Hillel Ontario

As Jewish students return to campus this fall, their safety and inclusion must be top priorities. We urge university leadership to:
• Clearly communicate and enforce campus policies.
• Actively support Jewish students against antisemitism.
• Ensure a safe environment for all.
• Reaffirm faculty and staff responsibilities.
• Prepare for October 7 and beyond.

Together, we can foster a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
🔗 Join us in standing up for Jewish students—sign our open letter now.
https://hillelontario.org/open-letter/

Being Jewish today comes with its challenges, but we’re here to face them together. At Hillel Ontario, we’re dedicated to ensuring every Jewish student feels supported and connected. Whether through expanding our programs or simply being a safe space, we’re here for you.
This fall, we're embracing the spirit of Hineinu—we are here, and we are here to stay. Join us in creating vibrant, proud, and strong Jewish communities across campuses. Together, we’ll stand against intolerance and antisemitism, ensuring every student feels safe, supported, and empowered.

🔗 Read Jay Solomon, Hillel Ontario's Chief Advancement Officer's full article in the Times of Israel:
https://lnkd.in/gRGjZHQb.

📅 RSVP for Hillel Ontario's Back-to-School Virtual Town Hall on Monday, August 19th, 2024, at 7:30 PM:
https://lnkd.in/gCn9SNQe

Did you know that every summer Hillel Ontario hosts Summer in the 6ix?

Summer in the 6ix is an initiative that allows Jewish students in the Greater Toronto Area to stay connected and engaged throughout the summer months. Through a variety of events and activities, this program ensures that Jewish students can come together, build lasting friendships, and maintain a strong connection to Hillel Ontario and the wider Jewish community when school is not in session.

So far this summer has been jam packed with laughter, conversations, and new connections among like-minded Jewish students!

In a humiliating and appalling agreement between the University of Windsor and the “Windsor Liberation Zone Team,” the University of Windsor made itself a pariah of higher educational institutions in the province of Ontario.

Following the most painful year for Jewish Canadians in recent history and an unlawful occupation of its campus that lasted eight weeks, the University of Windsor has capitulated to a set of demands put forth by a fringe group of extremists.

The agreement, which marks a shocking departure from those of other universities, singles out Jews and Israelis for collective punishment and endorses the idea of discriminatory academic boycotts based on national origin.

The agreement between the University of Windsor and the Windsor Liberation Zone Team sends a clear message that it’s open season on Jew hatred at UWindsor. This is completely beyond the pale, and we are calling on President Rob Gordon to clarify the university’s position and take immediate steps to walk back this shameful agreement.

Ensuring Safety & Canadian Values on Campus
📣 Our CEO, Rabbi Seth Goren, and Chief Advancement Officer, Jay Solomon, discussed the court ruling allowing U of T to dismantle the encampment on CP24 and CBC this week. Watch the full interviews on our YouTube channel, linked below!


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZRryokY_we4MEVGEzpf1GGV5kv1Eiasx

For weeks now, Hillel and the Jewish student community across the province have been sounding the alarm about the unlawful occupation of campuses by anti-Israel agitators.

This week alone, we have seen the shameful capitulation by Ontario Tech University, an administration at Queens University engaging in divestment talks with radicals who storm university meetings, and pro-Hamas signs and chants of "Heil Hi**er" in a viral video at the University of Toronto. Disturbingly, these actions have been rewarded.

Enough is enough.

Hillel Ontario is deeply concerned by the lack of leadership being shown by university leaders in the face of hateful anti-Jewish activists. Jewish students, like all other students, deserve better.

We are calling on university leaders, as well as the provincial government, to take immediate steps to safeguard the well-being of students on campus.

For weeks, Hillel has been sounding the alarm about the grave dangers posed by silence and appeasement when it comes to enforcing campus policies. We have repeatedly warned that failing to hold violators accountable would embolden disruptive behaviours and further erode the foundational values of our shared University space.
Today, those warnings have been starkly validated. Protesters are not only occupying buildings but are also blocking roads and preventing students from entering and exiting campus buildings.

This cannot be tolerated.

We demand that the university administration take swift measures to restore order and unequivocally hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
Tolerating these repeated violations undermines the safety and rights of our entire student community.

Immediate and decisive action is imperative - the time for leniency has passed.

This year, Yom Ha’atzmaut - Israel’s Independence Day - holds special significance. After enduring seven months of rising antisemitism, much of which aimed to delegitimize the State of Israel, Jewish students here in Ontario and worldwide are reaffirming their deep connection to their ancestral homeland and the sole Jewish state.

You can play a pivotal role in nurturing this connection by contributing during , where your donation will have DOUBLE the impact. From May 13-17, all gifts will be matched, amplifying your support and enabling even more Jewish students across Ontario to forge enduring ties to Jewish life, learning, and Israel.
To empower the next generation of Jewish leaders, visit hillelontario.org/hillelstrong

Attention Grade 12 parents! 🎓

Join us for an exclusive virtual information session hosted by Hillel Ontario. Get firsthand insights from Hillel professionals about campus life for Jewish students. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity! RSVP now. hillelontario.org/info-session

This Shabbat, we’re reflecting on the peaceful demonstrations organized by Hillel Ontario student leaders over the last academic year. Their joyful Jewish pride was on display even as the toxic campus climate challenged their right to be here and their connection to Israel, their ancestral homeland.

Starting on Monday, May 13, you can empower even more Jewish students to emerge as bold leaders. Until Friday, May 17, all gifts will be DOUBLED as part of . Join the international movement to stand with Jewish students by supporting Hillel Ontario!

