“Today I was pleasantly surprised by a lovely ‘get well baggy’ from Hillel! My mood has definitely been brightened,” Austin Cohn (SCAD Hillel '29).

ISSUE NO. 3 | VOL. 27

Unlocking a Year of Leadership at Georgia Tech

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Hillel at Georgia Tech’s student board kicked off the semester with a retreat focused on goal-setting and student-led programming, with an escape room adding a little team-building fun.

Student Finance Officer, Ari Sloan (‘29) shared, “I believe the time spent at our board retreat couldn’t have been more beneficial. Personally, I was able to learn about my responsibilities for the year, along with meeting and connecting with my new fellow board members. Overall, I think the retreat was a great way to start the year and make sure we are all moving forward with the same goals in mind.”

By giving students the tools and ownership to lead, Hillels of Georgia is helping develop the next generation of Jewish leaders, starting right on campus.

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.

Emory Hillel Host its Annual Sha-BBQ 

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Emory Hillel kicked off the year with plenty of ways for students to reconnect and make new friends. Nearly 100 students gathered on the Hillel patio for ShabbQ, complete with BBQ and snow cones, before heading out together that Sunday for a Braves game and an afternoon exploring Atlanta.

“I really enjoyed Welcome Week. It was great to hang out with new friends at ShaBBQ and then spend Sunday afternoon with them again going out in the city.”

That continuity is what makes these experiences meaningful: Hillel creates the first connection, then gives students opportunities to turn new faces into friendships and campus into community.

It Only Takes a Spark at Georgia College Hillel 

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When a Georgia College first-year asked if they could host a bonfire at Hillel, the answer was an enthusiastic yes! More than 15 students, from freshmen and first-time attendees to seniors and board members, gathered around the firepit for s’mores and community building.

“I’m so grateful to be able to make the Hillel house my house and host fun events like this bonfire,” shared Abby Shefrin ('30).

That sense of ownership is exactly what Hillel strives to create: a Jewish home on campus where students don’t just attend, they belong, lead, and make it their own.

Shabbat Tastes Like Home at KSU Hillel 

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KSU Hillel welcomed students into the new semester with something simple and meaningful: a home-cooked Shabbat dinner. Students gathered over turkey chili and mashed potatoes, with new faces joining returning students around the table.

The homemade meal struck a chord because Hillel is about more than providing a place to eat. It’s about creating the warmth, comfort, and connection of a Jewish home away from home, especially as students begin a new year on campus.

A Mitzvah Made from Scratch at Hillel UGA

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UGA Hillel’s Tzedek Committee brought students together to make homemade lasagnas for neighbors experiencing food insecurity, turning an afternoon in the kitchen into an opportunity for Jewish values in action.

“This event is meaningful for me because I get to help the greater Athens community and feel like I did a mitzvah and I really like that feeling,” shared Eden England (‘28). For first-year student Brooklyn Paulin, it was also a chance to find community: “[I came] because it’s my first year and I wanted to connect with other Jewish people on campus and I really like the idea of doing something for the community.”

Through experiences like this, Hillel gives students a way to build Jewish community while discovering what it means to put their values into action.

Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul at SCAD Hillel

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Jewish community isn’t only built at big events. Sometimes, it looks like chicken soup and Gatorade delivered to a student who isn’t feeling well. When SCAD student Austin Cohn was sick, Hillel showed up at his door with a surprise care package.

“Today I was pleasantly surprised by a lovely ‘get well baggy’ from Hillel! My mood has definitely been brightened,” Austin shared.

It’s a small gesture with a big message: Hillel is there for students not only for Shabbat and holidays, but in the everyday moments when having a community that cares matters most.