Dear UM Hillel Community,

It has been two weeks since we witnessed the brutal terrorist attacks on Israel and our people that claimed 1,400 Jewish lives; and somehow the news is getting worse, not better. I think about the young children, teens, parents, and grandparents being held hostage, the killing of entire families, and those lost in uniform, and my heart aches. This is simply nothing any of us could ever or should have ever expected to experience in our lifetimes. 

And even while our thoughts and our hearts are with Israel, we also need to take care of ourselves, our families, our communities, and perhaps most importantly, our children here at home. As a mother of three young adults, I see first-hand the effect the attack and this war is having on their social and emotional wellbeing. They are scared for their safety as antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric and incidents continue to rise. Along with you, I worry about the short and long-term impact of these events. No students or parents should ever have to feel this way. 

I know many of you are understandably concerned about how this situation is impacting events on our campus. Please know that the Hillel staff is working tirelessly to address these issues with the administration — advocating for additional safety and security, ensuring the university continues to publicly show support for Jewish students, and raising concerns about anti-Israel rallies and letters.

During times like these, the support and vibrancy of our Jewish campus community is more important than ever. As such, UM Hillel is continuing to provide additional programming to ensure the strength of that community, including:

• Providing ongoing pastoral care to students who reach out to Rav Lisa Stella, Assistant Director Haley Schreier, and other student-facing staff.
• Offering students one free month of virtual therapy for students through a partnership with Cerebral, a list of local therapists offering in-person immediate availability, a new weekly virtual group therapy opportunity, and hosting a support group for students with family serving.
• Keeping the building open for snacks, hot beverages and to offer a comfortable and safe space.
• Organizing a post-Shabbat dinner session with Shiri Eshet, our Israel Fellow, who will lead students in a conversation of reflection — and hope.
• Staffing “Homework at Hillel” nights where staff will be on hand and we will provide food and camaraderie.
• Offering an expanded course, “Jewish Identity, Antisemitism, and Us” taught by Rav Lisa Stella and our Israel Immersive Experience Coordinator Allison Bloomberg that begins on Wednesday.
• Hiring and deploying extra security in and around our building. 

As we prepare to welcome a Shabbat that will be filled with emotion, know that Hillel’s doors will be open and safe for all Jewish students on our campus seeking comfort, care, and community.

I look forward to seeing many of you on the webinar this coming Monday. In the meantime, to quote King David, “May you be in peace, your house be in peace, and all that belongs to you be in peace!”

Shabbat Shalom, 

Abbey Frank

Chair, UM Hillel Board of Trustees