Alon Amid

When I landed in Cal as a fresh Israeli grad student, Berkeley Hillel was one of the first places I went to find a community. The grad student community in Berkeley Hillel was a small and welcoming group. Graduate students from all corners of the university, gathering together for Shabbat dinner at Hillel and chilling out in a special gathering corner on the second floor (in the old building, before the renovation!) during Wednesday BBQs, with conversations lasting late into the evenings after the building closes down. 

The graduate student community at Hillel organized Hannukah parties, superbowl viewing events, and the occasional weekend retreat further out into the Sierras. Of course Yosemite was a popular choice for weekend retreats, and no visit to Yosemite is complete without the classic Tunnel View group photo. This specific retreat had everything in it - rain, snow, blue sky, Shakshuka, and more. 

While the people in this photo are now spread across the US (and the world), I still keep in touch with many of them. Berkeley Hillel friendships go beyond campus boundaries.