For most students, too, college represents the first time in their lives in which they are free to organize their time as they see fit, which by itself can represent a tremendous hurdle in developing skills of prioritization and time management. 

But what about a campus professionals—those who work for Hillel or similar agencies on campus? What are their lives like?

For the past three weeks, the Israel on Campus Coalition has been convening a series of regional training programs on campus Israel advocacy specifically for campus professionals. The fourth and final such training begins today, November 2, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, from where I write this column. 

It has been a whirlwind of trains, planes and automobiles traveling to and from Madison, Wisconsin, New York City, Atlanta and LA for the ICC staff conducting these trainings, but it has been a singularly rewarding and invaluable experience for us to hear first-hand from dozens of Hillel professionals and Jewish Agency Israel Fellows who seek to support a pro-Israel agenda on their campuses. What we hear resonates powerfully for anyone interested in understanding how to weave and catalyze the network of campus Israel supporters.

If the life of a typical college student seems busy, consider that of the typical campus professional: His or her day frequently begins early in the morning with staff meetings, email, and office work. Then the “real” work begins: meetings with students around campus; providing support and logistics for a host of events that span the gamut of religious, social, cultural, and other programming for Jewish students of all walks of life; recruiting, interviewing, and following up with students registering for Taglit: Birthright Israel trips; conducting study sessions on Jewish life and learning; and counseling students experiencing crises from the trivial to the existential.

And that’s just before the afternoon is out. By early evening, it’s time for the campus professional to assist with meetings of dozens of clubs, boards and organizations that their Hillel supports; running programming and events that take place throughout the evening; meeting and soliciting donors and other community members; and preparing for the next day’s events. The phone calls, emails and texts often last well into the night. 

Before their day is out, the campus professional may have worked 12, 13, 14 or even more hours—Friday nights and weekends included, of course—met with dozens, perhaps hundreds of students and other community members—all with a smile, encouragement and selfless support. It's all part of promoting enduring commitments to Jewish life among the college students we serve. 

They are tremendously overworked. They are typically underpaid. They have little time for life outside of work. They face enormous pressure and expectations from a community that offers many demands without a corresponding level of support for the capacity to meet the need. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many are able to endure this spiritually rewarding but physically and financially grueling experience for only a handful of years before moving on to other opportunities.

And in the midst of all of this, campus professionals are also expected to be effective advocates for Israel on campus?

In typical fashion, most Hillel professionals shoulder that expectation with a smile and acceptance. They understand that a positive campus climate regarding Israel is good for Jewish campus life, and they recognize that supporting Israel and the campus Israel network is an important part of their mandate. They are willing, but—given what else is expected of them—it is only fair for us to ask: How can we as a community better support them in this role?

Our experience during the ICC regional training programs reinforces what we have heard in hundreds of conversations with professionals throughout the year. Campus professionals appreciate that we asked about their needs rather than assuming we know the answers. 

When we begin with questions—What do you need? What would be of value to you?—and really commit to listening to and understanding the answers, we build trust, support, and better interaction, and we can better meet the campus community’s needs in ways that genuinely and authentically support, nurture, and develop these crucial assets in the campus Israel network.