What happens when 14 students from opposite sides of the globe sit down to discuss identity, war, and the modern campus experience? Hillel Tel Aviv and Hillel North Texas have launched a unique partnership, bridging the gap between Israel and the U.S. through structured dialogue. Despite the distance and the difficult realities of wartime, these students are proving that curiosity and a willingness to listen are the first steps toward a shared story.

Despite the challenges of navigating life far from home, international students in Jerusalem are choosing to stay, study, and build community. Read about the recent student-led Shabbat dinner that brought together over 50 participants for an evening of cultural exchange, resilience, and connection.

Fifteen students from Israel and Jewish communities across Eastern Europe came together to study Israel’s Declaration of Independence. Through creative projects and discussion, they explored how the document still shapes Jewish identity and connection today.

We are incredibly proud to present the final Capstone Journal from this year’s Matanel Global Leadership Fellowship. This collection represents the culmination of a year of deep dialogue, cross-cultural learning, and a shared commitment to the future of the Jewish people. Within these pages, you will find the innovative projects and insights of 15 student leaders from Poland, Israel, and the United States. These fellows have gone beyond the classroom to build a living, breath

By Avital Sojcher and Dror Shamsian This year’s cohort of the Matanel Global Leadership Fellowship brought together 15 students from Poland, Israel, and the United States to explore ideas of Jewish identity, pluralism, peoplehood, and more. Fellows participated in eight online learning sessions, including a panel discussion, group discussions, text study, an art workshop, and more. The students came together in May for a shabbaton in Budapest to put the ideas they learned int