News

糖心vlogl鈥檚 New Student Cabinet to Shape Future of Jewish Campus Life

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

July 21, 2026

Student leaders will elevate the voices of nearly 200,000 Jewish students from over 850 campuses around the world.

 糖心vlogl, the world鈥檚 largest Jewish campus organization, today announced the 20 members of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet for the 2026-2027 school year. The selected students will collaborate with 糖心vlogl staff as trusted advisors, bringing diverse perspectives to task forces and serving as ambassadors of the Hillel movement. 

This year鈥檚 group is spread across the United States, Canada, Israel, South America, and Poland. Members were nominated by their campus Hillel for their exceptional leadership and commitment to enriching Jewish student life on campus. 

“The Student Cabinet provides exceptional Hillel student leaders drawn from across our global movement the opportunity to guide and influence critical conversations about Jewish life on campus today and in the future,鈥� said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of 糖心vlogl. “We depend on the valuable insights and reflections from our Student Cabinet leaders, and we鈥檙e very excited to work with this new cohort of Student Cabinet members in the year ahead.鈥�

Founded in 2015, the Student Cabinet helps shape Hillel’s mission of putting the voices of students first. The initiative is a core part of Hillel鈥檚 in empowering the next generation of student leaders.

Rachel Lennard of the University of Oregon and Ben Small of the University of Pennsylvania will serve as the incoming Cabinet鈥檚 co-chairs and represent their peers as members of the 糖心vlogl Board of Directors.

鈥淗illel serves as a second home for Jewish college students around the world, providing a nurturing environment for their personal and professional growth,鈥� said Lennard. 鈥淚 am honored to contribute my perspective and advocate for my peers, as Hillel continues to be  a beacon of support for Jewish college students worldwide.鈥� 

鈥淗illel strives to thoughtfully support its students through creative and continuously evolving strategies,鈥� said Small. 鈥淭his year, I am excited to represent the brilliant students who power their campus Hillels and proudly serve their diverse, vibrant Jewish communities.鈥�

Below is a full list of the members of the 2026-2027 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet: 

• Adina Fridman, New York University, 鈥�27听
• Aleksander Nowak-Burkiewicz, University College of Professional Education, 鈥�27
• Ashley Mason, University of Pittsburgh, 鈥�27
• Austin Lambert, Rice University, 鈥�28听
• Ben Small, University of Pennsylvania, 鈥�27
• Ben Werner, University of Colorado at Boulder, 鈥�28
• Claire Conner, Northwestern University, 鈥�27
• Ethan Goetz, University of Miami, 鈥�27
• Gabriela Sznajderman, PUC-RIO, 鈥�27
• Isabelle Ehrlich, University at Buffalo, 鈥�27
• Jada Monroe, University of Georgia, 鈥�28
• Joseph Joffe, Brown University, 鈥�27
• Kate Blumberg, McMaster University, 鈥�27
• Lia Mitrani, Florida International University, 鈥�27
• Lilith Greene-Friedman, Dickinson College, 鈥�27
• Rachel Lennard, University of Oregon, ’26
• Ruby Berney, Bryn Mawr College,听 鈥�27
• Sam Korff, Dartmouth College, 鈥�27
• Shalhevet Tzur Fisher, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 鈥�28
• Teddie Waxler, DePaul University, 鈥�27

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News

What Happens When We Teach Philanthropy Like We Teach Leadership?

Author

Rabbi Stephanie Max

Date

July 15, 2026

Rabbi Stephanie Max is the executive director of Texas Hillel: The Topfer Center for Jewish Life.

Rabbi Tarfon used to teach: 鈥淚t is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.鈥� (Pirkei Avot 2:16)

When I look at the Jewish community on UT Austin鈥檚 campus, I see students who build, create, organize, lead, and show up for one another. They are ambitious and deeply engaged in shaping the communities they want and need. I also see a desire to contribute to something bigger, as Rabbi Tarfon teaches. 

Our students are givers. Every day, they demonstrate their care for others through responsibility and problem-solving, following the UT Austin motto of, 鈥淲hat starts here changes the world.鈥� Many students go on to lead organizations, businesses, and communities, and we have the opportunity to prepare them to contribute in a meaningful way. 

What happens when we teach philanthropy the same way we teach leadership, not as a matter of wealth or status, but as a lifelong practice of investing in our values?

