“If Hillel did not exist, it would have to be invented”
The most significant, underreported, and underappreciated piece of what it means to be Jewish at Harvard right now is this: the energy, creativity, and commitment of our students – not just to participate in Jewish life, but to invest their thought, energy, and identity into creating their Jewish community.
This fall, a group of students came to us with an idea: What if we could bring Jewish life directly into the residential houses? Not just occasional events at Hillel, but ongoing community-building where students actually live – a Jewish presence in each residence with a small programming budget, creating the kinds of organic gatherings that turn hallmates into friends. It’s creative, it’s ambitious, and it came entirely from students who saw a gap and want to fill it.
That proposal is just one example of something I see every day here. Students aren’t just attending our programs – they’re dreaming up new ones and putting in the legwork to make them a reality. John Harvard’s Bar Mitzvah, one of our most successful events this semester, was planned entirely by students. Same with Jewskies’ Russian-Jewish culture game night. And the Israeli-American student community Mishelanu’s cooking classes. And student-led Shabbat services. And a spring break trip to Hungary and Poland independently run by a group of undergrads.
This year, we have four first-years on our student board. Four students who arrived on campus in August and, by December had decided to help shape their Jewish community. Thinking about what that says about the community we’re building – that new students feel welcomed enough and invested enough to step into leadership – it’s hard not to feel hopeful.
Tomorrow, we’ll be sharing a new video which captures some of this energy. You’ll hear from students, graduate students, faculty across the university, and Harvard President Alan Garber about what Hillel means to them, and to Harvard at large. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch it.
My favorite part of that video comes when Professor Ari Ne’eman says, “If Hillel did not exist, it would have to be invented.” When Rabbi Rubenstein talks about students as “the heart of Harvard Hillel,” and when I watch them show up not just to participate but to build and lead and create, I understand exactly what Ari means.
Your support makes all of this possible. It funds the staff who mentor these students, the spaces where they gather, and the resources through which they turn their ideas into reality. As we close out 2025, I hope you’ll give to Harvard Hillel.
Thank you for being part of what we’re building here.
With gratitude,
Rachel Eilbaum
Senior Director of Jewish Student Life
