News

Advocacy Summit Brings Jewish Students to Wisconsin to Connect and Grow as Leaders on Campus and Beyond

Author

Aaron Seligman

Date

February 25, 2026

When I taught high school with Teach for America at an inner-city school in Washington, D.C., I saw many challenges facing my students. I also saw a deep disconnect between their issues and the big picture challenges on which policymakers, just a few Metro stops away, seemed to focus. But I didn’t know how to get the attention of those leaders, or how to become one myself. 

In my first months as the director of community relations at the UW Hillel Foundation, I met Jewish students who often expressed feeling the same way. They were frustrated by campus administrators, their campus groups, and political leaders. They wanted to affect meaningful change within their own Hillel communities as well. They had ideas and wanted to speak up, but didn’t know how or to whom. Others were often the only Jewish voice in one of these spaces, which can be exhausting — and lonely.

At the same time, I was meeting with administrators, staff, and advisors about improving policies to make campus more welcoming, addressing speakers or events that negatively targeted Jewish students, and building cultural events to include a Jewish voice. Those campus professionals shared that decisions were most often motivated by “what they hear from students” or “the current political environment.” 

I realized that if I was going to improve campus climate, those leaders needed to hear directly from the students that Hillel represents — and that we should support those students to take on leadership positions where they can impact the decisions being made. 

That raised important questions: How do we inspire and empower Jewish students to put themselves forward as advocates — for themselves, their communities, and the issues they care about? How do we involve them in Jewish and secular spaces and topics? What does that look like on campus and in their future careers? How do we find relevant and relatable examples to model for students?

Those were the questions I had in mind when I planned the Student Advocacy Summit in collaboration with Campus Impact Advisors from Rutgers Hillel, Michigan Hillel, and The Ohio State University Hillel. With support from ����vlogl professionals and a Regional Student Gatherings grant, we were able to bring together students from eight campuses across the Midwest and New Jersey. 

I hosted the summit at UW Hillel, knowing my local connections and relationships would make it accessible for students to experience real-world advocacy examples on multiple levels.

The Summit wasn’t designed to revolutionize campus environments  or push a specific issue or agenda. Instead, it addressed three major goals for student leadership: 

1. We want to empower more Jewish students to take on leadership roles across campus and after graduation.
2. We need a clear path for Jewish students to feel comfortable bringing their full Jewish selves into those leadership positions.
3. Hillel and Jewish communities on campus will benefit when we have a deeper bench of students ready, willing, and able to build diverse relationships and communicate their values and identities. 

Over the course of the weekend, 40 students participated in programming, workshops, conversations, and exploration sessions, all designed to empower them to pursue advocacy and leadership opportunities on campus and beyond.

We spent time at the state Capitol building, had conversations with Jewish leaders including Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Jill Karofsky, State Cabinet Member Kathy Blumenfeld, State Representative Lisa Subeck, and Jewish on Campus CEO Julia Jassey. UW lobbyist, and Maccabee Task Force alum Kennedy Borman also provided a diverse and practical perspective. 

Students learned how to tell their own stories in a way that connects with others and brings in issues they’re passionate about. They spoke about building coalitions across differences and communicating strategically. We also discussed case studies, tough issues on campus, our own values, and made concrete action plans for bringing this experience back to campus. And we shared Shabbat together at our Hillel, along with a UW-Madison hockey game and time to explore Madison.

My hope is that every student who attended the Summit came away with four things, including a: 

1. Connection to another student who can understand and support their work. 
2. New perspective or idea from someone they met. 
3. Practical skill they feel inspired to apply in their own lives.  
4. Role model or mentor further along in their advocacy journeys, and an understanding of how their Jewish identity can inform — not inhibit — their ability to advocate for important causes. 

The students who came to Madison this weekend arrived with passion and a genuine desire to be heard. Together, we built a bridge between that energy and the tools, relationships, and confidence needed to act on it. Everyone left with a plan, or at least a next step, for putting what they learned into action as they bring their full Jewish selves into their work as advocates — on campus and off. And if we also gained a few new fans to Badger hockey and cheese curds along the way — well, that’s just good advocacy on my part. 

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News

At the New England Regional Leadership Summit, the Warmth of Connection Beats the Winter Cold

Author

����vlogl

Date

February 25, 2026

Winter in New England can be snowy and cold — but at the New England Regional Leadership Summit, jointly led by the and Northeastern Hillel, and funded by a regional student gathering grant from ����vlogl, students stayed cozy and most importantly, connected. 

