College is a time for young Jews and non-Jews alike to learn new perspectives and explore issues that really matter to them. While college years give many students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn about Israel, and even spend time studying in Israel, anti-Israel sentiment and activism are all too commonplace.  In 2023-2024, North American campuses saw an alarming rise in anti-Israel and antisemitic incidents with the growth of the BDS movement and the ongoing war in Israel following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

William and Mary Hillel recognized the need to support Jewish college students in this hostile and challenging reality and is doing so by adding an authentic and engaging Israeli presence to the campus this year. William and Mary Hillel has brought on Yeela Mimrod, an Israel Fellow through The Jewish Agency, as a full-time employee.

Jewish Agency Israel Fellows are charismatic young professionals who have graduated from college and served in the Israel Defense Forces. In their roles on campus, they share personal experiences of modern Israel through the lens of its socially-progressive values and its accomplishments in technology, life sciences, and the arts. Working hand-in-hand with Hillel professionals on campus, the Fellows support students and help them to grapple with complex issues that are often emotional and may seem contradictory. Israel Fellows often become the face of Israel for the North American students they work with, offering them a unique and authentic relationship with Israel and Israelis.

“Yeela has extensive experience working with young adults in Israel from various backgrounds,” shared W&M Hillel Executive Director, Rabbi Gershon Litt. “Our student president, Lilly, loved Yeela and believes that Yeela will inspire our new and returning students to learn more about Israel and not hide their identities, but rather be proud of who they are as Jews at this complicated time. She will live near campus and be part of the campus community.” In addition to her work at William & Mary Hillel, Yeela will build relationships with students at Christopher Newport University, as well as facilitate programming in the larger community.

In addition to the support from the Jewish Agency, the UJCVP Endowment has awarded W&M Hillel a grant to help make this opportunity possible.

“We recognize the critical importance of Israel education and the profound impact that this initiative will have on Jewish students at William & Mary and beyond,” shared UJCVP CEO Eric Maurer. “The challenges that our community has faced since October 7th have indeed brought Israel into sharper focus, and we commend W&M Hillel’s proactive approach in meeting these challenges head-on.”

                                                                                                            

The UJCVP Endowment strengthens and protects the Virginia Peninsula’s Jewish community by building a permanent pool of charitable dollars provided by generous donors who share our vision of a strong, resilient and joyous community for generations.

Guided by Jewish values, we assist donors in structuring charitable gifts, building legacies, facilitating personalized philanthropy, helping our partners establish a culture of endowment giving, and distributing community grants to a broad range of programs and institutions.