Tzedek (Hebrew for ‘Justice’), is a core Jewish value, and one of Hillel’s primary organizational goals. Through national and campus-based initiatives, Hillel provides thousands of Jewish students each year with opportunities to contribute hands-on assistance to communities in need and raise awareness of social justice issues. Alternative Breaks, week-long immersion experiences that combine hands-on volunteer service with reflection and Jewish learning, offer a meaningful opportunity for students to engage in the community, help meet defined community needs, and continue their own Jewish journeys.
Students spend seven to ten days participating in at least 25 hours of hands-on volunteer service, and their evenings meeting community members, activists, and not-for-profit leaders to help frame and give context to the overall experience. In addition, students tour the community they are in and celebrate new cultures.
Today, Hillel is the leading provider of Alternative Breaks, coordinating almost 60% of Jewish college Alternative Breaks and serving as the primary partner organization for all other Jewish breaks. This year, Hillel anticipates that over 2,500 Jewish college students will contribute 50,000 hours of vital hands-on assistance to communities in the Gulf Coast, Central and South America, Israel, the Former Soviet Union and communities in need across North America and around the world.
