Hillel Stories

Regional Gatherings

Social Justice

Summit in the Snow: Gathering for a Weekend of Meaningful Fun

Author

Rachel Lennard

Date

January 29, 2026

Rachel Lennard is a student at the University of Oregon and a member of the 精东影业 Student Cabinet. She recently attended a regional student gathering organized by the Hillels of the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, University of Washington, Lewis & Clark College, Reed College, and Portland State University. Here are her reflections:

Snow has a way of slowing everything down and putting things into perspective. On a mountain, surrounded by pine trees and that shimmering snow, it becomes easier to listen, both to the people around you and to yourself. That鈥檚 what I experienced at the recent Pacific Northwest Hillels鈥� Summit in the Snow retreat at Mount Hood, where Jewish students from seven colleges across the Pacific Northwest came together for a weekend of connection, learning, service, and joy.

Most of us had never met before; we came from different campuses and Jewish backgrounds. But very quickly, introductions turned into conversations, then into laughter, and by the end of the weekend, into friendships. There was something powerful about being in a shared space, away from classes, responsibilities, and distractions, where Jewish community surrounded us.

Throughout the weekend, we came together as a community for meals and evening events. During this time, we explored Jewish values, celebrated Shabbat, and enjoyed each other鈥檚 company, reflecting on our shared values and how they shape our lives as students. These conversations showed me that Judaism is not only something we practice individually, but something we live out collectively. Hearing how other students express their Jewish identities, whether through activism, learning, ritual, or community building, expanded my own understanding of what Jewish leadership can look like.

One of the most meaningful parts of the retreat was our service project, where we worked together to assemble care kits for people experiencing homelessness. It would have been easy to stay focused on leisurely activities, but grounding the retreat in the foundational Jewish value of tikkun olam reminded us why community matters beyond our individual needs. As we packed the kits, the work felt both practical and intentional. It was a powerful lesson that our values can always be put into practice, not just discussed in the abstract.

What struck me most about this project was how naturally service fit into the rhythm of the weekend. It wasn鈥檛 a separate obligation, but an extension of who we are as Jewish students. Doing that work side by side with peers from different campuses made the impact feel even larger. Together, we weren鈥檛 just students on a retreat; we were a regional Jewish community showing up with care and responsibility.

There was plenty of fun, too. Skiing and snowboarding on Mount Hood gave us opportunities to cheer each other on, laugh at wipeouts, and celebrate the small victories of making it down a run or trying something new. Those moments of shared joy were just as important as the formal programming. They built trust and created memories that will last long after the snow melts.

As a Jewish student leader, this retreat gave me clarity about what I want to help create on my own campus. It reminded me that strong Jewish communities grow through relationship building. Programs matter, but it鈥檚 the feeling of belonging, of being seen and supported, that keeps students coming back. Summit in the Snow showed me how intentional space, meaningful values-based experiences, and genuine fun can come together to create something transformative.

I鈥檓 returning to campus with new ideas, new energy, and a more profound sense of responsibility. I want to foster spaces where students can connect across differences, engage in service that matters, and experience Judaism as something vibrant and lived. Most of all, I鈥檓 grateful for the reminder that Jewish leadership isn鈥檛 lonely. There is strength in community, in shared purpose, and in gathering, even in the snow, to remind ourselves who we are and what we stand for.

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News

Commemorating 9/11: Turning Remembrance into Action

Author

Abby Goretsky

Date

September 12, 2025

In commemoration of the 24th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, 精东影业 partnered with the nonprofits 9/11 Day and AmeriCorps, which offers grants to colleges and educational organizations to organize volunteer projects on the largest day of service in the country. This collaboration empowered campus Hillels across North America to host their own unique service projects in memory of nearly three thousand people killed on 9/11.

In all, 精东影业鈥檚 social impact team awarded funding to 15 Hillels to lead volunteer projects that included blood drives, memorial ceremonies, and interfaith celebrations, among other events 鈥� weaving together core Jewish values like tikkun olam (repairing the world) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness). 

