UF Hillel

Go Gators 🐊

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend Israel Day and Jewish Community Advocacy Day at Florida’s Capitol in Tallahassee with UF Hillel, joining student and community groups from across the state. The day began with a powerful moment as Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled the new Florida Holocaust Memorial in Memorial Park, directly across from the Capitol. This memorial is a moving testament to remembrance, education, and the resilience of Florida’s Jewish community. We also heard welcoming remarks on the Capitol steps from Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey, who reaffirmed the city’s commitment to standing with the Jewish people. Inside the Capitol, we heard from two engaging panels. The first, moderated by Brian Segal (AJC), focused on strengthening the Florida-Israel relationship over the next four years and featured leaders from education, business, and government. The second addressed the crucial task of balancing free speech with combating antisemitism, moderated by Aaron Ahlquist (ADL), and brought together voices from law enforcement, higher education, and the legislature. The following day, we met with Florida legislators to advocate for four key legislative priorities: 1. Renewing funding for the Florida Nonprofit Security Grant Program (FL-NSGP) – vital to protecting synagogues, Jewish day schools, and community centers statewide. 2. Laying the groundwork for Statewide Antisemitism and Israel Taskforces – proactive steps to address rising antisemitism and promote deeper cooperation with Israel. 3. Supporting HB 781/SB 908 – Cyberintimidation by Publication – a bill that would combat doxxing, a dangerous tactic used to harass not only Jewish students and leaders, but also legislators, journalists, and members of other vulnerable communities. 4. Advocating for HB 1519/SB 1678 – Entities that Boycott Israel – an important update to Florida’s 2016 anti-BDS legislation, expanding its scope to include academic institutions and refining outdated language to better meet today’s challenges. This was the issue I felt most passionate about. A special thank you to Representatives Judson Sapp (District 3), David Smith (District 38), and Chad Johnson CAI (District 22) for generously taking the time out of their busy schedules to meet with us. I also want to sincerely thank Representatives Rita Harris (District 44) and Anna V. Eskamani, PhD (District 42) for ensuring their staff could meet with us on their behalf. Your willingness to engage—whether personally or through your dedicated aides—means so much and reflects a genuine commitment to hearing from constituents and community advocates. This experience was a firsthand lesson in advocacy, coalition-building, and public service. It sharpened my skills in communication, policy discussion, and strategic thinking—tools I plan to carry into a future career in law. I left feeling more prepared, more inspired, and more committed than ever to being a voice for my community and creating meaningful change.

I’m proud to have served as the Director of Sponsorships for UF Hillel Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate®, a program dedicated to combating all forms of hate at the University of Florida. UF Hillel plays a pivotal role in this initiative by hosting volunteer training and offering free bagels and cream cheese to students who sign a pledge against hate, which took place this year on January 29th. I had the privilege of working alongside an amazing team, securing sponsorships, and contributing to the success of Bagel Day. This event was a significant milestone in our efforts to unite the community and raise awareness. Thanks to the support of over 500 volunteers and the partnership of more than 100 campus organizations, we exceeded our goal of 6,500 signatures! This experience has been truly heartwarming and inspiring, reminding me of the power of coming together to make a difference

This past week, I had the privilege of organizing an incredibly meaningful event alongside Shlomi Kahana and UF Hillel and introducing our distinguished speakers alongside Cameron Miller at the UF Hillel Prospects for Peace in the Middle East Event. Together, we welcomed Ambassador Dennis Ross and Ghaith al-Omari for an interfaith dialogue on the challenges and possibilities of achieving peace in the region. Ambassador Ross, the former U.S. Special Middle East Coordinator and U.S. Director of Policy Planning, played a key role in shaping U.S. foreign policy across multiple administrations and was instrumental in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Ghaith al-Omari, former advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team during the 1999–2001 permanent-status talks and executive director of the American Task Force on Palestine, has extensive experience in Palestinian governance and diplomacy. Both are now senior fellows at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where they continue to provide policy expertise on regional stability and U.S.-Israel relations. It was incredible to witness such a thoughtful conversation, giving students the opportunity to engage with two experts who have been directly involved in shaping policy and negotiations. This event reinforced the importance of informed, constructive dialogue, especially in today’s world. A huge thank you to all the partners who made this event possible: UF Students Supporting Israel (SSI), Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies, Gators for Israel, ICC, Israeli-American Council (IAC), Zionist Organization of America, Alexander Hamilton Society at the University of Florida, CAMERA on Campus, and StandWithUs. Your support helped bring this critical discussion to UF. At a time when discussions about the Middle East can be polarizing, fostering spaces for respectful and productive dialogue is more important than ever. I’m grateful to have played a role in making this event happen and look forward to continuing to promote learning and engagement on campus.

