News

From the Desk of Adam Lehman: Key Learnings from Hillel Professionals

Author

Adam Lehman

Date

August 1, 2025

Friends,

Last week, we gathered at WashU in St. Louis for Hillel International’s New Professionals Institute (NPI), welcoming 208 new Hillel staff members. As I shared at the NPI opening, this convening is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s energizing and inspiring to see and feel the enthusiasm and vitality of so many new professionals as they prepare to carry forward our Hillel mission.

New Professionals Institute is also a learning opportunity for me, as I connect with the many diverse professionals who have chosen to invest their careers at Hillel. This year was no exception, and I’m sharing here four of my key learnings from the convening:

The Power of Investing in Our Talent Pipeline:

We onboarded our 10th class of Hillel Springboard Fellows, with 53 new Fellows in this year’s class. Our Springboard Fellows are high-potential early career professionals who develop and apply innovative approaches to engaging students in Jewish life on campus during a two-year fellowship — fellows like Ariel Hekier, our first-year Innovation Fellow at Tufts Hillel in Boston. Ariel is an honors graduate from Duke, who chose the Springboard Fellowship over a prestigious overseas fellowship. 

While I was very impressed by the new class of Springboards, it was also gratifying to see the many former Springboard Fellows who have been promoted into new, more senior roles as campus Hillel Executive Directors, Assistant Directors, and Directors of Jewish Student Life. Sofie Ramirez Soto, the former Innovation Fellow at NYU Hillel, is a wonderful example of this progression as she takes on a new role leading Hillel’s work at Washington & Lee in Virginia as their new Jewish Life Program Director. 

When we started the Springboard Fellowship, our goal was to not only infuse new energy and innovation at our campus Hillels, but also to enrich the overall pipeline of professional talent for Hillel and the broader Jewish world. This year’s New Professionals Institute was validation of the ways in which we’re advancing this critical talent pipeline objective.

Supporting the Whole Student:

We’ve also invested in growing the presence of licensed Mental Health and Wellness professionals within campus Hillels. This year, we’ll have nearly 40 social workers, therapists, and other certified and highly trained wellness professionals embedded at campus Hillels, including the nine new wellness professionals we onboarded last week. 

In meeting with this cohort, I was struck by the way in which they saw their opportunity to work at Hillel as a way to apply their expertise in service of a community about which they care deeply. And we know from earlier cohorts that our mental health and wellness professionals not only provide critical support to Jewish students, but also to our other Hillel professionals as they help students navigate the unique stressors of being a Jewish student and young person on campus today. 

Healing Campus Culture Through Relationship Building:

We also hosted our first-ever cohort of Campus Impact Advisors. These 13 professionals focus on both advocating for Jewish students facing bias and discrimination on campus, and strengthening relationships between Jewish student communities and other communities on campus. 

While most of the professionals in this cohort have only been on campus for six months, they shared with me numerous examples of how they’ve already deepened relationships with allies on campus — through partnership with interfaith councils, inviting other faith and identity communities into Shabbats, Passover Seders, and other Jewish communal experiences — and joining those other communities for their events and celebrations. 

Ensuring Sustainability for Every Hillel:

We have worked hard at Hillel International to raise the financial resources necessary to meet the growing needs of Jewish students during this unique period. In addition to supporting the increasing talent, programming, security, and advocacy needs of our current campus Hillels, we also need to invest greater resources in a new wave of schools that are attracting larger numbers of Jewish students — schools like Clemson University (South Carolina), Southern Methodist University (Texas) and James Madison University (Virginia). We’re grateful to all of you who have recognized the critical needs of supporting Jewish student life through the challenges of this period and have stretched your investments to meet these needs.  

Just as our new professionals turned the page to a new chapter in their careers, we began a new book in the Torah cycle, turning the page to Devarim. In the first parsha, or chapter (also Devarim), Moses recounts to the Israelites key aspects of history and learnings from their 40-year journey from Egypt to Sinai to the banks of the Jordan, to prepare them for their entry into the Promised Land. In the same spirit, our New Professionals Institute infused key aspects of our Hillel history, values, and mission so all of our new professionals can in turn inspire all of the students we’re privileged to support and serve, along their sacred Jewish and life journeys. 

Shabbat Shalom,

The post From the Desk of Adam Lehman: Key Learnings from Hillel Professionals appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Hillel International’s New Professionals Institute Sets New Pros Up for Success

Author

Hillel International

Date

July 24, 2025

Attracting, developing, and retaining top talent is at the heart of Hillel International’s strategy for shaping the future of Jewish campus life. That commitment was on full display at the 2025 New Professionals Institute (NPI), which brought nearly 200  professionals to Washington University in St. Louis for two days of immersive onboarding, relationship-building, and learning.

NPI is a cornerstone of Hillel’s talent development strategy, providing new professionals with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to lead meaningful Jewish campus experiences. The program emphasizes not just role readiness, but long-term growth and connection across the Hillel movement.

