Three circles of experience help create the Israeli student's Jewish story. Like Jewish students all over the world, an Israeli student's Jewish story begins in the home. Strong family associations are heard in almost every Jewish story. The Jewish experience of Israeli students further extends to the Israeli education system where students attend either a secular, or a religious school. In the secular education system students were exposed to Jewish texts from a literary perspective, but without the cultural context of the larger Jewish community, while in the religious education system students were exposed to Jewish texts and ritual from a religious perspective, with little or no global vision of different Jewish expressions all over the world. Further on in life, Jewish youth in Israel serve in the army, and often travel to other parts of the world where they may have new Jewish experiences. These three factors: family, education, and personal experiences, are the building blocks that help create the Jewish story of the Israeli student.

Listening to students has helped Hillel professionals identify the Jewish stories which are most prevalent among the student body, and thus create programs which will meet those needs. Through Hillel's work on Israeli campuses we have identified six indigenous population "types":


The founders of Israel came to their homeland filled with a burning desire to settle the land, to turn the Zionist dream into reality by draining the swamps and creating a true homeland and haven for Jews from all over the globe. Most members of that generation of Israelis were secular Jews, who rejected the Diaspora shtetl way of life, and felt that Judaism as a religion belonged to the past. They wanted to fashion a strong and proud Israeli Jew who would control his own destiny in his own land and who would not be encumbered by the yoke of ancient and irrelevant religious traditions. The grandchildren of the founders, who are now university students, feel that the work of building the country has already been done and finished. They associate Judaism with religious coercion and do not see Judaism as belonging to them. They are generally ignorant of any Jewish practice or knowledge and many have anti-religious feelings or misconceptions about Jews and the Jewish religion. Nevertheless they feel a vacuum; they are looking for their roots. They are not exactly sure what they are searching for, but they sense that something is missing in their lives.


The Jewish story of the children and grandchildren of the immigrant generation that came in the early years of the state, primarily, but not exclusively from North Africa, and Asia, is characterized by a tension between the traditional family, and the identity-forming experiences of the school setting. Many students of this category have adopted attitudes similar to those of the Banim HaMamshichim, while a growing number of these students are looking for ways to include traditional practices in their lives as they establish their Jewish identity. A large portion of the student body at the Hebrew University falls into this category. Many of these students have poignant memories of their grandfather saying the Sabbath kiddush on Friday nights. They have a familial and communal sense of religious or traditional practice, although many don't know enough about the religion to practice Judaism on their own. This population is searching for a sense of Jewish identity and for a spiritual outlet.


Datlashim are students who were raised religiously or grew up in the religious educational system. They generally have a strong Jewish identity and background, but have since left a life of ritual observance. They do not feel that they are secular and are searching for more pluralistic forms of practice and belief. Datlashim are able to function in both the religious and secular worlds, but often feel that they do not have their own place or community.


After their army service, a very large percentage of young Israelis travel, either to India, to the Far East, or to other exotic places, in search of adventure and fun. Often they discover the spirituality of Eastern religions, and they wonder why they cannot find a similar spirituality back home, in Judaism. Their search for meaning attracts them to holistic forms of religious practice, and also inspires a readiness to explore new meanings in Judaism.


The main group of Olim Hadashim or new immigrants hails from the former Soviet Union (FSU). The Jewish stories of these new immigrants can be divided into two categories; those whose families strongly identified with being Jewish in the FSU before coming to Israel, and those whose families did not identify Jewishly. There is also a perceived sense of tension between those Russian speakers who have been in the country for many years, and those who have only been in Israel a short time. Nonetheless, Russian-speaking students who have made aliyah have demonstrated a strong desire to maintain ties to their own culture, while at the same time building connections to their adopted Israeli culture. Most have never attended a Passover Seder or been inside a synagogue before. They have little or no experience with their Jewish roots, history, or Yiddishkeit. Nevertheless they want to integrate into Israeli society and are hungry for Jewish connections and experiences.


Students who grew up in North America or students whose parents made aliyah from North America generally have a pluralistic outlook on Judaism. For many of them Judaism is an organic part of their lives, while many others are still searching for their Jewish connection. Similar to Datlashim, overseas students are often quite active in Hillel. The North American attitude towards Judaism holds a lesson for the Israeli students. The interaction between the Israeli students and the overseas students is powerful and provides a learning experience for both populations. The Israeli student is exposed to a pluralistic model of Judaism, while the North Americans learn firsthand about Israel and different ways of being Jewish/Israeli. Hillel sponsors several Mifgashim or encounter programs to facilitate these Jewish connections.