And when we say Hillel showed up to make a difference, we mean it! Across 15 campuses, 901 total Hillel volunteers (827 students and 74 staff) turned up to participate in service projects such as campus and community cleanups, bake sales, food bank shifts, and more. The results were incredible: Hillel volunteers packed or delivered 350 care kits, donated or sorted 1,235 items, prepared or served 100 meals, collected 485 pounds of trash, produced 110 pounds of compost, wrote 234 letters and cards to first responders, and donated 314 pints of blood.

Check out some of the highlights from across the participating campuses 鈥� and thank you to all of our amazing volunteers!

Hillel at Baruch College

At Hillel at Baruch College, one of this year鈥檚 grant recipients, staff and students hosted three meaningful programs designed to educate Jewish students about this dark day in the city鈥檚 history: a 9/11 memorial vigil at Baruch College, a visit to a Coney Island memorial site, and a trip to Ground Zero. 

On Thursday, the vigil at Baruch provided space for students to discuss stories and lessons, including personal narratives underscoring how 9/11 changed the lives of some of the city鈥檚 Jewish residents. Later that afternoon, students visited the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance on Coney Island, paying tribute to Jewish victims of 9/11.  While there, they connected with family members of 9/11 victims, and assisted with preparing for and cleaning up following the event.  In a powerful third event to be held the following day, students will visit Ground Zero with parents and other family members of Baruch alumni who were victims of the attack. Family members will lead the students through the museum, sharing stories to honor their loved ones. 

For Baruch Hillel Executive Director Ilya Bratman, participating in this day of service is especially important, as most of his students were born after 9/11 and may not realize the true impact of the day on New Yorkers and America as a whole. 鈥淲e must make sure that our students remember, contribute actively and participate in deep and meaningful experiences and conversations connected with 9/11, [and] solidify those stories for many years to come,鈥� he said.

By engaging in acts of service and remembrance, Bratman emphasized the impact of Jewish values of memory, support, compassion, and mourning together that were central to these programs. 

Hillel at Virginia Commonwealth University

Another grant recipient, Hillel at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), created a multi-day program called 鈥�9/11 Commemoration and Days of Service.鈥� The events began on Monday, Sept. 8 with students filling out a Good Deed Pledge,  committing to acts of kindness that would continue throughout the week and beyond. Students wrote thank-you letters to local first responders later in the week, and on 9/11, students volunteered at a local food pantry, preparing food packages for those in need.

 “9/11 is a day of remembrance, but also a reminder of the power of community. Volunteering helped me feel connected to something bigger than myself. It鈥檚 inspiring to see so many people come together not just to reflect, but to make a real difference,鈥� said Bella V., a third-year student at VCU. 

Hillel at VCU鈥檚 goal was to transform the memory of a national tragedy into a force for good. 鈥淏y encouraging students to engage in acts of service and gratitude, we hope to foster a culture of empathy, civic responsibility, and community support,鈥� said Executive Director Sheri Rodman. 鈥淢ore than just learning about the events of that day, we want them to feel empowered to make a difference in their own way.鈥� She emphasized that every act, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect of kindness that empowers students to make a difference in their own way, leading to big changes. 

Hillel Ontario

The University of Toronto (U of T), part of Hillel Ontario, also participated in the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance with a multi-program series titled 鈥淗illel Gives Back: Honoring the First Responders of Past & Present.鈥� Most notably, they hosted a challah bake on September 11, selling their challah the next day and donating the proceeds to international nonprofit Challah for Hunger and local first responder initiatives. Their program concluded with a First Responders Shabbat. 

Eve Haras, Hillel U of T鈥檚 wellness support specialist, said the grant provided a unique opportunity to 鈥減ut [Tikkun Olam] into action, support our first responder community, and role model for our students what it means to live out our Jewish values through service, justice, and compassion for others.鈥�

Haras also emphasized the importance of using this program to teach students about the day鈥檚 lasting impacts. Given th精东影业 U of T serves a large U.S. population, the commemoration was a unique chance for these students to feel seen and connected to their roots, while Canadian and international students deepened their understanding of 9/11. 鈥淭he exchange of these perspectives enriches our Hillel environment and strengthens our collective commitment to learning, empathy, and action,鈥� Haras said.