“We as a Hillel movement are committed to you,” said Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman in opening remarks at the conference. “Your professional life at Hillel will be the best part of your professional career within your lifetime. That’s my commitment to you, we are going to do everything in our power to achieve that.”

Sessions focused on building the skills, confidence, and clarity professionals need to engage students and lead with purpose from day one. Key topics included:

• “Building Real Relationships,” which provided concrete practices for fostering deep connection, belonging, and purpose through student engagement.
• “Growing Your Student Leadership Pipeline,” where professionals explored leadership development strategies and tools for empowering students as co-creators of Jewish life.
• “Managing this Moment,” where professionals learned to respond to challenging campus dynamics with clarity, confidence, and care.
• “Flourish at Hillel,” which introduced a well-being framework rooted in Jewish values. 
• “Leading Authentically,” which guided managers through reflection on leadership style and its impact on team culture and outcomes.

This targeted content was designed to ensure that new professionals are equipped to succeed in their current roles, and are supported to grow into leadership positions over time.

“I’ve met so many other new professionals with similar backgrounds to me and have loved connecting with them before I head to campus for the new school year,” said Kennesaw State Hillel Springboard Fellow Jordan Bennett, citing the spent building relationships with the Springboard cohort. Key topics included: 

• Defining success in their roles
• Navigating student life and campus culture
• Identifying key support structures and resources
• Working within higher education institutions

NPI is designed to do more than orient professionals to their roles—it’s an investment in their leadership, engagement capacity, and long-term career trajectory within Hillel. By providing vision, connection, and skills, NPI helps professionals begin their Hillel journeys with confidence and a strong sense of purpose.

For Cayla Schreier, Hillel for Utah’s director of student and community engagement, NPI was a valuable place to learn about engagement strategies that will give students a sense of belonging on her campus. “Hillel has a place for everyone,” she said.

As the academic year begins, these professionals return to campus with expanded skill sets, meaningful peer networks, and a clear vision for their role in shaping vibrant Jewish student life.

The post Hillel International’s New Professionals Institute Sets New Pros Up for Success appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Hillel International Announces 2025-2026 Student Cabinet

Author

Hillel International

Date

July 8, 2025

New Student Cabinet will strengthen Jewish life and student engagement across more than 850 campuses globally.

Washington, D.C. – Hillel International, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization, today announced the 20 members of the 2025-2026 Hillel International Student Cabinet. The selected students will collaborate with Hillel International’s professional staff and board leadership to advise on student experiences, represent diverse perspectives, and help shape innovative approaches that strengthen Jewish campus life for students worldwide. 

Selected through a highly competitive process, the 20 Cabinet members represent students at the more than 850 campuses Hillel serves worldwide, linking the student experience and organizational leadership. This year, eight universities are represented for the first time, and the 20 members hail from universities in six countries: Brazil, Germany, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

“The Student Cabinet ensures that student voices remain at the core of everything we do at Hillel International,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. “The fresh perspective and ideas of these remarkable student leaders are invaluable as we work across the Hillel movement to foster meaningful opportunities for Jewish belonging, community, and leadership for all Jewish students.” 

Ariela Moel and Einav Tsach are serving as the incoming Cabinet’s co-chairs.

“Hillel is more than just a place for Jewish students to gather – it’s a place where they grow into who they’re meant to be,” said Ariela Moel, a member of the class of 2026 at the University of Southern California. “It’s an honor to take on this role and help make that kind of transformation possible – not just on my campus, but around the world – so every Jewish student can find their way home to themselves.” 

“So many Jewish students are feeling disconnected or unsure of where they fit in on campus,” said Einav Tsach, a member of the class of 2026 at the University of Maryland, College Park. “We want Hillel to be that space where every Jewish student feels they belong. This year, we’re hoping to really speak to what students need—whether that’s community, culture, or just a place to relax and be themselves.” 

Below is a full list of the 2025-2026 Hillel International Student Cabinet members. 

Cabinet Members: 

• Gabrielle Barsky-Giles, Queen’s University, ‘26
• Michal Berlove, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, ‘26
• Zoe Cosgrove, University of Michigan, ‘27
• Sydney Grossman, Vanderbilt University, ‘26 
• Hadley Kalson, University of Vermont, ‘26
• Kara Klaiman, University of Virginia, ‘26
• Rachel Lennard, University of Oregon, ‘27
• Sam Leschins, University of Florida, ‘26
• Matthew Levine, The Ohio State University, ‘26
• Mateen Markzar, Brown University, ‘26
• Kylie Miller, Roosevelt University, ‘26
• Ariela Moel, University of Southern California, ‘26
• Andrew Petlak, University of California, Berkeley, ‘26
• Sara Quintero, Northeastern University, London Campus, ‘26
• Michelle Rosner, University of Delaware, ‘26
• Ori Segev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, ‘26
• Elina Shikher, University of Potsdam, ‘26
• Benjamin Small, University of Pennsylvania, ‘27
• Marelo Topper, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, ‘27
• Einav Tsach, University of Maryland, ‘26

The post Hillel International Announces 2025-2026 Student Cabinet appeared first on Hillel International.

