April 2026
Rabbi Ben Shefter

Last Passover, Dara Horn published a graphic novel, One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe. In it, she explores the Passover Seder through a powerful metaphor: as a tel, an ancient, layered mound formed by centuries of human settlement. Each layer tells a story. For Horn, the Seder invites us to excavate the layers of our collective and personal past, the generations who sat at their own tables, asked their own questions, and shaped the Jewish story that we now inherit. Every Passover is different because both we and the world are different. The words of the Haggadah may remain the same, but they resonate each year differently because of who we have become.

At Hillel McMaster, our mission is both to excavate the past and to build the future. Students arrive at McMaster from diverse backgrounds and journeys. Hillel is proud to help make Hamilton a warm and caring place where students can explore their histories, what they want to carry forward, what parts feel distant or hidden, and which areas may need illumination. University is a foundational moment in life. It is a time of questioning, refining, and rebuilding. Being present to help lay those bricks, brick by brick, strengthens not only individual students but the Jewish future itself.

At Hillel, we strive to empower students to be unapologetically Jewish, proud of who they are, curious about what Judaism can mean across diverse perspectives and practices, and grounded in the power of community through life’s ups and downs. We advocate for students to show up fully in all their identities on campus and beyond, and to cultivate a meaningful connection to Israel.

Whether relaxing in the lounge with friends, gathered around our Shabbat tables, or advocating for inclusion and respect in every corner of campus, students are building memories and relationships that will shape them for decades to come.

At the Seder, we ask: Mah nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot? Perhaps it is different because we are different. Each day, we uncover new layers of ourselves, our community, and the people we aspire to become. 
Hillel McMaster has and continues to be a place, a moment, and a home where students and the Hamilton community build those layers together, ensuring that our tel rises higher and stronger with each generation.