“I have already found such an amazing group of people through Hillel... I’ve made connections with people that I see myself staying close to.” - Clara Biggs, (Georgia Tech '30)

ISSUE NO. 4 | VOL. 27

As the High Holidays approach, Jewish students across Georgia are preparing to welcome 5787 surrounded by community. Hillels of Georgia is helping students begin the new year with a strong sense of belonging. In the weeks ahead, our campuses will gather for holiday meals, services, reflection, celebration, and countless moments of Jewish joy.

And even before the holidays begin, that spirit is already taking shape across the state. Here are a few moments of impact from across Hillels of Georgia this week.

Hillels of Georgia Rides the Rapids

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Students from across the state of Georgia went beyond campus and onto the Ocoee River on Monday! Students hopped into boats with old friends and new ones, breaking through campus and social circles along the way.

“White water rafting with Hillels of Georgia over Labor Day was the best way I’ve ever spent a Labor Day,” one Hillel UGA student shared. “I had so much fun riding down the rapids with old and new friends!”

That combination of adventure and connection is part of what makes a statewide Hillel community so meaningful. Students returned to their individual campuses with new friendships and the knowledge that their Jewish community stretches far beyond their own school.

Emory Hillel Host its Annual Sha-BBQ 

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For first-year Yellow Jackets, finding community can be just as important as finding their way around campus. Georgia Tech Hillel is recruiting its next First-Year Leadership Committee, giving new students the opportunity to build friendships while developing the skills to shape Jewish life on campus.

Already, 13 first-year students have applied, and students like Clara Biggs are discovering how quickly Hillel can make a new campus feel smaller.

“I have already found such an amazing group of people through Hillel,” Clara shared. “Even though it’s only been a few weeks, I’ve made connections with people that I see myself staying close to.”

For many, the First-Year Leadership Committee is just the beginning. Participants often go on to participate in the Leven-Silberman Leadership Institute and Hillel board positions creating a pathway from finding community to becoming the students who build it for others.

Hillels of Georgia students, are YOU ready to lead?

The Leven-Silberman Leadership Institute (LSLI) gives Jewish students across Georgia the opportunity to build their leadership skills, connect with peers from campuses across the state, and turn their ideas into action. Don’t miss our next LSLI statewide gathering on September 18! Come ready to learn, connect, and grow into the leader you want to be.

Coffee Chats with Georgia College Hillel 

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Before welcoming the Jewish New Year, about 20 Georgia College students gathered at Blackbird in Milledgeville for a ‘Coffee Chat.’

For first-year student Maura Dooley (’29), the simple gathering offered exactly what she was looking for: “I’m so glad I came today to meet all of y’all and I’m so looking forward to more events.”

The morning also created an unexpected opportunity for bridge-building when Hillel staff connected with a leader from the Methodist campus ministry and began discussing a future collaboration. It was a small gathering with a much bigger impact, reflecting Georgia College Hillel’s growing role as a place for Jewish joy and meaningful relationships. 

It's 'Owl' About Jewish Joy at KSU Hillel 

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There’s nothing quite like kicking off football season with good food and good company! KSU Hillel welcomed about 18 students, including Hillel regulars and AEPi brothers, for a pregame BBQ before the Owls’ first game of the season.

The mission impact from the KSU team summed it up perfectly: “Just a great time for some Jewish joy.”

Sometimes building Jewish community really can be that simple: a meal, familiar faces, and a place where students know they belong. The BBQ brought that spirit of Jewish joy to the excitement of a new semester and a new football season.