This idea found its champions in Joe and Debs Weinberg. After successfully supporting the launch of Campus Champions, a student-athlete philanthropy leadership program at the University of Virginia, they began imagining what a similar opportunity might look like for Jewish students. With additional support and partnership from Karen Kogut and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, that vision became the inaugural Texas Hillel Philanthropy Leadership Lab.

Over the course of six sessions, twenty-five students came together to explore philanthropy, leadership, and community impact. To ground each session, students spoke about the distinct Jewish values that animate our shared responsibility to each other and the world. They met with nonprofit leaders, learned about organizations addressing pressing local needs, and wrestled with difficult questions about priorities, resources, and responsibility.

Participants explored issues ranging from housing and homelessness to food insecurity, women’s health, and domestic violence. Along the way, they gained a deeper understanding of Austin and the organizations working every day to strengthen it, while also building relationships with one another and growing an appreciation for shared purpose and collective responsibility.

Future cohorts of the Texas Hillel Philanthropy Leadership Lab will build on this work through deeper community engagement, expanded volunteer opportunities, and more robust nonprofit evaluation.

The inaugural program culminated in a final presentation before community leaders and philanthropists. After thoughtful discussion and deliberation, the cohort selected Mobile Loaves & Fishes as the recipient of a $10,000 grant in recognition of its work addressing homelessness in Central Texas.

While the grant itself was never the primary goal, it gave students a real-life understanding of how they are already philanthropists 鈥� and generosity is learned through practice. We become more generous by giving, more responsible by taking responsibility, and more connected to our communities by showing up for them. The Philanthropy Leadership Lab was designed to not only teach students about philanthropy, but to help them live it. 

As I look ahead, I see the Philanthropy Leadership Lab as more than a single program. It is part of a broader effort to help students develop the skills, values, and relationships that will shape them throughout their lives, building future Jewish leaders who understand they have both the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to something larger than themselves.

As Rabbi Tarfon reminds us, the work is not ours to finish.

But it is ours to begin.

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News

From Student Leaders to Hillel Professionals, These Recent Grads Are Making a Difference

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

July 6, 2026

Through 糖心vlogl’s Leadership Passport program, over 200 student leaders attended some of the most influential Jewish communal gatherings in the country, including the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly, ADL鈥檚 Never is Now summit, and the American Jewish Committee鈥檚 Global Forum. Passport gives students the opportunity to build relationships, explore careers in Jewish communal life, and see firsthand how Jewish organizations create impact. For some participants, that experience does more than strengthen their personal leadership. It inspires them to join the next generation of Hillel professionals shaping Jewish life on campus.

For Passport participant and recent Kent State University graduate Jacob Rathkopf, that inspiration and decision was deeply personal. 鈥淕rowing up, I didn鈥檛 have a strong Jewish community around me, so my experience at Hillel was transformative,鈥� said Rathkopf, who will head to the University of Delaware this fall to serve as a Springboard Fellow. Rathkopf’s time at Kent State Hillel gave him a lens into how the community he found on campus translated into a global community. 鈥淚t showed me what Jewish community could look like, and it inspired me to become a source of support and a role model for other students as they navigate their own Jewish journeys,鈥� he said.听

糖心vlogl鈥檚 Springboard Fellowship is a two-year program, focused on professional and personal growth and designed for recent college graduates. Springboard Fellows are embedded in campus Hillels, where they have the opportunity to engage Jewish students and help build Jewish communities with emerging leaders.听

For Lilly Chavez, a Florida State University graduate and Leadership Passport participant who will be a Springboard Fellow at CU Boulder starting in July, the work she did in partnership with the Hillel staff at FSU was part of what inspired her to continue her Hillel journey. 鈥淎s a student leader, I learned that relationships are at the center of everything,鈥� she said. 鈥淧rograms and events are important, but the most meaningful impact comes from making people feel seen, valued, and connected.鈥�

“As a Hillel student, I was given the gift of a powerful national conference. I came back to campus inspired and ready to lead, and now we’re giving that same gift to hundreds of students through Passport,” said Jordan Fruchtman, 糖心vlogl’s associate vice president of community partnerships. “It puts them in rooms with lay leaders and professionals, building relationships and shaping the conversations that define Jewish life on campus.”

Kylie Miller, a Leadership Passport participant who graduated from Roosevelt University this spring and served on the 2025-2026 Hillel Student Cabinet, is starting her professional career with Hillel at . She鈥檒l serve as an IACT (Inspired, Active, Committed, Transformed) coordinator. IACT coordinators work within campus Hillels and focus on supporting students鈥� Jewish journeys through Jewish learning, immersive Israel travel like Birthright, and community service.

