Hillel Ontario

It's about Jewish students on campus

There Is No Hillel Without Israel

by | Sep 2, 2017 | Hillel Ontario, Israel | 0 comments

Visits to Israel, fluency in Hebrew, and historical knowledge of the land and people provide Hillel professionals with the ability to help strengthen a students’ relationship and connection with Israel. To forge and to sustain a durable, meaningful, long lasting relationship with the Jewish-democratic state, Israel must become real and vivid in the lives of our students, and no longer remain a mere distant concept. The one key element that is most important to our Israel education framework is the ability to convey what it’s like to live in modern, today’s Israel. Having Israelis as part of our professional team enables Hillel Ontario to provide students with an authentic and omnipresent view of contemporary Israel. We do this through the Israel Fellows (campus Shlichim) program of the Jewish Agency for Israel, and their Shinshinim program in partnership with UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

In its strategic plan, Hillel Ontario reaffirms the role that Israel plays as part of its organizational mission, vision and strategic priorities, with Israel and Israel engagement a central tenant to students’ Jewish experience on campus, by helping students form a connection to the land, people and nation of Israel in three distinct ways: People-to- People, Immersive Experiences, and  providing relevant Israel Content and Education.

Over the past several years, Hillel Ontario through its partnership with Hillel International, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto have been able to increase the number of campus Shlichim from 1 professional working on 3 university campuses to 7 full- and part-time professionals working across 7 university campuses. This speaks to the success of this initiative whereby students can meet, interact with, and build real relationships with Israelis, have conversations and dialogue about social issues and their impact on their Jewish identity as Jews living abroad, all at the same time having the opportunity to visit and spend time in Israel getting to know the land, people, and culture in an immersive way. With their charismatic presence and engagement skills, the Israel Fellows and Shinshinim have become a focal point for students on campuses across the province, enabling a unique and meaningful insider’s perspective into the everyday life choices and dilemmas of young vibrant Israelis who are pre- and post-army service. Hillel Ontario’s team of Shlichim have built and sustained over 1000 relationships with students, have run hundreds of Israel programming on campus, and have helped hundreds of students go to Israel. Through their amazing work, they are helping forge the relationship that students have with Israel.

We are proud of our partnerships with Hillel International, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. The role these partnerships play, and the resources and support they provide, significantly impacts our ability to engage with students about Israel in a meaningful way on 9 University Campuses across the province.

There are currently more than 90 Shlichim serving under the Israel Fellows program, on more than 100 campuses across North and South America, Europe and the Former Soviet Union.
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Lior Cyngiser is the Vice President of Israel Engagement & Education for Hillel Ontario
Mijal Ben Dori is the Canadian Regional Director of the Jewish Agency for Israel

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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