George Mason University Hillel

There are only a few hours left of and we’ve already raised 31% of our $10,000 goal! There are only a few hours left, can you help us reach our goal so that we can continue to support Jewish students at Mason Hillel?
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Want to support students like .10 and who have had transformative experiences at Mason Hillel? Visit bit.ly/masongt to support the next generation of Jewish leaders!

is finally here! Support Mason Hillel this and your gift will immediately impact the lives of Jewish students at George Mason University.

To donate NOW visit: bit.ly/masongt

We were honored to commemorate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, with the Second Gentleman of the United States, Mr. Doug Emhoff. Yesterday, we brought a group of student leaders from Mason Hillel and to the Vice President's Residence to meet with Mr. Emhoff in an interfaith gathering of students from , , and to celebrate the New Year. We engaged in a lively discussion of shared values and beliefs among faiths, the power of empathy in our faith traditions, and our commitment to building bridges across lines of difference to create a better and brighter future. Our very own Jake Kornfeld blew the Shofar, the very first time the Shofar was ever blown in the Vice President's Residence. What a way to begin 5783! Shanah Tovah

Get to know the 2022-2023 Hillel Student Board! Check in each week to learn more about 2 of our awesome board members! We are so excited to get started soon!

Today we will be meeting our President, Danielle, and our Vice President, Amichai! Have any questions for either of them, comment them below or just say hi!

The fall semester is less than TWO weeks away! Mason Hillel is counting down the top five things we’re looking forward to in the new semester! New Patriots, get ready to meet your Jewish home on campus! Returning Patriots, comment below what are you excited for?

Get to know the 2022-2023 Hillel Student Board! Check in each week to learn more about 2 of our amazing board members! We are so excited to get started soon!

Today we will be meeting our Treasurer, Allie, and our Secretary, Brina! Have any questions for either of them, comment them below or just say hi!

We know them! New Mason Hillel staff and Mason Hillel Alumni got a chance to meet at ‘s New Professionals Institute. We wish them all the best as they embark on their new journey as a Hillel Professional! Send them good vibes as the semester starts in the comments below!

Get to know the 2022-2023 Hillel Student Board! Check in each week to learn more about 2 of our rocking board members! We are so excited to get started soon!

Today we will be meeting our Digital Engagement Chair, Ashleigh, and our Ahavah Chair, Jake! Have any questions for either of them, comment them below or just say hi!

Little miss can't wait for Friday nights back on campus with Hillel! Shabbat Shalom!

Get to know the 2022-2023 Hillel Student Board! Check in each week to learn more about 2 of our spectacular board members! We are so excited to get started in a few weeks!

Today we will be meeting our Israel Connection Chair, Kyla, and our Social Events Chair, Rachel! Have any questions for either of them, comment them below or just say hi!

Get to know the 2022-2023 Hillel Student Board! Check in each week to learn more about 2 of our fantastic board members! We are so excited to get started soon!

Today we will be meeting our Jewish Identity Chair, Adam, and our Social Action Chair, as listed! Have any questions for either of them, comment them below or just say hi!

Grads With Down Syndrome Change the Narrative at GMU

Mazal tov Madison!

Grads With Down Syndrome Change the Narrative at GMU Charlotte Woodward and Madison Essig are just the fifth and sixth students born with Down syndrome to earn a bachelor’s degree in the United States.

Market Survey for NOVA Kosher Restaurants

Mason Hillel is participating in a community-wide effort to conduct a market survey of the Jewish community to assess the level of interest in supporting kosher food establishments in Northern Virginia (NOVA).

The Greater Washington Jewish Community Demographic Study conducted in 2017 concluded that NOVA had the largest population of Jews relative to Washington DC and suburban MD. Subsequently, numerous Jewish organizations have been looking for opportunities to expand their services and programs in our area.

Restaurateurs and related businesses have also taken note of our community’s growth and are seeking additional insights on the potential market. To assist in this effort, please participate in the Market Survey for NOVA Kosher Restaurants, which will take less than five minutes to answer. The survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/35CNLC5.

Please complete it at your earliest convenience. If you have questions about this effort please contact [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Market Survey for NOVA Kosher Restaurants Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

We are SO EXCITED to introduce you to the newest members of the Mason Hillel team!!

Liat Friedman will be our Director of Jewish Student Life and will start at the end of July, supporting student leadership and overseeing our engagement and student life program.

Sydney Spanier will be starting at the end of July as our Springboard Innovation Fellow, encouraging big new ideas and innovating along the way.

