of return into your new year:

• Set aside time for reflection. Even if itā€™s just 15 minutes, find a few quiet moments to think about your relationships. Have you hurt anyone? Have you neglected a friendship? Identify one area where you know you need to improve.
• Have that hard conversation. If youā€™ve been avoiding a difficult conversation with a friend or family member, make a plan to have it. Be honest, listen actively, and focus on repairing the relationship, not on who was right or wrong.
• Find an accountability partner. Talk to a trusted friend about the idea of teshuvah and your personal goals for the year. Check in with each other regularly to discuss your progress and offer support.

Your actions and words have immense power, and you have a responsibility to use that power for good. You owe it to yourself and to the people in your life to try to be better. By embracing the spirit of teshuvah, you can move away from judgment and toward a more nuanced understanding of mistakes, accountability, and the incredible, ongoing process of forgiveness.

May this new year be filled with meaningful connections and growth for you and for the communities you hold dear.

Amichai is the Springboard Ezra Jewish Education Fellow at Hillel Council of New England, which serves schools with small Jewish populations in the Boston area.

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News

Revelations on the Omer: How Hillel Made Its Counting Count

Author

Lily Coltoff

Date

May 30, 2025

For the past seven weeks, Hillel professionals have been connecting over WhatsApp for Sefirat haOmer, the Counting of the Omer, marking each of the 49 days from the second night of Passover to the holiday of Shavuot, the day when the Jewish people received the Torah. To help celebrate each day, Hillel educators and leaders from across the world have been sharing their reflections on the theme of revelation and answering the question, ā€œWhat does it mean to experience revelation in the modern day?ā€ Here are some of their thoughts:

Sofia Seitchik – Gallaudet Hillel

ā€œWhy revelation? What does it mean?ā€ asked Sofia Seitchik, program director of Gallaudet Hillel. ā€œNot only does it receive  [the] Torah, but it also awakens our soul, our history, and our identityā€¦ The Omerā€™s purpose is to connect us to our roots and spiritual growth, [allow us to] reflect our lives by counting on each day, and, step by step, to transform.ā€ Sofia, who was born Deaf and grew up in the former Soviet Union, compared her own journey of finding a more inclusive and welcoming community in the United States to the transition from Passover to Shavuot, a transition from slavery to freedom, then to enlightenment.

Samantha Brody – Boston University Hillel

Samantha Brody, Springboard Ezra Fellow at BU Hillel, focused on the liminal space between Passover and Shavuot. ā€œThe Counting of the Omer, while it doesnā€™t require the same level of preparation and all the cooking that Pesach and Shavuot do, it actually takes more time. Counting the Omer draws attention to the space between the two holidays and the journey that bā€™nai Yisrael [the Jewish nation] goes on from when they leave Egypt until theyā€™re ready to receive the Torah.ā€ She stressed the importance of the Omer taking time to count, saying, ā€œCounting the Omer reminds us that, in revelation, and in our own learning today, there isnā€™t instant gratification.ā€ 

Zion Tunstall – University of California, Santa Cruz Hillel

Zion Tunstall, director of Jewish student life at Santa Cruz Hillel, took a different approach to revelation, sharing, ā€œWhen we think of revelation, we often think of Sinaiā€¦ We imagine that truth arrives in grand, dramatic moments, that wisdom comes from above, far away, somewhere out there. But Torah does not only arrive in spectacle. Torah can come softly.ā€ She goes on to describe some of that Torah, saying, ā€œMaybe, the most sacred truth of all, is that we are not only carrying our own wisdom. We are the living, breathing, revelation of every hope, every prayer, every whispered dream our ancestors carried across deserts, seas, and centuries.ā€

Rabbi Rob Gleisser – Penn State Hillel

When thinking about receiving revelation, Rabbi Rob Gleisser, senior Jewish educator at Penn State Hillel, took a more comedic approach and an opportunity to showcase his musical talents. He sang, ā€œWhen we think about Sinai, weā€™re taught we were all there, that means me and you/We received the Torah – that means all the Israelites, that means all the Jews.ā€ He goes on to imagine what it might look like for all of Am Yisrael – the Jewish people – to be at Sinai, describing, among other examples, ā€œYour executive director was basically davening with Doja Cat. /Seinfeld was telling jokes to your first-year Springboard and Ben Platt.ā€