鈥淢y focus as the IACT is to engage and foster connections between students, for students to connect with Hillel, and for students to connect with Israel in as many ways as possible,鈥� she said. She鈥檚 looking forward to taking the skills she learned as a student leader on both the campus and national level and bringing them with her into her new role. 鈥淚 know my experience [with Passport] will help me present leadership opportunities to students the way they were presented to me.鈥�

The experiences Rathkopf had as a student leader and through Passport were also part of what inspired him to become a Springboard Fellow. 鈥淚 loved being able to [be part of] spaces where students could show up as their authentic selves, make friends, and build meaningful Jewish connections,鈥� he said.听

For Chavez, her moment of inspiration came as she  listened to 糖心vlogl President and CEO Adam Lehman speak at the JFNA General Assembly this year.

鈥淗e spoke about the idea of Hineni, meaning 鈥榟ere I am,鈥� and the importance of showing up for your community,鈥� she said. 鈥淗earing a Torah based message in that setting caught me by surprise and really resonated with me. It became a turning point that helped me realize I wanted to dedicate my career to creating meaningful Jewish experiences for others.鈥�

鈥淚 hope to help students see that there is a place for them in Jewish life exactly as they are,鈥� she added. 鈥淚 want to build genuine relationships with students and create opportunities for them to explore their identities, connect with others, and grow as leaders. Most importantly, I want students to know that their voices matter 鈥� and that showing up for one another can make a lasting difference in a community.鈥�

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News

Inside 糖心vlogl’s Summer Internship Experience

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

June 16, 2026

Each summer, 糖心vlogl welcomes a new cohort of student interns from across the country, to learn about what it鈥檚 like to work behind the scenes for the world鈥檚 largest Jewish campus organization, and explore potential career paths. This year, 糖心vlogl is hosting eleven students with diverse backgrounds, skills, and interests for a summer of learning and growth.

The summer internship gives students the chance to build their professional skills, connect with a community of peers and senior leadership, and gain an inside look at the work that powers the Hillel movement. From human resources and communications to talent development, interns work alongside professionals while exploring how their passions and experiences can contribute to the future of Jewish life on campus. 

“Because they are fully immersed in campus life, they bring a fresh student perspective to our work,” said Allyson Silver, 糖心vlogl鈥檚 senior manager of strategic human resources. “They contribute unique insights, innovative ideas, and great suggestions that directly push our mission forward.” 

For Silver, who oversees the program, one of the most rewarding aspects is watching interns grow as individuals and as Jewish leaders throughout the summer and beyond. Many former interns go on to become Hillel professionals themselves, helping strengthen the movement’s talent pipeline and provide mentorship for future cohorts. 鈥淢y favorite part is getting to know each intern individually, curating impactful professional development opportunities for them, and celebrating their accomplishments throughout the summer,” said Silver. “It’s incredibly rewarding to follow their career journeys after the program ends.”

This summer鈥檚 cohort brings together students from across the country for weekly professional development cohort meetings and time to learn from members of 糖心vlogl鈥檚 leadership team. While each intern arrives with their own academic interests, career goals, and passions, they all share a desire to make a meaningful impact on Jewish life.  

Creating spaces where students feel connected and supported has long been important to Daniela Gonzalez Quintanilla. A fourth-year student at the University of Houston majoring in management and entrepreneurship with double minors in political science and marketing, Gonzalez is a first-generation college student passionate about building communities and developing future leaders. She was drawn to 糖心vlogl’s internship because of its emphasis on community and belonging.听

“I was excited by the opportunity to learn from an organization that has built such a strong model for creating belonging and meaningful student experiences while gaining hands-on experience in conference and event planning,” she said. 

For Ruth Gittleman, a fourth-year student at Connecticut College studying psychology with a minor in economics, the summer鈥檚 journey began with curiosity. As an intern for 糖心vlogl’s strategic human resources team, she is eager to learn more about day-to-day operations and develop skills she can bring back to her campus community. Gittleman said she was drawn to this internship experience after she heard about the community it sparks for students and how 鈥渉ighly my friends who have done the internship speak about it.鈥�

For Eliza Goldwasser, a student at Northwestern University studying journalism, political science, and Italian, the internship offers an opportunity to explore a question that has long inspired her: How can we help people become the best versions of themselves? As a member of 糖心vlogl鈥檚 talent development team, she is excited to learn more about supporting professional growth through Jewish values like kehillah (community) and b鈥檛zelem Elohim (the belief that every person is created in the image of God).