Both Liat and Sydney are looking forward to lots of coffee conversations. Feel free to join us in our excitement and welcome them to the Mason Hillel family!

Today we're celebrating our class of 2022 with !

We are so incredibly proud of each of the graduating seniors, including the ones who aren't pictured. You've worked incredibly hard for this amazing achievement. Mazel tov!🎉 See what they say about their time with Hillel at Mason and where they're heading next by swiping through this post.

Join us in congratulating and celebrating our seniors by giving a gift as we end . They've worked incredibly hard to ensure that the next generation of Jewish college students finds their home away from home!

Give your gift today at https://donate.hillel.org/donate/make-gift-support-jewish-patriots! There's only a few hours left and we are so close to meeting our goal

On , we spoke with Ashleigh Trudell! Ashleigh is a freshman at Mason and is joining our Student Board as our Digital Engagement Chair this summer.

Before Ashleigh chose what college was best for her, she had spoken with Rabbi Aft and Student Board President, Hailey, about Mason’s Jewish life. We asked her to reflect on that time and she says “In the last year I’ve spent more time in the Hillel office than any other single location on campus. I have truly found my people and can’t wait to create many more meaningful memories with them in the future”

We are relying on you to help George Mason Hillel connect with all students! Your gift during will help us to keep meeting amazing students like Ashleigh.

Give your gift today at https://donate.hillel.org/donate/make-gift-support-jewish-patriots

Today we’re celebrating with Danielle and Sean!

Danielle and Sean met in their freshman dorms and are now both serving on our student board. Next year, Danielle will be serving as our Student Board President and Sean will be starting his career as a Springboard Fellow with the Greater Philadelphia Hillel network. Mazel tov to both!

Join us in celebrating all of the relationships (friends, partners, teachers and more!) by making your gift today at donate.hillel.org/donate/make-gift-support-jewish-patriots

Today on , we’re spotlighting Ben Freedman! Ben is a student who writes and performs music to help others not feel alone in the world.

“Everybody’s individual human experiences are so unique, and so bizarre, and can feel really overwhelming and isolating- and yet, we’re all kind of going through the same thing, right? Have you been through heartbreak? Love? Loneliness? Frustration with your faith? Hey, me too. It’s hard, and amazing, and sucky, and beautiful, and you’re not the only one that feels that way.”  Ben recently performed his music at Mason Day and is preparing to release an EP of his music. 

For those involved in Mason Hillel or other Jewish life, you know how music can bring communities together. Ben focuses on this and makes the world a better place everyday through his passion and we’re here to support it!

As day two of , you can help Mason Hillel continue to support students and their passions. All gifts will be matched up to $5,000 so your impact will go twice as far!

Head to https://donate.hillel.org/donate/make-gift-support-jewish-patriots to give your gift today!

Today we are highlighting an Alumn, Dana Blumenfeld, who expemplifies !

Starting in 2016, Dana served as our student board president for a year and a half. Since graduating from Mason in 2017, Dana now is an HR professional and says "I plan events for our employees to keep the culture strong and would not be as confident in that aspect of my job were it not for Hillel. The complex conservations I was a part of at Mason Hillel have also certainly helped me navigate the situations and conversations that come up when dealing with tough employee situations."

Dana also now serves as a member of our community board and this summer, will be travelling to Israel with our Fact Finders trip to help students learn about the complexities and nuances of the conflict.

Students and alumni like Dana exemplify why we are here and YOU can help continue growing our community by giving a gift this at donate.hillel.org/donate/make-gift-support-jewish-patriots!

All gifts will be automatically matched up to $5,000 this week so your gift will go twice as far!

Today is the start of ! This year, we have had the ABSOLUTE pleasure of meeting so many students.

All gifts given this week through donate.hillel.org/donate/make-gift-support-jewish-patriots will be automatically matched up to $5,000 thanks to many supporters!

We're depending on you to help ensure the students of tomorrow continue to have their home away from home!

Join our Israel Fellow, , tomorrow from noon to 1:00 pm as she will be sharing her experience of Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) in Israel, followed by a virtual Yizkor candle lighting and a Tefilah (prayer) reading.

Come Together to celebrate the LAST Shabbat of the semester with our very own Fab Four!

Whether you’ve been feeling Yer Blues from this semester and are ready to Get Back home, or you’ve been deftly navigating the Long and Winding Road of college and could stay here Eight Days a Week, you’re all invited to Twist and Shout with your friends at Hillel! We’ve Got to Get You Into Our Life by hosting you at our very own Abbey Road Studios, conveniently located at George’s on the 3rd floor of the JC. 1960s attire is encouraged but not required.