We hope you enjoyed this taste of Omer Torah that Hillel professionals have been sharing over the last several weeks. Interested in learning more about Shavuot? Check out our guide to celebrating this Torah and cheese-centered holiday!Ģż

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News

At the Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, Springboard Fellows ĢĒŠÄvlog the Possibilities of Rabbinic Life

Author

ĢĒŠÄvlogl

Date

May 8, 2025

ĢĒŠÄvlogl Springboard Fellows are young professionals looking to embark on a meaningful career, and who choose to focus their energy on building thriving Jewish communities on college campuses. They spend two years empowering Jewish students to find their voice, inspiring their journeys, and leaving their mark on campus life and the Jewish future. 

A core focus of the Springboard Fellowship is helping fellows discover what they want to do next in their careers and then helping them build the skills and connections they need to move forward in that journey. 

Thatā€™s why Springboard Executive Director Leah Palestrant and ĢĒŠÄvlogl Associate Vice President for Jewish Learning Danielle Kranjec decided to organize a recent Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, an immersive weekend experience in New York City for Springboard Fellows interested  in exploring the rabbinate in the future. Designed to provide space for personal reflection, exposure to a diversity of careers as a rabbi, and the opportunity to meet with current rabbinical schools and students, participants were able to experience how rabbis are shaping Jewish communal life in various ways.

ā€œThe Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton was a sacred experiment ā€” one that created space for fellows to engage in deep, communal discernment about their Jewish leadership journeys,ā€ Palestrant said. ā€œWe witnessed how transformative it can be when emerging leaders are invited to explore spiritual questions with curiosity, courage, and a diverse array of rabbinic models.ā€

Held on the Upper West Side and developed in partnership with and several rabbinical schools and institutions of Jewish learning, the shabbaton offered fellows the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of rabbis, synagogues, and communities where they encountered multiple models of what it means to live and lead as a rabbi today. 

ā€œBefore the shabbaton, I felt anxious about telling people that I was considering rabbinical school. I worried that I didnā€™t know nearly enough to be a serious candidate,ā€ said Claire Shroder, Springboard Innovation Fellow at Ithaca College. ā€œBut I learned that nearly all of us shared similar doubts.ā€ 

She continued, ā€œMany of us were asking ourselves the same core questions. I had been wondering, ā€˜Is there anything else I can do in my life that would be just as meaningful?ā€™ But what I needed to ask was, ā€˜How can I best serve the Jewish community? What will bring me purpose and joy?ā€™ The shabbaton gave me the space and time to reflect deeply on those questions.ā€

Fellows took part in reflective and interactive exercises and text study sessions, all grounded in the norm of ā€œcuriosity over certainty.ā€ Over the course of the weekend, participants were able to participate in workshops, learning sessions, and deep discussions about prayer and tradition, Jewish communal life, and questions about the future of Jewish American leadership and the American rabbinate. 

In reflecting on the workshops and sessions, Amichai Levy,  Springboard Fellow at the Hillel Council of New England shared, “The Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton was such a cool experienceā€¦ [It] really expanded my thinking about what rabbinical school could look like for me, and is encouraging me to think about this path much more seriously.ā€ 

Interspersed with these programming sessions were all of the joyful, energetic activities expected at a Hillel shabbaton: prayer, music, community-building, and (of course!) delicious food.

ā€œI was especially grateful for the opportunity to see the many ways people experience Judaism,ā€ Shroder said. ā€œFrom the service at , where everyone got up and danced, to the service at Hadar, where page numbers werenā€™t called and everyone used a different siddur ā€” I felt God in every space where people gathered.

On the final day of the Shabbaton, participants met with representatives and current students from , the , and , rabbinical schools for the Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox movements, respectively. Fellows were able to learn more about the different programs, hear stories from current students about the rabbinical school experience, and ask their own questions. They closed with a last collective reflection session, zeroing in on the question: Whatā€™s next in your rabbinic journey?

