Hillel continues to grow
By Whitney Yount, Organizations Editor //
Hillel is the largest Jewish student organization in the world. The organization was founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and it has since spread to more than 550 colleges and universities.
Over the past few years, the High Point University chapter of Hillel has been steadily growing. “The primary goal of our club is to provide a safe place for Jewish students on campus and to educate and involve the community in Jewish culture,” said club president Lindsay Katz. “This year specifically, we have been focusing on becoming better known on campus and creating new fun and meaningful traditions.”
In order to advance this goal, Hillel hosts regular events, including Shabbat Dinners on Friday nights and bagel brunches on Sunday mornings. “For every major holiday, we provide a space for students to go, whether it’s at HPU or in the High Point community, such as local synagogues,” Katz said.
Passover, a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Exodus (the emancipation of Israelites from slavery in Egypt) occurred last week, and to honor the holiday, the HPU chapter of Hillel held a Passover Seder – a ritual feast that traditionally marks the beginning of Passover.
This year, about 30 people came to the Seder, more than double the number of students who regularly attend Hillel events. “We were so excited to have so many people from so many different religions and cultures!” Katz said.
For more information about Hillel and Jewish life on campus, contact Katz (katzl12@highpoint.edu) or Ron Yardenay, the university’s Jewish Life Coordinator (ryardena@highpoint.edu).