News

The Algemeiner: New Fellowship Connects Jewish Students Across the World

Author

Dion J. Pierre (The Algemeiner)

Date

June 26, 2025

Originally published on June 19, 2025 in The Algemeiner, “New Fellowship Connects Jewish Students Across the World,” shares students’ experiences participating in the Matanel Fellowship, a collaboration spearheaded by Hillel Israel in partnership with, Hillel International and made possible by generous support of the Matanel Foundation. Jewish students from Israel, North America, and Europe collaborated on a year-long course of study to foster their connection and leadership, including a Shabbaton experience in Budapest, Hungary. Read on for selected excerpts:

“With antisemitism surging on college campuses across the Western world, [Hillel Israel], Hillel International and the Matanel Foundation have selected 15 Jewish students for a spot in the inaugural year of the Matanel Fellowship for Global Jewish Leadership, a 12-month program which aims to foster their ‘sense of responsibility’ for the worldwide Jewish community.

They have already created memories that will last a lifetime, Matanel Fellow and Barnard College student Yakira Galler told The Algemeiner during an interview.

‘So far, it’s been amazing. We’ve had three or four Zoom sessions and then we had our midway trip to Budapest,’ Galler said. ‘In our first day in Budapest, we explored both the history of the community, before the war and also under communism, and that was really interesting both because there is a specific type of Jewish sect in Hungary — the Neolog sect — which I had never heard of before. It was also really interesting because Theodor Herzl was born and raised in Budapest, which prompted me to reflect on what that means for this community and the immensity of the intellectual life within it.’

Forging ties between Jews around the globe has never been more important, said another Matanel Fellow, Avihu Sela of Tel-Hai College, located in northern Israel.

‘For me, connecting Jewish people around the world is something we need right now. I’m so happy that they did it, and now I have connections with Jewish people from an array of countries and cultures,’ Sela said. ‘When we all flew out [of] Budapest, it allowed us to have the really deep talk, and to be honest I went in with some deep concerns because I did not know how it would be there. When I arrived, and we did all the tours, exploring everything and seeing Jewish culture and learning about historic events, I felt deep inside that I am part of something so much bigger than myself.’

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Meet Hillel International’s 2025 Summer Interns!

Author

Hillel International

Date

June 4, 2025

Welcome to all of Hillel International’s new and returning summer interns! Every year, students from all over the United States join Hillel International to form an incredible cohort of interns and learn about different aspects of the organization. Learn more about this year’s interns:

Jonathan Becker (he/him) is thrilled to be serving as the social impact intern with Hillel this summer! His commitment to Jewish social justice work began as a member of Jewish Youth for Community Action in high school. As a third-year history and Hispanic studies major at Whitman College, Jonathan has continued to seek out Jewish community as a member of Whitman’s Kehilat Shalom. Additionally, he has continued to pursue justice through his work with Whitman’s Community Engagement Volunteer Programs, where he has served as leader of the Stream Team, an environmental conservation program, program leader of Project Sidewalk, a project focused on accessibility and mobility, and the student leader for diversity, equity, inclusion, and volunteer recruitment. Jonathan has also played a crucial role in campus-based voter registration through being the co-chair of Whitman Votes. Jonathan loves Judaism and social justice work, and is beyond excited to be part of the social impact team this summer.

Rebecca Brumer (she/hers) is a rising third-year student at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and she studies marketing with a minor in communications. She is a Russian Jew and loves expressing both her cultures through (some interesting!) food and history. She got involved with Hillel Milwaukee after the attacks on October 7, 2023 because she needed a community, especially being on a private Jesuit campus. With her involvement, she’s found her closest friends and a passion for spreading awareness about Jewish culture. She’s so excited to start this new opportunity and build new skills!

Ella Cooper (she/her) is thrilled to be serving as the strategic HR intern for Hillel International this summer! She’s heading into her fourth year at the University of Maryland as a communication major with a minor in nonprofit leadership and social innovation, simultaneously pursuing a graduate degree in management studies through the Robert H. Smith School of Business. She serves as a Public Speaking Consultant at UMD’s Oral Communication Center, as well as an Ambassador for the Do Good Institute, UMD’s hub for social impact. She’s excited to apply her knowledge and experiences, strengthen her skillset, and learn from such a dynamic and passionate team.

Maya Doitch (she/her) is a third-year student at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is a statistics major with a minor in entrepreneurship, planning to pursue a career in business analytics. She’s been deeply involved with Hillel on her campus and is a proud advocate for the Jewish community. In her free time, she loves cooking, reading, doing Pilates, painting, hiking, and spending time at the beach with friends. She’s incredibly excited to be working with Hillel International this summer and can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Samantha Eidelman (she/her) is a rising third-year at Connecticut College where she designed her own major in social work and healing justice, and minors in Jewish studies. She is also the incoming vice president for her college’s Hillel, where she previously served as the chair of social programming. Passionate about Jewish advocacy and raising diverse voices, she has participated in multiple dialogue initiatives and works closely with staff across campus. She is excited to contribute to Hillel International and enhance the experiences of her fellow students.