ā€œIā€™m excited to have so many meaningful conversations in the weeks ahead as I continue exploring my path,ā€ said Shroder. ā€œIf everyone considering rabbinical school could experience something as transformational as the Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, weā€™d never have a shortage of future rabbis.ā€

Learn more about the Springboard Fellowship and its impact.

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News

Northeastern University Hillel Hosts a Community Bā€™nai Mitzvah Celebration to Remember

Author

ĢĒŠÄvlogl

Date

March 19, 2025

This past weekend, at Northeastern University Hillel, nine students were called to the Torah for a special, community-wide Hillel bā€™nai mitzvah ceremony.

“Becoming [a] bat mitzvah at 20 years old was one of the best decisions of my whole life,ā€ said Noa May Zebley, a student at Berklee College of Music who participated in the program. ā€œI feel like I have been able to make a choice that is truly my own, reflects my intentions, and starts a new chapter.ā€

The studentsā€™ journey began in January,  when nine students came together to form a bā€™nai mitzvah study cohort, embarking on two months of Jewish learning, reflection, and personal growth. In addition to practicing the Hebrew blessings, and learning and exploring the Torah portion for the ceremony ā€” , notable for ā€” students engaged in peer-to-peer study, exploring the themes and ideas of the Torah portion together. 

Jacob Kline, who also serves as the vice president of Jewish life at Northeastern Hillel, knew how important it was that the program include the traditional aspects of a bā€™nai mitzvah, while still remaining welcoming and accessible to students of all kinds of Jewish backgrounds and experiences. 

ā€œWeā€™ve worked really hard to ensure they have an experience that meets the Jewish requirements for a bā€™nai mitzvah, and [is] meaningful for the participants who are being called to the Torah,ā€ he said. ā€œWeā€™ve spent time meeting one-on-one with each participant, hearing their many different reasons for seeking this Jewish milestone at this point in their lives, and have created a custom traditional program that supports each of them through this exciting journey.ā€

ā€œAt its core, this experience is about more than just learning prayers and traditions ā€” it is about finding belonging, purpose, growth, joy, and empowerment,ā€ agreed Rabbi Jacob Weiss, Northeastern Hillelā€™s rabbi and wellness chaplain, who helped design the program and work with participants. ā€œStudents are given the opportunity to reflect on their Jewish identity in a way that is meaningful to them, exploring their connection to Torah, community, and personal values.ā€

Students in this first cohort came from every current graduating year, from first-years to seniors, and also included a graduate student and two alumni. While each student had a different reason for participating, what they all shared was a desire to actively claim their Jewish identity, and a commitment to participating in Jewish community.

ā€œI was drawn to participate in the bā€™nai mitzvah because I didnā€™t get the chance to have a bat mitzvah as a child but always wished that I did,ā€ said Maya Kozlov, who is graduating this year. ā€œI knew that it would be an exciting part of my journey with Judaism and the service would be a special memory for me.ā€

For Rabbi Weiss, one of the most meaningful aspects of the program was working with each student to discuss the ways that they found resonance with the Torah portion and the ways it came to life for them, and also helping a handful of the students navigate the process of choosing and claiming a Hebrew name for themselves.

ā€œOne student came to me and said they were probably going to write about something that they have been really challenged by and disagree with,ā€ he said. ā€œSo itā€™s been really cool to see them hone their own values and bring the Torah to life in their own way.ā€

The experience culminated in a community-wide ceremony featuring an inclusive, student-led prayer service. Friends and family were invited, and each participant was called to the Torah as a bā€™nai mitzvah. The ceremony was followed by a festive brunch, where the students shared their divrei Torah and reflected on what this journey has meant to them.

“Becoming a bat mitzvah at 19 has given me the chance to better understand my relationship with Judaism in a purposeful way,ā€ said first-year student Caroline Berman. ā€œI am so happy that the Hillel community was there to support me throughout the process!”