This past weekend, more than 100 students from 23 different campuses across New England gathered for a weekend of community-building, leadership development, and Jewish joy. in Palmer, Massachusetts provided the perfect backdrop for Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat experiences, which included multiple prayer opportunities as well as options like yoga, movement, art, and Torah study. Every experience gave students from different schools the chance to make new friends in open-hearted, joyful spaces.

“Coordinating and leading this regional gathering has been a dream come true,” said Julia Cottrell, assistant director of Hillel Council of New England. “Working for a multi-campus Hillel has allowed me to see the benefit of gathering students from different campuses in the same place and allowing them the space to build connections, share leadership best practices, and hear about how other campuses approach the work of building Jewish community.”

Leadership programming formed the core of the retreat experience, with a combination of opportunities for the whole group to come together and smaller sessions where students chose topics they wanted to dive into more deeply. In the “Values at Our Core” session, students explored the roots of values, what makes a value “Jewish,” and how our values drive impactful human interactions and community-building. 

That program laid the groundwork for a subsequent session, “At the Crossroads of Both/And: Exploring the Value of Pluralism,” where participants explored a question facing many Jewish communities right now: What if compromise isn’t something to accept, but something to pursue? Students discussed the ways that tension, competing desires, and prioritizing values can serve as generative forces, and then, through case study and peer reflection, they were able to explore and consider the ways they show up in the face of complexity.

Students also came together in cohorts crafted to bring together students with shared backgrounds and leadership experiences. Cohorts met several times throughout the gathering and were co-led by a student leader and a campus Hillel staff member, and are now keeping in touch through curated WhatsApp groups to continue learning together. 

“Leading a cohort at the leadership summit was meaningful to me because it gave me the opportunity to facilitate some difficult, yet critically important conversations,” said Elijah Fraiman, a third year student at Tufts University. “We were able to learn from each other [about] how our Hillels work, and where other Hillels can model the kind of work we hope to bring forth on our own campuses.”

Later, students had the option of attending one of several programs, each focused on a different aspect of leadership, community, and Jewish life. In “Viewpoints Project: How Can I Disagree Curiously?” participants learned skills for engaging across differences, and practiced asking better questions, disagreeing curiously, and uncovering shared values even when viewpoints differ. And in a joint session with , students were able to talk about Jewish service learning, participate in a service program, and plan their own Jewish service project, a possible first step to becoming a .

Other programs focused on the ways Jewish student leaders can support and care for the students their Hillels serve, as well as leveling up their Shabbat experiences on campus. Students were invited to honestly name the barriers they face in creating meaningful Shabbat programs, and then — through storytelling, creative brainstorming, and rapid prototyping — reimagined what Shabbat on campus can become.

“I got to share my experiences and take away new lessons from others,” said Samantha Janes, a third year student at Bentley University. “Overall, I had an amazing experience and am so thankful to grow with a diverse group of Jewish students.”

“It was so clear how much every student leader wanted to learn from the leaders around them, and I can’t wait to see the impact they make on campus based on the connections they made at this retreat,” added Samantha Brody Marks, Springboard Fellow at Boston University Hillel. 

Throughout the weekend, students also had plenty of time to chat, exchange ideas, and learn from one another as much as from the session leaders. 

“It’s so powerful to see students throughout the leadership summit form connections across campuses through Shabbat experiences and leadership discussions,” Cottrell said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how those connections will be sustained after the gathering, and what those students will do next.” 

When students have more opportunities to engage in joyful, meaningful Jewish experiences, they feel a stronger sense of belonging within their campus Jewish community — and that, after all, is what Hillel is all about.

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News

Building Jewish Belonging in the Lone Star State

Author

����vlogl

Date

February 11, 2026

This past weekend, Jewish students from across the Lone Star State gathered for the Hillel Texas Summit 2026, hosted at Texas A&M University Hillel, a Shabbaton designed to strengthen belonging, deepen Jewish identity, and invest in these up-and-coming Jewish leaders.

With support from ����vlogl’s Regional Student Gatherings Grant Program, the Summit brought together more than 120 Texas students from across the state, including cities like Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and, of course, College Station, for a weekend centered on fostering meaningful connections and expanding Jewish community beyond students’ campus Hillels. The event also challenged participants to think critically about leadership, responsibility, and the complexities of Jewish life today. Throughout the weekend, students were invited to step into leadership roles, wrestle with big ideas, and build relationships.

