Hillel Jerusalem – Who are we?
Hillel, the largest organization for Jewish students in the world, provides opportunities for students to explore their Jewish identity, deepen their relationship to their Jewish heritage, traditions and culture, and decide how Jewish life can be meaningful to them. We begin with the understanding that one's identity is created from the whole range of personal experiences, and not just from whatever book learning has been accumulated so far. The more active a part we take in our experiences, the more effect they will have on our identity. Hillel encourages students to take responsibility for their Jewish identity by engaging them in a wide variety of experiential programs.
One of Hillel's methodologies involves "active listening." Hillel staff listens to each person's "Jewish story" and engages students to participate in whichever Hillel programs meet their needs and interests. The essence of a student's Jewish story has three focal points: school, family, and personal choice. The Jewish story of a public school graduate will generally differ from that of a student who comes from a religious school. One's family is central to his Jewish story regardless of whether he comes from a secular, religious, or traditional family. Every Jew has a Jewish story, which differs from student to student, from story to story. In order to appeal to the maximum number of students, Hillel provides a wide variety of programs that speak to the diversity of Jewish stories.
Hillel consciously transforms student activities into Jewish activities. Hillel defines "doing Jewish" as an activity that provides a meaningful Jewish experience for the students. Students define for themselves what being Jewish means to them, and we provide the means for them to express their Jewish identity in many different ways.
Students who are interested in initiating and implementing programs for or with other students are invited to bring them to Hillel so that they can make their vision a reality. Often a personal initiative will draw other students, just as a flame can light additional flames, shedding light where once there was darkness.
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