Hillel, the foundation for Jewish campus life at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, aims to create a pluralistic environment that both welcomes and engages as many students as possible to explore and celebrate Judaism.

With nearly 3,000 Jewish students on campus, there is a tremendous breadth of interests and opportunities that can be pursued through Hillel. Whether your passions include Israel, the outdoors, social events, Jewish education, the arts, community service, Hillel can help you with all of this and even more.

Hillel at the University of Illinois is an accredited foundation of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.

The Cohen Center for Jewish Life could not function without the help and support of the Jewish United Fund.

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"Illini Hillel has given me an amazing community and countless opportunities that I wouldn't have had otherwise."

Irene, class of 2019

This Week's Events

Get the latest news & announcements straight from @illinihillel.

Catch up with Hilllel on Instagram.

Happy Pride Month🏳️‍🌈! This month, we will be spotlighting Jewish Queer Organizations and the work they do!

Our first spotlight is @jewishqueeryouth. JQY is a mental health organization with a variety of in-person and online programs and opportunities for Jewish queer teens and young adults, including their JQYUniversity network for LGBTQ Jewish college students🌈

You can learn more about the work they do on their Instagram or their website!

As we prepare to welcome shabbat tonight, we wanted to share a prayer for peace from Rabbi Heather @thetiedyerabbi.

May it truly be a Shabbat Shalom 💙

Happy #WisdomWednesday!

The marriv prayer is part of our daily liturgy. It comes from a word that means "to mix," referring to the mix of day and night that we experience at twilight. For this special Pride month wisdom, we are sharing "Twilight People," an interpretive maariv prayer by Rabbi Reuben Zellman, the first openly transgender person to become a Reform rabbi. Rabbi Zellman's prayer lifts up the stories of those who are, like the twilight, in-between. "We cannot always define," he writes. "We can always say a blessing."

Happy Pride Month from Illini Hillel 🌈

What an incredible weekend in Chicago!

✡️ Illini Hillel table at the Chicagoland Jewish Festival
🍦Ice Cream Social at Dairy Star
📖Book Talk with UIUC Alum Rabbi Irwin Keller at BJBE

Special shout out to our students who volunteered at the festival on Sunday!

Join Rabbi Heather TONIGHT at BJBE in Deerfield for a book talk with UIUC Alum Rabbi Irwin Keller!

Are you working at camp this summer? Let us know so we can give you a gift!

Our students and staff on Birthright are halfway through their trip, and they are having an incredible time!

Shavuot starts tonight. One of the themes of the holiday is revelation, honoring the experience of our ancestors’ encounter with God on Mt. Sinai. In observance of this holiday, we are sharing Rabbi Heather Paul @thetiedyerabbi ‘s poem on the many ways God may (or may not!) be revealed in our lives.

Join Rabbi Heather to continue the conversation and celebrate Shavuot at Cocomero on Monday, June 2, at 7:30pm

Join us tomorrow, June 2nd at Cocomero to honor the holiday of Shavuot🍦🧀🍨

Are you in the Chicagoland area for the summer? Come get Ice Cream with us! Meet Lela at Dairy Star on Sunday June 8th from 6-7pm 🍦

And catch us before hand at the Chicago Jewish Festival from 11am-5pm.

It's been two weeks since the semester ended and we can't stop thinking about all the fun we had this year!

Happy #WisdomWednesday!

For today's wisdom, we learn about the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which starts at sundown this Sunday, June 1st. What is Shavuot? How is it celebrated? Swipe through to read all about it!

Still on campus for the summer? Join us on Monday, June 2nd, during Shavuot at Cocomero!

Our birthright trip is officially in Israel 🇮🇱🌞💙

Check out some of the amazing views and sights they've seen as they travel around the country this week!

Illini Hillel is heading to Wrigleyville!!

Join us for Illini Night at the Cubs game on June 17th! Each ticket comes with an Illini cubs hat⚾️🧢

Alumni and students who are 21+ can also join us for a special happy hour at Graystone Tavern before the game!

Reserve your spot today at illinihillel.org/cubswithhillel

It's been a week, and we are still thinking about our wonderful Class of 2025!!

Mazal Tov to all of our seniors who graduated last week 🎓
Illini Hillel will always be your home, so make sure to come back and visit us 🧡💙

We are heartbroken 💔

Students, we are here for you. Reach out to Hillel staff via text or DM. We will also be in the building today until 4pm and tomorrow from 10am-4pm.

& that's a wrap on this year🤩🧡💙

Thank you to all of our incredible students, staff, community members, alumni, and everyone else who made this year memorable!

COMMENT BELOW 👇🏻: What was your favorite memory with Illini Hillel this year?

Join us during graduation weekend at Illini Hillel!

It's time for #WisdomoftheWeek! Today's wisdom from @thetiedyerabbi shares about transitions and how the weekly practice of Havdalah can be used when thinking about the end of the semester.