Stony Brook University

Hillel at Stony Brook University held a blood drive after the school鈥檚 9/11 memorial, inspired by blood supply shortage that occured after the attack in 2001. This was a way for them to give back to the community and those who are in need of blood today through the Jewish value of pikuach nefesh (saving a life). The action, according to Assistant Director Shachar Pinsky, helped to aid those in need and contribute to the betterment and healing of lives. 

Pinsky reiterated the feelings of other Hillel organizers with the importance of connecting students who were born after 9/11 to the tragic day. 鈥淭hey may not have experienced that day,鈥� Pinksy said. 鈥淏ut they can still connect with its significance.鈥� 

These programs are just a handful of those offered that demonstrate the power of transforming tragedy into purpose. By combining education, service, and acts of kindness, students did more than just remember the past 鈥� they worked together to honor it. Each program showed that Jewish values have powerful and enduring roles in national remembrance and ensured that a new generation of students understands the history of 9/11, and feels empowered to make a difference in its memory. 

If you want to learn more about 精东影业’s 9/11 Day of Service grants, contact the social impact team at impact@hillel.org 

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At the Super Bowl Black-Jewish Unity Summit, Connection is the Winner

Author

精东影业

Date

February 20, 2025

Super Bowl Sunday drew millions of eyes to New Orleans for the biggest football game of the year. That same weekend, at historic , well-known athletes gathered with Black, Jewish, and Black and Jewish students for a powerful conversation about their roles in fighting hate. 

This Unity Summit was a continuation of the Black-Jewish Unity Dinner series, created in partnership by 精东影业, the , and Robert Kraft鈥檚 . These gatherings, now in their second year, bring together Jewish students and students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), to build on the historical bonds between Black and Jewish communities. In doing so, they create opportunities for a new generation of college students to connect, communicate, and build relationships. 

鈥淲e know that antisemitism and racism are very real challenges that the Jewish and Black communities face, and by coming together to learn about how we are all impacted, we can work to build a better future. ,鈥� said Dani Levine, director of social impact at 精东影业. 鈥淚t is crucial that we acknowledge our histories, learn from one another, and unite in our efforts to fight hate and discrimination.鈥�

With a  dedicated focus on the power of college athletes to serve as campus leaders, the Unity Summit included a panel discussion with notable sports and media figures, including, Dearica Hamby, WNBA Champion, two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, and forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, Nancy Lieberman, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and two-time Olympian silver-medalist, Leonard Fournette, professional football running back and Super Bowl champion, Greg Joseph, NFL place kicker and one of the only active Jewish players in the 2024 NFL season, and Jake Retzlaff, the first-ever Jewish quarterback to play at Brigham Young University. Some other special guests stopped by throughout the event, including Malcolm Butler, Meek Mill, and Gayle King.

Attendees spent time together in small-group conversations, while on-site content creators created real-time content to share with their communities. More than 100 Black and Jewish college athletes were in attendance, representing , , , and .

鈥淎thletes have to come together across difference everyday to work towards a shared goal. Student athletics are some of the most diverse spaces on college campuses, and we were grateful that so many student athletes were able to share their experiences with each other and apply the lessons they鈥檝e learned from the sports world to the important work of fighting bias. 鈥� Levine said. 鈥�

The event also highlighted the special microgrant opportunity offered from 精东影业 that invests in the ongoing connections and collaborations between Black and Jewish students. Students who attended the Summit or any Unity Dinner were eligible to receive up to $1,000 in microgrants to host a follow-up event of any kind 鈥� the only requirement being that it is organized by at least one Jewish and one HBCU student. 

As of February 2025, Unity Dinners have engaged hundreds of students throughout Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Houston, and New Orleans. We鈥檙e excited to continue the series later this year with students from across the country. Learn more about past Unity Dinners.

