Dear Class of 2016!!!

Hi!! My name is Alexis Deitz, Hillel’s Freshman Orientation Chairperson. First, I would like to congratulate and welcome each of you to the Emory community! We are sure you are going to love your next 4 years at school, and I can’t wait to get to know each and every one of you!! At this time last year I was in your position, about to move away from home and go to college unsure of what to expect, who my new friends would be, and what this transition from high school to college life will be like.

I did know one thing. I knew that I wanted to have a Jewish community away from home to celebrate the holidays with and have a support system to help me with this big change in my life. I knew I would find that in Hillel, but what I didn’t realize is how much Hillel and the Jewish community would impact me and shape my life here at Emory! Through attending all of the amazing events planned for Hillel’s Freshman Orientation, I made such close friends and found a place that I could be comfortable in and most importantly, be myself.

No matter what you are looking for with regards to a Jewish life at Emory, Hillel has a place for you! In order to see exactly what Hillel at Emory has to offer, please be sure to attend our orientation events in August, which include:

• Move-in Shabbat
• Bagel Brunch
• First Shabbat
• Welcome Back BBQ
• White Water Rafting Trip (with UGA and GaTech)
• High Holiday Services and Programming
• Braves game
• And much more!!!

In addition to the formal programming, we also have a FYSH (First Year Students of Hillel) program where we will pair you up with an upperclassman, a “big FYSH.” We encourage you to get to know your “big FYSH” and feel free to ask them any questions you want about life at Emory. It will help you become more acclimated with the environment here, and you will already have a friend on campus! Your “big FYSH” will contact you before coming to school in August and help you get ready for this exciting time in your life!

If you are interested in getting paired up with a “big FYSH” click here. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Once again welcome to Emory, and I can’t wait to meet you in August!!

--Alexis