Wishing a huge Mazal Tov to our graduates this weekend, and a wonderful summer to everyone!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to our incredible donors! 🧡💙

Thanks to your support, Illini Hillel surpassed our goal and raised over $80,000 to support Jewish students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign during #HillelGlobalGivingWeek! We are so grateful for everything our community of support does to sustain a safe, vibrant Jewish community at Hillel! Thank you for making a life-changing impact for our students!

If you missed the chance to give during Hillel Global Giving Week, you can make a impact for Jewish students at UIUC any day by visiting give.illinihillel.org.

Need a study break during finals week? Coffee? Pasta? We have just what you need!

Check out what's happening at Illini Hillel this week!

Today is the FINAL DAY of #HillelGlobalGivingWeek and the last hours are ticking away! All gifts made NOW to Illini Hillel will go TWICE as far! Jewish students at UIUC need your support. Don’t miss your chance to double your impact! DONATE NOW: give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving

Thanks to supporters like you, we’re less than $5000 away from reaching our goal and maximizing our $36,000 match in support of Jewish students at UIUC and the strong, welcoming community they rely on. With your support, we can get there! Until midnight tonight, gifts will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, while matching funds remain! ⏳💙 DONATE NOW: give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving

Congrats to our Class of 2025 Senior Award winners!

Join us tonight for Orange and Blue Shabbat as we wrap up the semester and celebrate our seniors 💙🧡

🚨Today is the final day of #HillelGlobalGivingWeek, and the last chance to DOUBLE your impact before our matching challenge ENDS TONIGHT🚨

It’s been an incredible Global Giving Week so far! Thanks to supporters like you, we’ve already raised over $29,000 for Jewish life at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. But we’re not done yet! Before midnight, help us raise the final $7000 needed to meet our $36,000 match by making your donation at give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving.

Illini Hillel Board President Joey Zenner (class of 2017) shared why he supports Illini Hillel:

"When I was a student, Hillel’s presence was vital. Even though I didn’t attend programs on a weekly basis, I always knew that I had an outlet to feel at home when I needed it. Nowadays, especially with rising, persistent antisemitism on campus, I truly believe that Hillel is more needed than ever. Hillel provides students a place to simply be themselves, which is vital for 18-22 year olds.

I joined the Illini Hillel Board to do anything I can to aid the Hillel Staff in serving the students. The staff works tirelessly to provide the students with the resources to be successful. They empower the students to use their voices and available resources to combat antisemitism on campus. In my time as a board member, and now as board president, I have seen an increase in the students taking charge of the programming and facilitating their own journey.

Helping these young adults is vital to the Jewish community. They are the future, and I truly believe there is no better cause to support than investing in the future of the Jewish community through Illini Hillel. Today is the last day of Hillel Giving Week. Today is the last day to double your impact via a donation to Hillel. Please consider donating whatever you are able to!"

Join our community of supporters like Joey by making your matched gift before midnight at give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving.

We're in the final stretch: Hillel Global Giving Week ends tomorrow, but there is still time to make your matched gift at give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving

We are less than $12,000 away from unlocking our full $36,000 match and meeting our goal thanks to the generous support of donors like you. This #HillelGlobalGivingWeek YOU have the power to inspire thousands of Jewish students at UIUC to build lifelong connections to Jewish learning, Jewish life, and Israel. Before midnight tomorrow, make a gift and DOUBLE your impact at give.hillel.org.illiniglobalgiving.

Today's #WisdomoftheWeek comes from @thetiedyerabbi and includes this week's themes taught from the Omer about the divine attribute of Netzach.

Swipe through for some prompts for enrichment during this week of endurance as we wrap up the semester!

It's that time of the semester! The ball pit is official up in the Hillel lounge!!

Finals Week is Here! Need a study break? Coffee? Snacks? Art projects? Dogs? We have it all!

Starting tomorrow, join Illini Hillel for a variety of programs during finals week
Swipe to view our staff coffee hours schedule ➡️

Hillel Global Giving Week has reached the halfway mark - students like Ezra are counting on your generosity to sustain Illini Hillel's strong, supportive, and diverse Jewish community.

Now is the time to give: this week only, your gift to Illini Hillel will be matched. Make your gift now at give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving to help us reach our $72,000 goal.

Student leaders like Ezra are working hard to share Illini Hillel's Global Giving Week campaign with their friends and family. After making your matched gift, join us by sharing this post and the donation link, give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving, with your friends and family.

It's day 2 of Illini Hillel's Global Giving Week!

From now through Friday, May 9th, your gift to Illini Hillel will be MATCHED! Double your impact at give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving. Hillel is here for Jewish student every day, no matter the circumstances. Your support brings the comfort of Shabbat dinners, the opportunities of a vibrant community, and the support of peers and staff to Jewish students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Sabrina Fellinger, class of 2027 shared: "Hillel has always been there for me. Whether I needed a shoulder to cry on or a moment to take my mind off things, Hillel has always been the answer."

