Hillel Kharkiv: Hope in the Darkness
One year later, the war in Ukraine continues to impact families, students, and Hillels across the country. Yulia Pototskaya, Director of Hillel Kharkiv, understands this better than most.

News, stories, and updates from Hillel communities worldwide
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One year later, the war in Ukraine continues to impact families, students, and Hillels across the country. Yulia Pototskaya, Director of Hillel Kharkiv, understands this better than most.
When the world is shifting around you, you’re far from your family, and the news from home is filled with fear and violence, where do you turn? Young adults from Ukraine and Russia who fled to Israel turn to a community that is a source of joy and comfort for them: their Hillel community.
It’s cold, it’s snowing, the trees are bare… in many parts of the world, that is. But in Israel, the earliest flowers are starting to bloom and it’s time to celebrate a Jewish holiday called Tu Bishvat.
It’s not just trees that grow in Vermont! University of Vermont’s Jewish student life has been growing and flourishing this year with programs and spaces that nourish students’ bodies and voices.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to be one of the 60 American and Israeli participants on the Israel Insight Fellowship, a trip sponsored by Hillel International to introduce students to new perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
$1.8 million grant enables Hillel movement to embed skilled professionals across 32 campuses, providing critical services to students.
Preparing for my trip to Israel through the Israel Insight Fellowship (IIF), I had many American colleagues asking, “why would you think of going to Israel in a time like now.”
Springboard Fellowship applications are open! As early career professionals start their Springboard journeys, we asked current Springboard fellows to share their experiences and advice for applicants and future fellows.
Yael Kornfeld, Hunter Hillel Social Worker, recently sat down with Yehuda Kurtzer, President of the Shalom Hartman Institute North America, on the Hartman Institute’s podcast, Identity/Crisis, to discuss her work. Here are five ways that her work and the work of social workers across the Hillel movement are improving the lives of Jewish students on campus.
Dani Levine, Director of Social Impact at Hillel International, and Anna Worrell, Social Impact Program Manager, are currently traveling through Rwanda with OLAM as part of the Jewish Service Alliance Trip to Rwanda, powered by Repair the World. Follow this page for updates from their travels.