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Letters from Alyssa: My Journey to Understanding Voting as a Mitzvah

Author

Alyssa Wallack

Date

October 28, 2024

During my sophomore year at the University of Southern California, I took a course focused on Jewish ethics and civic responsibility. While I grew up hearing about the importance of voting from my parents and grandparents, this was the first time I connected the dots between my Jewish identity and my role as a citizen.

Our group discussions often centered around the concept of tikkun olam鈥�repairing the world. We talked about how every action we take, no matter how small, can contribute to making the world a better place. One evening, our instructor asked us, “How does voting fit into tikkun olam?”

Initially, I was stumped. Sure, voting was important, but was it really as instrumental in improving the world as direct community service or charitable giving? As we delved deeper into Jewish texts and their modern interpretations, I began to see voting in a new light.

We learned about the Talmudic principle of “dina d’malchuta, dina” – the law of the land is binding. In a democracy, we have the unique opportunity to participate in creating these laws. By voting, we’re not just following the law, but actively shaping it to reflect our values.

The Torah commands us: Justice, justice shall you pursue (Deuteronomy 16:20). Our instructor challenged us to think about how voting allows us to pursue justice on a larger scale than we could as individuals.

As the election season approached, coupled with my new understanding, I got involved with voter registration drive initiatives. I was surprised by how many of my fellow students weren’t registered to vote or didn’t think their vote mattered.

I found myself sharing what I’d learned in the course. “In Jewish tradition, every single action matters,” I explained to them, “The Talmud teaches that saving one life is like saving an entire world. Your one vote might seem small, but it has the power to make a real difference.”

The more I talked about voting as a Jewish value, the more I internalized it myself. I realized that by participating in elections, I am honoring the generations before me who didn’t have this right. 

As I cast my ballot this November, I will do so with a sense of pride and connection to my Jewish identity. Voting isn鈥檛 just about fulfilling a civic duty – it is about living out our Jewish values in a tangible way.

To my fellow Jewish students,: Your vote is more than just a choice on a ballot. It’s a way to pursue justice, to take responsibility for your community, and to work toward tikkun olam. It’s a mitzvah – a sacred obligation and opportunity.

So when Election Day comes, embrace this mitzvah. Head to the polls, cast your ballot, and know that you’re participating in a deeply Jewish act. Your voice matters 鈥� let it be heard!

Take good care,

Alyssa

Alyssa Wallack is a USC senior from Los Angeles. A passionate advocate for Jewish and Israel-related causes, she’s now interning with 精东影业. 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.

Letters from Alyssa is a series of reflections and advice from Alyssa Wallack, a senior at USC and a 精东影业 Intern.

Learn more about MitzVote, 精东影业’s nonpartisan civic engagement initiative.

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Service Learning in Rwanda

Author

精东影业

Date

January 24, 2023

Dani Levine, Director of Social Impact at 精东影业, and Anna Worrell, Social Impact Program Manager, are currently traveling through Rwanda with OLAM as part of the Jewish Service Alliance Trip to Rwanda, powered by Repair the World. Follow this page for updates from their travels.

Thursday, January 19

Our last day in Kigali was packed full of learning, exploring, and reflecting on the connections between international and local development. We started the morning with a truly amazing panel of Rwandan alumni of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s International Development (Glocal) masters program. Alumni Jean Claude Muhite, Ernest Ngabo, and Espoir Serukiza shared their experiences with the multitude of development projects they have implemented here in Rwanda. 

Anna and I had the pleasure of speaking with Jean Claude about his most recent work with implementing a program called , which facilitates unconditional cash transfers to people living in extreme poverty in Rwanda. He reminded us that many people living in extreme poverty know what they need, they just don鈥檛 have money to access it. And often they don鈥檛 need a program run by an international organization, they need an unconditional cash gift so they can implement their own solutions. The lessons in humility have been constant for me.