Shoshana Fisher (she/her) is a rising fourth-year student at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women. She is majoring in psychology and minoring in political science, with hopes to pursue a career in nonprofit management. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer and chess, reading, and rooting for the Vikings during football season. She is excited to get involved at Hillel as an operations intern and is looking forward to a great summer!

Nicole Gleicher (she/her) is from Long Island, New York. She is a rising third-year student at the University of South Carolina Honors College studying entertainment law. On campus, she is involved with the Phi Delta Phi pre-law fraternity, Chi Omega, and the Anne Frank Center. She has a background in Jewish nonprofit event planning, so she is very excited to get to work with the Hillel conference and events team this summer! Outside of school and work, she loves traveling and attending concerts/festivals. 

Lilith Greene-Friedman (she/her) is a third-year student at Dickinson College, studying international business and Middle East studies. Hillel has been a central part of her college journey — whether through serving on the Hillel student board, participating in the Israel Leadership Network with Hillel International, or simply finding a strong, supportive community on campus. These experiences have helped shape her identity and leadership style in meaningful ways. A few fun facts about Lilith: She loves learning new languages, traveling, and discovering new restaurants with friends. She also grew up attending Jewish sleepaway camp and has spent the past few summers working as a counselor. She is excited to work more closely with Hillel professionals and continue growing through this internship!

Abby Goretsky (she/hers) is a fourth-year graphic design student at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design with a deep passion for her Jewish heritage. She strives to incorporate elements of Judaism into her creative work, making this internship a natural fit. Since October 7, she has been actively raising awareness about rising antisemitism through social media campaigns and panel discussions. Abby is especially excited to join the Hillel International community because her school does not have a Hillel program, so this gives her a chance to connect with other Jewish students. Beyond her involvement with Hillel, she is a life member of Hadassah and a Friends of the IDF Young Leader. She can’t wait to empower other Jewish students and spread Jewish joy. 

Leah Kreindler (she/her), is a rising third-year student at the University of Kansas studying business marketing. She is originally from Texas and has been actively involved with KU Hillel, where she served as a marketing intern the past two years. She is excited to be joining the Hillel International team and looks forward to helping connect more students to the amazing community, programs, and opportunities Hillel has to offer.

Lauren Robbins (she/her) is a rising fourth-year student at the University of Florida, majoring in public relations. Originally from Miami, she is involved with UF Hillel as president of Kulanu and overall chair of Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate. She’s also active in AEPhi and part of Alpha PR, UF’s student-run public relations firm. Passionate about storytelling, advocacy, and social media, Lauren is excited to bring her creativity to Hillel International to share Jewish joy in a way that’s engaging, thoughtful, and fun.

Courtney Saxe (she/her) is a rising second-year student at the University of Arizona. She is majoring in communications and minoring in psychology. She served as the international president of BBYO ’23-’24, traveling to communities all over the world. On campus, she has been involved in Hillel, Chabad on Campus, Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon, and sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. Born and raised in Las Vegas, in her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

The post Meet Hillel International’s 2025 Summer Interns! appeared first on Hillel International.

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Me and My Shadow: A Peer Learning Model Helps Leaders Grow

Author

Rabbi Ben Berger and Shuki Taylor

Date

May 15, 2025

Originally published on May 9, 2025 in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, “Me and My Shadow: A Peer Learning Model Helps Leaders Grow,” is written by Hillel International’s Senior Vice President for Education, Community, and Culture Rabbi Ben Berger and M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education‘s Chief Executive Officer Shuki Taylor. Read on to learn more about a unique approach to professional development from Ben and Shuki.

Two nonprofit executives tried a different approach to professional development. Here are five key things they learned.

Professional development has long followed a predictable formula: Junior staff members learn from senior team leaders, managers enroll in structured programs, and organizations invest in top-down training efforts. These methods have their merits, but they often overlook one of the most powerful and underused tools for leadership growth — peer learning.

Job shadowing is typically seen as a tool for those early in their careers, an opportunity for emerging professionals to observe and absorb knowledge from those above them. But what happens when two senior leaders step into each other’s worlds to learn, not as mentors and mentees but as peers?

As leaders committed to professional development, we wanted to push beyond traditional models and try something different: peer shadowing on the job for high-level executives. Unlike mentorship programs or executive training, this wasn’t about following a curriculum or receiving instruction. There was no clear “teacher” or “student.” Instead, it was an immersive experience requiring international travel and a week outside of the office — no small commitment. But it allowed us to learn from each other with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to rethink how we lead.

Rooted in the Jewish tradition of havruta, a centuries-old model of paired learning that values both challenge and support, our experience revealed some critical insights that challenge many of the dominant assumptions about how professionals at the highest levels should grow. Here are five key things we learned.