“[The Summit] highlighted the real need for a statewide space where Jewish student leaders from across Texas can connect, learn from one another, and strengthen their sense of community,” said Natalie Steiner, campus director for Hillel San Antonio and one of the staff organizers.

Learning was a central pillar of the Summit, with sessions designed to connect Jewish tradition to modern leadership challenges. Drawing from the week’s Torah portion, Parashat Yitro, students explored themes of teamwork and shared responsibility. Through interactive discussion and collaborative activities, they examined what it takes to build healthy, sustainable communities — and how Jewish texts can teach us about leading with intention and care.

Another key focus of the Summit was Jewish identity, in all its complexity.. Students engaged in open, honest conversations about how they experience Judaism across different spaces and contexts. Then they had the opportunity to create art expressing what Jewish identity looks like in their own lives. These moments sparked deep conversation and a shared recognition that there are so many ways to “be Jewish.”

“What an incredible experience. Being around Jewish friends is one thing but being in a community of Jewish students is something I’ll never be able to describe,” said student participant Gaby Wisetsarakol. “Watching the small talk, the passion, and kindness float around the room was truly inspiring. This was a weekend I’ll never forget.”

The Summit also created space for students to grapple with some of the most challenging questions facing the Jewish world today. In a “Situation Room”-style simulation, participants stepped into leadership roles within an imagined Jewish state, navigating real-world scenarios inspired by events in Israel. Students were asked to balance competing priorities, manage uncertainty, and work through disagreement, all while understanding the real human impact of their decisions.

The experience emphasized nuance over easy answers, encouraging students to sit with complexity rather than shy away from it.

Alongside intensive learning and leadership development, the Summit also prioritized rest, and relationship-building. Students unwound together through games and shared meals, sang Havdalah, and took in a keynote address from Sarah Hurwitz, former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and the author of several books exploring Jewish identity.

The weekend concluded with reflection, as students considered how to bring the ideas, skills, and connections they gained back to their campus Hillels. Many left with new friendships and a clearer sense of their role within the broader Jewish community.

“The Texas Hillel Summit showed how powerful community can be,” said Carly Fleck, associate director of Houston Hillel. “Watching friendships form and seeing students from smaller colleges finally feel that sense of Jewish belonging was incredible and invaluable.”

By creating opportunities for students to experience joyful, meaningful Jewish life together — on campus and across regions — Hillel is helping students build a lasting sense of belonging and leadership that extends far beyond a single weekend.

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Hillel Stories

Regional Gatherings

Social Justice

Summit in the Snow: Gathering for a Weekend of Meaningful Fun

Author

Rachel Lennard

Date

January 29, 2026

Rachel Lennard is a student at the University of Oregon and a member of the ����vlogl Student Cabinet. She recently attended a regional student gathering organized by the Hillels of the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, University of Washington, Lewis & Clark College, Reed College, and Portland State University. Here are her reflections:

Snow has a way of slowing everything down and putting things into perspective. On a mountain, surrounded by pine trees and that shimmering snow, it becomes easier to listen, both to the people around you and to yourself. That’s what I experienced at the recent Pacific Northwest Hillels’ Summit in the Snow retreat at Mount Hood, where Jewish students from seven colleges across the Pacific Northwest came together for a weekend of connection, learning, service, and joy.

Most of us had never met before; we came from different campuses and Jewish backgrounds. But very quickly, introductions turned into conversations, then into laughter, and by the end of the weekend, into friendships. There was something powerful about being in a shared space, away from classes, responsibilities, and distractions, where Jewish community surrounded us.

Throughout the weekend, we came together as a community for meals and evening events. During this time, we explored Jewish values, celebrated Shabbat, and enjoyed each other’s company, reflecting on our shared values and how they shape our lives as students. These conversations showed me that Judaism is not only something we practice individually, but something we live out collectively. Hearing how other students express their Jewish identities, whether through activism, learning, ritual, or community building, expanded my own understanding of what Jewish leadership can look like.

One of the most meaningful parts of the retreat was our service project, where we worked together to assemble care kits for people experiencing homelessness. It would have been easy to stay focused on leisurely activities, but grounding the retreat in the foundational Jewish value of tikkun olam reminded us why community matters beyond our individual needs. As we packed the kits, the work felt both practical and intentional. It was a powerful lesson that our values can always be put into practice, not just discussed in the abstract.

