Conference of Presidents.

Acting on the unanimous recommendation of the Membership Committee, the full Conference voted to admit the student group, which had been an adjunct member. Hillel is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, serving Jewish students at more than 500 colleges and universities and promoting Israel education and advocacy on campus.
 
Conference Chairperson June Walker and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein noted that, Hillel, directly and through the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC), actively meets the needs of the pro-Israel population on campus, identifies important issues and initiatives, and works cooperatively with key partners and community organizations.

“The Conference plays a key role in the ICC helping organize the Jewish community to work together and focus on a pro-active, pro-Israel agenda on campus,” Ms. Walker and Mr. Hoenlein said.

“We see this as a recognition of the need for the Conference to include those who will be future leaders of theJewish community and to give them a voice in our deliberations. We look forward to Hillel’s increased participation in the Conference and to building on our current partnership, best exemplified by the publication of the Israel Campus Beat, the weekly e-newsletter that brings Israel-related top stories, campus news and student-authored opinion to tens of thousands of students on over 1,000 campuses across the country.”
 
“Students are a vital and vibrant constituency in the Jewish community, and we are confident that Hillel’s professional and lay leadership will add important perspective to the deliberations of the Conference,”said Stephen Wolnek, chairman of the Conference of Presidents’ Membership Committee.
 
Wayne L. Firestone, president of Hillel, said,“Hillel is proud to become a member of the Conference of Presidents. This development indicates the critical importance that campus Jewish communities play in pro-Israel education and advocacy. Our membership in the Conference of Presidents also recognizes the close working relationship we have enjoyed over the years, a relationship that has strengthened both organizations as we have made the case for Israel in North America.”

The Conference of Presidents is the central coordinating body representing 51 national Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern.

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