For Immediate Release
December 31, 2025
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Rabbi Jeremy Winaker Honored with Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence Award at Hillel International’s 2025 Global Assembly
The world’s largest Jewish college organization convened for the 2025 Global Assembly from Dec. 8-11 in Boston and honored remarkable achievements in supporting Jewish student life.
Philadelphia, PA – Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, recognized exceptional campus Hillels and professionals for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to Jewish life during the 2025 Hillel International Global Assembly (HIGA) in Boston this month. The awards were presented during the annual conference where more than 1,200 campus leaders, supporters, sponsors, and students from around the world came together to celebrate leadership and growth.
Hillel International awarded Rabbi Jeremy Winaker with the Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence Award, which recognizes Hillel colleagues whose remarkable passion and outstanding devotion to the Jewish campus community sets a standard for all to emulate..
Jeremy’s career in Hillel began at the University of Delaware where he piloted the Senior Jewish Educator role. In that capacity, he worked with students to bring Jewish wisdom to their peers on and off campus, increasing Hillel’s reach dramatically. When the pilot ended four years later the program, the students, and Jewish life on campus had been transformed, positioning UD Hillel to achieve Hillel International’s Drive to Excellence standard.
Since returning to Hillel as Executive Director of Greater Philly Hillel Network in July 2021, he has continued to drive excellence. With Jeremy’s focus on organizational culture, Philly Hillel has nearly doubled its undergraduate reach, expanded to new campuses, and navigated both the post-COVID and post-10/7 challenges to community building. With this growth has come the need to double the full-time staff and increase the budget by more than 50% to support that. Philly Hillel has also begun a capital campaign to establish a Hillel House at West Chester University. While managing the complexity of a multi-campus Hillel, Jeremy has also managed to contribute to the Hillel movement as a thought leader, equity advocate, and master educator.
Philly Hillel’s Assistant Director Jenn Reiss reflected on the award, saying, “Jeremy’s leadership shapes every part of Philly Hillel. He models what it means to lead with authenticity, generosity, and a genuine belief in our work. This award is a reflection of the thriving community he has helped create and it could not be more deserved.”
Selected for their contributions to advancing Hillel’s mission of enriching the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, this year’s awardees were honored during a ceremony that celebrated their excellence and dedication.
“This recognition is a testament to the exceptional work happening at Philly Hillel,” said Adam Lehman, Hillel International President and CEO. “They’re creating vibrant Jewish student communities that foster Jewish joy, meaning and belonging. Their incredible work is shaping the Jewish students of today and the Jewish leaders for the future.”
Read more about HIGA’s 2025 award recipients here.
About Philly Hillel
Greater Philly Hillel Network (Philly Hillel) was created in 2019 as a successor to Hillels of Greater Philadelphia after the latter produced Penn Hillel, Drexel Hillel, and Temple Hillel. Continuing the mission to build Hillels around the Greater Philadelphia region, Philly Hillel staffs Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, Thomas Jefferson University, Villanova University, and West Chester University along with running the Jewish Grad Network for all of Philadelphia. Jewish students on these and other campuses inspire Philly Hillel to forge bonds, to transcend boundaries, and to activate the Jewish future by empowering students to experience, explore, and enjoy their Jewish identity formation.
About Hillel International
Founded in 1923, Hillel has been impacting the lives of Jewish college students and countering antisemitism on campus for more than 100 years. Hillel International is a global organization that welcomes students of all backgrounds and fosters an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. As the largest Jewish student organization in the world, Hillel builds connections with emerging adults at more than 850 colleges and universities. During their formative college years, students are inspired to explore, experience, and create vibrant Jewish lives.