The university experience oftentimes doubles as a journey of self-discovery. The inner work being done by students can sometimes rival their actual coursework as they exercise more independence from their families for the first time, pondering questions such as, who am I? What do I believe and why?
For many Jewish students, these questions have taken on an additional heaviness following a uniquely challenging year. Antisemitism has exploded across the globe, with campuses becoming hotbeds of vitriol for Israelis, those with a connection to Israel, and their allies. On an interpersonal level, many Jewish students are feeling disoriented and isolated, with former friends posting social media content that crosses the line – intentionally or not – into antisemitism.
More broadly, open calls for Israel to be wiped off the map have somehow become a common, unchallenged occurrence on campuses. Student groups are inviting speakers who publicly justify or celebrate the brutality of the October 7 attacks against Israeli civilians and student unions are once again bringing demands of BDS to the table. Even Israelis themselves, such as guest lecturers from top Israeli universities, are being boycotted on Canadian campuses.
The message is clear: Israelis and those who stand with Israel are not welcome on campus.
So where does that leave Jewish students, the overwhelming majority of whom hold a deep connection with Israel? Make no mistake: Israel overwhelmingly plays a core role in one’s understanding of their Jewish identity. In fact, a recent pulse check survey conducted by Hillel Ontario revealed that 81% of Ontario’s Jewish students feel extremely, very or somewhat connected to the Jewish state.
This connection with Israel cannot be understated. It holds a special place not only as the homeland of the Jewish people but as a beacon of hope and safety for the multiple Jewish communities exiled throughout centuries. And for today’s Jewish students, it’s a challenging and hurtful experience as they navigate dangerous rhetoric that demonizes Israel – a core piece of their identity – in a black-and-white binary.
Students need something to help cut through the noise and focus on answering the big questions like, what do I believe and why? What are my multiple identities, in addition to being Jewish? When do they overlap and what happens if they differ? Moreover, Jewish culture, religion, practice, and tradition are more than just confrontations with antisemitism, and ensuring that students appreciate the breadth of what being can mean necessarily entails addressing these bigger questions.
While only individuals can answer these questions, Hillel Ontario is proud to facilitate conversations that help them get closer to their answers with dynamic and timely programming.
Welcome the Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF)
JLF is an experiential, conversational experience for students to deepen their understanding of Judaism – and themselves – on their own terms. In it, student fellows explore various Jewish traditions and expressions in a safe space at their own pace, on their own terms. Grounded in traditional and contemporary Jewish texts and sources, the pluralistic, non-partisan approach gives students the freedom to focus on what speaks to them most and then hone in on why.
Over the past two semesters, many campuses followed a multi-week curriculum entitled Life’s Big Questions, which focused on deep discussions surrounding personal identities, one’s life’s purpose, and the determining factors that influence both. In a challenging year when Jewish students were targeted for their identities, this curriculum and related discourse were desperately needed.
It’s no surprise then, that in a year marred by unprecedented levels of antisemitism, almost 100 students participated in JLF across the province. In seeking Jewish community and the wisdom of Jewish traditions, students of diverse Jewish backgrounds united in their Jewish identities – whatever that looks like to them – and dedicated themselves to learning through a pluralistic lens. With participants ranging from yeshiva graduates to those for whom JLF was their first Jewish communal learning experience, a unique environment where multiple perspectives can be shared and reflected upon was fostered and celebrated.
For the 2023-2024 school year, Hillel tried a novel approach: while previous cohorts have been led exclusively by Hillel staff, JLF on our Toronto campuses is now co-facilitated by one community rabbi paired with a Hillel educator. The rabbis are involved at the University of Toronto (Rabbi Taylor Baruchel), Toronto Metropolitan University (Rabbi Aaron Levy and Rabbi Noam Katz), and York University (Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell) and are affiliated with three different streams of Judaism.
This shift is symbolic of the pluralistic nature of JLF and further connects Jewish students to the broader Jewish community – a powerful act of solidarity. Moreover, in co-leading JLF, these rabbis provide invaluable guidance and expertise to Jewish students who are searching for wisdom and comfort from the Jewish community now more than ever. These mentoring relationships also provide students with a connection beyond campus and can foster closer ties with Jewish leaders and institutions generally.
Indeed, this sense of comfort within the Jewish community is a powerful tool in establishing or reaffirming one’s Jewish pride and identity. When Jewish students feel connected and supported, they are more likely to emerge as activists, speak out against antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and make an impact on their campuses.
For many Jewish students, JLF is the beginning of their Hillel journey. It’s a unique, open-minded program that introduces students to Hillel and provides insight as to how we can support them in their journey as Jewish students, whatever that looks like to them. As students wrestle with ancient Jewish texts and their implications on the modern age, they are building a tremendous sense of community that will carry them through their years on campus together and further into the future.
It’s in this community where Jewish students can begin to unravel and answer Life’s Big Questions. Daunting questions like, who am I? What do I stand for and why? become more manageable, even with all of the outside noise demonizing what the majority of Jewish students hold as a crucial part of their identities. It’s in this community where Jewish students reaffirm their Jewish pride and mobilize as leaders who advocate for the people, places, and things that matter most to them.