Over the coming months, this intern cohort will gain hands-on experience, build relationships with professionals across the movement, and contribute their unique perspectives to 糖心vlogl’s mission. And whether they pursue careers in Jewish communal service or bring their experiences into other fields, the lessons and connections they build this summer will continue to shape the future of Jewish life long after their internships ends.

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News

Accompanying Jewish Students Through Challenge and Joy

Author

Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow

Date

June 11, 2026

Before coming to Hillel, I spent nearly two decades working as a chaplaincy leader in a large Jewish care system for older adults. Chaplaincy is all about helping individuals draw on their deepest values and beliefs to build resilience, and to provide accompaniment and support no matter what the situation. I entered that work because I was drawn to working with elders, and saw an opportunity to help improve their quality of life during a time of growing vulnerability. My colleagues and I built a strong Jewish spiritual care program and a chaplaincy education institute that was the first of its kind, offering chaplaincy training with expertise in Jewish patients and aging.听

Hillel was important to me as a college student, and I had thought early in my rabbinate about working in Hillel. While still in senior care, I was a researcher on a study mapping Jewish chaplaincy. () It became evident that even with the increase in mental health concerns among college students post-COVID-19 in particular, chaplaincy is largely absent.  

And so I pivoted to become a Hillel professional, where I recognized that college students today face high levels of anxiety, feelings of isolation, and a range of mental health concerns. Hillels have the opportunity to deepen the ways we care for Jewish students during some of the most formative and challenging years of their lives. While universities invest in students’ intellectual growth, students also need spaces where they can wrestle with questions of identity, purpose, belonging, and meaning.

That need has become more apparent in recent years. Since the October 7, 2023 attacks, many of our students have also faced antisemitism, social polarization, and difficult conversations with classmates, friends, and even family members. They are figuring out who they are and what types of communities they want to build. 

As Hillel professionals, we are often among the first people students turn to when confronted with these challenges. They come to us after difficult classroom discussions, during moments of uncertainty, and when they are searching for connection. They also come to celebrate and to explore their Jewish identity, and to imagine the future they want to create.

That is why bringing my chaplaincy knowledge and leadership to the Hillel world feels so important to me 鈥� and like such a natural continuation of the work that I was doing in the world of Jewish aging.

At its core, chaplaincy teaches us how to be present with another person. It teaches us how to listen deeply, ask better questions, and create space for someone else’s experience without immediately trying to solve it. Those skills help us accompany students through moments of struggle and growth alike.

Chaplaincy is not about having the right answer. It is about helping people feel seen, heard, and supported as they find their own way forward.

Last year, Northeastern Hillel, in collaboration with McLean Hospital, launched an innovative ACPE-accredited Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program focused on Jewish community chaplaincy, campus life, and mental health. Hillel professionals who participate complete the clinical component of the program through their work with students on campus.  The first group has four participants, each of whom is a full-time Hillel professional working on a campus in New England.  Next year, we hope to grow the program to be available nationally for a group of up to eight participants.

CPE helps build Hillel professionals who are more than program organizers, caring adults, and non-profit leaders 鈥� it builds our skills to help us truly accompany a generation of young people who are often alone, and struggling with a complex world that is detached and disconnected.

In the Jewish calendar, we鈥檙e entering the period known as the Three Weeks, which leads into Tisha B鈥橝v, a national day of mourning. This time reminds us that Jewish tradition does not ask us to ignore pain. It teaches us how to hold loss while continuing to imagine renewal. We remember destruction, but we also make space for hope. We gather the sparks that were scattered when our world broke, and find meaning again. Chaplaincy education helps us be present for students as they encounter a broken world and seek meaning and a path forward.

There is an opportunity before us on campus today. By investing in chaplaincy education, we can help Hillel professionals care for individual students with greater depth and wisdom, while building Jewish communities where students feel supported, connected, and celebrated.

Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow is the executive director of Northeastern Hillel.

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糖心vlogl Internships

Hillel Stories

How a 糖心vlogl Internship Changed My Life

Author

Courtney Saxe

Date

June 11, 2026

When I arrived as a student at the University of Arizona, I was looking for ways to deepen my involvement in Jewish life. I came into college with a tight-knit Jewish community and an appreciation for the Jewish community I found at Hillel, but I was also curious about what happened behind the scenes. Who creates experiences like an exciting, welcoming FreshFest or a meaningful Shabbat? How do programs involving hundreds of Jewish students across multiple campuses come together? What does it actually look like to build Jewish community as a profession?

