Hillel Ontario

It's about Jewish students on campus

Students Are Our Inspiration

by | Jul 24, 2020 | Jewish Life at Western | 0 comments

Every university student has probably asked themselves the very question Natalie and Naomi found themselves asking when the pandemic started: “What can I do with my time, and how can I make it meaningful?”

Both students looked forward to their original, exciting summer plans. After attending Camp Ramah off and on for 10 years, Natalie was finally looking forward to stepping into a head staff position, while Naomi’s love for Israel was going to bring her back to begin a 12-week internship at the Forum for Jewish Leadership. Sadly, neither of their summers would turn out to be the one they had anticipated.

The news about COVID-19 unfolded quickly in March. “That night, I was writing an exam, walked out, and got an email that class isn’t going to be in person anymore” Naomi remembered, recalling her last night on campus. 

“The progression [of coronavirus] and the quick reaction of closures from universities was surreal,” Natalie added. Even in the moment, both understood and agreed with these decisions, concluding that “it had to be done.”

Instinctually, as best friends do, Naomi called Natalie that night to figure out what they’d do next. Having previously volunteered in the community through volunteering at telethons and fundraisers, they quickly went looking for ways they could serve others during the pandemic. With Passover quickly approaching, they joined UJA’s The Global Seder, and dedicated a day to packing kosher food needed to make a Passover seder possible for families in need around the GTA.

To their surprise, they found more of their friends from Western Hillel volunteering, along with many new faces. Natalie took special notice of how everyone was “genuinely happy to be outside and helping.” The feeling was so upbeat and positive that a fellow volunteer led a physically distanced yoga session for everyone in between shifts. It’s meaningful interactions like these that have helped some students get through this a gloomy time. 

Both Natalie and Naomi have found Jewish community and support through Hillel, even off-campus. Even though many of Hillel’s regular programming had to be adapted or canceled, “Hillel has been very good and has still found a way to help us” by bringing similar volunteering opportunities and staying focused on making meaningful community interactions online. “I’ve been making challah at home every Friday only because Leora posts and sends me the recipe,” added Natalie.

At Hillel, students are the inspiration and motivation for innovative programming, as this experience has illuminated. Although this summer couldn’t be filled with summer camp, shopping with friends, carnival games at the Ex, and traveling abroad, university students are continuously looking for meaningful experiences and interactions. While students continue to fill their spare time with reading, cooking, and for some, planning summer camp activities for their younger siblings, Hillel is hard at work planning programming for a year full of new ways to engage, build community and empower students to become strong Jewish leaders. “Even though I won’t be [at Western], I’ve gotten updates about next year and it makes me excited,” Natalie commented.

Looking to the fall, Natalie will be heading to Queen’s for medical school, and Naomi is preparing for her next year at Western. For now, they continue to build on their volunteerism and enjoy dedicating their time to helping those in need.

Maintaining Close Relationships at Western Hillel

Maintaining Close Relationships at Western Hillel

by | Oct 26, 2021

Western University students are fortunate to have a university leadership that cares about the well-being of students and actively seeks feedback on how to improve the university experience 

Recently, Western University President, Dr. Alan Shepard, hosted a small group of student representatives and staff from Western Hillel for an important discussion about antisemitism and Jewish campus life. In an effort to make sure that the conversation with students will lead to a greater impact on campus, Dr. Shepard made sure to also invite the university’s new Associate Vice-President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Opiyo Oloya. 

Visiting the President’s residence was incredibly moving and motivating. We discussed Jewish student needs, challenges around kosher food on campus, religious accommodations, our concerns for students around the rise in antisemitism, and how our campus can be a safe and welcoming space for all. 

Maintaining close relationships with senior university leadership is a key element of Hillel Ontario’s campus strategy, and it was wonderful to get to know Dr. Shepard and Dr. Oloya and hear about their plans for commitment to a positive student experience. We are so grateful for the ongoing partnership and support between Western Hillel and Western University.

I believe that when Hillel has true partners in addressing Jewish student needs, it makes our campus a better place for all students. This experience with our university leaders gives me tremendous hope that we will see Jewish campus life flourish at Western. With the winning combination of an invested university administration, our dedicated student leaders and dedicated Hillel staff, every Jewish student will have the space and opportunity to create their own personal Jewish campus life experience.

[attached image; names left to right: Sofia Musman (Program Coordinator), Isabel Borisov (Club President), Jordyn Cohen (Club Holocaust Education & Tikkun Olam), Jacqui Dressler (Advocacy Coordinator), Scott Goldstein (Director), Dr. Opiyo Oloya, Dr. Alan Shepard, Glen Raudanskis (VP Admin)]

 

To my Fellow Students

To my Fellow Students

by | Apr 27, 2021

I am Jacob Brickman, Western Hillel’s outgoing VP Student Life, and a soon-to-be graduate in psychology. I will be walking across the virtual stage in June, after five wonderful years at Western, three of which I have spent being very actively involved in Hillel. To any Jewish student who is not graduating this spring, being very actively involved in Hillel is one thing I would recommend above nearly all else while you study here. I have gone to events, I have been a part of fundraising campaigns, I have volunteered, I have done internships and fellowships every semester since my third year, I have tabled, I have sung, I have danced, I have led, I have been a committee chair and a vice president. Of all the experiences I have had with Western Hillel I can confidently recommend trying everything, at least once.

We all know: the pandemic and the past year (and a half) have sucked. It is hard to find silver linings. Some of the things I loved most about being at Western, being in London, came to a grinding halt almost instantaneously and simultaneously. Shabbat dinners, being able to see friends and meet new people at events, for Hillel and for the other clubs I have been a part of over the years, and really any opportunity to gather with people who are special to me felt like they would be absent for my last school year. Rather than accepting full loneliness and isolation from one another, the staff and student leadership of Western Hillel worked tirelessly from the summer to the spring to make sure our community came together as often and as meaningfully as possible. I, for one, am so tired of Zoom and Teams and Skype. However, being able to connect to anyone around the world this past year has opened up opportunities for myself and so many others.

This last semester, I was a part of a Jewish Learning Fellowship cohort with Leora (our awesome Senior Jewish Educator – you should meet her if you have not yet). If we had been in person, several of the people in my cohort would not have been there and their voices and ideas would never have made it into our sessions. Because of Zoom, Jason was able to call in from B.C., and anyone who moved home from London out of residence, for instance, was still able to join, in a way they simply couldn’t have otherwise.

As I move on from my undergrad, I have been thinking about what Hillel has meant to me and what it could mean for you, my fellow students, as you continue here at Western. This is a beautiful place. You will make friends, you will deepen friendships you already have. You will learn, teach, and experience. You will eat. My goodness, you will eat.  Keep an open mind and try out new programs. Having a Jewish community at your home away from home will enrich your life, as it has enriched mine. 

Thank you, Western Hillel.
Jacob Brickman

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