What struck me most about this project was how naturally service fit into the rhythm of the weekend. It wasn’t a separate obligation, but an extension of who we are as Jewish students. Doing that work side by side with peers from different campuses made the impact feel even larger. Together, we weren’t just students on a retreat; we were a regional Jewish community showing up with care and responsibility.

There was plenty of fun, too. Skiing and snowboarding on Mount Hood gave us opportunities to cheer each other on, laugh at wipeouts, and celebrate the small victories of making it down a run or trying something new. Those moments of shared joy were just as important as the formal programming. They built trust and created memories that will last long after the snow melts.

As a Jewish student leader, this retreat gave me clarity about what I want to help create on my own campus. It reminded me that strong Jewish communities grow through relationship building. Programs matter, but it’s the feeling of belonging, of being seen and supported, that keeps students coming back. Summit in the Snow showed me how intentional space, meaningful values-based experiences, and genuine fun can come together to create something transformative.

I’m returning to campus with new ideas, new energy, and a more profound sense of responsibility. I want to foster spaces where students can connect across differences, engage in service that matters, and experience Judaism as something vibrant and lived. Most of all, I’m grateful for the reminder that Jewish leadership isn’t lonely. There is strength in community, in shared purpose, and in gathering, even in the snow, to remind ourselves who we are and what we stand for.

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News

Building Practical Skills and Meaningful Jewish Connections at the Florida Student Leadership Gathering

Author

����vlogl

Date

January 22, 2026

This past weekend, student leaders from across 10 Florida college and university campuses came together for two days of meaningful connection, skill-building, and networking at the second annual Florida Student Leadership Gathering, hosted by UCF Hillel and part of ����vlogl’s Regional Student Gatherings Grant Program.

Student leaders attended the conference from schools across the Sunshine State: Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida State University, Lynn University, Nova Southeastern University, Stetson University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Miami, and University of North Florida. All of the participants hold leadership roles at their Hillels, and many also have held other leadership roles throughout their high school and college journeys. 

“We had more than 100 Jewish student leaders from Hillels throughout Florida here to learn, build community, and celebrate Jewish leadership,” said Logan King, chief engagement officer at UF Hillel. 

Kicking off on Saturday night with and a pizza social hour, the program included a mix of skills-based workshops and sessions as well as more informal opportunities for students to come together to talk about the importance of being a Jewish leader — on campus and in the broader world. 

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to help plan such an amazing event,” said Jonah Podberesky, a student at the University of Central Florida. “I attended this conference last year as I was just starting college. By being able to help plan the conference and learn the content from within, I have elevated my leadership skills even further.”

Jordan Feinberg, director of Jewish student life at the University of Miami Hillel and one of the organizers of the gathering reflected, “The Florida Leadership Gathering was a deeply meaningful experience and really showcased that Hillel is the center of Jewish life and leadership on campus. The gathering gave Jewish students across Florida the opportunity to engage deeply in leadership, ritual, and Jewish learning… No matter their campus or Jewish background, the word students kept coming back to was ‘community’ and it was incredibly meaningful to see that come to life.”

In true Hillel fashion, the gathering included a mix of full-community sessions as well as breakout workshops where students could take a choose-your-own-adventure approach to each day. Topics ranged from exploring Judaism, Jewish values, and leadership on campus, to practical skills like program budgeting and working on a team. Monday’s agenda also included student-led case study discussions, as well as hands-on team building exercises and time for reflection. 

“Throughout numerous breakout rooms and sessions, we were able to successfully brainstorm ways to improve programming on each of our campuses. I am very appreciative and grateful that I was able to go to this conference where I learned great leadership skills,” shared Olivia Stauber, a student at Florida State University. 

Every session connected back to a Jewish value, such as ometz lev (courage of the heart), machloket l’shem shamayim (sacred disagreement), or kavanah (intentionality). Workshops like “The Art of Disagreeing Well” were designed to help students build a personal toolkit for practicing healthy disagreement on Israel, observance, and values, while sessions like “Creating Jewish Moments on Campus” focused on elevating programs from being “just” fun and engaging to being meaningful and memorable.

