At Hillel of Colorado, our mission is to create a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community for students across our campuses. Over the past few months, we’ve been busy organizing meaningful programs that foster connection, learning, and Jewish joy. Here’s a glimpse into the key areas we focus on to bring our mission to life:
Weekly Shabbat Celebrations: On Friday evenings during the school year, our Hillel communities gather for Shabbat dinner. At CSU and DU, we begin with a student led Kabbalat Shabbat service each Friday during the school year. Our amazing student song leaders are the heart and soul of these services. To support their musical leadership growth, we send students each year to Song Leader Boot Camp, an excellent song leading workshop and conference in St. Louis. Following services, we serve a homemade meal. Engaging discussions, warm company, and friendship come naturally as students share dinner and these evenings have become a highlight for students seeking connection and tradition.
Student Leadership and Engagement: Our student board has been actively planning and leading initiatives to create a welcoming space for their peers. As a student run and staff supported organization, we are guiding our student leaders to do good in the community and our world. One example are our students serving as Service Engagement Interns (SEI) are taking on many projects, including coordinating volunteers to make 50 lunches each week for Denver’s unhoused community. These leaders are shaping the future of Jewish life on campus and building skills to become the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Jewish Learning and Cultural Events: We’ve hosted engaging classes on, history, identity, and Israel providing students with opportunities to explore their heritage in a meaningful way. Recent highlights include a JLF (Jewish Learning Fellowship) course on Israeli culture taught by our DU Campus director, Nofar Abutbul, along with our Denver area Shin Shinim (teen Israeli emissaries), featuring different topics related to Israeli culture. We know that when students know and understand Israelis and their culture, the tie between Jewish American young adults and Israel remains strong.
Social and Wellness Activities: Recognizing the importance of balance and well-being, we’ve organized hikes, game nights, and social gatherings that allow students to unwind and build friendships. Additionally, our Hillel of Colorado wellness director, Shoshanna Shachtman, recently organized a wellness Sunday in Fort Collins with a spin class, cold plunge and sauna experience for students, while incorporating seamless Judaism in the form of an inspirational message from the spin instructor about being a Jewish student in today’s tough environment on campus. The event filled up so quickly that a waiting list was needed. As we head into spring, we’re looking forward to even more outdoor adventures in the beautiful Colorado landscape.
The future at Hillel of Colorado is bright! We’re excited to welcome more students and campuses into our growing community, creating new opportunities to celebrate, learn, and connect. No matter where someone is on their Jewish journey—whether deeply rooted in tradition or just starting to explore—we’re here to help them find their place in a vibrant, joyful, and supportive Jewish environment.
We can’t wait to see what the next season brings!