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Hillel News
Our Commitment to Israel and Our Students
In the aftermath of the October 7th terrorist attack in Israel, and with the war in Gaza actively raging, our community continues to join Jews around the world in mourning and in pain.
To our students our message remains resolute: you are not alone.
Burgers for Israel: How One Student Turned Heartache into Action
While the past two weeks have been devastating for the Jewish community, it has also spurred many students to take action. One student, Anna R., worked with Hillel 818 staff to plan and execute a fundraiser at Melrose Burgers in Encino. In partnership with Hillel 818, Chabad at CSUN, Students Supporting Israel, and our local Jewish fraternity and sorority AEPI and SAEPI, students and the larger Hillel community were invited to dine at Melrose Burger, where a portion of proceeds went towards supporting Israel.
Start of the Year at Hillel 818
We’ve had an exciting start to our year at Hillel 818! We’ve watched our returning students welcome in new members to the Hillel community through games, conversations, meals, and more fun events.
Finding Our Colors Through the 818 Art Festival
Art enhances our world with vibrant colors and shares stories we might not otherwise encounter. For one of our student interns, Rose Siemen, a junior at CSUN, the new Hillel building seemed to lack precisely this, prompting them to devise a solution. They explained, “The new Hillel 818 building recently opened but there wasn’t much decor up yet; I wanted the walls to be less plain and do something about it before I graduate. I approached Matt with the idea of establishing an art gallery. Matt embraced the concept but emphasized the importance of ensuring that the art aligned with Judaism and Jewish culture. Although I have a year left at CSUN, I wanted to leave my mark and raise their profile. With this in mind, I landed on the idea of the 818 Art Festival.”
Cultivating Community, Embracing Tradition: Zohar and Noya’s Journey from Hillel 818 to the Israeli Moishe Pod
For members of the Hillel 818 community and recent alumni, the story of Zohar and Noya Achiasaf hits close to home. After graduating CSUN in 2017 and 2018, the sisters recognized a significant gap in the San Fernando Valley: a lack of places for young adults to socialize and embrace Jewish culture.
Rabbi Jess: Reflecting on the High Holidays
In The Lord of the Rings trilogy, there is a magical mirror device that the great elf Galadriel shows the protagonist Frodo. “What will I see?” he asks, as he is invited to peer inside. “Even the wisest cannot tell”, she responds, “for the mirror shows many things. Things that were, things that are, and some things... that have not yet come to pass.” I’ve been musing that our High Holiday liturgy is meant to be a magic mirror.
Matt’s Menschifesto: A Surprising Gift
Every so often, Hillel 818 Executive Director Matt Baram will share the latest chapter of his “Menschifesto,” thoughts and lessons learned during his time as Executive Director.
Building multicultural & interfaith connections at CSUN
CSUN stands as one of the most culturally diverse college campuses nationwide, encompassing an array of cultures, religions, and more. In response to the increasing prevalence of antisemitism globally, Hillel 818 has prioritized forging connections with various groups and communities. Presently, this effort expands further with the introduction of our first student-led Multicultural & Interfaith Intern position.
Israel on the Ground: The Hillel 818 Experience
This past June, members of the Hillel 818 community got to take part in a special trip to Israel. This unique opportunity brought together Jewish and non-Jewish student leaders from CSUN to experience Israel and the West Bank.