Hillel Student Leaders Gather to Strengthen Israel Engagement and Jewish Life on Campus
This past weekend, the student executives of Hillel International’s Israel Leadership Network (ILN) gathered at Johns Hopkins University Hillel for the ILN Executive Shabbaton, a three-day program geared toward strengthening Israel engagement, addressing campus antisemitism, and developing the next generation of Jewish campus leaders.
The gathering marked the beginning of a new year for ILN, a Hillel International initiative that empowers students to become Israel-focused leaders and educators. The executive board members, who represent colleges and universities across North America, will help guide a broader network of 250 ILN student representatives as they foster dialogue, run Israel-related programs, and strengthen Jewish communities on campus more broadly.
“This convening brought together our veteran student leaders for a Shabbat centered on wisdom, peer mentoring, and student leadership,” said Josh Losner, Hillel International’s director of ILN. “To share an immersive experience with these students, witness their resilience, and see their dedication is nothing short of inspiring. We are honored to have them leading ILN in the coming year.”
For Jake Rymer, a University of Chicago student who serves as ILN executive chair, building relationships with students from other campuses was one of the most valuable aspects of the experience, which included a meaningful Shabbat spent with the Hopkins Hillel community, student-led sessions on the shifts they’ve seen on campus over the last three years, and expert-led workshops on data and trends relating to Israel from campuses across the country.
“The ILN Shabbaton impacted my leadership by introducing me to students from different Hillels,” Rymer said. “My peers from the United States, Canada, and Australia each brought something unique to the table and showed me how Israel-focused programming on campus can take so many forms to better support students and expand the pro-Israel network at Hillel.”
As a fourth-year student preparing to graduate, Rymer is also focused on mentoring younger students at UChicago, using the skills he’s developing through ILN. “I hope to make a productive impact this year. I want pro-Israel students to feel recognized for their hard work on campus and to reenergize them,” Rymer said. “The Shabbaton helped me strategize the best ways to support future leaders long after I graduate.”
The Shabbaton began Friday evening with introductions and a conversation on setting intentions, followed by candle lighting, services, and dinner with the Johns Hopkins Hillel community. Executive Director of Hopkins Hillel Monica Davis said, “The ILN students brought wonderful energy to Shabbat, and we were delighted to host them. Our students were excited to learn more about ILN, and several are now hoping to get involved.”
On Saturday, students continued building on connections and deepening their leadership skills, exploring how Jewish values can inform their responsibilities as campus leaders. During a Torah study session focused on Parshat Bereshit, the first Torah portion of the new Jewish year, Aidan Herzlinger, a fourth-year student at Baruch College and ILN vice chair, discussed the Jewish responsibility to care for one another.
In reflecting on the Shabbaton, Herzlinger said, “As a student who is part of the final class that was on campus for October 7th, I’m coming out of the Shabbaton hoping to identify the next generation of Zionist leaders on campus.” Herzlinger said that he and his fellow ILN leaders used this time together to set goals and intentions for the coming year — including the commitment to identifying first- and second-year students who are passionate about Israel-focused education and programming.
In addition to discussions focused on hosting meaningful Israel-related programming on campus, ILN leaders spoke about how to inspire students on social media, which they agreed was a powerful tool for education and connection. During a digital storytelling workshop, Joel Solomon, a second-year student at Wagner College and an ILN content contributor, shared his approach to creating content about Jewish identity and Israel. Solomon, a Division 1 athlete, has regularly used social media to share his Jewish journey, which includes competing in the Maccabiah Games in Israel.
His insights sparked a conversation about how personal storytelling can make Jewish stories more relatable, reach audiences who are unfamiliar with Israel, and foster understanding rather than division.
“The biggest shift for me as a leader was realizing that the challenges surrounding Israel on campus can’t be addressed by one person or on one campus alone,” said Becca Paikin, vice chair of ILN, reflecting on the sessions she attended. “I walked away with a better understanding of my peers, people I can now lean on, and a new emphasis on community, collaboration, and open dialogue in how I approach Israel-focused leadership.”
After a weekend of exchanging ideas, students turned their attention to making their ideas more concrete. They identified ways to recruit emerging leaders, strengthen peer mentorship, and turn lessons from national gatherings into programs and conversations back home.
“The Shabbaton gave me the mindset to work with my community to build a safer, more welcoming environment for Jewish students. I’m bringing that collaborative approach back to my own campus, not just within the Hillel community, but through partnerships with other Jewish and non-Jewish student groups, to create more meaningful and nuanced conversations and events,” said Paikin.
While each executive board member brings a different perspective and set of campus experiences, they all share a commitment to supporting Jewish students and strengthening their connections to Israel. As they return to their campuses, they’re arriving home with new relationships and ideas. Together, they’ll shape the next chapter of ILN, strengthening a network of student leaders committed to creating welcoming communities for Jewish students across North America.