With a Little Help From Our Friends, we will announce our end of year superlatives (link in bio)!

Make sure to get your Ticket To Ride and saving your seat today! See you this Friday, May 6th, at 6:00.

https://masonhillel.wufoo.com/forms/r1aqec1d1tx7voy/

Remember the last time you were able to get dressed up? It has to have been YEARS ago!

Well, here’s your last chance to register for the Spring Soirée! Check the link to secure your seat.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/312132074437

Join us for a night of great speakers, awards, food, and celebration 🎉

We were visited by JewBelong today on campus!

Meet the 2022-2023 Student Board! We can’t wait for you to get to know these amazing individuals! This is going to be an amazing year for Hillel! 💙🤍

President: Danielle Gaita
Vice President: Amichai Levy
Secretary: Brina London
Treasurer: Allie Kaye
Digital Engagement Chair: Ashleigh Trudell
Social Events Chair: Rachel Forman
Jewish Identity Chair: Adam Holdover
Israel Connection Chair: Kyla Goldsby
Ahavah Chair: Jake Kornfeld
Social Action Chair: (as pictured)

Mazel Tov to our new and returning members! Feel free to reach out to any of us if you want to chat or just hang out in the Hillel office!

In honor of Yom HaShoah we will be having guest speaker Irene Fogel Weiss, a holocaust survivor.

Be sure to register at the link in our bio for the zoom link!

You’re Invited!
Join us May 2 for our first annual Spring Soirée!

We will be partnering with the Judaic Studies department to celebrate Jewish life and learning. We will also be presenting the Judaic studies awards so be sure to stick around.

Make sure to register at https://bit.ly/GMUSpringSoiree

Happy (belated) Birthday to Sean, our treasurer! We hope you had an amazing birthday!!

Happy (belated) birthday from the students, staff, and community at Mason Hillel, we wish you the happiest of birthdays!
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Leave a birthday message below!

On April 27th, 2022 join [email protected], Student Government, and Mason Hillel for the first part of a moderated discussion on Israel and Palestine. In the first part, policy experts Mr. David Makovsky and Mr. Ghaith Al-Omari, from The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, will discuss Israel and Palestine from a policy-making perspective and previous conflict mediation attempts, such as the Oslo Accords.
Mr. David Makovsky is the Ziegler Distinguished fellow at The Washington Institute and was the Office of the US Secretary of State’s Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations. Mr. Ghaith Al-Omari is the Senior fellow at The Washington Institute and was the advisor to the Palestinian Authority for the Camp David Summit.
Moderated by [email protected]’s Brianna Donaldson, join us for this eye-opening joint event in Merten Hall at 6:30pm. Later followed on May 4th for a debrief session about these policy experts’ discussion! Come out and enjoy a free free dinner on us while you listen to this discussion – and of course, swag will be there! Link in bio

This year the Judaic Studies department is going to be giving out a few awards, along with cash prizes, at the first annual Spring Soiree!
You do not need to be part of the program to be nominated or self nominate. If you have questions feel free to reach out and check out the link for more information!

Come by the Hillel office (room 239 in the JC) on April 14th at 7:30 pm for a special screening of the Israeli comedy movie “Zero Motivation”. There will be Chinese food and popcorn provided!

Sign up at the link in our bio!

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Join Mason Hillel for a traditional Israeli Shouk from 12:00-3:30 pm on April 13th at Merten Hall lawn.

Come enjoy some falafel, awesome Israel swag, tie-dye, peace wall and so much more!

Happy Birthday to our Rabbinical Intern, Beryl! We have been so lucky to be able to work with you whether your helping with Shabbats, teaching JLF classes, or supporting our events.

Happy birthday from the students, staff, and community at Mason Hillel, we wish you the happiest of birthdays!
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Leave a birthday message below!

Join the Israel Student Association (ISA), CAMERA on Campus, and Mason Hillel for a geopolitical overview of Israel by Jonathan (Yoni) Michanie. Yoni is a doctoral student in the Department of Political Science at Northeastern University, specializing in International Relations and Middle East Politics. He has a strong background and interest in the Arab-Israeli conflict and terrorism in the Middle East.

Be sure to sign up with the link in our bio!

Ever wonder what it’s like to be Israeli and part of the LGBT+ community while serving in the IDF?

Join Ahavah and Mason Hillel on April 11th at 8:00 PM in JC room G337 for an amazing speaker, Or Drory, as he tells his turbulent story of growing up q***r in a small town and eventually being out as an IDF officer.