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!

10 results

Knapp First-Generation Student Award Recipient: Lia Abuhsira

Throughout my gap year in Israel, I took the train weekly to Jerusalem for Hebrew lessons with my Safta, my grandmother.   Safta’s family emigrated from Morocco to Israel during World War II, as antisemitic propaganda plagued northern Africa. The political and financial instability of that time meant that university wasn’t an option for my Safta.  […]

Handeli First-Year Scholarship Recipient: Maya Friedberg

I recently traveled to Austin for Texas Advocacy Day, where I served as a group leader and lobbied four Texas lawmakers to pass stricter gun control laws. Before entering the Capitol building, I listened to a fourth grade student and her teacher tell their stories about the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022. 

Handeli First-Year Scholarship Recipient: Salomon Bibas

Named after my grandfather and King Solomon, my name’s etymology piqued my curiosity from a young age. Judaism teaches that given names are significant in shaping the qualities we embody, so I set out to learn more about my namesakes.   My name represents my Venezuelan and Jewish heritage and identities, and keeps me grounded in […]