The goal of partnership is mutual growth

Collaboration in leadership is often framed around achieving shared goals or outcomes, such as launching a joint initiative, securing funding, or driving a project forward. But true partnership isn’t only about what gets accomplished. It’s about how both parties grow in the process.

When we embarked on this peer-shadowing experience, we weren’t trying to build something tangible together. The value came from something deeper: seeing our own leadership through someone else’s eyes. Watching how another senior leader navigates challenges, engages with a team, and makes decisions forced us to reflect on our own habits and instincts in a way that traditional leadership training rarely does.

This idea is backed by studies on peer coaching in the military that show how structured peer relationships help leaders become more self-aware and open to new ways of thinking. For example, one of us left this experience rethinking how to best structure daily priorities after observing the other’s approach to calendars and task management. The lesson here wasn’t about overhauling a system but adopting subtle changes that helped us feel more proactive and less reactive in managing time and responsibilities.

We also explored real-time examples of how AI can be used to streamline tasks, brainstorm, and solve problems, which opened new possibilities that we’ve both integrated into our daily workflows with excitement and impact.

Even more unexpectedly, the experience shaped how we think about our lives outside the office. We both travel frequently for work, and a single conversation about how to explain that to young children — shifting the focus from absence to purpose — left a lasting impression. This simple reframing prompted both of us to be more intentional in how we communicate with our families the meaning behind our work and why it sometimes takes us away from home.

Professional development should be actively shaped

Leadership training often treats development as a passive process achieved by attending workshops, taking courses, or receiving mentorship. While these approaches have value, they reinforce the idea that learning is something to be absorbed rather than created.

When we set out on our peer-shadowing experience, we weren’t looking to be taught — we were looking to learn with each other. From the start, we aimed to create a shared learning opportunity in which both of our perspectives carried equal weight, mirroring the havruta model.

Instead of passively receiving insights, we actively shaped the experience in real time, making the learning more relevant, immediate, and deeply personal. One of the most meaningful parts of that process was taking time each evening to debrief. A simple check-in — “What are you noticing?” — led to reflections that revealed far more than either of us could have seen alone. Observations about how meetings unfolded, how listening happened (or didn’t), and how ideas were either affirmed or questioned became powerful points of reflection. These conversations helped surface patterns we weren’t always aware of and offered a rare chance to see ourselves, including our habits, instincts, and blind spots, through someone else’s eyes.

This kind of dynamic two-way learning is not only more engaging but more effective. Studies show that when people act as both teachers and learners, they gain deeper understanding and retain knowledge longer.

Outside perspectives fuel leadership growth

Leaders often work in environments in which they are expected to have answers — not questions — and where their habits, decision making, and leadership styles go largely unchallenged. Self-reflection is difficult in isolation, yet leadership requires self-awareness. Without external perspectives, blind spots remain hidden and opportunities for growth can be missed.

Peer shadowing on the job disrupts this cycle by providing a way to see one’s work through the eyes of another leader. When we committed to this experience, we knew we’d be stepping into unfamiliar territory, but we didn’t anticipate just how much it would challenge our own self-perceptions. Subtle but meaningful insights emerged, like how to better structure our time and tackle difficult conversations, such as explaining work-life balance to our children. These moments sparked deeper self-examination and led to more intentional leadership choices. This kind of outside perspective is rare for senior leaders, but it’s invaluable.

Authentic partnerships require trust and honest dialogue

Professional growth happens when leaders feel safe enough to be honest yet challenged enough to evolve, more than in carefully controlled environments. Peer learning works only when both parties commit to authenticity, setting aside egos and competition in favor of real, unfiltered exchange. This requires a foundation of trust and a willingness to be seen, not only as accomplished professionals but as leaders still refining their craft.

Our peer-shadowing experience wasn’t built on formal vetting or strategic alignment. It started with intuition, an instinct that there was something to learn from one another. Because of that, we were able to have vulnerable conversations about the challenges we face, from managing team dynamics to making high-stakes decisions. Over the course of the week, we explored several early-stage concepts each of us was developing. Discussing them revealed things we had overlooked, surfaced new connections, and, at least in one case, unlocked a shift in perspective that has shaped every discussion since. The ability to let go of perfection and invite real feedback made this experience far more valuable than any leadership seminar could be.

Generosity fosters deeper collaboration and shared success

Leadership can often feel isolating, especially in industries where competition — whether for funding, talent, or influence — is ever-present. Too often, leaders keep insights and strategies to themselves, fearing that openness could weaken their position. But true leadership involves sharing knowledge in ways that strengthen the entire field.

Our peer-shadowing experience challenged the instinct to guard our work. Rather than keeping internal strategies private, we openly shared our approaches to leadership, fundraising, decision making, and problem solving in our roles. This helped deepen our collective understanding of what it means to lead. And though it wasn’t our original intention, that openness led to something unexpected: We began co-creating some new initiatives together. It’s the kind of collaboration that simply wouldn’t have happened in a more guarded or competitive setting.

This mindset of generosity didn’t dilute our influence; it strengthened it. By offering transparency, we built trust, gained new outlooks, and walked away with fresh programs and strategies that benefited both of our organizations.