After the panel we traveled to , a working farm and education center that runs multiple programs to address malnourishment. Prior to Belgian colonization, the traditional Rwandan diet was nutritionally dense and diverse. The Belgian government鈥檚 forced agricultural program depleted the soils, introduced less nutrient dense foods, and prioritized farming for export. Gardens for Health International utilizes and teaches regenerative agricultural methods and partners with local mothers to provide sustainable solutions to malnutrition. We ate a delicious lunch of fresh vegetables and fruits and toured the beautiful land.

We then returned to Kigali and spoke with Clementine Mukamana, President of Junior Chamber International Rwanda, and Neville Ndahiro. Clementine and Neville are both leaders in the work to end gender based violence in Rwanda. They shared their experiences participating in training with OLAM partner ,  gave us a small sample of their training, and another reminder that the best kind of cross-cultural collaboration involves deep listening and humility. Then, Clementine and Neville offered to walk around the neighborhood with us to share some very cool sights near our hotel. I鈥檓 overwhelmed by the generosity and hospitality of the many Rwandans who have shared their time and energy with us.

My main takeaway from today is the collective and communal responsibility in Rwandan culture. Success seems to be far less of a personal, individual achievement, and much more of a communal one. I think our students have so much to learn from the young people who are rebuilding this country (Rwanda has one of the youngest populations in the world). The conviction that the success of Rwanda, and Rwandan people is founded in the the culture of communal responsibility, is something that we and our students could learn and benefit from.

Wednesday, January 18

Today was a long and hard day. We began with a conversation on our obligation as Jews, in a new position of relative privilege in the world. How does that privilege impact our obligation to do good in the world? These questions set the stage for our visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial museum. The Memorial is a mass burial site for hundreds of thousands of genocide victims, as well as a museum detailing the genocide in Rwanda and genocides around the world, including the Holocaust. The exhibits were educational, disturbing, horrifying, and at times unbearable. This is such recent history, less than 30 years ago. And yet, I am continually impressed by the Rwandan people we speak to, who emphatically agree that the genocide was horrific and wrong. I think we can learn a lot in the U.S. about admitting mistakes and moving towards reconciliation.

After the museum we travelled to a reconciliation village in a rural area outside of Kigali where survivors, refugees, and perpetrators live together. Village members generously shared their stories with us. It was overwhelming to witness the capacity for both repentance and forgiveness from them. They also had questions for us as Jews; they wanted to know if we could forgive the Nazis, if we had chosen to forgive in order to heal ourselves.

We ended our day with dinner with the Israeli ambassador to Rwanda and many unanswerable questions about obligation, Belgian colonization, forgiveness and building the world as it should be.

Tuesday, January 17

We had a really inspiring first day in Rwanda. We started with learning about the very incredible work happening at , an NGO that uses dance as a method to build self-esteem, self-efficacy, and sustainable livelihoods for young people.

We then toured the  Nyamirambo neighborhood with the , a model of collective empowerment that has provided education and livelihood training and support to more than 5,000 women. Rwanda leads the world in implementing gender parity in public life, with women making up 60% of the country鈥檚 parliament!

One of the most inspiring speakers we heard from today was Isabelle Kamariza from  she reminded us that Africa is solid, and Rwanda in particular is a resilient, brilliant, and innovative country.

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Forgiveness in the TikTok Era

Author

精东影业

Date

October 4, 2022

How do we talk about teshuvah/forgiveness/redemption in a world where both mistakes and transgressions are very public and responses to them are fast, public, and often black and white.

When our mistakes are visible publicly, they have an impact that goes beyond our immediate relationships. How can we ask forgiveness, and address the harm that we have caused to those from whom we cannot seek individual forgiveness?

We posed this question to a variety of educators and experts, and here is their advice on how to move forward, seeking repair!

