Proud to be Jewish Archives - ��ϴ��

Investing in Creativity is Tikkun Olam — A Way to Repair the World

Liora Knizhnik — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 14:24:14 +0000

��ϴ�� Scholarships

Proud to be Jewish

Investing in Creativity is Tikkun Olam — A Way to Repair the World

Author

Mark L.

Date

January 9, 2025

Mark is a 2024 recipient of the Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education through ��ϴ��. As a first-generation college student at Stanford University, Mark uses filmmaking to tell a diverse array of stories. Learn more about ��ϴ�� scholarships and apply today.

I’m constantly amazed by the power of storytelling, and the way that, no matter who you are, a camera can help you share a story that might otherwise be lost. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and every individual’s story has value.

My story is driven by my aspiration to be the first in my family to attain a four-year college degree in the United States. My dream is to become a storyteller, a changemaker, and a leader who contributes to the world through the power of film. Through the Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education, ��ϴ�� is helping me make that a reality — and helping me show that storytelling is another way we can start to repair the world.

As a ��ϴ�� scholarship recipient, I attend Stanford University, and I’m so grateful to have found a home with Hillel at Stanford. Hillel has become a part of my weekly routine, especially on Shabbat. Receiving a ��ϴ�� scholarship has been an honor — not just because I love my Judaism and I love Hillel, but because I see this scholarship as a way of really putting my Jewish values into action.

Long before I found my way to Hillel, I started down the path of connecting my Jewish identity with filmmaking. My camera became not just a tool but a bridge, connecting me with people who tackled adversity with hope and determination. I decided to harness the power of film to ensure that my peers’ amazing stories would not go unheard.

I also committed to helping other filmmakers realize their dreams. When I saw that financial barriers have kept many aspiring young filmmakers around the world from breaking into film festivals and sharing their work with a broader audience, I began to envision and build a student-led, free-to-enter film festival that prioritized the voices of marginalized artists.

In 2022, the Student World Impact Film Festival (SWIFF) was born. Within the first week, we had thousands of entries, and since then, we’ve received nearly 20,000 films from student filmmakers in 149 countries. But beyond the quantitative impact, many of the filmmakers’ stories really resonate with me.

For example, one student from Brazil wrote to us and told us that she didn’t have enough resources to afford submission fees at film festivals, and in Brazil, there are very few film festivals that showcase student work. SWIFF gave her the opportunity to submit her work, and it really helped her take the next step in her filmmaking career, sharing her story with a broader world.

My Judaism inspires me to do this work as a way of practicing tikkun olam, repairing the world. While there are so many different ways we can make the world a better place, for me, serving others through the arts just makes sense. Hillel’s support, community, and dedication to all kinds of tikkun olam make me proud to be a ��ϴ�� scholarship recipient, and I look forward to continuing to share stories, and promote healing and respect across the world.

Read about more inspiring ��ϴ�� scholarship students like Oscar Seltzer, a Dartmouth student who carries his grandfather’s name and legacy with him as he pursues his education.

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Letters from Alyssa: What Hanukkah Means to Me

Liora Knizhnik — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:42:33 +0000

News

Letters from Alyssa: What Hanukkah Means to Me

Author

Alyssa Wallack

Date

December 19, 2024

Hi Friend,

As Jewish college students prepare to light this years’ Hanukkah candles, I’ve been reflecting on the deeper meaning behind the holiday’s glow. Hanukkah is often seen as a joyful, fun-filled celebration – spinning dreidels, eating latkes, and exchanging gifts. And it is! But beyond the festive lights and traditions, there’s a profound story about Jewish identity and resilience that inspires me.

Hanukkah isn’t just about the oil that lasted for eight days or even the military victory of the Maccabees against the occupying force of the Seleucid Greeks. It’s about the Jewish people reclaiming their homeland and reestablishing the right to live as Jews, to practice their traditions openly, and to govern themselves according to their values.

In many ways, Hanukkah is one of the earliest expressions of Zionism – the belief in the Jewish right to self-determination in our ancestral homeland. While the term “Zionism” didn’t exist in the time of the Maccabees, the spirit of the movement is present in their story. It’s about a connection to the land of Israel as a central tenet of Jewish identity, and the courage to preserve a way of life that reflects our values and beliefs.

This year, as we light the menorah, I’m thinking about what it means to rededicate ourselves to that courage and those values. Just as the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple and renewed their commitment to Jewish life, Hanukkah urges us to reflect on how we can carry forward that legacy of resilience and purpose.

To bring more meaning to my Hanukkah celebration this year, I’m:

Reclaiming time for what matters: With life moving so fast, Hanukkah gives me a chance to slow down. Each night, I’m taking a moment to reflect on my Jewish identity – what it means to me, how I express it, and how I want to grow in the coming year.
Lighting the menorah with intention: Each candle is more than just a light; it’s a reminder of the miracles we experience every day – the moments of hope and strength that make life meaningful.
Sharing the story: I’m inviting friends – both Jewish and non-Jewish – to light the menorah with me and learn about Hanukkah’s deeper message. Celebrating together is a powerful example of how traditions like these continue to connect people.

For me, Hanukkah is a celebration of identity and values, showing us that the choices we make today can inspire not just this holiday, but generations to come.

Wishing you a Hanukkah filled with light, meaning, and the courage to lift up the ideas and values that are important to you.

Chag Urim sameach,
Alyssa

Originally from Los Angeles, Alyssa Wallack is a senior at the University of Southern California. A passionate advocate for Jewish and Israel-related causes, she’s now interning with ��ϴ��. When not immersed in her studies or various fellowships, Alyssa loves exploring LA’s food scene and connecting with fellow students about all things Jewish.