That curiosity is what led me to apply for 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Student Engagement, Experiences and Leadership (SEEL) internship in the summer of 2025, and I was absolutely thrilled when I found out I had been selected.

After months of applications, interviews, and anticipation, I stepped into a world I had only seen from the outside. What I did not expect was how quickly it would begin to feel like home.

From my first introductory calls to learning how to navigate working with new colleagues in a remote environment, I was welcomed into a cohort of interns who shared my passion for Jewish life and community-building. We learned together, asked questions together, and discovered just how many people dedicate themselves every day to creating meaningful Jewish experiences for students around the world.

Throughout the summer, I had the opportunity to meet with Hillel professionals and senior leaders, including 糖心vlogl President and CEO Adam Lehman. Those conversations opened my eyes to the many different paths within Jewish communal work, and helped me understand the tremendous care, creativity, and intentionality that go into supporting students.

For the first time, I was seeing the bigger picture.

I was also trusted with meaningful work. One of my proudest moments was moderating a student gathering on the conflict between Israel and Iran, where I helped facilitate a conversation for students across the Hillel movement about the complex geopolitical situation in the Middle East. Experiences like that challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and grew my confidence.

By the end of the summer, I had gained far more than professional experience. I found mentors, friendships, and a deeper understanding of the Jewish community that I hope to continue serving long after graduation.

Then came an amazing surprise. My supervisor, Michael Kagan, 糖心vlogl鈥檚 director of Student Engagement and Experiences, asked if I would be interested in extending my internship into the academic year.

The answer was easy.

Michael was one of the most influential mentors in my internship experience. He challenged me, encouraged me, and consistently made me feel capable of taking on new opportunities. His support helped me grow as a professional and as an individual. I jumped at the opportunity to continue working with him and his team.

The extension opened the door to some of the most meaningful experiences of my internship, including helping plan the fourth annual 糖心vlogl Content Creators Forum in New York City.

Bringing together 120 student creators to strengthen their digital storytelling skills and explore how they can respond to antisemitism online is no small task. In the months leading up to the forum, I learned so much from my colleagues on the SEEL team about event planning, collaboration, and what it takes to create a meaningful experience for students.

When the weekend finally arrived, I helped facilitate the culture track, which encouraged students to explore the purpose behind their content creation and the stories they wanted to tell. I also had the opportunity to interview Jewish creators Carly Weinstein and Jake Goldberg about their experiences on social media.

Looking back, the forum stands out as one of the defining moments of my internship, not because of a single session or project, but because of the people. The energy, creativity, and sense of purpose in those rooms was inspiring, as was building relationships with students who were passionate about sharing their Jewish stories.

Throughout the year, I gained a new appreciation for the work happening behind the scenes at 糖心vlogl, but what surprised me most was how much my own voice mattered. Whether discussing a new initiative, brainstorming ideas, or weighing in on small details, I never felt like “just an intern.” My perspective as a student was valued, and I felt trusted as a contributor to the work.

Then, as my third year at the University of Arizona came to a close and I packed for my Birthright Israel trip, I was offered the opportunity to continue my internship into another summer. I didn鈥檛 hesitate in saying yes once more. 

After all, what began as a search for one more way to get involved in Jewish life became one of the most meaningful experiences of my college career. This internship gave me practical skills, professional experience, and incredible mentors. More importantly, it showed me the impact that dedicated professionals can have on students’ lives.

I am deeply grateful for the people who invested in me, challenged me, and helped me grow. I cannot wait to continue learning, and I am excited to see where this journey leads next.

Courtney Saxe is a rising fourth-year student at the University of Arizona and a second-year 糖心vlogl intern.

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News

The Virtual Hillel Leadership Institute Builds Student Leadership and Community

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

June 4, 2026

On a campus with just under two thousand students, finding Jewish community can sometimes feel challenging.

That is part of what drew Sam Scherzer, a student at Franklin & Marshall College, to 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Virtual Hillel Leadership Institute (HLI) this spring.

鈥淥n a small campus, it can sometimes be difficult to find a strong Jewish community of people who share similar values and interests,鈥� he said. 鈥淛oining HLI helped me build meaningful connections and feel part of something larger.鈥�

Scherzer was one of 22 Jewish college students from 15 campuses across the United States who participated in the Virtual HLI pilot, a program designed to expand leadership development opportunities for students at student-led and small, professionally-led Hillels. Through four national cohort sessions focused on strengths-based leadership, collaboration, belonging, and leadership purpose, VHLI students built practical leadership skills while connecting with peers from across the Hillel movement.

