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!
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I was raised by my mom who is a strong Jewish woman, and her influence helped me become who I am today. She is the reason why I鈥檓 so connected to my Judaism. She made me feel empowered as a woman and fall even more in love with Judaism.
I was born in Mexico City into a Jewish family that included my parents and grandparents. For my entire life, I鈥檝e had a Jewish support system in Mexico, not only with my family, but with the Jewish community there.
But the beauty of Hillel is that everyone is welcome, no matter how 鈥淛ewish鈥 they feel. Through my experiences, I realized that Judaism was a lot more relatable than what I learned in Hebrew school. In general, I started to feel more proud and more excited to be Jewish.
There are definitely moments within the LGBTQ community where I don鈥檛 feel accepted as Jewish, and within the Jewish community where I don鈥檛 feel accepted as queer. But what I think is really special about Hillel鈥檚 Nice Jewish Queers (NJQ), is that at the same time I鈥檓 really able to be accepted as both.
鈥淎s a high school freshman, I stepped into leadership for the first time through BBYO. My passion for grassroots organizing and teen initiative inspired me to run for BBYO鈥檚 International Board, and I started in February 2020 as the international treasurer. With this position, I was given the platform to take action on causes I鈥檓 […]
鈥淢y twelve-year-old sister, Lara, has a severe genetic disorder called Rett Syndrome. When she was born, I always wanted to spend time with her and help her eat, walk, and have fun. As I became older, I also tried to help with her studies. 鈥淒uring high school, I realized that I could make a greater […]
鈥淭o me, being Jewish means everything. To be Jewish is to have received a higher calling guiding me to dedicate my life to serving the globe鈥檚 neglected communities. To be Jewish means I face struggles and adversity with a smile on my face because I know my ancestors have given me the strength to overcome […]
鈥淚n fifth grade, I struggled with a newly diagnosed life-threatening peanut allergy, the resulting anxiety, and for good measure, an appendectomy. During that rough year, writing was the creative outlet I needed and became the catalyst for the adventure of a lifetime. 鈥淚 decided I wanted to write a story that I, as an avid […]
I鈥檝e talked to so many people who were and still are actively fighting BDS, and they feel like they’re losing. But I always remind them that it鈥檚 an uphill battle and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. You can make significant progress for the future because of the experiences you鈥檝e faced.
I was a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018, the day of the Pittsburgh synagogues shooting that took the lives of 11 Jewish people. Now, as a senior, not a day passes where I do not wear my necklace, over my shirt, where everyone can see it. I am proud to be Jewish and I am proud to #OwnMyStar.