Tony Westbrook, Jr., Director of Jewish Service Learning at Repair the World

Former Assistant Director, Hillel at Washington University in St Louis
Tiktok: frumjewishblackboy

When our mistakes are publicly visible, we must model what it means to be vulnerable and humble enough to say, 鈥淚鈥檝e messed up, this caused harm in my community, I own it, and I鈥檓 sorry.鈥� Forgiveness is challenging. To ask for forgiveness is a radical act of accountability and vulnerability. It鈥檚 radical because it forces us to think beyond ourselves and to think about the harm, whether intentional or unintentional, we have caused others. In this moment, it also requires us to recognize that the harm may be beyond repair, but the onus is on us to try and engage those we鈥檝e harmed by asking forgiveness. If we don鈥檛 try, then it is as if we are engaging in the harmful behavior all over again. We can make posts on social media, we can write an op-ed to our local papers, we can write apologies in the sky – none of this will matter if we haven鈥檛 done the deep act of owning our mistake before reaching out to those we鈥檝e harmed through our actions and words. 

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Rabbi and Author

Scholar in Residence at the National Council of Jewish Women

 First of all, let’s use the word harm, not mistake. Impact matters, not intent. In any case, owning harm must be proportionate to that impact: publicly-seen harm requires a public confession, a public owning of one’s actions. (If the harm happened in an online group, say, it must be owned at least in that space.)  If there are specific victims, restitution must be made in consultation with them, but should be broader than simply to those victims – they must, additionally, make amends through work that addresses the larger cultural impact in some way. If there are no specific victims, e.g. if one perpetrated a harmful idea online, then restitution must involve offering time or money or talents towards positive change on that issue. The work we must do to transform ourselves, to offer apologies, and to ultimately make different choices must, likewise, account for the impact, both broad and, if relevant, specific.

Listen, I cause harm in public all the time. It’s true. And then I clean up my mess. Take responsibility immediately, do the work, try to learn from it and do better–and I promise, it’ll be OK. This is part of walking the path of being a mensch (a decent person), and you can do it. 

Judith Moses Dworkin, Vice President, Campus Life and DEI Initiatives, Hillel Ontario

The first step is to realize that you have caused harm. The second step is to figure out how to do better going forward. When we don鈥檛 know who has been harmed, we can hope that the audience has their own network that can support them. A blanket message asking for forgiveness might be a good alternative to individual forgiveness in the hopes that it will reach the people it caused harm to. However, it is not enough. Learning from your mistakes and learning how to do better next time so as not to cause harm again are tools within your power. Use those tools and seek out opportunities to undo harm even if it鈥檚 not the same audience. You still have the power and social networks to spread good messages. Sometimes our mistakes can teach us powerful lessons. Use these lessons to make the world a better place.

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Shabbat Meant Something New After the Fall of Roe v. Wade

Author

Alexa Kupor

Date

June 30, 2022

I like to think about the entry of Shabbat as a blanket of peace and quiet descending on the Jewish community as dusk falls on Friday evenings. The words of 鈥淟echa Dodi鈥� liken the beginning of Shabbat to a bride, evoking delicate images of grace, elegance, and reverence.

Last week was different. 

As I live on the West Coast, I first read the news of the overruling of Roe v. Wade upon waking up on Friday morning. By the time the sunset signaled the start of Shabbat, I had digested countless social media posts; engaged in fearful conversations with friends; and witnessed vehement protests from San Francisco City Hall to the steps of the Supreme Court. It was the opposite of peace and quiet, and it was only through this restlessness that we could find a reasonable channel for an inkling of our overflowing anger and apprehension.

Protest against policies that promote injustice or deprive people of civil liberties is a core Jewish value, as is the broader fight for reproductive justice. Despite common assumption, Judaism provides a significant theological justification for the protection of the right to terminate a pregnancy.

For example, the Mishnah, a compilation of oral laws compiled during the first and second centuries CE, proclaims that an expecting mother鈥檚 life 鈥渢akes precedence鈥� over that of an embryo until its head has exited the womb. Likewise, a passage in Exodus, the second book of the Torah, describes a scenario in which violence resulting in a woman鈥檚 miscarriage 鈥� and no other 鈥渄amage鈥� 鈥� shall be punished by a fine, whereas only if the woman is hurt or killed should the punishment be 鈥渓ife for life.鈥� This framework deliberately denies a fetus the same legal standing as a human being and clearly differentiates between a pregnant individual 鈥� and the legitimacy of their life 鈥� and the fetus, which lacks the same classification.