Support students like Sabrina with a matched gift today.

#HillelGlobalGivingWeek #FuelTheFuture #UIUC #Hillel #Illini

Thank you to everyone who donated to throw water balloons at Lela!! Have another staff you want to see get waterballooned?

Donate today! give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving

🎉 The wait is over—Hillel Global Giving Week starts TODAY! 🎉

For the next five days (May 5-9), we’re matching every gift to fuel the future of Jewish life at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Your impact goes twice as far! Join us in building a strong, vibrant Jewish community—make your gift now to help us reach our $72,000 goal! 🧡💙

➡️ give.hillel.org/illiniglobalgiving

#HillelGlobalGivingWeek #FuelTheFuture

It's the last week of classes, and we have so much happening!

Swipe through to see the programs at Illini Hillel this week ➡️

🚨Hillel Global Giving Week starts TOMORROW! 🚨

This week, your gift to Illini Hillel MATCHED, doubling your impact for Jewish students at the University of Illinois. Your support means more connections, more leadership opportunities, and more ways for students to embrace their Jewish identity.

Are you ready to stand with Jewish students at UIUC and around the world? Give early at give.hille.org/illiniglobalgiving

#HillelGlobalGivingWeek

🚨Hillel Global Giving Week is just 4 days away!! 🚨

From May 5-9 every gift to Illini Hillel will be MATCHED, doubling your impact for Jewish students. Your support means more connections, more leadership opportunities, and more ways for students to embrace their Jewish identity. Stand with Jewish students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Make your early matched gift at illinihillel.org/globalgiving25

#HillelGlobalGivingWeek

Here's your #WisdomoftheWeek!

This week's wisdom is all about the Omer! What is the Omer? What does it mean to count it? What does tge practice look like for Jews in the world today?

Swipe through to learn more ➡️

Yesterday began Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Memorial Day. On this day, we remember the lives of Israel's fallen soldiers and of innocent victims of terror attacks in Israel.

The observance of this memorial day is special in Israel because it comes right before the celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day.

Swipe through to read about this "switch" between the two days and how it is observed throughout Israel🇮🇱

We invite you to join us tonight for our Yom HaZikaron ceremony at 7pm 🕯

Hillel Global Giving Week is less than 1 week away! Help us LEAP to a fast start in the campaign by making an early gift at illinihillel.org/globalgiving25! All gifts are MATCHED! Double your impact today.

#Hillel #HGGW #hillelglobalgivingweek #tzedaka #illini #illinois #uiuc

Next week is... ISRAEL WEEK🇮🇱💙

Join us starting this Sunday for a full week of Israel events. There will be lots of food, games, music, art and more!

Swipe through to see the full details ➡️

Hillel Global Giving Week is just 10 days away! Pledge your support and give early in support of Jewish student life at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

When you join our matching donors in giving early at illinihillel.org/globalgiving25, not only do you multiply your gift's impact through our match, you also build Illini Hillel's capacity to raise critical funds during the week of the campaign (May 5-9).

Give in support of Shabbat dinners. Give in support of Jewish learning. Give in support of mental health resources. Give in support of advocacy and action against rising antisemitism. Give in support of Jewish students on campus who rely on Hillel.

Today’s #WisdomoftheWeek was written by @tai.gomez, Treasurer of LGBTJew. Join Tai in the Reform/Renewal minyan this Friday at 6pm to hear the rest of their dvar torah on Parashat Shemini.

Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, begins tomorrow night at sundown and continues through Thursday.

Please join Illini Hillel and the CU Jewish community in commemoration.

In addition to these events, we will also have our Holocaust Museum exhibit on display in our building throughout Wednesday-Thursday, for people to stop by and view.

Check out what's happening this week at Illini Hillel!

Interested in going to law school? Come hear from current law students about their experiences! Join Hillel and the Jewish Law Student Association at the Law School Lunch & Learn on April 22! RSVP recommended but not required!

Hillel Global Giving Week is back! Save the Date, May 5-9, for the 6th annual world-wide Hillel fundraising challenge! During Global Giving Week all gifts made to Illini Hillel will be MATCHED, doubling your impact for Jewish students on campus. Help us close our the year strong: mark your calendars and help spread the word, Global Giving Week is coming!

Interested in giving early? You can join our matching donors and avoid extra communications during the campaign by donating now at donate.illinihillel.org, or email eli@illinihillel.org to make a pledge.

Passover starts tomorrow, and we cannot wait to celebrate with you!

Swipe through to see what programs are happening this week ➡️

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Plan a visit. Our doors are open.

Phone

(217) 344-1328

Sunday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.