Together, we stand stronger. Sending strength to all this Shabbat.

Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is a day of remembrance for the six million Jews murdered by N**i Germany and its collaborators.

Yom HaShoah begins at sundown on May 5 and ends at nightfall on May 6, in accordance with the 27th of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar.

During this difficult year when antisemitism has been rising to levels not seen in decades, remembering those who perished as a result of Jew-hatred is more important than ever.

May their memories be a blessing, now and always.

Over the past day, Hillel remained hopeful that the university would take every step necessary to ensure Jewish student safety and security.

We watched with concern as tensions on campus rose throughout Thursday; including chants of “All the Zionists are racists, all the Zionists are terrorists,” and graffiti stating “Go back to Europe,” culminating with an evening rally featuring off-campus agitators, including a group that advocates to advance a “militant struggle against Zionist colonialism in so-called Toronto.”

Despite the administration's stated 10 pm deadline for occupiers to leave campus, as well as clear outlines as to what is and is not acceptable use of their space, the university has unfortunately chosen to acquiesce, leaving Jewish students wondering what it will take for the university to act.

We have been very clear: While students have a right to protest, that right is neither unfettered nor absolute. Those who come to campus to harass and intimidate Jewish students, faculty or staff should not be tolerated, and we are calling on universities to enforce their existing policies and hold violators accountable for their actions.

Hillel UofT has requested an urgent meeting with the administration to understand their thinking and plans ahead of Shabbat.

Urgent Call for Action: Ensuring Safety on Our Campuses

Last week, we shared key steps we've urged university leaders to take to safeguard our community. Since then, we've tirelessly advocated for the safety of our Jewish students, faculty, and staff across all Hillel Ontario campuses.

Here’s how we’ve taken action:
Constant communication with university leadership.
Working closely with campus security to maintain safety in real-time.
Monitoring and reporting disruptive activities.
Ensuring accountability for those breaking university rules.

As of today, actions have been taken to uphold safety during campus protests. But more voices are needed. Your involvement as parents, alumni, and community members is crucial.

📣 Stand with us against the rise in hostility and threats on campuses. Let's send a strong message that safety must be the top priority.

🖊️ Sign the petition today:

https://hillelontario.org/stop-the-hate

Like you, we are deeply disturbed by the intimidating and violent demonstrations happening on several campuses across the United States this week.

This hatred has no place on campus, and Hillel Ontario is proactively working with university leadership to ensure Jewish students remain safe in the days ahead.

This past Tuesday was a historic moment at Queen’s Park as brave Jewish university students, joined by Hillel Ontario CEO Rabbi Seth Goren, gave their powerful testimonies in support of Bill 166. 📜

They advocated for a future of secure, mentally healthy, and inclusive campuses. More than a bill, it’s a promise for universities to act against all forms of hate. 🚫

Despite a year marked by antisemitism, our students' resilience has been a beacon, pushing for policies that ensure safety and mental well-being for all. We’re in awe of their bravery and leadership—they’re not just calling for change; they’re driving it, paving the way for hate-free and supportive educational environments.

Feeling the weight of recent events on our community, our CEO Rabbi Seth Goren and Judith Moses Dworkin, VP of Campus Life & DEI Initiatives, remind us why sticking together matters more than ever.
Through their insights in eJewish Philanthropy, they're calling us to open our hearts wider, embrace our diverse Jewish family, and stand strong together. It's a shout-out to all of us to lift each other up, celebrate every unique voice, and keep our community vibrant and inclusive. Let's show the world the strength in our unity! 💪❤️

Read the full article below:
https://hillelontario.org/ejp-article-redirect

Feeling the weight of recent events on our community, our CEO Rabbi Seth Goren and Judith Moses Dworkin, VP of Campus Life & DEI Initiatives, remind us why sticking together matters more than ever. 🌍✨
Through their insights in eJewish Philanthropy, they're calling us to open our hearts wider, embrace our diverse Jewish family, and stand strong together. It's a shout-out to all of us to lift each other up, celebrate every unique voice, and keep our community vibrant and inclusive. Let's show the world the strength in our unity! 💪❤️

Link to full article here: https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/lets-stay-at-the-table/

Challenging Times at Ontario Universities: Inside the Fight Against Antisemitism 🚨
Our latest feature in the National Post sheds light on the alarming rise of antisemitic incidents in Ontario's academic institutions. From defaced posters to targeted student groups, we explore the hostile environment faced by Jewish students and the remarkable resilience they display. Join the conversation for a more inclusive campus community, and check out the full article below:

https://hillelontario.org/np-article

Challenging Times at Ontario Universities: Inside the Fight Against Antisemitism 🚨
Our latest feature in the National Post sheds light on the alarming rise of antisemitic incidents in Ontario's academic institutions. From defaced posters to targeted student groups, we explore the hostile environment faced by Jewish students and the remarkable resilience they display. Join the conversation for a more inclusive campus community, and check out the full article below:

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/jay-solomon-cupe-toolkit-offers-an-example-of-the-dangerous-vitriol-facing-jews-on-campus

Tell CUPE and York that targeting Jewish institutions will not help anyone, it will only increase Antisemitism and the risk to Jewish students.

January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day to commemorate the six million Jewish children, women, and men murdered in the Holocaust, to honour the Survivors, and to remember the Righteous Among the Nations for their courage and heroism.

Hillel Ontario is proud to support the World Jewish Congress’ social media campaign.

What an incredible weekend! We want to say a huge thank you to all the amazing students of Hillel Ontario who's energy and unity made it a Leadership Summit we'll never forget. Who's ready for the next one?
swipe to see what students had to say!