Prominent Jewish commentator Rashi provides further detail for when one may classify an individual as living, claiming that not until 鈥渉is head has emerged鈥� and entered 鈥渢he air of the world鈥� may Judaic law declare the existence of a human with a 鈥渟oul.鈥� That means that the state abortion bans already in place across the South and Midwest, many of which define life from the moment of fertilization and provide no exceptions for pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, directly prevent pregnant individuals from making medical decisions with their Judaism in mind. By taking away one fundamental right 鈥� that of the privacy to make essential decisions regarding one鈥檚 body 鈥� the Supreme Court has indirectly gutted another: the First Amendment鈥檚 guarantee of freedom of religion and free exercise thereof.

However, this is not to say that Jewish tradition is unquestionably committed to the principles of reproductive justice in all possible circumstances. Judaism is an intellectually diverse religion, and those who disagree with the aforementioned characterizations of abortion can often find textual and cultural support for their position. Even the ostensibly progressive belief that mental or physical health threats should be grounds for an abortion reflects an underlying that abortion is inherently immoral; simply not wishing to give birth and take care of a child does not suffice, in this perspective, to justify an abortion. reflects this attitude and requires approval of an abortion committee before the procedure may be accessed, which I believe falls short of ensuring full bodily autonomy.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America鈥檚 position also reflects the ambivalence about abortion that is clear in some of our sources. It absolute abortion bans and recognizes Jewish law鈥檚 prioritization of a pregnant person鈥檚 life over that of the fetus in the case of threats to the former鈥檚 physical or mental health. It also, however, emphasizes the rights that should be granted to an 鈥渦nborn fetus鈥� as a possessor of 鈥減otential life.鈥�

While acknowledging these layers of complexity, I embrace the traditions within Judaism that support the full rights to bodily autonomy, and I remain hopeful for a Jewish community in the present and future that promotes this value, in addition to reproductive justice and basic humanity for all individuals. I have long felt guided by the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam: the call to repair the world. On days such as this, it is difficult to know where to begin in salvaging the remains of a world appearing so different from the one in which myself and my foremothers expected I would grow up.

Yes, the Shabbat that started the day Roe v. Wade fell was different from most; rather than being blanketed in a sentiment of peace and rejuvenation, it was peppered with moments of exasperation, permeated by episodes of dread and confusion, and, perhaps most importantly, filled with attempts to strategize for a better future and build coalitions committed to protecting reproductive rights in all corners of the country. And it was this loudness, this volume, this undeniable buzz of anger, sadness, and action that made it feel more Jewish than any quiet evening could have. Tzedek, tzedek, tirdof. Our work is cut out for us. Onwards.

Alexa Kupor (she/her) is an incoming sophomore at Stanford University. Originally from San Jose, CA, she plans to study history and feminist, gender, and sexuality studies.

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精东影业 Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Abortion

Author

精东影业

Date

June 24, 2022

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Penn Hillel Students Inspire Healing鈥ith Jewish Teddy Bears

Author

Alexandra Goldberg

Date

April 27, 2022

Penn Hillel students are comforting people in need of healing 鈥� one teddy bear at a time.听

Audrey Singer, 21, and Aden Horowitz, 21, founded , a startup that sells plush teddy bears to provide comfort to those who are ill. Each bear holds a customizable note and a heart-shaped card containing the 鈥淢i Sheberach,鈥� a Jewish prayer of healing.

鈥淪o many of our family members and friends have been suffering during the pandemic,鈥� said Singer, a health and societies major. 鈥淪aying 鈥楳i Sheberach鈥� for a loved one is very powerful, and with a Mishe Bear, the prayer can stay with them. It reminds them that someone is praying for their recovery.鈥�

The Jewish-inspired teddy bear is designed to lift spirits and help loved ones find strength in the words of the 鈥淢i Sheberach.鈥� This powerful blessing (sometimes spelled Mi Shebeirach) is usually recited during prayer services, offering a moment of reflection for those in need of healing. 

