| You want to know something absolutely amazing?! At Hillel of San Diego we are firing on all cylinders, and your impact through Hillel continues to change lives in real time. As we make our way through this beginning part of the year, I wanted to share some Big Wins that we are celebrating. |
The hostages came home!! All of us were up all night on Sunday as we watched footage of our remaining hostages coming home. The collective relief, joy, and the lift of a massive weight off our shoulders was felt across campus and among students. The energy in the buildings was electric!
This past Shabbat was INSANE! Nearly 250(!!!) students wanted to come together across all four campuses and JEWISH JOY was on full display. The demand for Jewish community and connection on campus is real, and YOU, through Hillel of San Diego, are meeting the moment
Hillel of San Diego is more than just our student community; it’s a family affair. Our family weekends have been a chance for the whole mishpacha (family) to see the magic of Hillel at work. From brunches to Havdalah, students have celebrated their Jewish community with those closest to them, and a lot of families have felt the relief of knowing their students are wrapped in so much love and support at Hillel.
While antisemitism continues to be pervasive on campus, our Campus Impact Initiative is driving results as we continue to support students. With over 15 open cases, our team is supporting students and managing outcomes that make our campuses safer and more welcoming environments for Jewish students, and frankly, all students. Like Taylor Swift said, at Hillel, “We protect the family.”
Demand for mental health support through Hillel continues to be through the roof, and our clinically licensed social worker is providing robust counseling services for dozens of students individually and hundreds of students through holistic wellness programming. This project provides direct and immediate support for Jewish students, meeting them where they are, thanks to an anonymous lead donor and your support!
For those of you who are also listening to Taylor Swift’s new album, just like in her song Wi$h Li$t, I want to say thank you for making all of this and so much more possible for the thousands of young people supported by Hillel of San Diego. As Taylor sings in the song, “They should have what they want. They deserve what they want. And they get what they want” because of YOU! Thank you for making their wish list come true!
Shabbat Shalom,
Karen Parry
Chief Executive Officer
Hillel of San Diego
