Social Action

Interested in all things social justice, social action, community service, & organizing at Berkeley Hillel?  Read descriptions about all of our  offerings here! Questions? Reach out to Chance Reiniesch, our Social Action Associate at creiniesch@berkeleyhillel.org .

Student Groups
  • Jews of Color Collective: A place for Jews of Color, multiracial, and mixed-race Jews to gather, process, and prioritize themselves.
  • Ga’avah: A student run space for queer Jews, or those interested in learning more about queer Judaism. We aim to create a space where people are willing to ask questions, find friendship and support, and get tapped into the ways we can support our queer/Jewish community at large.
  • Challah 4 Hunger: Enjoy braiding challah? Are you concerned about food insecurity on campus? Join Challah 4 Hunger every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. with 50-60 fellow students who come together to braid and bake Challah in a variety of flavors (chocolate chip, rosemary, and garlic, apple pie). The Challah is then sold to benefit causes around issues of hunger and food security.
  • Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action: Join a cohort of students passionate about combating the climate crisis! Meetings are every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. in the Hillel building.
Current Fellowship Offerings:
  • The Repair the World Fellowship: The Berkeley Hillel-Repair the World Fellowship is a partnership that helps engage students in community service grounded in Jewish values and learning. Students will learn professional skills, gain issue-area education on topics of housing justice, food justice, environmental justice (and more), build bridges across lines of difference, and have meaningful Jewish experiences while serving alongside our neighbors in the East Bay. Sign up here!

Current Service Opportunities:
  • Hygiene Kit Packing with Repair the World – Thursday, September 28th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Join Chance and Lauren Halperin from Repair the World in packing hygiene kits for those facing housing insecurities in our East Bay community. Chance and Lauren will also be sharing information about the Repair the World Service Fellowship!
  • Sukkot Volunteering at Dorothy Day House – Wednesday, October 4th, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm: Sukkot is a holiday that highlights vulnerability as we build temporary shelters outside. As we celebrate, we will also support those who are most vulnerable in the Berkeley community. Berkeley Hillel will be taking a group of students to volunteer at Dorothy Day House, a shelter with wrap around services for Berkeley’s houseless community. Sign up here!