Thank You for Making Family Weekend Special

Dear parents, alumni, and community members,

Amidst all the programs taking place at Harvard Hillel this fall, last weekend’s Family Weekend stood out as a beautiful opportunity to welcome the families of so many students into our community. I’m excited to share some of that warmth with you.

There’s something truly special about watching parents experience our community through their children’s eyes – seeing them discover the friendships, traditions, and sense of belonging that their students have found here. These moments are why we do this work: building a home away from home where students can grow, explore, and thrive.

This past weekend, dozens and dozens of those reunions – links in the ever-growing bonds between children and parents – were forged in every corner of Rosovsky Hall.

Gerry and Jeffrey Mittler said, “Our first stop after arriving on campus from the 5 hour drive from New York was Harvard Hillel. We were immediately greeted with open arms by the amazing staff and students! It is clear that Harvard Hillel brings together such a diverse group of Jewish students across campus, and we are proud and grateful that an organization like Harvard Hillel exists as such a fundamental part of our son’s college experience.”

Their son, Jordan Mittler ‘27, agreed: “Family weekend was so special this year! Harvard Hillel created a space where my family immediately felt at home. Kabbalat Shabbat was uplifting, Shabbat dinner was so warm, and the whole building had this joyful, welcoming energy that showed my family how vibrant and meaningful the Jewish community at Harvard is.”

From the moment families arrived, our space buzzed with the warmth and energy of connection, and reconnection. We welcomed parents and families to Kabbalat Shabbat, Shabbat dinner, and a Saturday ice cream social – each filled with catching-up, sharing developments, and moments of restored closeness. At Sunday’s bagel brunch – which was listed on Harvard’s general family weekend app – our building hosted a wide swath of campus families, taking on another important role of introducing the Harvard community at large to positive experiences of a Jewish space and Judaism.

You’re always welcome here – family weekend, every weekend, and every day. Parents, alumni – whether you’re visiting for a day or just passing through Cambridge – we’d love to see you at Shabbat, at a Hillel event, or simply for a cup of coffee. This is your community too.

Family weekend makes visible what happens every day at Hillel: guiding students into adulthood, with the legacies of their parents and our entire community and tradition as their guides. Thank you for being part of what makes Harvard Hillel a home for so many.

Celine Ginsburg

Director of Development