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��ϴ�� Global Assembly 2024 Celebrates Jewish Belonging on Campus

��ϴ�� — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:09:27 +0000

News

��ϴ�� Global Assembly 2024 Celebrates Jewish Belonging on Campus

Author

��ϴ��

Date

December 12, 2024

On Monday night, the annual ��ϴ�� Global Assembly (HIGA) kicked off with a message of belonging and community.

“This is a time for kehilla, for community,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of ��ϴ�� to the largest ever gathering of Hillel professionals, sponsors, and stakeholders. “[It is] a time for us to enrich and expand the inclusive Jewish communities on campus that only we can foster, enabling our students to make the leap from coffee dates to community, and from becoming to belonging.”

Drawing together the themes of tikkun (repair), kehillah (community), and chizuk (strength), Lehman spoke about the holistic work th��ϴ�� does in supporting Jewish students.

Over the course of the night, Lehman was joined by HIGA Co-Chair Jonah Zinn, executive director of University of Florida Hillel, and an incredible lineup of speakers, performers, and panelists, all united in a single goal: Kicking off the tenth annual HIGA with high energy, passionate commitment to Jewish college students, and the vast potential of their Jewish futures, and a dedication to Hillel’s mission.

In addition to the Hillel House Band, which performed rousing renditions of songs like “Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu,” “Oseh Shalom,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and an original song to the theme of belonging, participants were also treated to a special performance by DJ Yonatan Cohen, a survivor of the Nova Music Festival massacre. And Israeli actress Gal Gadot addressed the crowd, delivering a video message thanking attendees for their critical work.

“You’re not just supporting a community,” she said. “You’re transforming lives.”

Integral to the way Hillel improves students’ lives are the “superpowers” of its staff, an idea that came up throughout the evening. The energy in the room was good-humored and playful, and included a special guest appearance of a Superman action figure and a singalong to “Sweet Caroline” in honor of Boston, HIGA’s hosting city. The program also highlighted the roles th��ϴ�� staff take on as Super Educators, Super Mentors, Super Advocates, Super Experience Creators, and more, which can’t be underestimated — and neither can their impact on the students they serve.

“Each of you has built that enduring connection for our students that binds them to each other, and to the global Jewish community,” said Matthew Bronfman, chair of ��ϴ��’s board of governors. “You have created spaces for them to not only feel sorrow, but to express their joy — and you have inspired them to be resilient and courageous in the face of many challenges, ensuring every student fulfills Hillel’s vision of making an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel.”

Lee Dranikoff, chair of the Hillel board of directors expanded on this theme and said, “Hillel has a crucial role to play. We are the glue that’s going to hold our community together. It’s a lot to ask. And no one else can do it. It has to be us.”

With nearly 80% of Jewish college students saying th��ϴ�� is more important than ever, it’s clear the organization’s work continues to make a profound difference in the lives of Jewish college students. Abi Schcolnik (University of Miami ‘25) and Zachary Patterson (Duke University ‘26), co-chairs of the ��ϴ�� Student Cabinet, shared the impact Hillel has had on them, especially in the past year.

“Since October 7, Hillel means more to me than ever,” Schcolnik said. “It’s a space where I can truly be myself and know that I am supported in every way — something that no other place on campus can provide.”

Patterson agreed. “There are thousands upon thousands of students just like us, who because of you all, feel a little bit braver walking onto campus every morning, and know that their Judaism doesn’t have to be an insecurity but what makes us who we are,” he said.

In addition to Hillel’s student, professional, and lay leadership, the evening also included a special panel discussion, entitled “Building Hope and Belonging through Spiritual Leadership.” Moderated by Rabbi Marc Baker, CEO of , and featuring Rabbi Gil Steinlauf, executive director of Princeton University Hillel, Rabbi Jessica Lott, campus rabbi at Northwestern University Hillel, and Rabbi Rebecca Blady, executive director of Hillel Deutschland, the panel explored the importance of rooting ourselves in Jewish learning and values to achieve the goals of Jewish belonging, joyful Jewish community, and Jewish leadership.

Read more about HIGA 2024 and some of the Hillel superheroes who won awards for their exemplary work!

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Hillel Concert Series “Yallapalooza 2024” Wraps Up after 3-City Tour Celebrating Jewish Joy

��ϴ�� — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:48:57 +0000

News

Hillel Concert Series “Yallapalooza 2024” Wraps Up after 3-City Tour Celebrating Jewish Joy

Author

��ϴ��

Date

November 11, 2024

Grammy-nominated singer Matisyahu, 2018 Eurovision winner Netta, 2023 Eurovision finalist Noa Kirel, and Nova Music Festival artists performed for thousands of Jewish college students

Last night, the Yallapalooza 2024 concert series, powered by ��ϴ��, made its final stop at the Fillmore in Philadelphia after a week of bringing together thousands of Jewish college students across three cities to celebrate Jewish joy after an incredibly difficult year for Jewish students on college campuses. The concerts featured performances by Grammy-nominated musician Matisyahu, 2023 Eurovision finalist Noa Kirel, 2018 Eurovision winner Netta, and DJ Sasi and Yonatan Cohen, who both performed at the Nova Music Festival and survived the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Before Philadelphia, Yallapalooza took place at the Beacon Theater in New York on Nov. 3 and Emerson Colonial in Boston on November 7.

Since October 7, 2023, Jewish college students have faced an alarming surge of antisemitism on college campuses across North America. These experiences have impacted what should be the most exciting, freeing, and transformative years of their lives.