Hillels Welcome Thousands of Jewish Students Back to Campus
As thousands of Jewish students arrive on hundreds of college campuses this fall, Hillels are ready to welcome them from day one. Through a variety of joyful programs, Hillels are creating opportunities for new and returning students to meet friends, explore Jewish life, and begin building a sense of community.
From food trucks and campfires to Shabbat dinners and early move-in programs, each experience offers a way for students to make Hillel a meaningful part of their campus lives from the moment they arrive.
At Hillel at Washington University in St. Louis, students participated in a series of welcome week events, including a chance to cheer on the St. Louis Cardinals as they took on the Baltimore Orioles. The most anticipated event of the week was Bear Mitzvah, a mixer featuring a DJ, dessert, a photo booth, and a special visit from Forest, the newly named WashU bear mascot.
“The Bear Mitzvah was the first event of my entire adult life where it was completely safe and even cool to be Jewish as loudly as I could,” said second-year student Nava Carlyle.
“WashU Hillel’s Orientation Week events are at the heart of our mission — facilitating friendships and connections among Jewish first-year students from their very first days on campus. These programs not only ease the transition into college, but also help foster a sense of belonging and community among our students from the get-go,” added Marisa Goldberger, WashU Hillel’s senior program and engagement associate.
For many Hillels, creating a sense of community starts even before the first week of classes. Through FreshFest, a Hillel pre-orientation program, Jewish first-year students move into their dorm rooms early, spend dedicated time getting to know each other, participate in Jewish programming, and connect with upperclassmen who serve as mentors.
“I spent hours sitting with new friends, talking about our Jewish communities back home, and sharing how our experiences were similar and different,” said Zoe Ettinger, a first-year student who attended FreshFest at Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh. “We connected so naturally, and it was such a fun and easy way to start building friendships and a sense of community. I immediately felt at home.”
At the Grant Hillel at the University of Delaware, Markell Fresh Fest helped more than 140 new students find their way on campus. They attended an involvement fair that included Hillel and other student organizations, went on a guided tour of their new campus, explored the downtown area, and came together for candle lighting and Shabbat activities.
Bailey Santoro, a third-year student who helped plan these activities, said Fresh Fest has a way of making a large campus feel a little smaller, giving students an opportunity to meet people who become friends. “I met all my friends and roommates at FreshFest,” she said. “And all the friends [this year’s new students] make, they’ll have throughout their college experience.”
Similarly, the University of Southern California Hillel’s FreshFest experience is an early opportunity for incoming students to find Jewish community before the semester gets underway. This year, more than 130 Trojans traveled to a nearby summer camp, where they performed in a talent show, played in color wars, and roasted s’mores over the glow of a campfire. The first-year students were accompanied by engagement fellows, older students tasked with running activities and mentoring new students.
One of those fellows was second-year student Ethan Gabayan. “The impact that FreshFest has had on me is huge,” Gabayan said. “Most of my closest friends came from FreshFest, and as a first-year engagement fellow, I can help new first years build connections like those I made last year.”
Fourth-year student Jordyn Blume, who co-chaired FreshFest at USC Hillel, agreed. “There is something really special about giving new students a place where they can immediately feel welcomed and know that they have people at USC who are excited to get to know them,” she said. “Having the opportunity to lead an event that can have such a positive impact on incoming students was an incredible experience, and it left me feeling even more connected to the Jewish community.”
At Arizona State University Hillel, Food Truck Fest has become a back-to-school tradition. Three local food trucks, a student DJ, a dunk tank, photo booth, henna station, games, and plenty of food greeted 200 Jewish students. The event was planned by a student-led committee, giving Hillel upperclassmen a leading role in shaping the community they want to build.
“Back-to-school programming is where the whole year truly begins for us. It’s often the first moment a new student walks through our doors, and the first chance for returning students to reconnect after summer,” said Shira Khotim, director of student impact at ASU Hillel. “Every year we watch strangers become friends over a shared meal or at a welcome back event, and that sense of belonging supports them through the rest of the semester. We’re not just welcoming people back, we’re helping build the community that will support them all year long.”
ASU Hillel Social Chair Andy Stein said, “ASU Hillel’s back to school events really made me feel like a part of the ASU Jewish community from the start. I’ve met so many amazing friends, have been given incredible opportunities, and am supported by the best staff.”
All the way on the east coast, students at Stony Brook University Hillel kicked off the semester with a back-to-school party where they ate, socialized, and even rode a mechanical bull. The event was a low-barrier way for students to connect with Hillel, giving them a reason to come and stay awhile.
Nyssa Smith, a third-year transfer student who started her first semester at Stony Brook this week said, “I was nervous to go in by myself, but every person I met there was so sweet… Even better I was able to connect and keep up to date with different events like volunteering and bookclubs with the Jewish community on campus. Everyone’s kindness makes me feel back at home.”
“Finding a ‘home away from home’ is no easy feat for students… it is our job to create spaces where students not only find their people, but stay with their people. Shalom Stony Brook aimed to foster belonging through laughter and Jewish joy; students connected in a way that felt easy, paving the way to long-lasting friendships and a new ‘home,'” said Elisa Mezhirov, Stony Brook Hillel’s director of Jewish life.
That first step can make all the difference. In a recent Hillel International Virtual College Prep Series session, Jewish seniors encouraged incoming students to embrace welcome week, introduce themselves to strangers, and connect with Hillel early on. “Everyone is in the same boat,” said Zoey Natkin, a University of Oregon student. “Everyone wants to meet new people and build a community in their dorm building and on their college campus, so don’t be afraid to say ‘hi,’ reach out, introduce yourself.”