Since its launch in September 2007, www.smallandmighty.org, a Web site dedicated to college campuses with small (but mighty!) Jewish populations, has grown in cyber-size.
The Soref Initiative for Emerging Campuses, dubbed "Small and Mighty," services those schools with modest Jewish populations through grants, conferences and trips. Made possible through the generosity of the Samuel and Helene Soref Foundation, there are currently more than 160 "Small and Mighty" colleges and universities across the United States and Canada.
Soref students from Colgate in Israel.
These "Small and Mighty" Hillels, also called Hillel Student Organizations (HSOs), cater to the nearly 25 percent of Jewish students throughout North America who attend schools with small Jewish communities and limited resources.
Deb Geiger, senior associate for The Soref Initiative, reports that www.smallandmighty.org has averaged more than 4,000 hits per month since its September debut. Ten additional schools have become affiliated through the Web site and the number of Soref grant applications received has tripled since last year.
And the numbers continue to grow. More than 100 students representing 38 schools have joined the Soref Facebook group and many have used the site to express their appreciation. Over winter break 2007-8, approximately 150 students from 50 "Small and Mighty" campuses in 23 states will visit Israel.
"It's wonderful to have this many students experiencing Hillel's mission and vision in Israel, becoming ambassadors for Hillel's national initiatives and programs," says Geiger. "I know we will only continue to grow exponentially and provide meaningful and long-lasting impact for our students."