February Hillel Highlights

Israel Summit

A group of our students joined more than 500 pro-Israel student leaders, speakers, stakeholders, and young alumni convened in Chicago for Hillel International’s eighth Israel Summit – the largest gathering of pro-Israel students this year. This year’s summit focused on skill building, hostage education, and advocacy, with an emphasis on both Jewish identity and pride in the people of Israel. Now returning to campus, they will continue to benefit from Hillel’s Israel Leadership Network, the largest pro-Israel student leadership body, as they lead education and advocacy efforts on our campus.

Israel Week Events

A Conversation with Dalia: The Complexities of the

Middle East

Dalia Ziada is an award-winning Egyptian writer, Middle East peace activist, and Senior Fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. She has held leadership roles at major think tanks and civil society organizations, focusing on Eastern Mediterranean geopolitics, peace, democracy, and countering radical Islamist groups. A graduate of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, she is the author of the best-selling book “The Curious Case of the Three-Legged Wolf - Egypt: Military, Islamism, and Liberal Democracy” and other acclaimed works on Middle Eastern politics. (Picture above)

Falafel at Midday

Students ate Falafel on Greek Row and grabbed our amazing Falafel t-shirts! (Picture above)

Krav Maga
Students learned different Krav Maga defense moves with Ziv Shemesh, the Shlicha from the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville.

Israeli Shuk
'Dores for Israel and Membership and Programming implemented an Israeli Shuk at Hillel, featuring Aroma iced coffee, Israeli snacks, a build your own sabich bar for lunch, bracelet making, hamsa decorating, and Challah for Hunger taste testing. (Picture above)

Additional Programming and Events

Grins Game Night
Students played their favorite Jewish games, like majong and canasta, and classics like poker and cards, all while enjoying a special Grins Vegetarian Restaurant menu!
Thank-a-thon with the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville
Students made phone calls to thank the Jewish Federation donors for their support. The Jewish Federation supports Hillel through Passover meals, Israel programming, Social programming, and more! (Picture below)
Sunday Night Dinner
Students made a local connection with a Jewish family in Nashville by having Sunday Night Dinner at a local community member's home. "I really enjoyed joining a local Nashville family for dinner on Sunday night with two of my good friends from Hillel. We had a great conversation while eating a home cooked meal and got to know the family and their kids.” Amanda Malnik, Class of 2027 (Picture below)
Hamantaschen Baking with Greek Life
Vanderbilt Hillel joined Greek chapters in making hamantaschen for the upcoming Purim holiday. (Picture below)

Coming up soon with Vandy Hillel

Purim Party Bus

Thursday, March 20 || 8:00 - 11:00 PM || Hillel

Hillel Membership and Programming invites you to celebrate Purim in a fun new way: on a party bus!

Birthright 2025

Interested in travelling to Israel with your friends with summer? Birthright dates are May 13th to May 25th and official registration and interviews ARE NOW OPEN! Apply to go on Birthright with Hillel now and/or reach out to Bar Segev for more information. Spots this year are limited so mark your calendar and stay tuned for the link to register!

Also, official registration for Onward is open! The program begins May 26th and lasts 8 weeks. Here is the link to officially sign up. The earlier you sign up, the more flexibility we will have in finding the best internship opportunity for you! The deadline will be published soon. Reach out to Bar Segev at bar.segev@vanderbilt.edu with any questions.

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