From Campus to Community: Strengthening Jewish Identity Through Service at CU Boulder Hillel

For the last several years, Repair the World Colorado and CU Boulder Hillel have partnered around a shared belief: that Jewish service is a powerful pathway to connection, purpose, and leadership for students navigating an increasingly complex world.

CU Boulder volunteers packing meals at a service program.

Together, Colorado Repair and CU Boulder Hillel have created meaningful opportunities for students to show up for their broader community while living out their Jewish values through hands-on action. These experiences invite students to connect Jewish learning with action, and to see themselves as part of something larger than campus life alone.

Shira Finke (she/her), Program Manager at CU Boulder Hillel, has partnered with Repair the World since 2023. During that time, Shira has watched hundreds of students deepen both their commitment to service and their connection to Jewish identity through Repair’s Jewish service programs.  

“I found that Repair was an awesome resource to work with to help our students connect to Judaism in a way that spoke to them more so than other traditional means. Many of our students, when you ask them what connects them to their Judaism, cite tikkun olam as a core value.”

Working alongside the Repair team, Shira collaborates on the design of Jewish service programs that meet pressing needs throughout the Boulder area, including housing insecurity, racial and environmental justice, and reproductive freedom. These experiences invite students not only to serve, but to see themselves as Jewish leaders in the wider community.

“Something Repair talked about in our first session was that one of the best ways to combat antisemitism is to go out into the community and just do good. Our students really resonated with that and felt that they were able to not only go out and do good, but also demonstrate what the Jewish students at CU Boulder stand for.”

CU Boulder Hillel Service Corps members displaying their certificates of completion.

Through this partnership, Colorado Repair and CU Boulder Hillel have engaged nearly 400 students in a wide range of service opportunities, from one-time volunteer programs to sustained leadership pathways like the Service Corps and Service Ambassador programs. Across each initiative, students pair hands-on service with Jewish learning, gaining deeper context and purpose for their work while developing the skills to lead Jewish service opportunities for their peers. 

“We consistently see strong engagement in our service programming, which has become a core area of our work,” Shira explains. “Community service is known to have mental health benefits and bring communities together, and I think people want to do good and see that connection between doing good and their Jewish identity.”

At a time when many college students are seeking connection and purpose, service has emerged as a powerful bridge to community. “It’s been a truly inspiring partnership,” said Daniel Etter, Senior Program Manager for Repair the World Colorado.

“We’ve sought to empower students to lead through the values that most resonate with them, and they’ve really answered the call. They’re curious, committed, and eager to help shape the world that they’ll soon be leading.”

When looking back on the Spring 2025 Service Corps, a partnership cohort led by Repair the World and CU Boulder Hillel, what stands out most to Shira is the students’ deep commitment to service.

Shira leads her peers in a Jewish Service Ambassador trail cleanup in Boulder, Colorado.

“It’s pretty incredible,” Shira shares, describing the deep impact provided by the 15 students who participated in the Service Corps. “Three students got up at 5 a.m. every Monday morning to serve meals at a homeless shelter nearby. The shelter was really grateful. A lot of them are continuing their service this year. They’ve completed the cohort, but they want to keep serving.”

Shira, a young adult herself, deepened her own commitment to Jewish service in 2024 by becoming a Repair the World Jewish Service Ambassador. Since then, she has been leading service programs for her peers through Moishe House in Boulder. ”The audience is a little older, but they gain the same benefits that the students do, which is a different way to connect to Jewish identity that is maybe less intimidating.”

This month, Colorado Repair and CU Boulder Hillel are launching their second Service Corps cohort, continuing to strengthen student leadership and impact through sustained Jewish service. As the partnership grows, one thing remains clear: when young adults are given meaningful opportunities to serve, they don’t just show up, they lead, they commit, and they carry Jewish values far beyond campus.

Are you looking for a hands-on opportunity to connect Jewish values with meaningful service? Join the Jewish service movement in your community today.