It's that time of the year again -- Bagel Day!! I am proud to be volunteering for the third year with the Spread Cream Cheese, Not Hate (SCCNH) event at UF Hillel. Like every day, Bagel Day is a great day to resist antisemitism. SCCNH aims to oppose ignorance and hate with education and understanding. We create meaningful conversations over bagels and cream cheese (or margarine). This year, I am honored to be serving as Director of Volunteer Management, helping to coordinate our more than 500 volunteers as we collect signatures showing that hate has no place on UF campus. Our goal this year is 6,000 signatures, and we need your help. If you have a moment today, please consider signing our pledge at https://lnkd.in/e3gKb-dH. Even if you aren't a student, every signature counts!

Hillels across Florida went on a life-changing trip to Poland -- confronting the history of the Holocaust. Jewish students visited concentration camps and ghettos, bearing witness to the horrific acts of dehumanization, torture, and murder that nearly destroyed Jewish life in Europe just 80 years ago. Hillels of Florida also celebrated the resilience and vibrancy of Jewish communities in Poland today. More than a lesson in history, this trip was about connection, strengthening Jewish identity, and inspiring a shared commitment to a proud, vibrant Jewish future. Photos from: UF Hillel

In December, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Poland with the Florida Hillels Poland Fellowship and learn about Jewish life, culture, and the Holocaust. It was extremely difficult, yet necessary to understand. These photos represent some of the Jewish pride and culture that I experienced while in Poland, and traces of the Jewish community that once blossomed and flourished pre-war. Almost the entirety of the Jewish population and culture of Poland was decimated. We visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, Majdanek, and Treblinka, three of the approximately 40,000 Nazi concentration camps across Eastern Europe. The horrors of the camps and Holocaust are too sickening to fathom, and yet it was the reality of life for millions of Jews. Never again. I am so grateful to have had this wonderful learning and experience opportunity with UF Hillel and Hillel International and to be able to travel alongside some of my friends, Hannah Willett and Josie Liederman.

Hillels across Florida went on a life-changing trip to Poland -- confronting the history of the Holocaust. Jewish students visited concentration camps and ghettos, bearing witness to the horrific acts of dehumanization, torture, and murder that nearly destroyed Jewish life in Europe just 80 years ago. Hillels of Florida also celebrated the resilience and vibrancy of Jewish communities in Poland today. More than a lesson in history, this trip was about connection, strengthening Jewish identity, and inspiring a shared commitment to a proud, vibrant Jewish future. Photos from: UF Hillel

Yesterday, UF Hillel, Tikvah, and SSI set up a Nova Festival Exhibit in Plaza of the Americas, one of the busiest areas on campus. The lawn was covered with flags representing every country of the victims in addition to hundreds of Israeli flags, creating a powerful tribute. Educational signs recounted the events of October 7, sharing the story of that tragic day with all who passed by. We hope this display honors the victims and raises awareness about the ongoing war in Israel. 🇮🇱 #amyisraelchai #novafestival #wewilldanceagain🎗️

Yesterday marked 300 days since October 7, and Jewish college students won’t stop advocating for the hostages being held in Gaza. UF Hillel students stood in the middle of campus, with "Bring Them Home” dog tags and a sign urging the release of those still in captivity. #BringThemHome 🎗️