Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh

Shabbat Shalom! While it has been a difficult week, Hillel JUC remains a pillar of strength, care, and support for our students. We are forever impressed by their resilience and are grateful to share a Shabbat meal together tonight.

"What we are doing here right now — being in community and celebrating Shabbat — our Jewish pride, our care and support of one another is the Jewish response to these moments.” - Daniel Marcus, Hillel JUC Executive Director and CEO

Community reacts to attack on Jewish students at Pitt Law enforcement does not believe incident to be a hate crime

In advance of the planned protest Tuesday evening, we want to reiterate that the most important priority for Hillel JUC is keeping Jewish students safe. Hillel JUC is in communication with campus police and the Jewish Federation’s Director of Community Security to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to maintain safety and security on campus.

Jewish college students in Pittsburgh should be able to express their Jewish identities and support for the Jewish state without fear, in a learning environment that is free of hostility. As always, we are resilient in the face of these challenges.

Students are welcome to contact staff any time. We will continue to serve as a secure space for our Jewish students, a space for Jewish joy and celebration, and Jewish students’ home away from home.

Shabbat Shalom! BBQs, Kona Ice, lawn games, and just hanging out - the first week of classes has had campus abuzz with student activities. The semester is off to an amazing start!

"Summer internships in Israel granted Pittsburgh college students greater appreciation for living and learning in the Jewish state."
Learn more below:

College students return from internships in Israel with more than work experience Students learn and work while being 'part of the Israel story'

Last night, Hillel JUC staff accompanied around 50 students to Jewish Heritage Night at PNC Park. What a great time celebrating back-to-school and cheering on the Buccos (even if we couldn't bring them a win)!

Classes start today at Pitt and CMU!
Happy first day of classes to all of our students, and best wishes for a successful semester! Hillel will be here for you every step of the way.

Yesterday, Hillel JUC hosted our annual Jeannette C. Kalson Leadership Retreat. The beginning of the day started with a session led by our partners at Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, bringing together Jewish student leaders at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. The day concluded with a leadership session and a team building pasta making workshop, courtesy of . We are so excited to see our student leaders use their newfound skills in their leadership roles!

We are thrilled to announce that two new members joined our team this summer:
Danielle Turjeman - Jewish Agency Israel Fellow to Hillel JUC and
Elizabeth Handley (Soon to be Chatterson after her upcoming wedding) - Office Coordinator
Welcome to the team Danielle and Elizabeth!

We're thrilled to have students back on campus! Families are welcome to drop by the Hillel JUC building (4607 Forbes Ave) on 8/19 and 8/20 between 10am and 4pm to chat will Hillel staff, ask questions, and learn what we have to offer.

It’s finally here! Our student leaders and staff are so excited to welcome Pitt students for our third annual FreshFest!

“Nothing’s changed from our mission and vision to engage every Jewish student. We are still focused on creating positive, vibrant Jewish lives. We will not let our enemies dictate how we behave and how we live and celebrate the pluralistic umbrella of our Judaism, period.” - Daniel Marcus, JUC Executive Director and CEO

Learn more in this Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle article "Uniting against hate: Hillel JUC prepares student leaders to tackle antisemitism" - https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/uniting-against-hate-hillel-juc-prepares-student-leaders-to-tackle-antisemitism/

Last year was challenging for Jewish college students around the country, including in Pittsburgh. So this school year, Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh is bringing Jewish students together before classes begin to prepare for potential challenges.

Dan Marcus, executive director and CEO of Hillel JUC, hopes to give students a sense of "the strength and depth and breadth of the wider Jewish student community." How? By expanding its leadership seminar, providing security training and resources, and more.

The future is uncertain, but if there is one thing we’re sure of, it’s that Hillel JUC is supporting their students in EVERY way possible. Read more ➡️ https://ow.ly/TYtO50SWPuL

Back-to-school is officially around the corner, and we’d like to invite you to find out what Hillel has to offer at our Schmooze & Schmear for first-year students and families. Meet other first-year families, current Pitt and CMU students, and our Hillel staff as we welcome you to campus!

