Hillel Ontario

It's about Jewish students on campus

What does it mean to ReSync?

by | Dec 2, 2020 | Hillel Ontario, Uncategorized | 0 comments

Last year, Hillel Ontario’s Out of Sync highlighted the incredible student talent on all nine university campuses. In addition to an audience of more than 350 community members for the event on February 1st, 2020, the fundraising campaign raised more than $150,000 to support for Jewish students across the province.

But the world has changed dramatically since then. So now, it is time to ReSync – our values, our priorities and our connections to community.

We have seen our students, staff and community members support one another and lift each other up in dark times and we know this is something to celebrate. 

From January 11th to February 7th, 2021, ReSync will highlight the stories of Jewish students across Ontario. You will have the opportunity to ReInvest in the strong Jewish campus communities and ReImagine what our programming on campus can look like. 

Here is what ReSync means to our students, Makayla and Harrison:

ReSync can mean different things to different people, but to me the word ReSync is more of a scenario then an actual definition. The scenario goes like this: you’re trying to reload a website you were on the other day and once you’re on you find out that the company has changed the website and how it works. In this case, the website is the world and we have to relearn a whole bunch of things because there is no going back to the normal we once knew. The new type of normal is going to look like people wearing masks for a long while, social distancing, and online schooling. 

We have entered a new stage in life and not the one of just getting older, but the one where staying home and not going out on the weekend isn’t looked down upon anymore. And staying away from people isn’t considered anti-social but highly encouraged. Hillel is, and has been, amazing at helping us students feel connected with one another and comfortable with this transition of a new way of learning and coping. 

ReSync has been important to me this year because it’s all about coming together and working as a team on a project, which is just another way to keep everyone connected. ReSync allows students to stay connected with staff and our peers on a different level, since we aren’t in our normal work space where students always used to hang out. Besides getting to see people coming together, not physically but virtually, the audience members should be looking forward to a night full of entertainment and enjoyment. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve got!

Makayla Goodman, Hillel York

This year university life is undeniably different and poses a challenge to current and incoming university students. One of the greatest challenges for students is to develop their social lives. Prior to the pandemic, random bump-ins with other friends outside the library or yelling “HELLO!!!” across a busy concourse were welcome pleasures to my day. Unfortunately, that can no longer happen. 

ReSync for students at Hillel means to adjust, align or really resynchronize yourself with the changes. Prior to the pandemic, Hillel was always described as our University’s Jewish club with the emphasis on the social aspect. In a time when social interactions are limited and being strained, my Hillel on campus is ReSyncing from its wide-reaching regular events like weekly Bagel Lunches and monthly shabbat dinners to physical-distancing friendly Zoom events such as Shabbox, i.e., Shabbat in a box. 

While Hillel student executive teams are working hard to bring Hillel to every Jewish student no matter where they are, we are ReSyncing to engage as many students as possible through Hillel’s events. This year, ReSync is even more important so that Hillel students have sufficient funding next year to bring back our signature events and ReInvent and innovate their “never-tried before” ideas.

Harrison Levine, Guelph Hillel

Click here to meet the rest of the ReSync Team Leads!

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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