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Until my grandfather was nine years old, he had no idea he was Jewish. He grew up in a Christian community in Poland, and had to practice Christianity — that’s what kept him safe until the Jewish Agency for Israel rescued him and brought him to Israel as part of the Youth Aliyah.
I grew up in Yad Natan in Southern Israel. Sports were always a huge part of my life. I have a degree in physical education from Wingate Institute, and worked as a volleyball coach for a long time. I’ve always believed in helping others, an aspiration I brought to life as a physical education teacher in elementary and high schools, and during a trip to volunteer in Uganda.
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.
Earlier this year, I had the amazing opportunity to watch Stolpersteine, or stumbling stones, be placed on the streets of Berlin in honor of Malie, Chaim, Ida, and Peppi Landsmann. The Landsmann family lived in Berlin from 1921 until their deportation in 1939 to a ghetto in Chrzanow, Poland. In 1942, the ghetto was liquidated, and the family was murdered at Auschwitz.
When someone asks you what your favorite Jewish food is, I bet you say some combination of bagels with lox, brisket, or matzah ball soup. Don’t get me wrong – I love all of those. But they don’t encapsulate my experience with Jewish food.
Earlier this month, I traveled from New Hampshire to Chicago for the Hillel International Israel Summit. The information and lessons I learned energized and inspired me, and so did the connections I made and the community I felt throughout the summit.
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.
Since October 7, 2023, Jewish college students across the U.S. have faced increasing hostility on their campuses. Once active in diverse student organizations, many now find themselves excluded from spaces they used to call home. In response, these students are leaning into Hillel and the Jewish community, emerging as a new generation of resilient leaders.
Jewish content creators and 75+ students shared their experiences advocating for Jewish life, and how students can share their stories using social media