Leadership is a shared journey

Peer shadowing helped us remember that lasting growth happens when we step beyond our own expertise and invite the fresh perspectives of those who walk the leadership path alongside us. When senior leaders embrace learning as a dynamic, reciprocal experience rather than a fixed destination, they don’t just become better at what they do — they cultivate a professional culture of curiosity, generosity, and continuous evolution.

Ben Berger is Sr. Vice President for Education, Community, and Culture at Hillel International.

Shuki Taylor is Chief Executive Officer at M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education.

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At the Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, Springboard Fellows Explore the Possibilities of Rabbinic Life

Author

Hillel International

Date

May 8, 2025

Hillel International Springboard Fellows are young professionals looking to embark on a meaningful career, and who choose to focus their energy on building thriving Jewish communities on college campuses. They spend two years empowering Jewish students to find their voice, inspiring their journeys, and leaving their mark on campus life and the Jewish future. 

A core focus of the Springboard Fellowship is helping fellows discover what they want to do next in their careers and then helping them build the skills and connections they need to move forward in that journey. 

That’s why Springboard Executive Director Leah Palestrant and Hillel International Associate Vice President for Jewish Learning Danielle Kranjec decided to organize a recent Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, an immersive weekend experience in New York City for Springboard Fellows interested  in exploring the rabbinate in the future. Designed to provide space for personal reflection, exposure to a diversity of careers as a rabbi, and the opportunity to meet with current rabbinical schools and students, participants were able to experience how rabbis are shaping Jewish communal life in various ways.

“The Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton was a sacred experiment — one that created space for fellows to engage in deep, communal discernment about their Jewish leadership journeys,” Palestrant said. “We witnessed how transformative it can be when emerging leaders are invited to explore spiritual questions with curiosity, courage, and a diverse array of rabbinic models.”

Held on the Upper West Side and developed in partnership with Hadar and several rabbinical schools and institutions of Jewish learning, the shabbaton offered fellows the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of rabbis, synagogues, and communities where they encountered multiple models of what it means to live and lead as a rabbi today. 

“Before the shabbaton, I felt anxious about telling people that I was considering rabbinical school. I worried that I didn’t know nearly enough to be a serious candidate,” said Claire Shroder, Springboard Innovation Fellow at Ithaca College. “But I learned that nearly all of us shared similar doubts.” 

She continued, “Many of us were asking ourselves the same core questions. I had been wondering, ‘Is there anything else I can do in my life that would be just as meaningful?’ But what I needed to ask was, ‘How can I best serve the Jewish community? What will bring me purpose and joy?’ The shabbaton gave me the space and time to reflect deeply on those questions.”

Fellows took part in reflective and interactive exercises and text study sessions, all grounded in the norm of “curiosity over certainty.” Over the course of the weekend, participants were able to participate in workshops, learning sessions, and deep discussions about prayer and tradition, Jewish communal life, and questions about the future of Jewish American leadership and the American rabbinate. 

In reflecting on the workshops and sessions, Amichai Levy,  Springboard Fellow at the Hillel Council of New England shared, “The Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton was such a cool experience… [It] really expanded my thinking about what rabbinical school could look like for me, and is encouraging me to think about this path much more seriously.” 

Interspersed with these programming sessions were all of the joyful, energetic activities expected at a Hillel shabbaton: prayer, music, community-building, and (of course!) delicious food.

“I was especially grateful for the opportunity to see the many ways people experience Judaism,” Shroder said. “From the Kabbalat Shabbat service at Romemu, where everyone got up and danced, to the Mincha service at Hadar, where page numbers weren’t called and everyone used a different siddur — I felt God in every space where people gathered.

On the final day of the Shabbaton, participants met with representatives and current students from Hebrew Union College, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, rabbinical schools for the Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox movements, respectively. Fellows were able to learn more about the different programs, hear stories from current students about the rabbinical school experience, and ask their own questions. They closed with a last collective reflection session, zeroing in on the question: What’s next in your rabbinic journey?

“I’m excited to have so many meaningful conversations in the weeks ahead as I continue exploring my path,” said Shroder. “If everyone considering rabbinical school could experience something as transformational as the Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, we’d never have a shortage of future rabbis.”

Learn more about the Springboard Fellowship and its impact.

The post At the Rabbinic Pipeline Shabbaton, Springboard Fellows Explore the Possibilities of Rabbinic Life appeared first on Hillel International.

News

Notes from Springboard Fellows: Thinking Outside the Box

Author

Hillel International

Date

January 30, 2025

Notes from Springboard Fellows is a series of deep dives into the work of first and second year Springboard Fellows who play transformative roles in their Hillel communities. Read on to learn more about Craig Carroll, the Springboard Fellow at American University. 

Interested in becoming a Springboard Fellow? Apply today.

Craig Carroll, a first-year Springboard Fellow at American University, started thinking about working for Hillel early in his college career. “I was what you might call a pipeline kid,” he joked. “Hillel was like my second major — I spent all my time at the Hillel building.”

