Isaac Shiner | WJW Intern
Maryland Hillel raised a record $1.09 million on March 5 during the University of Maryland’s Giving Day, securing its place as the top fundraiser among the university’s departments and reinforcing its role as a critical resource for Jewish life on campus.
Giving Day is the University of Maryland’s annual campus-wide fundraising competition between the various colleges and departments at the university. Maryland Hillel dominated the competition with over 800 donors. The School of Public Health raised the second-most funds but trailed Maryland Hillel by about $360,000.
Ari Israel, Maryland Hillel’s executive director, expressed gratitude for the donors who made the fundraiser a success.
“It shows that people care,” Israel said. “We’re grateful to the parents and alumni who recognize this and are part of fueling the fire which we all continue to inspire.”
Maryland Hillel serves thousands of Jewish students on campus. It provides religious, cultural, educational and social programming, including Shabbat and holiday meals. The center also focuses on student leadership and Israel advocacy programming and engagement.
Maryland Hillel oversees more than 25 student organizations, including the Jewish Student Union, the Conservative group Neshama, the Orthodox group Kedma and Terps for Israel. Each played a role in the Giving Day campaign by competing to bring in the most funds for Hillel.
As a reward for their efforts, Maryland Hillel allocated $2,000 of that day’s fundraising efforts to the various student groups that participated.
“Students were really gung-ho about raising money for their individual student groups, because that is what we are here to nurture,” Israel said. “Students recognize that Hillel benefits them, whether it’s a free Shabbat dinner, whether it’s a relationship with a staff member, whether it’s an educational program they go to.”
Maryland Hillel also secured $400,000 in matching donations from several families, including Diane and Howard Schilit. Howard, a University of Maryland alumnus, and Diane, who served on the Maryland Hillel board, are also parents of a University of Maryland alumnus. Leah Bregman, Maryland Hillel’s development associate, spearheaded the vision for Giving Day.
“People want to donate because they understand the value of Hillel at the University of Maryland and how much we’re doing to combat antisemitism,” Bregman said.
As part of the university competition, the department with the most student donors during Student Power Hour, from 9 to 10 p.m. on Giving Day, would receive a $1,000 gift.
Maryland Hillel won through Bregman’s leadership. Bregman organized a student-led carnival in the Maryland Hillel building, where students donated $10 during the Student Power Hour in exchange for tickets. Those tickets could be redeemed for a dessert buffet and used to participate in activities hosted by various student groups.
The Jewish Student Union held a satirical raffle, offering prizes such as the opportunity to choose a couple to get engaged or a bulk pack of chocolate. Other activities included a paint-filled water balloon fight, tote bag decorating and Just Dance — a dance video game.
“We have Student Power Hour to encourage student donors and have students understand philanthropy,” Bregman said.
The construction of a new building, along with the rise of antisemitism and anti-Israel hostility on campus, has increased the need for fundraising, making the success of Giving Day even more critical, Israel said.
The Giving Day donations will be divided between Maryland Hillel’s annual campaign, which supports the center’s regular operations, and its capital campaign, which funds the new building already under construction.
While the university administration is generally supportive of the Maryland Hillel community, the rise of antisemitism on campus has increased Maryland Hillel’s day-to-day operations, Israel explained.
“There are times when student attractors and haters are still able to make students uncomfortable — at times, unwelcome — and, for some students, raise levels of anxiety and mental unsafeness,” Israel said.
The funds will help cover resources to bring in additional speakers and other support to strengthen student leadership in combating this hostility.
In addition, the funds will support regular programs such as Shabbat 1000, which aims to host 1,000 students for a Shabbat dinner each fall, and SHABBAM: Shabbat Across Maryland, in which Maryland Hillel organizes and caters dozens of Shabbat meals across campus one week in the Spring semester, connecting students with friends and new Jewish faces.
The current Maryland Hillel building is too small, according to Israel. The new two-story building, nearly 40,000 square feet, will include student leadership suites, an a cappella studio, a newly created center on Israel education and antisemitism awareness, a kosher dining area, café, rental catering spaces, study areas, classrooms and more, Washington Jewish Week previously reported.
Maryland Hillel has already raised $15 million for the new building construction but is aiming to raise $23 million.
“We’re using these funds to help fuel that construction, which is already underway,” Israel said.
The construction began in September 2024, the foundations are already in place and the building is expected to be completed by Spring 2026, Israel said. Junior Emma Steinhause, a former Terps for Israel president and Jewish Student Union vice president, was happy to help Maryland Hillel’s Giving Day success, making fundraising calls and helping organize the Student Power Hour.
“Maryland Hillel provided me with a transformative college experience,” Steinhause said. “They taught me how important it is to create community.”
Read more about Emma Steinhause, a recipient of the 2024 Shine a Light on Antisemitism Civic Courage Award, here.
