Harvard Hillel Brought Us Together

My name is Charlotte Newman, and I have just been elected Vice President of Harvard Hillel. The very first instance of Jewish life I was introduced to at Harvard was a Hillel Bagel Brunch during Visitas, just after I was admitted. I knew very few Jewish students and didn’t recognize anyone in the building, but I was welcomed with open arms and invited to sit with a group of upperclassmen. Once I arrived on campus, I formed many of my closest friendships through Hillel, including with Miriam, my roommate and the newly elected President of Harvard Hillel.

Hillel has been more than a place to connect with other Jewish students; it has also been a space where I can share Jewish life with

my non-Jewish friends. I am on the Varsity Women’s Swim and Dive Team, and nearly every weekend anywhere from five to fifteen of my teammates join me at Bagel Brunch. I’ve brought teammates to Shabbat dinners and Hillel dining hall meals countless times, and Hillel has become a place where community naturally extends beyond its walls.

My name is Miriam Goldberger, and I have just been elected President of Harvard Hillel. Hillel has been my home on campus since I arrived in Cambridge a year and a half ago. As an Orthodox Jew, I eat my meals in the kosher dining hall and pray at Hillel every day. But Hillel is far more than a space for these necessities – it is a warm, welcoming environment filled with people I look forward to seeing daily, people who care about me and look out for one another.

Charlotte and I exemplify what Hillel is all about. We come from very different backgrounds, yet we share a deep commitment to Jewish life at Harvard. Charlotte is a secular Jew from Los Angeles and a varsity athlete; I am an observant Jew from New York and, well, admittedly a bit of a klutz. Harvard Hillel brought us together, allowed us to become close friends, and even led us to living together this year. Our shared goal is to make Harvard Hillel a thriving environment, bursting with joyful Jewish experiences for all kinds of Jews at Harvard.

Your support makes friendships like ours possible. It ensures that the next first-year student walking into Bagel Brunch – nervous and knowing no one – will be welcomed the same way we were. Please consider contributing to our end-of-year campaign so that Hillel can continue to be a home for every kind of Jewish student at Harvard.

With gratitude,

Miriam Goldberger
President, Harvard Hillel

Charlotte Newman
Vice President, Harvard Hillel