Yasher koach (great job), and mazel tov to all of the participants!

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News

Notes from Springboard Fellows: Jewish Learning on Campus is ĢĒŠÄvlog More Than Just Knowledge

Author

ĢĒŠÄvlogl

Date

January 14, 2025

Notes from Springboard Fellows is a series of deep dives into the work of first and second year Springboard Fellows who play transformative roles in their Hillel communities. Read on to learn more about Chaya Mamer, the Ezra Jewish Education Fellow at Guelph Hillel with Hillels of Ontario.

Interested in becoming a Springboard Fellow? Apply today.

Jewish educators have a unique role in their communities, and college communities are no exception. Chaya Mamer, an Ezra Jewish Education Springboard Fellow at the University of Guelph, has made teaching and studying Torah the core of her work with students, encouraging them to use knowledge and exploration to find new ways of forming relationships, deepening their Jewish identities, and developing a sense of curiosity in all aspects of their lives. 

Chaya grew up in Calgary, Canada, and attended the University of Waterloo as an undergraduate, where she studied political science and business with a minor in economics. She was deeply involved in , where she served as a student staff member, ran a campus food bank, and ultimately became student president. Inspired by the Springboard Fellow at her Hillel, Chaya knew she wanted to dedicate her life to Jewish nonprofit work. 

After she witnessed the upheaval on college campuses following October 7, Chaya realized she wanted to help build bridges between communities. 

She knew this work would require compassionate, sensitive, and innovative approaches to learning and teaching, and with that in mind, she identified the Springboard Fellowship as a strong pathway to that goal ā€” specifically, the Ezra Jewish Education track of the program.

Ezra Jewish Education Fellows follow in the footsteps of the biblical Ezra, who reengaged and reinvigorated the Jewish community by reading the Torah aloud in the town square on Shabbat and market days, and translating it for people to understand. Ezraā€™s commitment to teaching, engagement, and innovation is a model for fellows to bring Judaism off the page and into life on campus. 

ā€œWith the Ezra track, you can come in with whatever your knowledge base is and youā€™ll have the opportunity to learn and grow,ā€ she said. ā€œAnd then you have the opportunity to learn how to share your knowledge with others.ā€

Over the past six months of her fellowship, Chaya has been able to put her learning into action. And while sheā€™s been an educator for her students, itā€™s not a one-way relationship ā€” theyā€™ve been teaching her, too. ā€œThey walked onto campus this year with joy and courage,ā€ she said. ā€œSeeing them flourish has kept me inspired all semester.ā€

Another powerful aspect of Chayaā€™s experience as a Springboard Fellow is the ability to connect with a large group of other young professionals with whom she shares goals and interests. Sheā€™s found the support of her cohort to be deeply meaningful. ā€œThe early months and years of your career can be really lonely,ā€ she said. ā€œIā€™m grateful to be able to reach out to people who are at the same stage and in similar roles.ā€

Recently, Chaya joined the Fellow Advisory Committee, a group of fellows who act as liaisons between their cohorts and the ĢĒŠÄvlogl Team Springboard, after being inspired by how much Team Springboard cared about hearing feedback and perspectives from her peers. Working with Springboard Fellowship Manager Ava Gurman, ChayaĢżbecame part of the cohort communications committee, representing the unique Canadian Jewish community. Sheā€™s enjoyed being a bridge between Team Springboard and the fellows, as well as getting to know fellows from both active cohorts.

Chaya sees the Springboard Fellowship as an opportunity to work within the Hillel movement and learn what the organization does, and to be part of its next stage of growth in a meaningful way. She also has some advice for prospective Springboard Fellows. 

ā€œApproach your application and your interview process with a desire to improve and support your community. Trust yourself ā€” your experience and perspective is invaluable,ā€ she said.

To learn more about the Springboard Fellowship and see if itā€™s right for you, visit today.

The post Notes from Springboard Fellows: Jewish Learning on Campus is ĢĒŠÄvlog More Than Just Knowledge appeared first on ĢĒŠÄvlogl.

