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Over the last year and a half since October 7, 2023, campus Hillels have seen an unprecedented level of student involvement and community support. At Hillel at the University of Delaware, the community has grown so much that a campaign is underway to construct a building that will serve as an updated hub for Jewish life at the university.
Before the October 7 attacks on Israel, my involvement with Hillel was minimal. I knew it existed on campus, but I hadn't made the effort to connect. I was busy with classes, my sorority, and the usual college activities that fill our calendars. But after that day, everything shifted — both in the world and in my own life.
I can’t believe the welcome barbecue I attended as a first-year student in 2021 was four years ago! I came to the event eager to meet new friends and find a home at the University of Michigan.
I had never heard of Hillel before coming to study at Columbia University. Growing up in Israel, it wasn’t part of my world. That changed when I arrived on campus and met Yakov, the Jewish Agency Israel fellow on our campus who introduced me to the Content Creators Forum
When considering where to go to college, I knew Jewish life would be central to my decision. Community has always been a defining part of who I am, shaping my values, my identity, and how I interact with the world. That’s why, from day one, I understood that the University of Maryland Hillel would be integral to my college life.
I didn’t grow up with one cohesive Jewish identity. As a child of divorce, I felt stuck between two religions, often caught between identities, never fully rooted in either. Finding Hillel at WMU finally gave me a space to feel whole.
Over the last few weeks, Hillels around the country have organized all kinds of creative and innovative events to connect Jewish college and university students with the ancient traditions of Passover. From hosting over 25 simultaneous seders in the same building to setting up October 7 memorials, campuses across North American found unique ways to celebrate the holiday.
Maryland Hillel became the center of excitement and community this past weekend as more than 1,500 Jewish college students gathered for the 13th annual National Hillel Basketball Tournament. The weekend was not just about competition; it was a celebration of Jewish identity and connection.
The National Hillel Basketball Tournament (NHBT) kicked off its 13th year at the University of Maryland on Thursday, April 3. Over 50 teams from 32 universities across North America gathered at the University of Maryland’s state-of-the-art facilities for the weekend-long tournament.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in the Washington Jewish Week on March 5, 2025, under the title "Jewish Joy in the House: Northeast Hillels A Cappella Competition Gives Students a — Musical — Voice."
