Holding Complexity, Cultivating Community | | |
We fail our Jewish future should we forget Hillel students aren’t children. Like all of us, our Hillel of Colorado students live in the tension between complexity and hope. They feel deeply, process deeply, and have more courage than many give them credit for.
The news from Israel and Gaza has brought yet one more wave of emotions across our campuses: relief, uncertainty, renewed grief, cautious optimism. For many students these moments feel deeply personal as they reach out to friends and family in Israel or navigate heart-wrenching conversations with peers who see the world differently or sign up for Hillel Birthright Israel trips. Hillel staff and student leaders hold space, ask leading questions, teach – and assure students are supported to wrestle with what it means to be proudly Jewish, pro-peace, and engaged.
| | Holiday Reflections from our Campuses | | |
CSU Hillel
CSU Hillel, for the 2nd consecutive year, continues to set attendance records, including at all our Shabbat dinners and holiday events! In the last month we have enjoyed our annual Sukkah Building, Pizza in the Hut, Sunset Yoga, as well as our Jewpardy event.
| | |
One month into the school year, DU Hillel has been bustling with programming and High Holiday celebrations. A highlight was our wonderful joint Rosh Hashanah Dinner with DU Chabad, where we hosted over 100 people on campus. We also organized carpools for students to attend services at various synagogues across the city, giving them the chance to experience different traditions. We concluded the holidays with Yom Kippur services at the Botanic Gardens with Judaism Your Way. Our Break Fast drew a great turnout, featuring an outdoor Havdallah.
We’ve enjoyed getting to know our Shinshinim (cultural emissaries from Israel), including hosting a fun s’mores night earlier in the month. In addition, we marked October 7th with a day of commemorative activities at the Hillel House, offering students both physical and mental space to reflect on the impact felt in the Jewish community two years ago. Our wellness director, Shoshanah, was present to engage in meaningful conversations with students about their feelings and experiences.
| | |
We can’t believe how fast the semester is flying by! Hillel at Auraria recently gathered for a special Shabbat and a Show on campus. We welcomed some new faces as we shared a delicious Shabbat dinner together before heading over to the King Center to watch MSU’s incredible theatre performance. It was a meaningful night filled with community, culture, and lots of smiles!
| | |
With the high holidays and homecoming weekend upon them, the Orediggers have been very busy this fall! Mines Hillel kicked off the high holidays with a Rosh Hashanah dinner hosting nearly 50 students. We also hiked with DU for a Colorado mountain Tashlich experience, hosted a delicious break fast, drew the biggest crowd yet for our annual Sushi in the Sukkah event, and still managed to have Shabbat on campus every other week. Jewish Students are leading, celebrating, learning, eating, and having fun together in Golden. Jewish life is thriving at Colorado School of Mines thanks to Hillel of Colorado.
| | |
Maya Ayres is a freshman at Mines and has been savoring every part of her first semester on campus.
"I’ve greatly appreciated the opportunity to engage with a variety of student groups, Hillel being one of the most meaningful. Through Hillel, I’ve found genuine interest in learning about my peers and their stories. The shared intrinsic values within this community have helped me build authentic relationships. On campus, these connections allow me to feel a sense of belonging. Finding this community has been essential for me to feel grounded and supported.
My favorite Hillel events at Colorado School of Mines are the biweekly Shabbat dinners. I love how they bring together Jewish students from both on and off campus."
| | Bagel Brunch & Law, November 2 | | Support Hillel of Colorado | | |
There are still so many meaningful opportunities to support Jewish students at Hillel of Colorado as we move into the second half of the semester. Your gift today helps ensure we can continue offering vibrant programs and experiences that empower students to explore and deepen their unique Jewish journeys. You can even set up a recurring monthly donation to support students throughout the year.
Interested in sponsoring a Shabbat dinner? These weekly gatherings offer students a chance to build community, connect with tradition, and find a true sense of belonging on campus. Shabbat dinners are free for students, and with a gift of $500, you can sponsor an entire evening — helping to create a warm, welcoming space for connection and reflection.
| | | | |
