Hillel Ontario

It's about Jewish students on campus

Hillel is a Home Away From Home

by | Jun 3, 2021 | Advocacy, Hillel Ontario, Uncategorized | 0 comments

Even before our oldest daughter, Sarah Springer, joined Queen’s Hillel, Hillel was a big part of our lives.  Jewish students taught our children at Bader Elkin Talmud Torah, attended High Holy Day services at Beth Israel, and participated in joint community programming. Many Kingston families provided students a Jewish ‘home away from home’.

Fast forward to today, we find ourselves ever so grateful that our youth can turn to director Yos and educator Leora Tarshish – in both good and bad times – to find their ‘home’ at Queen’s Hillel. As parents, we have seen how welcoming and caring Yos and Leora are, providing strong leadership, intelligence and insight to Jewish students.  They exude enthusiasm and rare humility, taking great pride in watching their young leaders blossom.  Particularly during this pandemic, while many are only at Queen’s virtually, Queen’s Hillel has provided a continued sense of connection to and pride in Judaism and Israel. However, despite phenomenal accomplishments, no one could have been prepared for the heart-wrenching hostilities in Israel and the Palestinian territories, the eruption of propaganda on social media, and the fall-out to Jews around the globe, particularly amongst our youth.  

Specifically at Queen’s, the Queen’s Journal took a hard stance against Zionism, in support of BDS and hijacking student fees to that end. Yos and the Queen’s Hillel executive, including Sarah, co-President Nathaniel Katz, and VP Advocacy Rafi Matchen, were able to respond in real-time, 24/7.  Equally important, they were able to support Jewish students who were feeling ostracized and alone by the online bullying, misinformation, hyperbole, and lack of context, from friends and strangers alike. 

Like most diasporic Jews, we love to visit Israel and pray for peace during its many conflicts. Yet, this fight felt different.  For the first time standing up for Zionism – merely advocating for and underscoring the right to a Jewish homeland – became our children’s fight. Hate against Jewish people is unfortunately not foreign to our children. But targeted hate and friends posting anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment was a new low. 

While they were experiencing this themselves, Yos and Leora remained a rock for the students, a sounding board, and a perfect mix of optimism, pragmatism, and compassion. Michael and I wholeheartedly share these words with great emotion…and with no hyperbole. We feel so incredibly blessed to have the Hillel mishpacha (family) there for our Jewish children at this difficult time, whether it is at Queen’s or at another university or college campus. We also know that the dynamic and talented duo Leora and Yos – and the rest of the Hillel Ontario team – will be there with open arms for all the creative and meaningful times ahead. 

Yes, “Jews in Canoes” really happened during Covid-19! Whether it is paddling through the Cataraqui River or meandering through more challenging waters, we trust that Queen’s Hillel and Hillel Ontario will continue to be a lifeline to our Jewish students.  

Melissa Greenberg & Michael Springer
Parents of Sarah Springer, co-President at Queen’s Hillel

 

 

This Passover, help Hillel fortify Jewish students’ identities

This Passover, help Hillel fortify Jewish students’ identities

by | Apr 3, 2023

The night before the Children of Israel’s departure from Egypt is referred to as leil shimurim, often translated as a “night of vigil.”  Rav Nahman and subsequent scholars interpret this phrase, which appears nowhere else in the Tanakh, as a time of divine protection. These scholars conclude the night when Passover begins is one of safety – one on which no harm can come to the Jewish people.

In the face of rising antisemitism, isolation, extremism, and other threats to Jews individually and collectively, we are fortunate that there are additional ways and times for seeking security and comfort.  Building and sustaining strong, inclusive, and welcoming Jewish communities on campus enables Jewish students to experience a sense of belonging with their peers, bolster their leadership skills, advocate for themselves, and chart their own Jewish journeys.  Indeed,  Hillel Ontario is on track for a record-breaking year, in which we will engage more than 3,500 Jewish students. Leil shimurim might be just one night, but together, we can fortify emerging adults’ Jewish identities and provide spaces in which they prepare to take on leadership roles after graduation.

As we head into Passover, we are grateful for all of the contributions you’ve made in support of Jewish student life in Ontario.  Your generosity allows us to confront antisemitism, instill a sense of joy, pride, and resilience in Jewish students, and empower the next generation of Jewish leaders.  

While we’re proud of our success, more work remains to provide for our universities’ 10,000 Jewish students who remain unengaged with Jewish campus life in Ontario.  In conjunction with your observance of the upcoming holiday, please consider a gift to Hillel Ontario so we can continue our work and provide additional openings for connection with Jewish life, learning, and Israel.

Chag sameach,

Seth Goren
CEO, Hillel Ontario

Weekly D’var: Tzav

Weekly D’var: Tzav

by | Mar 31, 2023

In this week’s parasha, Tzav, focuses on the laws of sacrifices and priestly duties. The emphasis is on the instructions given to the priests regarding the burnt offerings, the meal offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. These offerings were an essential part of the religious practices of the Israelites, and they were intended to symbolize the people’s devotion to God.

As I reflect on this chapter, I am struck by the idea of sacrifice. In today’s world, sacrifice is often viewed negatively. We are taught to prioritize our own needs and desires, and sacrificing them for the sake of others or for a greater cause is often seen as a burden. However, the concept of sacrifice in this chapter of the Torah is different. It is not seen as a burden or a punishment, but rather as a means of expressing devotion and gratitude.

In Tzav, the burnt offering is described as a “pleasing aroma to the Lord”. The idea of a pleasing aroma suggests that the sacrifice is not just a physical act, but also a spiritual one. It is an offering of the heart, a way of expressing love and gratitude to God. As I look around the world today, I see many examples of sacrifice that are motivated by love and gratitude. Healthcare workers, for example, have been sacrificing their own safety and well-being to care for those who are sick during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are not doing this because they are being forced to, but because they feel a sense of duty and devotion to their patients. Similarly, many people have been sacrificing their own comfort and convenience to protect the environment. They are making changes to their lifestyles, such as reducing their energy consumption or using public transportation instead of driving, because they recognize the importance of preserving the planet for future generations. Making sacrifices to show devotion and gratitude is also a way of showing appreciation for the things that we have been given, and a way of giving back to the world.\

As I read this chapter, I am also intrigued by the idea of atonement. The sin offering and the guilt offering were both intended to provide a way for the people to seek forgiveness for their sins. In our modern world, forgiveness and atonement are often difficult to come by. We live in a culture that values punishment and retribution over forgiveness and reconciliation. However, the idea of atonement in this text suggests that forgiveness is possible, even for the most serious of offenses. It requires a willingness to acknowledge our mistakes, to take responsibility for our actions, and to make amends.

In today’s Jewish community, the lessons of Tzav continue to be relevant. The act of sacrifice, whether it be in the form of volunteering, making charitable donations, or participating in community service, is still seen as a way to connect with God and express gratitude for the blessings of life. Similarly, seeking forgiveness and atonement remains a central tenet of Jewish faith and practice. Finally, the concept of sacrifice is particularly relevant during Jewish holidays and festivals, such as Passover and Yom Kippur. During these occasions, we make offerings and engage in rituals that are intended to demonstrate our devotion to God and their commitment to living a righteous life

As I reflect on this parasha, the concepts of sacrifice and atonement may seem outdated or irrelevant in our modern world, but they still have a powerful message to teach us. By sacrificing for others and seeking forgiveness for our mistakes, we can show our love and devotion to the world around us and ultimately make the world a better place to live.

Emily Green
Student, Western Hillel

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