Hillel VP Jon Falk Joins the First Cohort of Grinspoon Amber Award Winners
At this year’s Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation announced the first-ever recipients of the Grinspoon Amber Awards, a newly created honor for professionals who have made exceptional contributions to the Jewish world. The Amber Awards recognize individuals whose leadership and dedication have had a meaningful and enduring impact on the Jewish community. At Hillel International, we are so proud to share that Jon Falk, vice president of Israel Engagement and Confronting Antisemitism, was selected to be part of this inaugural cohort.
“When I learned I was selected, I felt an overwhelming mix of gratitude and relief; gratitude that the work was being seen, and relief that the countless sleepless nights and long hours were making a difference,” he said. “In many ways, this recognition wasn’t just about me; it was about the team that stood shoulder to shoulder through some of the hardest moments Jewish college students have faced.”
At Hillel, Jon leads seven teams that collaborate to address antisemitism and deepen Israel engagement for Jewish college students across North America. These teams are responsible for providing the tools that campus Hillels use every day to effectively respond to anti-Israel activity, combat antisemitism on campus, and counter BDS campaigns — all while taking a joyful, immersive, supportive approach to Israel education and advocacy. Jon credits his team for the success of this work, recognized by the Amber Award. Through their dedication, they ensure Jewish students have the support they need when they encounter antisemitic hate.
Jon began his career in Jewish life at Johns Hopkins Hillel, and has since held roles at AIPAC, the Israel Campus Coalition, and ultimately Hillel International, where he leads Hillel’s Israel Action and Addressing Antisemitism Program (IAP). Jon led that team through several years of mounting antisemitism on college campuses, from the 2017 “Jews will not replace us” Charlottesville rally to the antisemitic conspiracy theories that spread during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric on campus became even more important during the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2021, and in the record levels of antisemitism that came in the aftermath of October 7, 2023.
“I led a crisis team that worked tirelessly — seven days a week — to support Hillels and students,” Jon said. “Team members worked through holidays, family events, and many Shabbatot to keep Jewish students safe. The impact of the hate we saw was overwhelming.”
After October 7th, Jon made it a personal mission to transform how Hillel International monitors and responds to antisemitic incidents. Under Jon’s leadership, Hillel International developed a sophisticated antisemitism incident tracking system for college campuses.
“At the same time, we have prioritized education,” Jon explained. “We’ve empowered more than 30,000 students with the tools to recognize and combat the many forms of antisemitism in their classrooms, dorms, and campus quads.”
When asked to share his perspective on why he believes he is a deserving recipient of the award, Jon shared, “My work embodies the Jewish value of Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh — our collective responsibility for one another. In moments of crisis, I have not only stood up for Jewish students but have empowered them to stand up for themselves, ensuring that Hillel remains a beacon of strength and support on every campus.”
Jon’s work has transformed the ways in which Hillel as a movement can monitor, track, and respond to antisemitism, building an infrastructure that protects Jewish students in real time while holding academic institutions accountable. At the same time, his accomplishments can also be measured in individual impact, through each student and professional who knows that, because of Jon’s work, they’re not alone. Hillel will always be there for them.
But when you ask Jon what he’s most proud of, the answer comes a little closer to home. “When my daughters ask what I do, I tell them I help Jewish students stand up for themselves and for their community in the face of rising hatred of our people,” he said. “To me, that feels like sacred work.”