Matt Vogel

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Apr 11, 2025, 6:44 PM

The Wisdom of the Simple Child

Photo of students dancing as the Seder concludes. Courtesy of Hillel at UVM.

"What is the meaning of this?" As we are preparing for 200 Jewish students, families, and friends at the University of Vermont Hillel on Saturday evening, I find myself drawn to the wisdom of the simple child and what the...

Mar 1, 2025, 8:50 AM

The Return of Jewish Vibes to Campus

Image courtesy of the author. Sign says "Welcome to UVM Hillel" with our mascot wearing a kippah.

It's no secret to any Jewish professional that religious service attendance is dramatically down this year. There are many factors at play here and no one particular answer to explain why students are not showing up to Shabbat in...

Jan 23, 2025, 5:04 AM

What Future Can Harvard’s Jewish Students Expect?

Aerial photo of Harvard
Copyright: Ebersole Photography LLC

With the recent resolution of the Title VI complaint filed by Students Against Antisemitism, Harvard University has taken a significant step toward ensuring that its Jewish and Israeli students feel safe, welcome, and valued on campus. This moment represents...

Dec 7, 2024, 5:22 PM

Bias to Box Graters: Jewish Life Then & Now at UVM

You should have seen it; the pure joy emanating from students' faces as they accepted a glittery blue bag filled with potatoes, an onion, a couple eggs, oil, stickers, swag and yes...a box grater. It was a look I haven't...

Nov 18, 2024, 11:40 PM

Cheshvan and the Marathon of a Semester

There’s something peacefully unique about Cheshvan at UVM Hillel. No major holidays. No rush to prepare challah bake marathons or big community dinners. Just a quiet month tucked into the calendar between Tishrei’s high holidays and the lights of...

Nov 6, 2024, 11:04 PM

Three pillars for a path forward

Illustrative. Three pillars. (from the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, via iStock)

By practicing the traditional study, prayer, and kindness, we become resilient, as we take steps toward a world that reflects our highest ideals

Oct 16, 2024, 10:59 PM

To the Jewish students not showing up this year

Tables set for Erev Rosh Hashannah, Davis Center - UVM Campus

A holiday message for the Jewish student who thinks they have no place in Hillel, Jewish life, learning or Israel in 2024 / 5785

May 18, 2024, 4:20 PM

A note of appreciation for the UVM Class of 2024

Graduates of UVM, Class of 2024
Photo by Theia Yam Frank

Dear Class of 2024, Your first year on campus began with so much promise and hope and light. I can hardly remember that first fall semester in 2020 when everything was normal before the new normal we are in now....

May 10, 2024, 12:06 AM

A Quiet Moment on Campus

Andrew Harris Commons, University of Vermont

A quiet moment on campus. An unchained purple bike leaning against a no longer dormant tree, trusting Vermont students and neighbors to leave it be. The trampled remnants of the protest encampment and the hours of conversation and action that took...

May 2, 2024, 7:46 PM

The Commonality of College is Isolation

Visual display of empty chairs in front of Hillel at UVM

These are impossible days for Jewish people. Since the encampment went up on UVM's campus this past Saturday, I've spent many hours in Hillel, at the encampment, and on campus engaged in deep conversation with Jewish students. I've talked with...

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About Me

Matt Vogel is the Executive Director of Hillel at the University of Vermont and has spent his career supporting Jewish students on campus.

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