Top Five Memories from Hillel International Israel Summit 2025
Early this week, over 500 student leaders, Jewish Agency Israel Fellows, speakers, stakeholders, and young alumni from over 200 campuses across North America came together for the 2025 Hillel International Israel Summit, held this year in beautiful (if chilly!) Chicago.
The Hillel International Israel Summit is a gathering of Israel-focused student leaders within the Hillel movement. This annual event is an opportunity for top pro-Israel student leaders to learn from community leaders and subject matter experts, network and incubate ideas, and provide constructive feedback on the ever-changing campus climate for Jewish students.
“I stand in awe of all of you in this room,” said Matthew Bronfman, chair of the Hillel International Board of Governors, in his remarks at the Summit. “Each of you has said — hineni, here I am — ready to assume the responsibility to ensure your campus remains a safe space for Jewish and Israeli students.”
Getting all the amazing conversations and takeaways from this year’s conference into one article is impossible, but here are a few of our top highlights.
Panels and Keynotes Brought Star Power, Expertise, and Messages of Resilience
No Hillel gathering would be complete without a lineup of powerful speakers and guests, bringing their wisdom and experience to share with the community. Former Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky, former Member of the Knesset Gadeer Kmal-Mreeh, former Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein, and former White House Middle East Envoy Jason Greenblatt were among the speakers who shared their insights and support with the student leaders. And at the center of every conversation was an understanding that, in this moment, the focus was on leadership, connection, and love for Israel.
“I believe that hope must be at the core of our work and our leadership, even, and maybe especially during hard times,” Esther Abramowitz, associate vice president for global Israel experiences at Hillel International, said in her d’var Torah at the opening plenary, where she offered words of Jewish learning to kick off the conference. “We will dance over the next few days. We may cry. We will laugh and we will comfort each other. This is resilience. This gives me hope,” she added.
Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International, echoed those sentiments in his opening remarks. “All of you have a unique opportunity right now to step into your strength… It is so important in this moment that you never, never apologize for who you are, what you believe, and what you hope to accomplish in this world,” he said.
Student Leadership and Experience Took Center Stage
Enriching the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world has been at the heart of Hillel’s work for more than 100 years, so it’s no surprise that student leaders and campus experiences were at the forefront of conversations throughout the Israel Summit. In both formal and informal settings, students shared the stories of what campus life since October 7 has been like for them.
“This Summit is more than just a conference—it’s a statement,” said Maya Shiloni, chair of the Hillel International Israel Summit and a junior at Harvard College, as she reflected on the important place the Israel Summit holds in those stories. “A statement that we will not be silent. That we will continue to be proud. That we will continue to lead, to advocate, and to celebrate our people and our homeland.”
In the theme of centering student voices, prominently featured across panels and plenaries were members of the Hillel International Israel Leadership Network, a community of Israel-focused student leaders across North American campuses who receive comprehensive training and resources to counter anti-Israel narratives, foster meaningful dialogue, and create vibrant Israel-focused programming on their campuses.
“After October 7th, it felt like my world had come crashing down, and like my entire existence as an Israeli-American on my campus was being constantly invalidated. The Israel Leadership Network gave me a lifeline,” said Adam Saar, vice chair of the Israel Leadership Network. “It feels like every day I learn about more amazing things my peers in the Israel Leadership Network are doing on their campuses across the country, and I could not be prouder to be a part of its leadership.”
Out: Lectures and Speeches. In: Conversations, Storytelling, and Connection
Much of the conference was dedicated to informal storytelling and conversation opportunities that encouraged everyone to speak from their hearts, in addition to their expertise.
Lee Yaron, journalist at Haaretz and the author of “10/7: 100 Human Stories” (recently named the 2024 Jewish Book of the Year), knows better than most the power that storytelling can have in shaping opinions. “Personal narratives accomplish what facts alone cannot,” she told Hillel International days before the Summit, where she was a speaker. “They reveal the true complexity and diversity of Israeli society, its peace efforts, and its fundamental humanity.”
In addition to panels and fireside chats, conference participants had the opportunity to attend workshops and master classes, gathering in small groups led by experts in the relevant fields, to discuss topics like the state of campus antisemitism, leadership in times of conflict, Zionism and feminism, building Jewish civic leadership, and advocacy and art
“My favorite moment was going to a talk about Zionism in the USSR and learning about how [Jews left the USSR undercover to move to Israel so they could live openly as Jews] and the struggles they had to go through,” said Josh Velazquez, a student from the University of California,Riverside.
All Work and No Play? Not a Chance.
The Summit was focused on collaborative efforts to support Israel education and advocacy on campus, but it was still a Hillel event — and that meant making time for fun. Sunday night’s entertainment included a concert and party with Israeli DJ Yarden Klayman, named one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” who kept students captivated with her unique combination of saxophone performance and DJ skills. Students danced, sang, and enjoyed a 360 camera and giant lawn games like Jenga and Connect Four.
These moments of levity were perfect examples of living the lessons from Esther Abramowitz’s opening d’var Torah, where she emphasized the importance of focusing on joy even in times of mourning. “The concept in Hebrew is gam v’gam,” she told the community. “Living with sadness and joy at the same time.”
Grief Cast a Shadow, but Memories Brought Light — and Reminders of Why We Do This Work
In fact, this concept, gam vgam, was a unifying theme throughout the Summit. Many speakers reflected on the bittersweet timing of the gathering, so soon after the funerals of the Bibas family and other murdered hostages in Israel. The plight of the remaining hostages, as well as the memories of those slain in captivity and murdered on October 7, was a presence in every room.
“I want to thank everyone for being here and standing up, being a voice for Hersh and those whose voices cannot be heard,” said Abby Polin, aunt of Hersh Goldberg-Polin (z”l), who was murdered in Hamas captivity last summer.
“Speak out, raise awareness, and support the efforts of organizations like Hillel International, who empower all of you and who are working tirelessly to bring our loved ones home,” she said. “We cannot remain silent. We cannot forget. We must continue to raise our voices until every single one of them is home where they belong.”
Amid this grief, there was still so much joy and pride. Students shared stories of the safety, comfort, and happiness they found in their Jewish communities on campus, and the power of gathering with other Jewish students through Hillel programming. The message was clear: This Summit wasn’t only about standing up against anti-Israel hate, but actively sharing the love and connection that Jewish students find in their relationships with Israel and with each other.
And Hillel is here to help students continue that passion and connection throughout their journeys. As Lee Dranikoff, chair of the Hillel International Board of Directors, shared, “Hillel is committed to helping you both here and back on campus. We can provide the tools and training. But we need you to lead…”
Learn more about the Hillel International Israel Summit and the impact it has on Israel-focused student leaders.