The Hillels of Georgia Weekly Chai-Lights Reel

ISSUE NO. 12 | VOL. 2026

UGA’s Jewish Greek Life Unites for Israel in Charity Basketball Game

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Hillel UGA, AEPi, and TEP came together for a high-energy charity basketball game benefiting The Israel Bridge, drawing 100+ Greek-life spectators.

Hillel UGA alumnus and event photographer, Savannah Bradford, shared that “it was powerful to see two major Jewish communities at UGA unite to do something bigger for the greater good,” capturing the spirit of the night.

The event strengthened Jewish unity on campus and highlighted our students’ commitment to collective impact.

 Inside Israel’s Story: Learning Beyond the Headlines

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Emory’s Israel Chair, sophomore and IDF veteran Yuval Yancu, led a geopolitical deep dive for Emory students (including several non-Jewish participants) offering clarity on Israel and its regional dynamics.

Students shared powerful reflections, including “This helped me finally understand the bigger picture behind the headlines,” and “I’ve learned more in these sessions about the Middle East than I did throughout all of high school.”

The series significantly strengthened Israel literacy on campus and empowered students to engage confidently in complex conversations.

400 Sandwiches, One Heart: GT Students Step Up to Fight Hunger

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At Georgia Tech Hillel, students from Hillel and AEPi worked together to make over 400 sandwiches for The Sandwich Project, supporting Atlantans experiencing food insecurity. One student reflected, “It was amazing to see our community come together to make sure others didn’t go hungry,” underscoring a powerful takeaway: students embodied Jewish values of service, compassion, and responsibility through hands-on action.

A Whole New Shabbat: Disney Magic Meets Jewish Learning at KSU

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KSU Hillel hosted a joyful Disney-themed Shabbat followed by a meaningful JLF closing Havdallah, engaging students for Shabbat and JLF.

“It was a magical night because it was Disney themed,” shared Cameron Keskonis (’26), reflecting the warmth and creativity of the weekend.

Students deepened spiritual engagement and community bonds while marking their transition from participants to JLF alumni.

Shabbat by the Fire: Building a Jewish Home in Milledgeville

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Georgia College Hillel hosted a cozy, firelit Camp Shabbat with about 15 students, creating what one student described as “a real Jewish home in Milledgeville [including] the warmth, the community, the feeling of belonging.”

The evening cultivated kehilla kedosha (a sacred community) beautifully fulfilling HGA’s mission of fostering meaningful Jewish identity and connection.