Meeting in Washington, D.C., the Board of Directors of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life has voted to create a provisional Foundation in Montevideo, Uruguay, its first in Latin America. The Uruguay Hillel Foundation will open in April and will serve more than 2000 students and young adults at three universities.
"The Jewish community of Uruguay has expressed a need for Hillel in Montevideo and has demonstrated their commitment to create a program that will serve students effectively," explains Hillel President and International Director Richard M. Joel. "We are pleased to spread Jewish renaissance south of the equator."
The Hillel Board also voted to grant Foundation status to Central Florida Hillel, located in Orlando. Hillel of Central Florida serves approximately 3000 students at University of Central Florida and Rollins College.
Hillel Foundations in six locations were granted accreditation at the Board meeting. The accreditation process certifies that Hillel Foundations meet international operating standards. The Foundations are: Hillel Foundation – Milwaukee; New Orleans Hillel; Hillel Foundation at the University of Minnesota; Penn State Hillel; Hillel at Syracuse University; and The Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Hillel Center for Jewish Life at the University of Maryland.
The Board of Directors, which meets three times a year, is comprised of over 90 of Hillel's key representatives from the Council of Jewish Federations and Federation leadership, college students, Hillel professionals, faculty and delegates at-large.
The largest Jewish campus organization in the world, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, is committed to creatively empowering and engaging Jewish students through its network of over 500 regional centers, campus foundations and affiliates. Its long-standing dedication to building Jewish identity, while nurturing intellectual and spiritual growth in a pluralistic community, positions Hillel as a leader in building a stronger Jewish people and stronger Jewish future.