“Connecting with other Jewish students who shared similar goals created a powerful sense of belonging and mutual support,” said Chloe Hutt, a student leader at the University of Florida. “I left with new ideas, meaningful relationships, and a stronger connection to my own Hillel. Most of all, the experience left me feeling deeply grateful to be a Jewish student, a Jewish leader, and part of the Florida Hillel community.“

Gatherings like this are a reminder that whenever Hillel communities come together — whether on their own campuses, at regional programs like this, or at national and international events — amazing ideas and connections happen. These student leaders are the present and future of Jewish life, and we are so excited to see what they do next.

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News

Bringing Jewish Students Together from Across Canada for the ELEVATE Conference & Shabbaton

Author

����vlogl

Date

January 21, 2026

This past weekend, 350 Jewish students, staff, and guests from more than 25 campuses across Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia gathered for the ELEVATE Conference & Shabbaton, a cross-regional experience powered by . At the center of the weekend was Shabbat, a shared moment of rest, connection, learning, and joy that brought students together across geography, backgrounds, and campus cultures.

From the opening moments through havdalah, ELEVATE created space for students to show up fully and unapologetically in their Jewish identities. The Shabbaton blended pluralistic prayer, spirited singing, dancing, and shared meals with student-led learning, peer connection, and opportunities to explore complex ideas in meaningful ways.

“The LEV conference experience was truly one of a kind,” said Jordan, a student at the University of Guelph. “The opportunity to make new connections with students from Hillels across Canada, to sing, dance, learn, grow, and pray together, created a level of unity that I never knew I needed.”

Grounded in the idea of lev, Hebrew for “heart,” the Shabbaton focused on building deep relationships and strengthening students’ sense of belonging to a broader Jewish community. Throughout the weekend, students engaged not only with peers from their own campuses, but also with Jewish life beyond campus through the LEV Connect Shuk. There, representatives from local and national Jewish organizations helped students better understand the wider ecosystem of Jewish communal life available to them.

“At the Shabbaton, I connected with students across Canada who embrace Jewish joy and our shared values,” shared Caitlin, a student from Toronto. “Running a busy table at the Shuk about Hillel’s partnership with sparked new ideas for cross-campus collaboration. It was inspiring to see our joy turn into impact we’ll carry forward.”

Students were deeply involved in shaping the experience from start to finish. Planning committees provided input on programming, ritual, logistics, marketing, wellness, and swag, ensuring the Shabbaton reflected student priorities and voices. That sense of ownership was palpable throughout the weekend.

“I really appreciated how involved students were in planning every part of the experience,” said Ryan, a student from York University. “Highlights for me were the party, havdalah with fellow York students, meeting other student leaders, and even meeting the CEO.”

As Hillel Ontario Chief Advancement Officer Jay Solomon wrote in eJewish Philanthropy in an opinion piece entitled, campus is where Jewish identity often crystallizes. “It is where values shift from inheritance to ownership and empowerment, and where students decide whether Judaism and Zionism will remain central in their lives long after graduation,” Solomon wrote. 

“The friendships formed over Shabbat dinner, the confidence gained by standing publicly as a Zionist, the experience of being seen and supported as a Jew, these are not fleeting moments. They are foundations. This Shabbaton reinforced a truth we both know well: Investing in Jewish campus life is not about four years. It is about the next 40,” he added.

In addition to Shabbat celebrations, the Shabbaton featured four session blocks that allowed students to customize their learning. The first, “LEV-EL Up!”, focused on big ideas connected to Jewish history, culture, Israel, and community. Sessions ranged from examining how maps shape conversations about Israel to exploring unexpected perspectives in Torah study, led by educators and partner organizations from across the Jewish community.

“The LEV Elevate Shabbaton was so much fun,” said Eve, a student from Vancouver. “There was something for everyone: Israeli dancing, games, singing, and art.”

Later sessions emphasized creativity and self-expression through “LEV Learning Labs,” including Jewish improv, Hebrew slang, digital storytelling, and Israeli street art. Afternoon conversations invited students to engage with diversity within the Jewish community, with each session co-facilitated by a Hillel staff member and a student. Some students chose to dive into conversations about Zionism, while others found meaning in affinity spaces centered on shared identities and experiences.

As another student shared, “Through the sessions and workshops, I gained new perspectives on Jewish identity, Zionism, and leadership on campus. I left feeling more grounded in my values and inspired to become more engaged in Jewish life.”

