After the October 7 attacks on Israel, discussing Israel on college campuses, especially for Jewish students, has become challenging. On campus and online, students face antisemitism and opposition to their public support for Israel. To address this, Hillel 818 partnered with the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, USC Hillel, and UCLA Hillel to organize the Israel Leadership Forum on January 14 and 15. Over 100 students from Southern California attended to learn, discuss, and hear from a wide range of speakers on what it means to be an Israel leader and advocate on campus.

We’re looking back on this year at Hillel as we get ready for 2024!

We've spent countless hours with students helping them process the news, giving hugs and comfort, coaching them on how to respond to anti-Israel and antisemitic activity, and creating opportunities to learn more deeply about what's happening in Israel. Most importantly, at a time when Jews feel alone, anxious, and scared, Hillel 818 has helped our students feel safe and supported while boldly celebrating Jewish joy.

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.

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.

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.”