鈥溾�楳i Sheberach鈥� is a prayer of healing in any way that you need it 鈥� spiritual healing, emotional healing, physical healing,鈥� said Horowitz, a junior studying finance and fine art. 鈥淚n a lot of Jewish families, the prayer means that someone is wishing that you heal from a divine source and receive divine goodness. It’s special.鈥�

A Mishe Bear is a simple yet meaningful gift, Horowitz said. The first, unofficial customer was her aunt, who now serves on the Mishe Bear board. 

She was hospitalized during the pandemic. To support her aunt, Horowitz sent her a teddy bear with a printed copy of the 鈥淢i Sheberach,鈥� creating the original Mishe Bear. 

鈥淣ot only did the bear help my aunt through her healing process, but it also got her really excited about the potential of Mishe Bear,鈥� Horowitz said. 鈥淪he loved the idea of a business that could make an impact on other people’s healing.鈥�

After sending her aunt a bear, Horowitz fleshed out the idea for a Mishe Bear startup with Singer. At the height of the pandemic, the young entrepreneurs went to Penn Hillel for advice. 

Hillel professionals helped them navigate the start-up process, including brainstorming, networking, and proofreading. They were also instrumental in answering Jewish questions, especially Rabbi Gabe Greenberg, who serves as the executive director of Penn Hillel.

Rabbi Greenberg said Penn Hillel served as an incubator, allowing the students to connect and get exposure to Jewish ideas.

鈥淎udrey and Aden are leaders who will create and run with their own ideas in a supportive Jewish ecosystem with help from staff,鈥� Rabbi Greenberg said. 鈥淥ur role is to help students figure out what they want and how we can support them.鈥�

Singer and Horowitz share an entrepreneurial spirit, something they discovered they had in common while serving on the student board of Penn Hillel in 2021. Horowitz was vice president of marketing, and Singer was vice president of social affairs. 

鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 have even met if it weren鈥檛 for Hillel,鈥� Singer said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e really leaned on Hillel for support. Aden and I credit Hillel with everything that has come out of this company.鈥�

In January 2022, Horowitz and Singer used their bat mitzvah money to launch the company.

So far, Mishe Bear has sold approximately 125 bears, helping each customer share healing prayers from a distance.

Mira Potter-Schwartz, 21, sent her grandfather a Mishe Bear as he recovered from heart surgery miles away. Potter-Schwartz, a senior majoring in economics at Penn, also included a personal note with comforting words.

Reciting the 鈥淢i Sheberach鈥� has been a part of her life since she was a child. Sending the Mishe Bear to her grandfather was extra special because the message touched on her family鈥檚 traditions, Potter-Schwartz said. 

鈥淗e absolutely loved it,鈥� Potter-Schwartz said. 鈥淗e wrote to me in an email that it brought tears to his eyes and has a special place under his pillow.鈥�

The value of Mishe Bear reaches far beyond the hundreds of customizable bears awaiting their recipients. The company donates 10% of its profits to Jewish organizations, including Penn Hillel, Northeastern Hillel, (a Philadelphia-based childhood education program), and (a nonprofit that supports Jewish women diagnosed with breast cancer and ovarian cancer).听听

Horowitz said one of the most rewarding parts of Mishe Bear is being able to give back to Jewish organizations that have supported them during childhood and adulthood. 

鈥淚t just feels very full circle,鈥� Singer said. 

Singer and Horowitz said Mishe Bear is just starting to make an impact. There鈥檚 more to be done.  

The entrepreneurs see two main avenues for growth: strengthening the charitable impact through more partnerships with Jewish organizations and creating additional products that inspire healing. 

鈥淚t’s not too gushy,鈥� Horowitz said. 鈥淎 Mishe Bear is perfectly appropriate for anybody, anytime, in need of any type of healing.鈥�

Alexandra Goldberg is a sophomore at University of California, Santa Barbara.

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The post Hillels around the world celebrate Good Deeds Day appeared first on 精东影业.