When we reopened in person, we continued to see JLF support wellbeing for our community’s young people. Nearly a hundred students participate in a Jewish Learning Fellowship through Hillel of San Diego each year and many of them return to participate again and again.
Our current Jewish Learning Fellowship focuses on pursuing justice to empower students to better enrich the world around them, which is core to Hillel of San Diego’s vision. The discussions each week would amaze you. The level of dedication that these young people have in caring for the world around them is inspiring. Take a look at what the students are grappling with through Torah study right now at Hillel:
Hillel thrives on having a beit midrash culture meaning that we serve as a house of learning for all the young people who enter our doors. Young people learn about themselves. They learn how they can show up for their Jewish community. And, they learn how the Jewish community will show up for them.
By pairing our Jewish learning fellowship with the Jewish values around justice I’ve seen a shift in students who used to volunteer their time to reprioritizing it in their own lives. The discussions around tzedek and tikun olam impassion our students to think critically about the world and their responsibility to it. Students in the fellowship have come up with some amazing initiatives inspired by our learning such as a mitzvah of the month program and organizing information panels with experts in the field.
Daniel Parker
Jerri-Ann and Gary Jacobs Ezra Springboard Fellow
The next generation is able to fortify their Jewish identities at Hillel and exit our doors ready to be actively involved Jewish leaders.