By the time he was a senior, Craig knew he wanted to pursue a career where building relationships was key. “I really wanted something that was people-focused,” he said. “And where the main work is in connecting with people. Because that is what I love doing, and I’m very good at it.”

The Springboard Fellowship brings recent college graduates with raw talent, passion, and skills needed to reimagine and redesign Jewish student life to college campuses across North America. This was the perfect opportunity for Craig to combine his love for the Jewish world with his desire to work in an environment where every day would be different, where he’d get to focus on connection and community-building, and where he’d find great mentoring and professional development.

For Craig, having the support and structure of the Springboard environment has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the fellowship. “Springboard really puts such an emphasis on the growth process,” he said. “It’s made clear what you need to work on and where you need to do better, but it’s not expected that you’ll have all the answers immediately.”

One area where Craig invested a lot of professional development work has been building creative problem-solving skills and learning to facilitate brainstorming sessions with students. He recalled a moment earlier in his fellowship when he and his supervisor were working with students to plan a Wellness Shabbat, and had to go back to the drawing board several times to make sure their programming ideas aligned with what the community was looking for, and Hillel’s values regarding a Shabbat experience. 

“It can be hard to encourage students to turn their ideas into reality,” he said. “Sometimes they hold themselves back if they think an idea is too weird, or if they don’t think they’re the right thing…”

To work through this problem, Craig called on the insights he’d gained from a workshop at Hillel International’s New Professionals Institute (NPI). “We were given a problem to solve, and our instructions were to come up with the worst possible idea to solve the issue. Then we passed it along the table, and the next person had to make it even worse, and so on. What it encouraged us to do was come up with ridiculous ideas and then say, ‘What could make this into a good idea?’ And then model it into something better.” With this strategy in mind, Craig, his supervisor, and the student leaders were able to put together a successful and engaging Wellness Shabbat, and many other programs since.

Asked what advice he’d give a prospective Springboard Fellow, Craig suggested that the most important thing an applicant can do is self-advocate. “You’ll want to make sure you ask for what you need,” he said. “And sometimes that means coming in with your own needs and advocating for them. That’s what I did, and I ended up very happy and fulfilled in my work.”

Join a network of changemakers like Craig and transform Jewish student life— visit hillel.org/springboard-fellowship and apply today!

The post Notes from Springboard Fellows: Thinking Outside the Box appeared first on Hillel International.

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Notes from Springboard Fellows: Inspiring the Next Generation of Jewish Leaders

Author

Hillel International

Date

January 23, 2025

Notes from Springboard Fellows is a series of deep dives into the work of first and second year Springboard Fellows who play transformative roles in their Hillel communities. Read on to learn more about Lindsay Rosenzweig, the Innovation and Intrapreneurship Springboard Fellow at University of Central Florida. 

Interested in becoming a Springboard Fellow? Apply today.

For Lindsay Rosenzweig, Innovation and Intrapreneurship Springboard Fellow at University of Central Florida (UCF), Hillel was a passion that unexpectedly became a career.

Lindsay grew up in North Carolina, and attended Elon University as an undergraduate, where she majored in human services studies — a unique course of study that encompasses concepts and skills related to social work, nonprofit management, social justice, and other human service fields. She was active in Hillel, serving as an engagement intern, the religious and education chair on the student board, and then as co-president her junior and senior year. Throughout her undergraduate career, she formed meaningful and impactful relationships with the Hillel staff that influenced her decisions post-graduation.

“They were really my mentors,” she said. “I stayed close with them even after graduation.” As Lindsay began her career working at a domestic violence nonprofit, those relationships proved key to her finding the right fit. 

“I told [my Hillel mentors] where I was working and how I was feeling conflicted about it, and they told me to apply for Springboard,” she said. “They really stressed that they thought I would be a good fit, and a great addition to the movement.”

At first, Lindsay wasn’t sure — she saw Hillel as a passion, but not necessarily a career path. Yet her mentors were persuasive, and Lindsay decided to apply for the fellowship. 

Now, in her second year as a Springboard Fellow at UCF, Lindsay can’t imagine doing anything else. “Innovation and intrapreneurship really stood out to me as an opportunity to try something different than what I had been doing for so long,” she said. Also, as someone interested in social justice, she finds this track of work particularly rewarding, because it’s all about solving problems in a way that starts with what each student needs and why. 

“It’s about taking an emphasis on creating innovative solutions, and bringing them to our campuses,” she explained. “How do we shape our programs and our structure around student needs and wants? That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”

One of Lindsay’s proudest moments as a Springboard Fellow was helping one of her students go through the Springboard application process herself. “Knowing that I had such an impact on her that she wanted to go through the Springboard experience was so rewarding to me,” she said. “We had many conversations, just talking about her future and the schools she matched with, and I got to serve as a mentor for her.”

Professional development is a key part of the Springboard experience, and Lindsay has taken full advantage of the opportunities Hillel International has to offer. 

