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Every Day Since: Bring My Family Home

On October 7, 2023, my cousins Ofer, Sahar, and Erez Calderon were kidnapped and taken hostage in Gaza. For 52 excruciating days, they endured unimaginable conditions — deprived of adequate food, water, and even oxygen — before Erez and Sahar were finally returned to Israel as part of a hostage exchange deal with Hamas. Ofer Calderon, the father of Erez and Sahar, remains in captivity. Almost a year into his abduction, we’ve received few details regarding his mental or physical condition or even confirmation of whether he is still alive. 

Every Day Since: Engu’s Journey to Safeguard Israel Through Education

For Engu, life in Israel was the fulfillment of a dream. Born in Ethiopia, she was only five years old when her family emigrated to Israel, carrying with them the hopes of generations who yearned for a Jewish homeland. However, in the wake of the October 7th attacks, Engu — who had built a thriving career at the Israeli Ministry of Finance — left everything behind to become a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow, determined to ensure her family’s dream survives.

Remembrance and Renewal: Entering a New Year with Grief

We, as a Jewish people, spend a lot of time marking important dates and holding on to them throughout time. We remember the day we received Torah at Mt. Sinai, and we make it the sacred festival day of Shavuot. We remember the day we left Egypt, and celebrate it as the festival of Pesach, telling the story to our children as though it happened to us. We celebrate new beginnings with songs, feasts, and stories, gathering family, friends, and guests to share our joy as widely as we can. On Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the day the universe began. We say Hayom Harat Olam. Today, the world was born. 

Take Care of Yourself: Emotional Preparation For October 7

Managing stress in the context of trauma, especially around significant anniversaries like marking one year since Hamas’s attack on Israel, can be particularly challenging. The emotional weight of such occasions can amplify stress, anxiety, fear, and flashbacks to anti-Israel protests on campus. For many Jewish students, October 7 will be filled with sadness, and for some, it may be too painful to remember. 

Hillel’s Virtual College Prep Series Returns: Finding the Best Fit for You

It’s that time of year again — Hillel International’s Virtual College Prep Series is back! Designed for high school students and their families, these free virtual events are designed to help Jewish students prepare for college and the changing campus environment. The first session kicked off on September 19 with a topic we know is on every student’s mind: How do I find the right school for me?

Hillel, AJC, and ACE Convene 75+ College and University Presidents for Historic Summit on Campus Antisemitism 

Today, Hillel International, American Jewish Committee (AJC), and the American Council on Education (ACE) concluded a landmark two-day College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism, held at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center. With more than 75 university presidents and chancellors attending, the Summit marked the largest-ever gathering of college and university presidents to discuss the topic of confronting antisemitism on campus.

What’s new at Hillel CASE?

Hillel CASE unites Jewish young adults across the former Soviet Union, with centers all over Eastern Europe. Hillel CASE participants spent this summer connecting, learning, engaging, and building community, even amid the backdrop of war in Ukraine, and we’re excited to share some of the highlights of their recent programming, which has provided much-needed support in a region in turmoil.