Hillel
Longtime Campus Rabbi Getzel Davis Resigns From Harvard Hillel
Campus Rabbi Getzel Davis suddenly left Harvard Hillel after 13 years at the organization, surprising students in Hillel, who were not aware of his departure until it was announced in a Monday morning email.
Levitsky Secures Underdog Victory Over Pinker at Latke vs. Hamantasch Debate
Pinker and Levitsky went head-to-head for their Jewish pastry of choice before a packed crowd at Hillel Saturday night, delivering comedic speeches filled with jabs at the Trump administration, and quips about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and institutional neutrality policies.
Campus Rabbi, Muslim Chaplain Share Lessons on Resilience
Campus Rabbi Getzel Davis and the University’s Muslim Chaplain Khalil Abdur-Rashid hosted an interfaith discussion on mental resilience to explore different religious practices on Thursday.
Harvard Jewish Groups Hold Vigil To Mourn Four Dead Hostages After Hamas Returns Remains
Around 100 people mourned the lives of four Israeli hostages at a vigil held in the Science Center Plaza Thursday afternoon after Hamas returned four bodies to Israel earlier Thursday.
In Annual Elections, Students Debate Role of Zionism at Harvard Hillel
Harvard Hillel elected its new student board after an election revealed debates over how the organization can represent Jewish students with varying political beliefs, even as the group’s leaders define it as a voice for Zionism on campus.
Jews for Palestine Rally Outside Harvard Hillel to Protest Former IDF Spokesperson
About a dozen students rallied outside Harvard Hillel to protest an event with former Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Ronen Manelis on Monday, the first demonstration outside Harvard’s main Jewish center in several years.
Police Investigating Antisemitic Stickers Discovered Near Harvard Hillel
The Cambridge Police Department and the Harvard University Police Department are jointly investigating an apparent act of “religiously threatening” vandalism after multiple antisemitic stickers were discovered around Harvard Square.
Harvard Hillel Leadership Acknowledges Hasty Response to Flyering Debacle
Harvard Hillel Executive Director Jason B. Rubenstein ’04 acknowledged in an open letter to Hillel affiliates on Thursday that he hastily suspended J Street U, a student group that used the center’s funding to print and distribute flyers critical of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Hillel Temporarily Suspends J Street After Flyering Campaign Sparks Police Response
Harvard Hillel Executive Director Jason B. Rubenstein ’04 temporarily suspended J Street U on Tuesday after the group’s members used Hillel funding to print and display flyers around Harvard Square that Hillel staff reported to campus and city police as “intimidating.”
Israel Trek Reinstated After Year-Long Hiatus Following War in Gaza
Harvard College Israel Trek, an annual subsidized trip to Israel over spring break, will return in March after a one-year hiatus.
In Last Month, Harvard Police Increased Security at Jewish Events
Harvard University Police Department along with local police forces have increased security measures at Jewish and Israel related events on campus in the last month.
HBS Faculty Add Mezuzahs to Office Doors in Support of Jewish College Freshman
More than a dozen Jewish Harvard Business School faculty added mezuzahs provided by Harvard Hillel to their office doorposts in support of Sarah F. Silverman ’28, a Jewish freshman at the College whose mezuzah briefly disappeared earlier this month.
Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance Slams Harvard, Global Antisemitism at Event
A number of speakers condemned antisemitism on Harvard’s campus and called on the University’s leadership to better protect Jewish students during an event hosted by the Harvard Jewish Alumni Association on Sunday.
More Than 1,000 Harvard Affiliates Gather to Celebrate Jewish Life at Shabbat 1000
Candles, food, and prayers filled the Science Center Plaza on Friday evening as Jewish and non-Jewish affiliates gathered for Shabbat 1000.
Harvard Israel Initiative Relaunches in Response to Campus Antisemitism
The Harvard Israel Initiative, an affiliate organization of Harvard Hillel, will resume its operations this semester following over one year of inactivity.
Harvard Hillel, Chabad Organize Vigil To Mourn 6 Hostages Killed in Gaza
Roughly 200 Harvard affiliates attended a vigil on Sunday to mourn the lives of the six hostages whose bodies were recovered from Gaza and to demand the return of all the remaining hostages held captive by Hamas.
‘A Big Win’: Harvard Expands Kosher Options in Undergraduate Dining Halls
Harvard University Dining Services will expand its kosher food options after a decades-long effort to introduce hot kosher lunches in undergraduate dining halls covered by the College’s undergraduate meal plan.
Jewish Leaders at Harvard Diverge Widely in Responses to Ongoing Pro-Palestine Encampment
As the pro-Palestine encampment enters its sixth day, the leadership of the University’s two Jewish centers varied widely in their responses to the ongoing occupation.
Econ 10 Professors Debate, Juggle Latkes and Hamantaschen at Comical Harvard Hillel Event
A debate between the two professors leading Harvard’s introductory Economics course descended into a circus as they weighed whether hamantaschen or latkes are the superior Jewish holiday food.
Jason Rubenstein ’04 to Serve as Harvard Hillel Executive Director
Rabbi Jason B. Rubenstein ’04 will serve as the next executive director of Harvard Hillel, the organization announced in a press release on Monday.
Harvard College Israel Trek Will Not Take Place Amid War in Gaza, Campus Strife
Harvard College Israel Trek, an annual subsidized trip to Israel and the West Bank held over spring break, will not be taking place this year, according to Hillel President Nathan B. Gershengorn ’26.
Jonah Steinberg Will Advise Harvard Antisemitism Task Force, Boaz Barak Joins as Member
Interim Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 named former Harvard Hillel Executive Director Jonah C. Steinberg as an adviser to the presidential task force on antisemitism and appointed Computer Science professor Boaz Barak to join the group.
Bernie Steinberg, Former Harvard Hillel Director, Remembered As ‘Tremendous’ Teacher, Listener
Late last year, Bernie Steinberg had been watching a crisis at Harvard unfold from his home in Chicago. As outrage over then-President Claudine Gay’s leadership and accusations of antisemitism on campus sparked national headlines, Steinberg — the director of Harvard Hillel from 1993 to 2010 — decided to take action.
Harvard Undergraduates Form Forward-Thinking Jewish Union
Around a dozen Jewish undergraduates formed the Harvard Forward-Thinking Jewish Union last semester to create a space for students to engage in discussions questioning Zionism and Jewish life on campus.
Dean Rakesh Khurana at Harvard Yard Shabbat Table Installation
Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana joined both the morning and afternoon gatherings, conversed with many visitors and supporters, and helped students disassemble the table at sundown.