News

Letters from Alyssa: Why Finding Gratitude is a Jewish Value

Author

Alyssa Wallack

Date

November 26, 2024

Hi Friend,

The other morning, I was doing my usual rush to grab coffee between classes (if you know me, you know I pretty much live on coffee). Before I could say anything, Maria, the barista who has been my morning lifeline for four years, was already reaching for my cup. “Oat milk latte for Alyssa?ā€ she asked. 

Suddenly,  this simple interaction made me pause. In Judaism, there is a  beautiful value called hakarat hatov ā€“ which literally means “recognizing the good.” It’s about actively noticing and acknowledging the blessings in our lives, from the biggest moments to the smallest interactions.

Here’s what I love about hakarat hatov ā€“ it’s not just about feeling grateful, it’s about recognizing the source of every moment of goodness. It’s about understanding that my morning coffee isn’t just about the drink. It’s about Maria, who remembers my order, and has been a small, yet integral, part of my college journey. It’s about recognizing that, even in challenging times, threads of connection and kindness weave through our daily lives.

Ahead of Thanksgiving, itā€™s also worth recognizing that Judaismā€™s conception of gratitude is much deeper than just saying thank you. When we practice hakarat hatov, we’re actually fulfilling a mitzvah, a sacred obligation to bring more holiness into the world.

Judaism teaches us to notice the good, to acknowledge it, and to never take it for granted. Whether it’s saying the shehecheyanu blessing, a blessing to mark new beginnings, lighting Shabbat candles on Friday nights, or even saying a simple blessing before we eat ā€“ our tradition gives us so many opportunities to pause and practice hakarat hatov. These moments of gratitude aren’t just rituals; they’re reminders to stop and recognize the goodness around us.

So this Thanksgiving, as we gather around tables laden with turkey (or tofurky!) and stuffing, we’re actually participating in a practice that is deeply connected to Jewish values. We’re not only celebrating an American holiday ā€“ we’re fulfilling a sacred obligation to recognize and acknowledge the good in our lives.

Here’s how I’m planning to bring more intentional gratitude into my Thanksgiving this year:

1. Before the meal: Instead of the usual, quick “what are you thankful for?” roundtable, I’m going to invite my family to share a moment when someone else at the table impacted their life positively this year. It’s one thing to say Iā€™m grateful for my family; it’s another to specifically acknowledge how we have blessed each othersā€™ lives.
2. During the meal: I’m challenging myself to practice gratitude for things we often take for granted. The farmers who grew our food, the workers who transported it, the people who stocked the grocery shelves ā€“ our Thanksgiving meals are possible because of countless individuals, many whom we’ll never meet.
3. After the meal: I’m planning to write thank you notes to people who have impacted my life this year but might not know it ā€“ professors who wrote recommendations, the campus maintenance staff who always greet me with a smile, and the barista who remembers my order.

The beauty of hakarat hatov is that it’s about more than feeling grateful ā€“ it’s about expressing gratitude in ways that strengthen our connections and make goodness more visible in the world. When we acknowledge the good we receive, we become more aware of opportunities to create good for others.

So this Thanksgiving, as you pass the cranberry sauce and debate whether pumpkin or apple pie is superior (apple, obviously!), remember you’re not just participating in an American tradition. You’re engaging in the sacred Jewish practice of hakarat hatov, bringing more awareness, more connection, and more holiness into the world.

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with awareness of all the blessings that surround you,

Take good care, 

Alyssa

Originally from Los Angeles, Alyssa Wallack is a senior at the University of Southern California. A passionate advocate for Jewish and Israel-related causes, she’s now interning with ĢĒŠÄvlogl. When not immersed in her studies or various fellowships, Alyssa loves exploring LA’s food scene and connecting with fellow students about all things Jewish.

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Jewish Learning

Mental Health

Learning Wellness as a Jewish Value

Author

Daniella Cooper and Liora Knizhnik

Date

May 28, 2024

College is hard, and making time to care for your health and wellness can be even harder.