The final session block, “Mind, Body & LEV,” offered students space to recharge before the close of the weekend. Rather than tackling heavy topics or building skills, students relaxed through aromatherapy, movement, music, and friendly competition, a reminder that joy, rest, and play are essential parts of Jewish life.

����vlogl was proud to support ELEVATE through a Regional Student Gatherings Grant, helping empower campus Hillels to design student-led, cross-regional experiences that foster Jewish joy and belonging. Building strong regional and national connections is a critical part of strengthening Jewish student life across the world.

Students returned home energized and grateful. “This Shabbat was one of the best experiences of my life,” said David from Montreal. “Everyone made connections. I met so many people. The vibe was incredible.”

As Jordan reflected, “This Shabbaton shows how much growth and meaning can come from a single weekend when we fully immerse ourselves in Jewish community.”

Congratulations to everyone who helped make the ELEVATE Conference & Shabbaton such a success. 

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News

Students Gather in Cleveland for the First-Ever Songleaders Summit

Author

����vlogl

Date

November 11, 2025

Music has been a part of Jewish communal gatherings and traditions for thousands of years, from synagogue liturgy  to modern-day college Jewish a cappella groups. 

Today, songleaders do just what their name implies: lead their Jewish communities in energetic and meaningful music. 

This November, hosted their first-ever Songleaders Summit as part of ����vlogl’s Regional Student Gatherings Grant Program, an initiative that empowers local Hillels to design and host cross-campus experiences led by students. Like so many other Hillel programs, the idea started with a simple conversation, and grew into an opportunity for students across North America to come together to learn and make music. 

In this case, that conversation happened at Oberlin College, between Associate Director at Oberlin Hillel Yaffa Muhlbaum and her student songleader, Micah Margolis. “We were talking about how valuable a Hillel-wide songleaders network would be — a space to share music, ideas, and questions with one another,” Muhlbaum explained.

When they found out that such a network didn’t exist, they did the only thing that made sense: They started thinking about how to build one. And with support from ����vlogl, that conversation ultimately led to an experiential leadership opportunity for student songleaders to create Jewish musical experiences for their campuses that combine tradition, ruach (spirit), and innovation.

 The entire summit, which was headlined by songleading superstars Dan Nichols and Mayta Cohen, was heavily student-led: The student steering committee spent months working together in order to lay the groundwork for this program, brainstorming everything from breakout session topics to swag to Shabbat observance to dream musical guests. 

“Jewish music is one of the most beautiful tapestries of tradition that our people have,” said Muhlbaum. “My hope is that participants will go back to their campuses with tangible leadership skills, energized attitudes about songleading and Judaism, and a community of songleaders that they will have helped build.”

One goal of the summit, which brought together students from a dozen campuses across North America, was to appeal not just to current songleaders, but also to students who are newer to the world of Jewish musical life. To support both groups, the summit offered two unique learning tracks: one for those more experienced songleaders, focusing on skill-deepening and more specialized breakout sessions, and the other for students nominated by Hillel professionals, with a focus on developing their confidence and skills.

Miriam Herron, a student at the University of Rochester, shared, “​​I learned how to play “L’cha Dodi,” which was the first Jewish song I’ve learned to play on the ukulele… It makes me feel excited that one day I’ll be able to lead services at Hillel.” 

The summit also included mixers and informal jam sessions, songwriting and liturgy intensives, masterclasses on songwriting and leading with Dan and Mayta, and of course — as with any Hillel program! — delicious meals, energetic and meaningful Shabbat services, and plenty of time for participants to connect and build community.

“It was amazing and heartwarming to see this diverse group of student leaders connect, learn, rock out, laugh, cry and simply be in community together for a Shabbat.  It was a true community,” said ����vlogl Campus Support Director Ronit Sherwin. “It was beautiful and inspiring to watch the future of Jewish leadership right before my eyes.”

Congratulations to the organizers, steering committee, and student songleading community on this amazing event. Thank you for keeping us singing!

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News

Asian Jewish Shabbaton Brings Students Together to Celebrate Identity and Belonging

Author

����vlogl

Date

October 28, 2025

500 students from 13 colleges and universities across the Northeast gathered at Yale University’s Slifka Center for Jewish Life in late October for their first-ever Asian Jewish Shabbaton, a weekend dedicated to exploring Jewish and Asian identities, culture, and belonging.

