A Message from Wayne Harris

The Presidents’ Challenge starts TODAY!

Yesterday, we launched our Jewish Networking Hub, which links current Hillel students with Jewish alumni looking to mentor and support the careers of our future leaders.

Now, more than ever, it is critical to prioritize safety and security because that investment matters. It makes a difference, just like it did last Thursday.

A new campaign to “Drop Hillel” has been launched with the goal of kicking Hillel off college campuses. According to the Jerusalem Post, The group is linked to National SJP and “calls itself a ‘Jewish-led campaign… advocating for divestment from Hillel’ that wishes to ‘weaken Hillel’s grip on Jewish campus life’.”

Yesterday was October 7th-

Yesterday Hillel of San Diego supported on-campus vigils and education programs at each of our four campuses- SDSU, UCSD, CSUSM, and USD. We then paid for buses to take students to the incredible Community Vigil at the JCC.

This past weekend, I was in Washington D.C. at the Hillel/AJC University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism. The Summit brought together Hillel Executive Directors, AJC Regional Directors (including San Diego’s Sara Brown) and 150 University leaders including UCSD’s Chancellor Khosla and Vice Chancellor Petitt, to address antisemitism productively and focus on what institutions can do to create positive change.

On Friday, we celebrated the Melvin Garb Hillel Center’s 10 Year Anniversary at Shabbat with students and some special guests. We hosted a tour of the beautiful center with students who shared how each of the spaces impacted their Jewish experience. Students shared the business plans they created in the Sophie and Arthur Brody Library and the Jewish women’s club, Achayot, explained that they are working to establish an AEPhi Chapter at SDSU in the Harold R. Stern Student Leadership Room.

Jewish pride and Jewish joy is alive and well at Hillel of San Diego! Over 200 students kicked off the start of the new school year at Hillel, thanks to YOU!

Everything is different. Everything is the same. As we enter a holiday that reminds us to look to Jerusalem, welcome the stranger, and remember our heritage, one can’t help but think how this year feels different, especially on campus. Yet Hillel of San Diego is a constant—deeply committed to supporting Jewish life for our collective future. And so, I invite us to think about a new set of four questions for our Hillel Passover this year.

Last night at the Welcome Back BBQ, students planted their legacy tree in the backyard to memorialize those lost on October 7th and in the war. SDSU President Adela de la Torre was in attendance and spoke about how students were able to show up as leaders and leave a lasting legacy on their community through Hillel.

Welcome to 2024! As we launch into the second half of our year, we continue to be hyper-focused on supporting students. This is done through a multitude of strategies.

First and foremost, we focus on imbuing pride in being Jewish. That looks like joyful shabbats, social bonfires, opportunities for lots of laughing…and lots of good food. Programs of joy are possible BECAUSE you support Hillel. Your generosity funds their joy.