I want to tell you what’s happening “on the ground” on all our Hillel of San Diego campuses. The demand for Jewish community is rising- students are coming out in droves to experience Jewish life!

We’re ecstatic and this surge creates a good challenge for Hillel of San Diego.

The reality is that we budgeted for 80-100 students each Shabbat because that’s how many historically would join us each week. Now we are seeing 120-180 students each Shabbat so we are really needing to figure out some solutions. The cost per person has gone up and the total amount of students participating has gone up significantly! The same applies to all our programs– where we would normally see 15-30 students, we are seeing 60 show up. It’s just the current good challenge we are facing right now. What do you do when more young people seek out Jewish life? You can’t turn them away. It’s not an option. So we could really use your help.

I want to tell you about Tyler.

Tyler grew up Jewish in a small California town and he and his brother were the only children at his synagogue. Arriving for his first year at UCSD this past fall, Tyler came to Hillel Shabbat. He was blown away to meet so many Jewish students his age! He made friends. He started studying Torah once a week at Hillel and found those judgment-free discussions really meaningful. He recently went to Israel with Hillel and can’t wait to go back. Most importantly, Tyler feels welcome and at home at Hillel of San Diego- it’s his Jewish community.

Tyler said to me at our last Shabbat,

I was always a ‘member of the tribe,’ but I didn’t really have MY tribe until I came to Hillel. I’m excited about how I can grow as a Jewish leader and I’m grateful for the opportunities that Hillel affords me to discover my Judaism in ways that feel right for me

We need your help to increase funds needed for Shabbat, Jewish holiday celebrations (like Passover Seders!), Jewish and Israel learning programs– so we are not put in a position to turn anyone away or not be able to continue offering opportunities for young people between now and the end of the school year. To those who have already committed so generously, I can’t thank you enough for helping us get this far.

Through your support, every student, like Tyler, that we welcome to Hillel has the potential to be that next student to meet their best friend or find a mentor. That next student to connect and travel to Israel. That next student who will leave college and become a Jewish leader in the community.

YOU make that happen.

If you’re inspired to help, we can finish the year strong and grow on the momentum we’ve gained over the last few months. Imagine what we could do together!