Virtual HLI was created to bring the leadership development experience of 糖心vlogl’s campus-based Hillel Leadership Institute to students who may not otherwise have access to a cohort experience on their campus. Since its launch in fall 2025, the campus-based HLI cohorts have engaged more than 350 students across 34 campuses. HLI is part of a broader effort from 糖心vlogl to catalyze the largest-ever generation of Jewish leaders through programs, including the Leadership Passport initiative, that empower them to lead the Jewish people into a vibrant future. 

“What makes the VHLI curriculum, and the HLI curriculum more broadly, particularly impactful, is that each session provides students with a practical leadership framework they can immediately apply on their campus,鈥� said 糖心vlogl Senior Director of Student Leadership and Engagement Corinne Janet. 鈥淲hether exploring strengths, collaboration and feedback, belonging, or leadership purpose, students develop skills that not only help them lead more effectively today, but also prepare them to thrive as professionals and community leaders long after graduation.”

For many VHLI participants, making connections with each other became one of the most valuable parts of the experience. Students from smaller Jewish communities often carry significant responsibility for creating engagement and building opportunities for belonging on their campuses. Meeting peers facing similar challenges helped them exchange ideas, build confidence, and realize they were not alone.

鈥淭he most valuable part of the experience for me was getting to meet and talk to leaders at other schools,鈥� one student shared. 鈥淟earning that we face similar issues in planning events and growing engagement was super comforting and also gave us opportunities to talk about how we can all improve.鈥�

The program also challenged students to think differently about leadership itself.

Rowan University student Holly Cowan said HLI transformed her understanding of what it means to lead. 鈥淏efore this experience, I tended to think of leadership as something more external, like taking charge or guiding others,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e come to understand that effective leadership really starts with understanding yourself. And I鈥檝e learned that leadership isn鈥檛 about having all the answers. It鈥檚 about being open, adaptable, and willing to grow. That shift in perspective has been the most meaningful takeaway for me so far.鈥�

For Scherzer, the cohort taught him that leadership can mean focusing on building something simple but powerful: like creating more opportunities for connection and belonging.

鈥淚 plan to implement what I鈥檝e learned by focusing on small, consistent improvements on my campus,鈥� he said. One of those ideas is a regular Sunday bagel breakfast where students can gather before the stress of the week ahead.

鈥淚t [will be] a great way to connect and hang out before the craziness of upcoming exams,鈥� he added.

The impact of the Virtual Hillel Leadership Institute pilot was clear. Every participating student reported feeling more confident leading others, nearly all said they felt more connected to Hillel as a result of the experience, and even more developed a stronger sense of Jewish purpose in their leadership.

For Janet, who helped facilitate the virtual cohort, those results were reflected in the students themselves.

鈥淒eveloping and facilitating the Virtual HLI Cohort was one of the highlights of my year,鈥� Janet said. 鈥淕etting to learn with student leaders from campuses with more limited staffing structures gave me a deeper appreciation for the creativity, determination, and heart they bring to their communities every day. Their commitment to creating meaningful Jewish experiences, building community, and leading through challenge left me feeling incredibly hopeful about the future of Jewish leadership.鈥�

This year鈥檚 cohort experience may be ending, but students say the lessons will continue shaping how they show up for their communities. 糖心vlogl also convened a parallel training for the advisors and Hillel professionals who support VHLI participants, creating a shared language and framework that will help students continue putting their learning into practice long after the program concludes.

鈥淭hrough this program, I have learned that leadership is a process,鈥� Scherzer said. 鈥淚 want to keep building a space where everyone feels valued and excited to participate.鈥�

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News

Meet 糖心vlogl’s 2026 Summer Interns!

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

May 29, 2026

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

Eliza Goldwasser (she/her) is a rising sophomore at Northwestern University studying Journalism, Political Science, and Italian. Hillel has been central to Eliza’s college experience thus far, and she is thrilled by the opportunity to contribute to an organization that means so much to her as a Talent Development intern this summer. On campus, she is a staffer for the Daily Northwestern, incoming Director of Fundraising for Delta Gamma, and a volunteer at a local elementary school. She is also an incoming co-leader of FYSH (First-Year Students of Hillel). She is passionate about Hillel’s values and is excited to learn how to best support individuals in their professional development with values like Kehillah and B鈥檛zelem Elohim in mind.