Last March, she participated in a Sipurim trip to Israel, a special program for Hillel professionals designed to help shift Israel education in a post-October 7 world. “My team was so excited for me when I got accepted,” she said. “They were my biggest cheerleaders.”

Lindsay also worked one-on-one with her Springboard-assigned mentor who works in talent management at Hillel International.

“I’m so appreciative of everything he’s done, because my goal is to stay with Hillel after my fellowship ends,” she said. “It’s been so helpful to hear what happens at the organization behind the scenes, and to have his support in planning conversations I need for my next steps.”

As she heads into the second semester of her final year as a Springboard Fellow, Lindsay has found the cohort experience to be one of the most fulfilling aspects of the program. “You’re joining a group of people who are in similar positions and can really lean on each other,” she said. “Our friendships developed quickly, and that has blossomed into many other connections within the Fellowship and within the Hillel movement.”

Every Springboard Fellow’s experience is different, but they all have one thing in common: They’re helping to make Jewish campus life more engaging and inclusive for college students.

“I wanted to inspire the next generation of Jewish leaders,” Lindsay said. “Just like my mentors did for me.”

To learn more about the Springboard Fellowship and see if it’s right for you, visit hillel.org/springboard-fellowship/ today.

The post Notes from Springboard Fellows: Inspiring the Next Generation of Jewish Leaders appeared first on Hillel International.

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Notes from Springboard Fellows: Jewish Learning on Campus is About More Than Just Knowledge

Author

Hillel International

Date

January 14, 2025

Notes from Springboard Fellows is a series of deep dives into the work of first and second year Springboard Fellows who play transformative roles in their Hillel communities. Read on to learn more about Chaya Mamer, the Ezra Jewish Education Fellow at Guelph Hillel with Hillels of Ontario.

Interested in becoming a Springboard Fellow? Apply today.

Jewish educators have a unique role in their communities, and college communities are no exception. Chaya Mamer, an Ezra Jewish Education Springboard Fellow at the University of Guelph, has made teaching and studying Torah the core of her work with students, encouraging them to use knowledge and exploration to find new ways of forming relationships, deepening their Jewish identities, and developing a sense of curiosity in all aspects of their lives. 

Chaya grew up in Calgary, Canada, and attended the University of Waterloo as an undergraduate, where she studied political science and business with a minor in economics. She was deeply involved in Hillel Waterloo and Laurier, where she served as a student staff member, ran a campus food bank, and ultimately became student president. Inspired by the Springboard Fellow at her Hillel, Chaya knew she wanted to dedicate her life to Jewish nonprofit work. 

After she witnessed the upheaval on college campuses following October 7, Chaya realized she wanted to help build bridges between communities. 

She knew this work would require compassionate, sensitive, and innovative approaches to learning and teaching, and with that in mind, she identified the Springboard Fellowship as a strong pathway to that goal — specifically, the Ezra Jewish Education track of the program.

Ezra Jewish Education Fellows follow in the footsteps of the biblical Ezra, who reengaged and reinvigorated the Jewish community by reading the Torah aloud in the town square on Shabbat and market days, and translating it for people to understand. Ezra’s commitment to teaching, engagement, and innovation is a model for fellows to bring Judaism off the page and into life on campus. 

“With the Ezra track, you can come in with whatever your knowledge base is and you’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow,” she said. “And then you have the opportunity to learn how to share your knowledge with others.”

Over the past six months of her fellowship, Chaya has been able to put her learning into action. And while she’s been an educator for her students, it’s not a one-way relationship — they’ve been teaching her, too. “They walked onto campus this year with joy and courage,” she said. “Seeing them flourish has kept me inspired all semester.”

Another powerful aspect of Chaya’s experience as a Springboard Fellow is the ability to connect with a large group of other young professionals with whom she shares goals and interests. She’s found the support of her cohort to be deeply meaningful. “The early months and years of your career can be really lonely,” she said. “I’m grateful to be able to reach out to people who are at the same stage and in similar roles.”

Recently, Chaya joined the Fellow Advisory Committee, a group of fellows who act as liaisons between their cohorts and the Hillel International Team Springboard, after being inspired by how much Team Springboard cared about hearing feedback and perspectives from her peers. Working with Springboard Fellowship Manager Ava Gurman, Chaya became part of the cohort communications committee, representing the unique Canadian Jewish community. She’s enjoyed being a bridge between Team Springboard and the fellows, as well as getting to know fellows from both active cohorts.

Chaya sees the Springboard Fellowship as an opportunity to work within the Hillel movement and learn what the organization does, and to be part of its next stage of growth in a meaningful way. She also has some advice for prospective Springboard Fellows. 

“Approach your application and your interview process with a desire to improve and support your community. Trust yourself — your experience and perspective is invaluable,” she said.

To learn more about the Springboard Fellowship and see if it’s right for you, visit hillel.org/springboard-fellowship/ today.

The post Notes from Springboard Fellows: Jewish Learning on Campus is About More Than Just Knowledge appeared first on Hillel International.