Meet Sierra Ross '23

Growing up, we only celebrated Jewish holidays when my grandma would visit from out of town. It wasn't until college that I began regularly celebrating with a Jewish community.  College is an exploratory time in life. A time when we can try new things without parental guidance. Without Hillel, Jewish students, like me, would lack the support, connection, and tradition that they bring to campus. 

​I’ll never forget my first Shabbat - walking alone across campus, nervous thinking about what I’d do at Hillel because I’d never celebrated Shabbat before. Upon arriving I immediately felt a sigh of relief as I was greeted by the student president with a smiling face. Hillel quickly became a place I relied on for community and meaningful moments. 

During the height of COVID last year when many students, including myself, felt like something was missing without being able to gather as a community, Hillel was there. Hillel provided a sense of connectedness and tradition through meals-to-go and stipends for pods of students to celebrate holidays together. I quickly found a new appreciation for celebrating Shabbat and holidays with my closest friends. 

Hillel consistently offers warm, welcoming, and inclusive ways for students to engage with Judaism throughout the craziness of an undergraduate degree. ​

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