Lindsay Goltz is a graduate student at Columbia University鈥檚 School of International and Public Affairs pursuing a Master鈥檚 in International Affairs with a concentration in Human Rights. She earned her undergraduate degree from Chapman University, where she studied Law and Public Policy and Studio Art and worked with Jewish on Campus during her senior year. Following graduation, Lindsay moved to Israel to intern with Act.IL at the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, where she focused on combating antisemitism and anti-Zionism online. She later served as an Advocacy Associate at the Aleph Institute, supporting prisoner rights advocacy, and after interned at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. Lindsay currently serves as a student representative for Jewish on Campus Columbia and as President of the SIPA Jewish Student Association.

Daniela Gonzalez Quintanilla (she/her) is a senior at the University of Houston who has dedicated her college experience to leadership, advocacy, and building meaningful connections across communities. She currently serves as the Director of External Affairs for the Student Government Association, where she works closely with university leaders, nonprofit organizations, and public officials to strengthen civic engagement and student outreach initiatives. Her background includes federal advocacy work through Big 12 on the Hill, campaign and community organizing experience in Houston, and international fellowship experience in Israel and the UAE centered on diplomacy, dialogue, and cross-cultural collaboration. Daniela is especially passionate about creating spaces where students from different backgrounds feel heard, supported, and connected through service and community engagement. As an international student from Mexico, she values opportunities that encourage understanding across cultures and hopes to continue pursuing work focused on public service, relationship-building, and community impact.听

Ruth Gittleman (she/her) is excited to be joining the 糖心vlogl team this summer as a Strategic HR Intern. Ruth was an HR Intern at the West End House Boys and Girls Club last summer and is excited to bring that knowledge to 糖心vlogl this year! Ruth is going into her senior year at Connecticut College, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Economics. Ruth grew up in Massachusetts and enjoys going to the beach, listening to music, and hanging out with her pet tortoise.

Taylor Levin will be joining 糖心vlogl this summer as an IACT Special Projects Intern. She is a rising senior at Penn State University at the Bellisario College of Communications, majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Digital Media Trends and Analytics. She has experience in marketing, communications, and campus engagement through leadership positions, internship experience, and involvement in student organizations. Taylor is especially passionate about community-building, storytelling, and creating meaningful connections through digital media and outreach initiatives. She is currently a Fellow in the inaugural cohort of 糖心vlogl鈥檚 Ruach Fellowship and previously worked as both the Administrative Marketing Intern and Ritual Life Intern for Penn State Hillel. She also serves as the Director of DEI for her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta. Her background in campus leadership, content creation, and communications strategy has strengthened her passion for fostering inclusive, engaging spaces where students feel connected and supported. She is very excited for this opportunity to join 糖心vlogl this summer in supporting her career goals in communication for social change and non-profit work.

Zoey Natkin (she/her) is thrilled to join 糖心vlogl as a student marketing intern this summer. She is a rising forth-year student at the University of Oregon, studying public relations and Judaic studies. She is a member of Kappa Delta, and Allen Hall Public Relations, UO鈥檚 on campus student-run public relations firm. In her free time, Zoey enjoys baking, crocheting, and spending time outdoors.

Hailing from South Bend, Indiana, Elisa Nerenberg (she/her) is a rising fourth-year student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in Global Health with minors in Health Policy and Business Management for Agriculture and Life Sciences. Hillel has been a central part of her college experience 鈥� from being a first year in a Jewish Learning Fellowship to leading multiple clubs within Hillel and serving as Co-Vice President of Programming this past year. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, swimming, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. She is excited to contribute to 糖心vlogl鈥檚 mission and to be a part of the social impact team this summer!

Gabi Nessim (she/her) is a rising junior at Hofstra University, pursuing a degree in public relations and strategic communications. On campus, she is involved with Hillel and Alpha Phi Sorority. During her free time, she enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and reading. She is more than eager to join 糖心vlogl as an intern and to connect with other Jewish peers while growing her skills in the digital world.听听听

Jess Norris (she/her/hers) recently graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. There, she earned a degree in Art and Design with a concentration in graphic design. At Cal Poly, she was actively involved in Jewish advocacy and held a leadership role at her university鈥檚 Hillel. Beyond designing professionally and participating in Jewish organizations, you can find Jess swimming laps at her local community pool, painting acrylic landscapes, spending time with her cat, Finneas Bartholomeow, or at the beach during sunrise for a cold-water plunge.