The two-day gathering, organized by the Asian Jewish Union at Yale, in partnership with ����vlogl and Asian Jewish student groups from several universities, offered students an opportunity to gather with others for a weekend of community building and Jewish learning – headlined by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, the first Asian American rabbi ordained in North America and senior rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City.

“The Shabbaton is a celebration of the fullness of students’ Asian Jewish identities. At Slifka, we support students in bringing their unique identities and traditions to everything they do,” said Rachel Leiken, associate Jewish chaplain at Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale. “We have been delighted to work with stellar student leaders in creating this program where they have shared deeply from their diverse Asian Jewish backgrounds, growing up both around the U.S. and in Asia. In doing so, their diverse perspectives have enriched our entire Jewish community.”

Zach Pan ’27 and Benjamin M. Nuland ’27, founders and co-presidents of the Asian Jewish Union at Yale, developed the idea for the Shabbaton. They envisioned a weekend that would celebrate Jewish Asian culture while inspiring students to launch similar communities on their own campuses.

What began as a small idea grew quickly. Through ����vlogl’s Regional Student Gatherings Grant Program, an initiative that empowers local Hillels to design and host cross-campus experiences led by students, the organizing team secured a grant to bring students from over a dozen universities, including NYU, Brown, and Princeton, to New Haven. Yale students volunteered to house visitors and transform their Slifka Center into a welcoming space that reflected the diversity of Asian Jewish life.

“Yale’s Asian Shabbaton made a union of improbable Jewish stories,” said Zach Pan, who co-led the planning process. “And [it] expanded the big tent of Judaism amidst pressure and uncertainty on our college campuses.”

“We created our Regional Student Gatherings Grant Program to catalyze exactly the type of innovative, cross-campus and cross-Hillel initiative embodied by this Asian Jewish Shabbaton,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of ����vlogl. “This is a wonderful example of what happens when students come together to celebrate their unique identities and shared Jewish values.”

In addition to Shabbat services, which were led by Rabbi Buchdahl, other highlights from the weekend included shared meals featuring Asian dishes inspired by students’ family recipes, a board game share, a performance by Yale’s Jewish a cappella group Magevet, speed friending, and two events with Asian Jewish leaders: a book talk with Rabbi Buchdahl, who discussed her recent memoir, and a conversation with Hon. Florence Y. Pan of the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals, the first Asian American judge in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the weekend, students spoke about the power of finding others who understood their experiences without needing explanation. Many described years of being the only Asian Jew in Jewish spaces — or the only Jewish person in Asian ones.

“Not only was this experience so special to me, but it was so validating, knowing that I wasn’t the only Asian Jew,” said Aasia Gabbour, NYU ’26. “As a unique community, we all have had such similar experiences and that made it so easy to bond with each other right away. This weekend was very inspirational for continuing to plan Asian Jewish programming on my own campus.”

That sense of connection was echoed by other participants who found deep meaning in conversations over Shabbat dinner, learning sessions, and small-group discussions.

“I was surprised at how deeply we connected over just 48 hours,” reflected Brooke Cohen, Brown University ’26. “While we all came from different Asian backgrounds, we connected not only through our Judaism, but also by sharing a distinctive Jewish Asian identity. It was moving to realize that experiences I previously felt were unique to me were shared with this bigger group.”

Cohen added that, in many Jewish spaces, she’s used to standing out, but not at this Shabbaton. “It was wonderful being in a community this weekend where that didn’t make me special,” she said.

In addition to fostering community, the Shabbaton created space for leadership and learning. Students discussed representation within Jewish life, shared ideas for campus programming, and reflected on how their intersecting identities enrich Jewish communities.

“For me, the Asian Jewish Shabbaton was a profound opportunity to connect with a network of Asian Jewish leaders and their stories — each offering a piece in charting a new pathway for defining Asian Judaism,” said Benjamin M. Nuland, Yale ’27. “It was more than just an event; it was a moment of dialogue between Asia and Judaism, between Asian and Jewish communities, and between honoring our heritage and shaping a new mosaic of what a distinct Asian Jewish culture can be.”

Students expressed gratitude for the sense of visibility and community they experienced as the weekend came to a close. For many, it was the start of something larger, a possible blueprint for how Jewish spaces can continue to grow in inclusivity and representation. 

For the organizers, Pan and Nuland, that ripple effect is exactly the point. What began as a campus project can now form a broader network of Asian Jewish students who are shaping the future of Jewish life one conversation, one Shabbat, and one shared meal at a time.

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