Hillel 818 is Defiantly Jewish
Hineni.
In the Torah the word Hineni, Hebrew for "Here I am," is said 179 times. Each utterance is imbued with a sense of spiritual gravitas - a profound declaration less about physical presence and more about spiritual readiness and acceptance: All of me is here and present. Abraham says Hineni 3 times during the binding of Isaac. Moses says Hineni when he stands before the burning bush.
Since October 7th, I'm struck by the unfortunate truth that for Jews in America being proudly, joyfully, unapologetically Jewish is in of itself a declaration of Hineni. It shouldn't be so hard. It's unfair that it's hard. But it is. In the face of rising antisemitism around the world, especially on college campuses, showing up as a Jew and declaring Hineni is an act of defiance.
Today is Yom HaZikaron, the day of remembrance for the Israelis who lost their lives in the ongoing war for the Jewish right to self-determination in our homeland.
I can think of no greater way of honoring their memory than by the work we do at Hillel 818 where we inspire robust Jewish pride and create Jewish joy. This year we've reached over 1,000 Jewish undergraduate students and more than 1,700+ total students - both representing the biggest numbers in the history of our organization. With every new Jewish friend made, Shabbat prayer sung, empty belly fed, Jewish knowledge gained, pastoral care received, stress relieved, and soul awakened - Hillel 818 is at the forefront of helping students boldly declare "Hineni."
Together, we are #DefiantlyJewish
We can only do this with your support. Roughly, 60% of our budget comes from individual donors just like you. Today is the start of Hillel's Global Giving Week and thanks to Hillel International and the Hillel 818 Board of Directors, the first $17,000 we raise will be matched dollar for dollar.
So join us. Say Hineni. Be #DefiantlyJewish. And help us build a Jewish future that stands on the success of the present and provides our students with the community, mentorship, and funds needed so they, too, can be #DefiantlyJewish.
Matt Baram, Executive Director
Why our students are #DefiantlyJewish
"Being #DefiantlyJewish means I stand up to antisemitism and seek to learn more about what it means to be Jewish every day and be proud of who I am.”
Ariella Levin, CSUN class of 2026
"Being #DefiantlyJewish means that against all odds, I never forget my Jewish heritage and never see it as something that weighs me down but something that makes me stronger.”
Aaron Rubin, CSUN class of 2026
"#DefiantlyJewish means existing. My existence means me and my ancestors have survived thousands of years of persecution because of our ethnic background. It means connecting and keeping my culture no matter the outside pressure.”
Ally Walker, CSUN class of 2024
"Being #DefiantlyJewish is having the community around me that chooses peace, love, dance, and song, while also holding the heartbreak of what our people have gone through.”
Anna Rapoport, CSUN class of 2024
Why our Board of Directors is #DefiantlyJewish
"What does being #DefiantlyJewish mean to me? It means doing what I’ve always done, loudly and proudly: give my time and my money to Jewish organizations that support our community, our students and Israel. It means wearing my Jewish star every day no matter where I am. It means traveling to Israel to bear witness not only to the tragedy of October 7th, but also to the amazing resilience of the Israeli people. It means living a life filled with Jewish Joy."
Kathi Mangel
“I am #DefiantlyJewish because I am a link in the 3,000 year old tradition whose core teaching is that you should love your brother and sister as yourself. It is a tradition that commands us to repair the world by performing acts of lovingkindness for all inhabitants of the earth. It is a tradition that promotes Ahavat Yisrael, the love of Israel — the people and the land. My love for Israel is the strength, wisdom and belief of all those people from Abraham to Rabin — who have come before me. I am the bones in the ground of Jerusalem, the ashes in the concentration camps, the soldiers fighting on every front in our tiny land and the children playing in the playgrounds of Sederot. I am the blood soaked into each grain of dirt in this country. I am all the tears ever shed by my people. I am the centuries old; longing to be free in our own land. I am the love for my Palestinian cousins who are the descendants of my uncle Ishmael, and I am the yearning for a solution that gives reality to their self-determination. But at the same time, I am the yearning for a solution that also accepts the finality of the State of Israel and recognizes the right of the Jewish People to our own self-determination to live in peace and security in our ancestral homeland. And I am #DefiantlyJewish who will never stop fighting to ensure the unbreakable bond between the United States and its strongest ally in the world - Israel by encouraging the US government to enact policies that enhance a strong relationship with Israel.”
Sandor Samuels
"I express Jewish pride and Jewish joy by celebrating Shabbat every week in my home, with my husband, daughters and many guests. I share that pride and joy by telling my CSUN colleagues and student assistants — Jews and non-Jews alike — about my weekly Shabbat menus, and sharing recipes (including the family kneidlach and chicken soup recipes passed down through generations.