Sunday, August 18th 1:30PM - 3:30PM @ Hillel JUC
Q&A at 2:00PM

Check out The Times of Israel article by Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman here!
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/hillels-back-to-school-playbook/

Hillel’s Back-to-School Playbook From the blog of Adam Lehman at The Times of Israel

Shabbat Shalom! We've had some great summer Shabbat experiences with our local students this year, and we can't wait for the rest of our students to be back on campus. Back to School is right around the corner!

Have an incoming Pitt student? Sign up for FreshFest with Pitt Hillel by August 5, and we can be enjoying Shabbat Dinner with you in just 2 short weeks! *Link in bio

Click to learn about the four Pitt people will be supporting Team USA in Paris this year!

Pitt’s Team Behind Team USA | Health Sciences | University of Pittsburgh With the 2024 Summer Olympics about to begin in Paris, the schools of the health sciences are proud to have multiple connections supporting Team USA. Rory Cooper, Distinguished Professor of Rehabilitation Science and Technology in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, has been named to t...

Shabbat Shalom!
We don't want to wish away summer, but we sure miss our building and campus being filled with students' smiling faces. ONE MONTH until Welcome Week!

Congratulations to friend and supporter of Hillel, José-Alain Sahel, on being awarded the 2024 Wolf Prize in Medicine for his work using optogenetics to restore vision to blind people. Hillel JUC is grateful for all that you do for Hillel, the Pittsburgh community, and the world! Mazel Tov!

Pittsburgh’s José-Alain Sahel honored with Wolf Prize for groundbreaking research on sight restoration The Wolf Prize, conferred in Israel, is considered one of the world’s most prestigious recognitions for scientific and artistic achievements.

It's Amazon Prime Day!
As you're doing your shopping, keep in mind the opportunity to welcome our new Israel Fellow with a gift for her apartment.
Check out the Amazon Wish List here: https://a.co/flaooAb

Happy 125th birthday to our neighbor, Dippy the Dinosaur!!

We have a new Israel Fellow starting this fall (official introduction to come)!
Our Israel Fellows have been pivotal in fostering connections between our students and Israel, and we can't wait to welcome her to our team - and to Pittsburgh!
Would you like to welcome her by helping us make her apartment a home? Check out the Amazon Wish List here: https://a.co/flaooAb

Happy 4th of July from Hillel JUC! Wishing everyone a fun and safe day!

REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY FOR FRESHFEST 2024!!! FreshFest is a pre-orientation program for first-year students at Pitt and will take place August 15th - 16th.
Click here to learn more and to register: https://hilleljuc.org/students/freshfest/

It’s been a difficult year for Jewish college students, and Hillel JUC has never been more important!
We’re spending the summer preparing a robust calendar full of Jewish experiences to help new and returning students make a personal connection to Judaism in college.
We couldn't do this important work without your support! Make your year-end gift before our fiscal year ends at midnight on June 30!
hilleljuc.org/donate

Tree of Life, Inc. broke ground this weekend on a new building, dedicated to uprooting antisemitism and identity-based hate.

Tree of Life, Inc. breaks ground New building will be located on site of deadliest antisemitic incident in U.S. history

Hillel JUC works to foster a vibrant Jewish community and provide safe, joyful Jewish experiences to our students every day – even with the frightening rise of antisemitism affecting Jewish communities worldwide.
We couldn’t do this important work without YOU!
As the fiscal year comes to a close and we reflect on everything we accomplished as a community, I know that with your help, we’ll be stronger than ever.
You can make your year-end gift until midnight on June 30th at
hilleljuc.org/donate

Shabbat Shalom from our very own Hillel JUC students participating in Onward Israel, an 8-week internship program in Tel Aviv!
While expanding their career skills through work placement, these students are also devoted to learning about and experiencing contemporary Israeli society.

Tomorrow is Juneteenth, and at Hillel we are recognizing and celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.
Today and every day, we should learn more about Black American history, and the Black and Jewish experience.
Check out some incredible resources, upcoming events, and more from Jews of Color Initiative!

Juneteenth Resource List 2024 - Jews of Color Initiative Find Juneteenth events and resources centering Black Jews and Jews of Color