News, stories, and updates from Hillel communities worldwide
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Every year, thousands of high school students travel to Israel on trips funded by RootOne, an organization that helps young Jewish students build their connections with Israel and their Jewish identities.
For months, I had been counting down the days until my trip to Israel with the University of Florida Hillel. It was a dream I spoke into existence over and over, telling friends, family, teachers, and even strangers how excited I was. I imagined myself living for the summer in a country I love, immersing myself in its culture, and participating in an internship that aligned perfectly with my future goals.
I grew up in Yad Natan in Southern Israel. Sports were always a huge part of my life. I have a degree in physical education from Wingate Institute, and worked as a volleyball coach for a long time. I’ve always believed in helping others, an aspiration I brought to life as a physical education teacher in elementary and high schools, and during a trip to volunteer in Uganda.Â
At Hillels around the world, Jewish college students celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s 77th birthday, in diverse and exciting ways. Before jumping into the Hillel celebrations below, check out highlights from Jewish students celebrating Israel across the country: Your browser does not support the video tag. University of Colorado at Boulder (CU Boulder Hillel)Nearly 400 students […]
Until my grandfather was nine years old, he had no idea he was Jewish. He grew up in a Christian community in Poland, and had to practice Christianity — that’s what kept him safe until the Jewish Agency for Israel rescued him and brought him to Israel as part of the Youth Aliyah.Â
Every year, Hillel organizes dozens of campus-specific, and national trips, connecting Jewish students and young professionals to their Jewish roots, to Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people, and, upon return, helps them forge new ties to their Jewish communities.Â
To learn more about what it’s like to speak with students across the country as part of the Teach-In Tour, Hillel caught up with one of its many participating experts: award-winning writer, political analyst, and human rights activist Dalia Ziada. Check out her interview below.
Early this week, over 500 student leaders, Jewish Agency Israel Fellows, speakers, stakeholders, and young alumni from over 200 campuses across North America came together for the 2025 ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ Israel Summit, held this year in beautiful (if chilly!) Chicago.Â
More than 500 pro-Israel student leaders, speakers, stakeholders, and young alumni convened in Chicago for ÃÛÌÒ¹¤×÷ÊÒ’s eighth Israel Summit – the largest gathering of pro-Israel students this year.
For Lidar, advocacy for his friend Sasha Troufanov, taken captive by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and released this past weekend on February 15, 2025, has become an important part of his work with Jewish college students. Sasha’s story also has become an inspiration to Lidar’s students at a time of increased antisemitism and isolation in their classes and on campus. Â
