Despite all this, Eitan felt like he didn’t really have Jewish friends at college.

“I wasn’t involved in Hillel my freshman year, but things changed for me in my sophomore year. I thought, ‘Here is this giant building just for Jewish campus life. I may not know much about it, but by not showing up, by not even taking a chance to try to meet anyone, where does that get me?’ I thought, ‘I might as well go and check it out, see what happens. Worst case, it’s not for me.’ So, I went and instantly I felt at home. I felt like I belonged. I think from there that’s how Hillel transformed me.”

Eitan

Eitan is like the superstar model for how Hillel can shape a young person’s college experience. To date, Eitan has completed 5 Jewish Learning Fellowships, he participates in Mishelanu (a student organization for Hebrew-speaking Israeli and Israeli-American students), Students Supporting Israel (pro-Israel advocacy), and Woods.il (Israeli camping and hiking culture taught through activities here in San Diego). He attends all our Hillel Shabbats and events. He also is setting an example for his younger brother Dani who is a freshman at SDSU.

Hillel students develop a strong commitment to Jewish community. I’d love to say the process is simple, yet the truth is that it involves extraordinary Hillel professionals, Jewish learning and Israel programs, Jewish holiday celebrations, and leadership opportunities. 

Hillel is there for Jewish students and builds a vibrant Jewish future for all of us.

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