Top 10 Moments from the First 24 Hours of 黑料传送门鈥檚 Global Assembly (HIGA)
1. Welcome Back to HIGA!
A common theme among the opening speakers at HIGA 2022 was, as Skip Vichness, Chair of the 黑料传送门 Board of Directors, put it, 鈥Hinei matov u鈥檓ah naim shevet achim gam yachad.鈥 How great is it to see 1,000 Hillel professionals and supporters from all over the world back together in one room after a three-year hiatus! The resilience and creativity of Hillel professionals and their commitment to Jewish students stayed strong throughout the last three years (and the last 100!).
2. HIGA Co-Chairs Celebrate Hillel Professionals across the World
HIGA Co-Chair and Executive Director of George Washington University Hillel Adena Kirstein and HIGA Co-Chair and Executive Director of Hillel at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Erez Cohen opened HIGA 2022 with a tribute to their colleagues. As Kirstein and Cohen shared, dedicated Hillel professionals do everything from 鈥渄ealing with an internet outage to texting a student in the hospital to asking for a million bucks. From digging up art supplies, to tracking Amazon packages, to supporting a student navigating a mental health crisis. And that can all be in one day!” There were many rounds of applause for the dedication, drive, and warmth of Hillel professionals around the world.
3. A Room Full of New Faces
In the three years since the last in-person HIGA, many new faces have joined the Hillel movement. It was powerful to see so many of those new people stand up and be recognized at this year鈥檚 opening session. Hillel professionals have not only built student communities in difficult circumstances; they have also maintained and strengthened their professional relationships and communities even through the years of being apart.
4. Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt Educates and Inspires
Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, spoke to Hillel stakeholders and professionals about the historical components of antisemitism, why it鈥檚 so important to fight it, and how important it is for Jewish people to find joy and pride in our traditions despite the hatred we may face. As Ambassador Lipstadt said, 鈥淲e identify as Jews because of the magnificent, rich, and multifaceted tradition we own as ours.鈥 Ambassador Lipstadt also stressed the importance of fighting hate wherever we find it: 鈥淲ith racism and antisemitism, if you want to fight one, you have to fight the other.鈥
5. Mark Cuban鈥檚 Got Thoughts on Gen Z
Entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner (and father of two college students) Mark Cuban spoke with Hillel stakeholders about the importance of being responsive to the unique needs of each group of students on campus. When working with Gen Z students, Cuban pointed out that, 鈥渆very Gen Z student can tap into a global community on social media,鈥 and it鈥檚 the job of Hillel professionals to help them deepen and enrich the experience of Jewish connection on campus.
6. Hillel is Thriving at 100
Why is there a reconstructed barbershop at HIGA? One hundred years ago, Hillel was founded in a small room over a barbershop at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and today, Hillel is celebrating its 100th birthday! In celebration of the past 100 years of Hillel and looking forward to the next 100 years and beyond, Hillel professionals spoke about what they鈥檝e built on their campuses, how they鈥檙e thriving today, and how they鈥檙e looking to shape the next 100 years.
7. The Promise of a New Generation
Hillel is not only celebrating the last 100 years, but also launching a that will carry the movement forward into the next 100 years and beyond. Campus Hillels are working to craft campaigns that will serve their needs and help set them up for long-term success as the next century of Hillel starts to unfold.
8. Holistic HIGA
In an exciting, intense experience like HIGA, it鈥檚 important to center wellness and different sensory and social needs. The wellness and low sensory room help address those different needs. Most importantly, the all-day coffee bar helps Hillel professionals be their best selves for connecting with each other and thinking about building the next 100 years of Hillel.
9. Hillel House Band was on Fire
After a rocking introduction from former President and CEO of 黑料传送门, Richard Joel and former Music Director of 黑料传送门, Moshe Shur, the Hillel House Band took the stage to play a flaming hot set, starting with 鈥Ivdu Et Hashem B鈥橲imcha鈥 (Serve God with Joy – a Jewish golden oldie). The band had a warm welcome from the crowd and, as always, was a smoking success.
10. Hillel鈥檚 Brand Glow-Up
黑料传送门鈥檚 refreshed brand is on display throughout HIGA and communicates Hillel鈥檚 ongoing commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and student voices. Hillel鈥檚 new branding is also on display at the HIGA swag bar, which is always a favorite stop.