I express Jewish pride and joy by taking off work on all the holidays — soooo many holidays — and telling my colleagues and acquaintances why I’m doing it and what I’m celebrating (“what is Shavuot, anyway?”). I feel most proud and joyful when I leyn (chant from the Torah) on Shabbat mornings and holidays at Temple Ramat Zion in Northridge, or at Camp Ramah. I am in the first generation of women in my family to be permitted and encouraged to learn how to do this. Both my daughters have learned as well – second generation! L’dor v’Dor."
Olivia Herstein
“I was particularly struck by an article in the Nation, as a Palestinian Arab journalist, Ahmed Fourad Alkhatib, who has lost 31 members of his family in Gaza, reminds us of what ‘defiance’ may mean, when he critiques Hamas for the brutality of its leadership and how millions of Gazan residents have suffered for years under its control and concludes: ‘What is needed is a comprehensive rebranding and rejuvenation of what peace means in a Palestinian context – a definition that stands apart from what has been offered by Palestinian leaders. It involves a pragmatic acceptance that after 75 years of setbacks, Israel’s people are there to stay, and we must find a way to establish a shared future that embraces and acknowledges each other's mutual existence.’
In his essay, he challenges not only Palestinians but Jews as well to capture this moment to defiantly seek a way forward toward peace, while affirming the Jewish State’s connection to this land. Our students are watching us, and what we are prepared to say and to do. By assisting Hillel and supporting our community on campus, we embrace Judaism and the Jewish people, our belief in humanity, and our commitment to the future."
Steven Windmueller
Why our alumni are #DefiantlyJewish
"To be #DefiantlyJewish is being Jewish to my core, even if it means feeling nervous about the state of the world”
Rachel Katz, CSUN class of 2017
"#DefiantlyJewish means standing up to antisemitism I’ve personally experienced. It’s also continuing to show unwavering support for Israel, Israelis, the Jewish people, and students defending Israel across college campuses.”
Joshua Schleien, CSUN class of 2018
"To be Jewish is to be part of a community that celebrates every victory with you and holds you up through every failure. To be #DefiantlyJewish right now is to continue to do just that.”
Tiffany Brown, CSUN class of 2023
Why our staff are #DefiantlyJewish
"Being #DefiantlyJewish right now means continuing to show up on the hardest days. To do the work even when it seems impossible because we are strongest in community. The Hillel 818 community is incredibly unique, and no one is more deserving of a space where they are celebrated every single day than our students."
Meg Wells, Assistant Director: Programming & Engagement
"Being #DefiantlyJewish means making time for Jewish joy. It means going out and celebrating life with other Jewish young adults, learning Israeli dances and baking challah together, rather than stewing alone at home, glued to the news."
Eliana Leish, Springboard Intrapreneurship Fellow
"To be #DefiantlyJewish is to tell the Jewish stories that I have learned and continue to tell everyday at Hillel and at synagogues around the Valley. It’s to be in my interfaith relationship and know that the way I live Jewishly is valid and complete no matter what!"
Max Winer, Program Manager
"Being #Defiantly Jewish for me means to stand proud of who we are! It’s fostering a strong sense of Jewish identity and connection to Israel among students, despite any challenges we may face. It’s advocating for Israel's right to exist and thrive while fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of background. It’s refusing to hide or assimilate, but rather boldly asserting our heritage, culture, and values. It’s building bonds of community and solidarity while embracing our heritage and connection to Israel with unwavering pride and determination."
Julie Bismouth, Israel Fellow
"Being #DefiantlyJewish is to continue to have hope, to refuse to give into despair, even when we experience such hateful enemies who literally wish us extinct. It's to light our shabbat candles, be present and peaceful in public spaces, and teach the next generation how to sing in Hebrew!"
Rabbi Jess Yarkin, Hillel Rabbi
"To be #DefiantlyJewish to me means to choose to do things that are your way to express your personal level of Judaism. It can be just wearing a Magen David necklace, observing halacha, celebrating Jewish holidays, working for a Jewish organization, or volunteering for a Jewish organization. Whether you are born Jewish or not, it is a choice to continue to do things that reflect your Judaism when it is just so easy to not do anything Jewish."
Darren Klein, Director of Operations
"Being #DefiantlyJewish means empowering our students to take pride in their ancient heritage. It involves embracing the global Jewish community and sharing our love for our history, our diverse culture, our traditions, our land, and our people with others."
Ellen Borenstein, Multicultural & Interfaith Coordinator
