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All gifts doubled until August 28 — up to $20,000

August 24–28·Back to School Campaign

Find Your Way In.

Every Jewish student who steps onto an Ontario campus this fall needs a way in.

Open the Way and Double Your Impact
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14,000 Jewish students return to Ontario campuses this fall

Every one of them needs a way in — to a Jewish community that will empower, uplift, and inspire.

Three ways in

Rebekah holding an Unapologetically Jewish sticker on campus

Rebekah · Waterloo-Laurier

For Rebekah, it was a Shabbat dinner.

Growing up as one of the only Jewish students at her high school, Rebekah hoped university would finally bring the community and friendship she’d been missing. She found it at a Hillel Waterloo-Laurier Shabbat dinner — and stayed long after the meal ended. Later, when Rebekah experienced antisemitism on campus, it was Hillel she turned to: “I was never alone.”

“I knew I was home.”

Rebekah · Student

Your gift puts a student at that table.

Give a Student Their Way In
Patrick with fellow students at the LEV Shabbaton

Patrick · McMaster

For Patrick, it was wanting to change the conversation.

October 7 reshaped how Jewish students experience campus. Friends disappeared; wearing a Magen David felt risky. Patrick decided to do something about it — Hillel McMaster, first as a general executive member, then as VP of Community Relations. Now he represents Canadian Jewish students at international advocacy conferences. The conversations that once left him isolated, he now helps lead.

“I was an introvert before Hillel. The connections and opportunities I found within that community are what turned me into the person I am today.”

Patrick · Student

Your gift gives a student the training and the platform to lead.

Give a Student Their Way In
Isabelle painting at a Hillel workshop

Isabelle · Waterloo-Laurier

For Isabelle, it was a paint night.

Isabelle grew up with little connection to Jewish life, and assumed Hillel was for students who knew more than she did. Art was the thing she did know — so when Hillel Waterloo-Laurier hosted a mezuzah cover painting night, she went. Hillel became her home base; this fall she returns as Hillel staff, the one walking up to every new face with “welcome to Hillel, let me show you around.”

“When I first went to Hillel I was welcomed like family. Because of that, I’m so much more confident in my ability to express myself.”

Isabelle · Student & Springboard Fellow

Your gift opens the door for the student who isn’t sure they belong on the other side of it.

Give a Student Their Way In

What's your way in?

This fall

Thousands of Jewish students will arrive at universities across Ontario looking for something.

A familiar face. A community. A place to celebrate. A chance to lead. A reason to feel proud. A place where they can be fully Jewish.

You can be part of what they find.

Help open the way

And right now, your gift goes twice as far.

Until August 28, every gift to Hillel Ontario will be doubled — up to $20,000.

Without support from donors like you, the next Rebekah doesn’t find a Shabbat dinner that feels like home. The next Patrick doesn’t get the training that turns isolation into advocacy. The next Isabelle doesn’t find the paint night that shows her she belongs.

Across Ontario, Hillel creates thousands of these moments — helping Jewish students find connection, community, confidence, joy and purpose throughout their university experience.

Give Your Gift Today — Open the Door Twice as Wide