Student Story Elizabeth Paul, Class of 2025

I first heard about Hillel from my cousin who used to go to UC Davis. She highly recommended that I check it out and involve myself in the Jewish community there along with Aggies for Israel Immediately after I moved into my dorm, I decided to check Hillel out I was greeted by friendly staff and students who gave me a tour of the Hillel house, answered all my questions, and made me feel welcome I intended to regularly attend Shabbat dinners and other events, but as my freshman year began, I got caught up in adjusting to college life. Thankfully, my best friend wanted to go to a Hanukkah celebration where I subsequently met and reconnected with some awesome people

Since then, my friends and I attended Shabbat services every week, enjoyed fun learning about the different Shabbat themes Later in the year, I wanted to campus so I finally checked out Aggies for Israel. I joined as one of the Event awesome celebrations and parties, including some in collaboration with Hillel. I helped host a yearly festival for Israel’s Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut) with live music, games, arts and crafts, and Israeli food I also got to help plan the annual Matzah Ball, which is Hillel’s Spring Formal dance During my Junior year, I took on my current role of being the Director of Incident Management on the Aggies for Israel Executive Board I help report incidents of antisemitism and antiZionism to the school, and I get to work closely with the Hillel Staff to make sure that students are being heard and their experiences are being kept track of. Being a part of Aggies for Israel has been a meaningful way for me to connect with and protect my Jewish community here at UC Davis.

Through Hillel I had the life-changing opportunity to go on a Birthright trip to Israel I was able to get to know other students at Hillel that I hadn’t met before and made close friends with the other student participants from Cal Poly SLO’s Hillel I learned so much about Israeli culture and history, and it helped me gain clarity about what my Jewish values are and why I have them. I was able to visit my Israeli friends and family that I hadn’t seen in years and made new Israeli friends too. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had at college so far.

On a more serious note, I am most grateful for the community Hillel was able to provide after the atrocities of October 7th During a time that being Jewish on campus felt isolating and scary, Hillel provided a safe space and valuable resources Hillel made me feel more confident in my Jewish identity since I knew I wasn’t alone They provided the space for hosting events related to processing what happened, as well as for tackling other challenges the Jewish community faced. I know I couldn’t have gotten through and succeeded this year without Hillel.

Now, I am currently one of the summer interns for Hillel and I am going into my final year here at UC Davis From attending Hillel events, joining Aggies for Israel, going on Birthright, and now being an intern, I feel like I’ve been able to experience so many different ways to be involved at Hillel And there are even more ways still! Hillel provides so many unique opportunities, and I hope future students get to take advantage of them to the fullest.