Shabbat at Hillel

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Shabbat at Hillel is something everyone should experience. There is a palpable spark of energy. It’s a magic you can’t really describe but you can 100% feel. This year, after over a year of virtual Shabbats, the feeling is even more special. Holy really. It’s recharging and energizing – a great end to a hectic week and an important reminder that we are each part of something bigger.

This year, we are feeding around 500 students meals at our Shabbats each month. That’s 500 moments with hungry young people whose only opportunity for a home cooked meal might be when they come to Hillel on a Friday night. That’s 500 moments young people who discover they aren’t alone. That’s 500 moments with young people who will be our future Jewish community leaders. It’s the one day a week where every single student is reminded of their inherent value and can just come as they are.

Per usual, this week we are hosting THREE SHABBATS across San Diego. At San Diego State we are hosting an allyship Shabbat in partnership with the Black Resource Center and Asian Pacific Islander American Resource Center. At UCSD we are celebrating diversity within the Jewish community through a Mizrahi Shabbat. At USD, we are hosting a Shabbat that celebrates each student’s unique experience. And while there is no Shabbat this week at CSUSM, we will see our San Marcos students join their friends at other campuses (don’t worry they have some awesome experiences just for them coming up!). At Hillel of San Diego, we reach students across the entire city — it’s a big operation and we love it!

As we enter Thanksgiving, we want to express so much gratitude to this wonderful community that embraces our young people and recognizes the value in investing in their future. We want to invite each of you to come to a Hillel Shabbat this year, feel the holiness that you fuel through your generosity, and get a taste of home away from home at Hillel. I want you to feel that palpable spark of energy that comes from doing so much good for others.

 

Other Stories From Hillel

Heart of Hillel: Meet Sonia

November 14, 2025

Sonia is a retired UCSD faculty member and a proud parent of Triton and Torero alumni. She didn’t have Hillel when she was in college, but she made sure her children did. And once she saw the impact Hillel had on them, she jumped in with both feet, eventually joining the Hillel of San Diego Board of Directors.

Heart of Hillel: Brad & Karen

November 6, 2025

Brad and Karen’s story is one of legacy, family, and deep belief in the power of Jewish community.

You’re going to want to read this!

November 2, 2025

Your support is what makes Jewish life on campus thrive and ensures a strong Jewish future for all of us. So for the month of November, we want to talk about and celebrate the people who make it all possible and share YOUR impact. Hillel of San Diego thrives because of parents, alumni, San Diegans, and everyone who believes in the power of the next generation.

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