I didnā€™t expect that some of my most eye-opening learning about mental health would come from Hillel, but this past fall, I participated in a Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF) centered on wellness and Judaism at the University of Pittsburgh. As a double major in psychology and communication, Iā€™ve always been interested in mental health, but this year was the first time I learned that caring for your mental health isnā€™t just important ā€” it can be a way to practice your Jewish values. 

Our JLF cohort was led by Emily Levine, Hillel at Pittā€™s director of engagement, and Danielle Kranjec, associate vice president of ĢĒŠÄvlogl’s Center for Jewish and Israel Education/Meyerhoff Center, and focused on health and wellness from a Jewish perspective. I was really interested to understand how mental health and well-being was related to Judaism, since it wasnā€™t a connection Iā€™d ever made before. I was also interested to see how the curriculum would relate to what I was learning in my psychology classes. 

To my surprise, we talked about Jewish traditions and wellness in a way that was immediately applicable to our lives as college students. We learned about Shabbat and the concept of rest, about what it means to fast ā€” or not fast ā€” on Yom Kippur, what it means to care for a community without sacrificing our own well-being, and so much more.

Being part of this cohort at the time that I did made it even more relevant. Our group only met twice and had barely started to get to know each other before October 7. That day changed everything in so many ways, including our curriculum. Danielle and Emily shifted away from our written lessons, focusing more on discussing what was going on, how we were feeling, and what it meant to be experiencing this moment. Hillel was already working overtime to make sure we had spaces to talk or process, or even just eat and relax to get away from everything happening on campus, but this group felt more intentional and structured. 

For me, as someone with a lot of close friends at school who are not Jewish, having that outlet made a huge difference. My friends were supportive of me, but they didnā€™t have the same perspective and personal connection to what was happening. Iā€™ll always be grateful I had a support system where everyone was willing to talk and engage from a place of understanding, even when our perspectives or opinions were different. 

One of the biggest lessons I took away from my cohort and the curriculum as a whole was the idea that taking care of yourself is part of the way we can care for our communities. I hold a number of leadership positions ā€” itā€™s something Iā€™ve always enjoyed doing, and I really love helping other people and looking out for my community. But that often means Iā€™m stretched and at capacity, to the point where my friends will actually take me aside and say, ā€œDaniella, really, you need to step back. You need to take a minute for yourself.ā€ 

Taking a moment for myself is easier said than done. It felt like I was abandoning my responsibilities if I put myself first. But this year, in large part due to the JLF well-being curriculum, I started to understand that by taking some time to care for myself, I was actually putting myself into a better position to support my communities and lead by example. 

I decided to start small, by taking Sunday nights for myself. Instead of doing work or studying, I focused on activities that were  restful and restorative, like finding moments of peace for myself amid all the chaos. I think of it as a sort of personal Shabbat ā€” itā€™s not a full rest day, but itā€™s a time each week when I say to myself, okay, this is just for me. 

And Iā€™ve already noticed a difference. When Monday rolls around, I can actually accomplish what I need to do. I can talk to people and not be frustrated with them. Iā€™m in a better headspace, just from taking that time to put my mental well-being first.

Mental health is something that impacts everyone, in different ways. Because of the Jewish Learning Fellowship, Iā€™m going into my senior year with the idea that not only is it important for me to take time for self-care, but that itā€™s also a way to live my Jewish values, which makes it so much more meaningful for me. Knowing that taking care of ourselves is part of our tradition makes all the difference. Iā€™m able to take what I learned and bring it into my everyday life to be a better leader on campus. 

And most importantly, Iā€™m able to see that taking time for myself isnā€™t slacking off ā€” itā€™s part of my Jewish identity, and a meaningful way of being Jewish in the world.

Daniella Cooper is a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studies psychology and communications. She spent the past two years on board Challah for Change and is currently serving as the president of the Panhellenic Council.

Students at 54 campus Hillels across North America participated this year in their Hillelā€™s Jewish Learning Fellowshipā€™s (JLF) program ā€œAncient Wisdom for Modern Wellbeing,ā€ an experiential, conversational 10-week seminar. 

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