Hillel of San Diego received a three-year grant from the Leichtag Family Foundation to expand into North County and serve the many Jewish college students at California State University San Marcos, Mira Costa and Palomar Colleges.

North County students - a term local residents use to describe the northern part of San Diego County -are part of an estimated 5,000 Jewish college students served by Hillel of San Diego. Hillel's mission is to be a vibrant Jewish presence on campus and to involve the maximum number of university-age Jews in ways that foster a lasting commitment to Jewish life. Students from all backgrounds will be invited to participate in social, cultural, educational, and community service programs.

"North County has exploded as a center of academia. CSU San Marcos, in particular, is attracting many new students and will continue to grow," said Rabbi Lisa L. Goldstein, executive director of Hillel of San Diego. "We are proud to be on the cutting edge of this growth by establishing a welcoming and lasting presence on North County campuses."

Although Hillel's strongest presence remains at the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, as the Jewish population grows in North County, Hillel plans to reach and engage students at all colleges in San Diego County.

Through Hillel, these students will have the opportunity to meet other Jewish students, organize Shabbat and holiday programming, travel to Israel, participate in Alternative Spring Break trips, develop leadership skills, and partake in other unique Jewish experiences.

For more information about Hillel on these campuses, contact Amy Bebchick at (760) 828-7230 or abebchick@hillelsd.org, or find us on Facebook.