In 2024-25 Hillel of Colorado dedicated ourselves to ensuring that Jewish students on our college campuses feel safe, supported, and empowered. About a month into the school year Jewish students on Colorado campuses already face renewed anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Rest assured, as hatred and intolerance of Jews and Israel continue to rise globally, this reality isn’t going away.
Is Antisemitism on Campuses this fall all I’m going to read about?
Last year we dedicated ourselves to ensuring that Hillel of Colorado Jewish students on our college campuses felt safe, supported, and empowered in the face of record antisemitism. About a month into this school year Jewish students on Colorado campuses already face renewed anti-Zionist activity as we approach October 7th. As hatred and intolerance of Jews and Israel continue to rise globally, this reality isn’t going away.
So, what’s different?
- Hillel of Colorado has a year’s experience actively engaging with university leaders (a partnership vital in creating a safer campus environment). On our four campuses we advocate for policies that protect students from discrimination and promote a culture of respect. This summer, our chancellors and presidents proactively addressed the issues, and we received promises that university codes of conduct and campus camping bans will be enforced system wide). Hillel continues to work tirelessly – along with our community partners – to ensure university administrators learned from last year. Time will tell, but today, we feel less alone.
- Our 2,000+ Jewish students are learning to advocate for themselves and each other. We helped them grow up quickly last year, and new students coming to our campuses are better prepared to seek out Hillel and to congregate with their peers. Here, Jewish students gain the skills and knowledge they need to face hatred and build resilience. With our support they learn to fight their battles effectively, building confidence, becoming stronger in the face of challenges. Hillel has their back, and our Jewish students are far stronger than even they realize.
- This isn’t pre-World War II Germany. Our allies haven’t deserted us, and workshops on antisemitism and strategies for combatting it throughout our campus system raise awareness among campus organizations and build coalitions against hate. Hillel of Colorado’s firm message on each of our campuses: if our Jewish students are threatened, we all are threatened! Therefore, work with us to send a clear message that intolerance will not be tolerated.
Is antisemitism on campuses this fall all I’m going to hear about?
I hope that’s not the case. You’ll be proud of Hillel’s expanded programming this fall.
- Generous donors have allowed us to expand our Hillel to serve two new campuses where we are solely needed.
- We have added a talented mental health professional to our staff to provide enriched wellness resources and enhanced peer support networks for Hillel Jewish students.
- Two new campus directors, each with recent experience staffing other Hillels, joined our talented, retuning Hillel staff. team
- Our veteran Hillel student board leaders are working to assure a full calendar of Jewish celebration, commemoration, joy and learning.
And: we will keep you informed about antisemitism of campus, and our students’ resilience to challenges.
Hillel is the biggest Jewish tent on campus. Myriads of diverse Jewish students flock to programs and learn from each other as they create their collective and individual Jewish futures. As we approach this Jewish High holiday season, Hillel’s critical role remains: empower students to be resilient, embrace their heritage and celebrate their Jewish identity as a counter-narrative to antisemitism.
Last year you supported us. This year, adopt us. Hillel is our future, we need you, and more than ever – our community needs Hillel.
Click HERE to:
learn what drives us: our mission, vision and values.
see our High Holiday and October 7th program plans.
kvell at programs each of our Hillel campuses provides.
welcome and embrace our talented student leaders.
