Welcome to Hillel: A Letter from Hillel International’s Student Cabinet Co-Chairs
The Hillel International Student Cabinet is a group of Jewish student leaders, deeply involved in their campus Hillels, who were nominated and selected to serve in an advisory role for Hillel International. They represent the voices and interests of Jewish students across the global Hillel community. This week, the Student Cabinet gathered in Washington D.C. to get to know each other, meet Hillel professionals who will support their work, and plan for the year ahead.
Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach, co-chairs of the Hillel International Student Cabinet, share a welcome for all Jewish college students walking onto campus this year. Read their thoughts below:
Dear Friends,
Mazel tov! Whether you’re beginning your college career or continuing your college journey, there’s something so special about starting another year marked by meaning, personal growth, challenges, unexpected turns, and most importantly, memories that will last a lifetime.
Our names are Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach, and we’re Jewish college students — just like many of you. Every step we’ve taken in our leadership journeys as Jewish students has brought us to where we are today, as co-chairs of Hillel International’s Student Cabinet, where we work to elevate the voices of Jewish students everywhere.
If you’re a first-year student, we know that you may be nervous. College is a big deal — we’re exploring a new and unique chapter in our lives, and that change can sometimes be tough. When we finished high school, we were full of excitement and anticipation, but also had some jitters. Now though, we are so grateful for all the opportunities we’ve experienced as Jewish students in college. In this moment, we encourage you to lean in, be present, and imagine the incredible moments you can find as Jewish students.
We are part of a community that includes Nobel Prize winners, Supreme Court justices, comedians who change how the world laughs, and activists who change how the world thinks. And now it’s our turn.
College is where we discover that everything we learned growing up was training for deepening our interests and finding our future path. At Hillel, we’ve watched this realization happen countless times. And now, as part of the Hillel International Student Cabinet, we have the honor of working with students who are living this journey.
We see the future lawyers turning childhood debates about bagel toppings into thoughtful conversations about contemporary issues. We see the journalism student who uses the Jewish storytelling tradition she grew up with as the perfect preparation for telling unforgettable human stories. And we see the future doctor who finds inspiration to heal the world through the comforting food and Jewish values they learned from their grandparents.
And the friendships? The people we have met at Hillel have become our communities and our anchors to support us as we explore new skills and facets of our identities. After just a few Shabbat dinners, we discovered that we’re part of a new family.
As a Jewish student at Hillel, our differences are celebrated and our unique perspective is treasured. In college, we craft our own meaningful Jewish stories.
We write this knowing that recent events, including the horrors of Oct. 7, 2023 and their aftermath, have magnified both the challenges our community faces and the incredible strength we possess. Jewish students carry this profound understanding of what it means to support one another and to stand up for our values with courage.
We can’t wait to see all you do as you begin – or continue – this exciting chapter of your story. And we can’t wait to help tell your story on the Hillel International Student Cabinet.
With absolute confidence in you,
Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach
2025-2026 Hillel International Student Cabinet Co-Chairs