Berkeley Hillel offers a robust Friday night Shabbat each week, beginning with community candlelighting and Kabbalat Shabbat options. We come together for ritual and a delicious Shabbat meal.
Frequency: Friday night only
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As Jewish students celebrate the High Holidays at Hillels across the world, they are supported and guided by their Hillel staff. We are honored to share words of that support and guidance through excerpts from an erev Rosh Hashana talk given by Rabbi Adam Naftalin-Kelman, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation executive director UC Berkeley Hillel.
In reflecting on my journeys recently, I realized that my wanderlust comes from my grandfather. A Yemenite sailor, he came to Israel as part of Operation Magic Carpet and set my family on a new path. He loved to travel the world, but he loved my grandmother, their family, and Israel even more. He shared […]
Managing stress in the context of trauma, especially around significant anniversaries like marking one year since Hamas’s attack on Israel, can be particularly challenging. The emotional weight of such occasions can amplify stress, anxiety, fear, and flashbacks to anti-Israel protests on campus. For many Jewish students, October 7 will be filled with sadness, and for some, it may be too painful to remember.
We know the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, subsequent war between Israel and Hamas, and impact on college campuses can be overwhelming for many Jewish students. Wondering how you can support your student through this incredibly difficult time? Hagar Ben-Eliezer, Berkeley Hillel Wellness Therapist, suggests the following strategies:
In partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel and Israel Experience, a delegation of eight Hillel student leaders spent a week in Israel to celebrate the country’s 75th birthday.
Kick off the year with some Jewish joy as we combine two of the greatest things known to humanity: Bob Ross and ice cream. Come paint along with the man himself (via YouTube) and build…
One of Cal’s oldest traditions is our rivalry with Stanford over The Axe—the trophy awarded to the winner of the Big Game. Come kickstart your Cal Bear journey and learn how to wield a real tree-chopper!
Join us for an evening on the San Francisco Bay. We'll be meeting at Hillel at 4:30 p.m. PT to board the bus, followed by an hour-and-a-half cruise on the water, before returning to Hillel…
Berkeley Hillel welcomes new students to join us for our weekly opportunity to unplug from the week and plug into sacred rest. We will do candle lighting and a community Kabbalat Shabbat service, followed by…
Students are invited to join Berkeley Hillel to decorate a mezuzah for their new home. As we get crafty, we’ll learn a bit about this Jewish tradition, and talk about transitioning from home to college.…
Berkeley Hillel is excited to partner with Cal for their GBO Affinity Space block. Come hear from Berkeley Hillel about Jewish life in Berkeley. We'll have current student leaders share their experiences and answer any…
Calling all new students: Come to Hillel to grab a bagel and learn about Jewish life at Cal. We will be showcasing our awesome weekly programs and partnership organizations.
Grab a bite after the first day of classes at our weekly Kosher BBQ, hosted by Hillel for the Hillel community and cooked by our wonderful kitchen interns. A great time to relax, catch up…
Our annual freshmen retreat is a longtime favorite among Jewish Cal students and is most often cited as the program that fosters long-lasting friendships among students. Get out of Berkeley for a night and engage…
Check out some of the scholarships available for University of California, Berkeley Jewish students.
The UC Berkeley Alumni Association offers leadership scholarships to current and incoming students to UC Berkeley. Of the over 700 scholarships that are offered, 6 of them are given to Jewish students showing leadership in the Jewish community both at UC Berkeley and before attending Berkeley.
The Diller program provides funding for undergraduates and graduate students. Stipends and awards are made for research, travel, fieldwork, innovative teaching, and curricular development in Jewish Studies. Recipients must demonstrate outstanding academic ability and promise in areas related to Jewish Studies.
The Hillel College Guide aims to provide you with a snapshot of each local Hillel’s makeup and offerings. We recognize that there may be more information you need in order to better understand the campus reality, particularly around issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. If you would like additional information about a given campus’ offerings or action steps in those areas, please reach out to us at [email protected].