Investing in Creativity is Tikkun Olam 鈥 A Way to Repair the World
Mark is a 2024 recipient of the Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education through 黑料传送门.
Hillel Stories
What’s happening on campus? Hear from students, professionals, and Hillel community members whose lives have been impacted by Hillel and who impact the world with their voices and stories. Share your story with us!
15 results
Yallapalooza is a Chance for Jewish College Students Like Me to Dance, Sing, and Be Together
When I heard about Yallapalooza, Hillel鈥檚 concert series that is bringing thousands of Jewish college students together in three cities for a night of music and Jewish joy, I signed up immediately.
Building Community in Times of Darkness at Brooklyn College
I am a fourth year student at Brooklyn College and have been an active member of the school鈥檚 Jewish community, serving as the president of my fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, and planning many events with Tanger Hillel at Brooklyn College.聽 Following Hamas鈥 terrorist attack in Israel on October 7th, I was motivated to assume a […]
When Basketball Meets Shabbat: Rami鈥檚 Story
Coming to campus as an observant Jewish student, I was immediately drawn to Hillel as the center of Jewish life at University of Maryland. I went to Hillel for kosher meals, for services, to meet friends, and to learn Torah. I鈥檓 also a lifelong basketball fan (go Sixers!), and was looking for a way to […]
My Mizrahi traditions are key to my Jewish identity.
My family is Mizrahi, meaning my Jewish ancestors lived in Western Asia and North Africa. I can trace my roots back to Bukhara, Persia, and Yemen.
By being a part of these communities, I have felt encouraged to embrace myself 鈥 no matter what Jewish space I occupy.
I am a bi-racial Jew: My mom is white and Jewish, and my dad is Black and a non-practicing Christian. My parents always told me how special I am to be part of two extraordinary groups of people, but I long believed I could only be one or the other. Over the years I have learned to become more comfortable coexisting in both identities.
Speaking Up for Israel
For me, Judaism is warmth. It is the warmth of a mazel tov on a happy occasion. It is the warmth of far too much food at every social gathering. It is the warmth of traveling away from home to college and having a constant, reliable base in the campus Hillel. And it is the warmth of hearing 鈥渨elcome home鈥 the moment you step foot in Israel.
While I may be wearing a surgical mask while interacting with my community, the smile underneath has never faded.
Over past two years, I鈥檝e learned what it feels like to leave your home and everything in it at the spur of the moment, not knowing when you will come back 鈥 something my immigrant parents went through in their own childhoods.
If you have the opportunity to impact others, use that opportunity to help people.
I鈥檝e wanted to be on 鈥楯eopardy!鈥 since I was a little kid. My parents were like, 鈥榊ou seem to know a lot of these answers, so you should try out. I did well enough on the test to get an audition for the 鈥楯eopardy! National College Championship.鈥 And then from there, it was like a dream coming true.
This Halegh (Charoset) Recipe Brings Me Closer to My Persian Heritage
Family recipes, passed down from generation to generation, bring me closer to my Persian roots.
