Inspired by Family’s Legacy, Hillel International Scholarship Recipient Advocates for “World Free from Hatred”
This year, Hillel International is awarding more than $100,000 in scholarships to college students to ensure that a college education — and the Hillel experience — is accessible to as many young adults as possible, regardless of their financial means. Scholarship recipients have demonstrated leadership, entrepreneurship, and/or volunteerism in their local or campus community, and have plans to continue making an impact throughout their college career.
Salima Zeira, recipient of the Jules and Gwen Knapp First Generation Student Award 2024, knows all about the power of a strong, devoted Jewish community. That’s why she’s determined to take everything she’s learned about Jewish history, Jewish resilience, and Jewish determination and put it into her college experience.
“I try to align my work on campus with Hillel’s mission of fostering Jewish identity, building community, and promoting social justice,” she said. “Ultimately, I will always fight for every person’s right to be heard and respected. It is through empathy and compassion that we can combat hate and build a more inclusive society.
For Salima’s family, that right has been hard-won. Her family is originally from across the Middle East, with roots in Egypt, Turkey, and Iraq. Her grandmother, for whom Salima is named, was married at the age of ten, and had her first child at age 13. “Her full name was Salima Shulamit, but they had to disguise her name because she was Jewish,” Salima said.
Her grandparents were persecuted in Iraq for being Jewish, and later fled to Israel. “They had to escape with nothing on their backs, or they were going to be hanged,” she said.
Overcoming Obstacles – And Giving Back
Even after settling in Israel, the family still had tragedies to overcome. Salima’s uncle, Sami Zeira — known to his family as Nissim — was killed in the Six Day War at the age of 19. Though Salima never met him, his story and memory were passed down to her as a reminder of his courage and sacrifice.
Salima’s mother, the youngest of her grandparents’ 15 children, was born in Israel, but later moved to the United States. Salima was raised in a single-parent household in a diverse Jewish community in Miami. Though she yearned for a father, she filled her heart with connections to her community, from dance to music to athletics.
Still, Salima’s journey to college was anything but easy. During Salima’s sophomore year of high school, her mother was hospitalized with COVID-19 for two months and nearly died.
“I prayed every day and night that she would be okay, and thankfully Hashem (God) had other plans for her,” she said.
Her mother recovered, but the experience taught Salima to be resilient and determined — lessons she’s kept to this day. She also has prioritized giving back to her community. As a high school student, she got involved with the Jewish Education Center and Young Musicians Unite, two causes close to her heart, and helped set up fundraisers for both organizations. She also interned at a law firm, where she learned real-world skills that she’s been able to apply as a college student.
“College represents more than just an opportunity for academic advancement; it’s a chance to break the cycle of poverty and create a new path for future generations,” she said. “I wanted that for other people as much as I want it for myself.”
Campus Life Changed After October 7
Ultimately, Salima chose to attend Wake Forest University, where she’s now studying politics and international affairs, with minors in Jewish studies, music, and dance. While going to school in a different state was intimidating, she fell in love with the campus, and quickly made friends and established a community. She joined the university symphony as a violinist, board member, and social media manager, and sought to establish a Spanish academic sorority on campus, Chi Upsilon Sigma, of which she is an academic chair.
But as a first-year Jewish student on campus, her experience changed completely on October 7. Two of her cousins were killed by Hamas at the Nova Music Festival, along with one of their fiancées.
“I don’t really think I’ve even been able to grieve completely,” Salima said. “It’s been traumatic.”
Since the war began, Salima lost two more friends in Israel. She also lost the sense of safety and community she felt on campus.
“The silence on campus from my non-Jewish friends was so loud,” she said. “I was anxious all the time, to the point where I was shaking in class and needed to step out because I was crying or having a panic attack. The only support I got was from my Jewish friends.”
Like many other Jewish campus communities, Jewish students at Wake Forest rallied together. When encampments and anti-Israel protests enveloped her campus, Salima helped organize tabling for the hostages, offered support for other Jewish students, and reported antisemitic incidents to Hillel International and the Anti-Defamation League. She met frequently with the university administration to demand a stronger response in defense of Jewish students, and refused to back down when facing critics.
“I will never apologize for being Jewish,” she said.
Moments of Joy Amid Darkness
Even amid a year of grief and darkness, there were moments of delight. Salima had the opportunity to perform with Saul Drier, a 98-year-old Holocaust survivor and drummer. After the performance, Drier shared his story about how his entire family was killed, but he persevered. “His testimony of survival amid that unimaginable loss reinforced my commitment to my heritage, but also my commitment to telling the stories of survivors,” she said. “I am truly so grateful for all the moments I get with Holocaust survivors, because it is priceless. And we need to keep their testimonies alive.”
When Salima reflects on what the First-Generation Student Award means to her, she thinks immediately of her grandmother. “Her name embodies the strength and resilience that have been passed down through generations,” she said.
She is proud of her Middle Eastern and Hispanic Jewish heritage — after all, her history has made her who she is today. “My family’s legacy inspires me every day to carry forward their courage and fight for a world free from hatred and determination. I feel a deep sense of responsibility in this new chapter, and so much gratitude for everyone who came before me,” she said.