Courtney Saxe (she/her) is a rising senior at the University of Arizona. She is majoring in Communications and minoring in Psychology. She served as the International President of BBYO 鈥�23-鈥�24, traveling to communities all over the world. On campus she has been involved in Hillel, Chabad on Campus, Children鈥檚 Miracle Network Dance Marathon, and her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. Born and raised in Las Vegas, in her free time she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Morielle Shechter (she/her) is a rising second-year student and Banneker/Key Scholar at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she studies international relations and business. She is involved with Hillel and several Jewish organizations on campus and is passionate about building Jewish community and strengthening Jewish advocacy. She is excited to be joining the 糖心vlogl team as a marketing intern this summer! In her free time, Morielle enjoys singing, exercising (especially going on walks), and spending time with family and friends.

The post Meet 糖心vlogl’s 2026 Summer Interns! appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

News

Considering a Career in Psychology? Hillel Asked Experts for Their Advice to Aspiring Professionals!

Author

糖心vlogl

Date

May 14, 2026

This year, the , powered by Hillel, launched its Industry Series 鈥� virtual sessions that bring in speakers from across sectors to help college students and early career professionals learn more about Jewish professionals鈥� experiences in those fields. 

The most recent installment, 鈥淧racticing Psychology,鈥� brought together six professionals and graduate students to talk about choosing a path in the field, what a day in the life can look like, and how Jewish values can add another layer of meaning to their work. 

As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month this May, here are three top takeaways for college students and new graduates considering a career in psychology:

1. This field is so much bigger and broader than you might think.

When people think of psychology as a career, they often tend to imagine one of two paths: clinical or counseling work in an office setting, or academic research. But there are so many more ways to use a degree in psychology than just those options. 

鈥淎 lot of people know about therapy,鈥� said Dr. Jenna Shapiro, a pediatric psychologist at Lurie Children鈥檚 Hospital of Chicago. 鈥淏ut I also was interested in doing consultation in a hospital setting, which is what I ended up doing. That means more sort of short-term, brief sessions with people that might be in the hospital or in a medical clinic.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e worked in consulting for the last 10 years, primarily with pharmaceutical companies, but also with patient advocacy groups,鈥� said Dr. Jessica Markowitz, who also works part-time at as a therapist. 鈥淲hen I was getting my degree, I couldn’t have imagined going into that field.鈥�

Dr. Cheryl Fulton, who serves as the director of community care and wellbeing at , had a similar experience. 鈥淚 offer a lot of support for students, but I don鈥檛 do clinical work,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 do a lot more programmatically, and that鈥檚 not something I envisioned when I first entered this field, but I really love it. It鈥檚 really fun.鈥�

Jewish communal work, including working as a campus Hillel鈥檚 wellness professional, is a great avenue to explore. For example, Dr. Sasha Soykin co-founded the , which supports mental health and resilience through culturally informed support, research, and education amid rising global antisemitism.

鈥淲e just see the importance of building community, helping people feel not alone,鈥� Soykin said.

2. When it comes to grad school, think beyond the degree.

There are a number of different degree paths into the field of psychology. That means when you鈥檙e considering which degree to pursue, it鈥檚 important to think beyond just the type of job you鈥檇 like to have, but what you care about in a program 鈥� in the classroom and out of it.

鈥淚f someone is not interested in research, doing a doctorate program is a very, very long amount of time to do something that you might not want to do,鈥� Shapiro said. 

Our panel also recommended taking a program鈥檚 philosophical approach into account. 鈥淚 went to do a counseling PhD because it’s a little bit more holistic, social justice-oriented, strengths-based, community-based鈥� than a clinical psych PhD,鈥� said psychologist Dr. Rebecca Semel. 

There are so many ways to care for others, and the variety of training programs in the field reflects that reality. 

3. Make sure to find ways to take care of yourself.

, more than half of early-career psychologists report feeling burned out. While grad school can mean long study sessions and heavy workloads, all of our panelists agreed that it鈥檚 important to start building a foundation of self-care before you get into the field, when it will be much harder to start new habits.

Figuring out a work-life balance is easier with your school鈥檚 support. Dr. Shapiro recalled the faculty director of her program modeling work-life balance by attending concerts once a week and regularly taking the cohort on outings. Other programs are set up to make the time constraints of a degree more flexible.

鈥淢y program had a lot of second-career students and a lot of people with children,鈥� said Dr. Soykin. 鈥淪o my program really did try to help people navigate balancing all of it. For some people, that meant they took an extra year to finish, and that鈥檚 absolutely okay.鈥�

Looking for more answers or advice? Check out the full webinar recording, and connect with psychology professionals for mentoring and guidance on the !

The post Considering a Career in Psychology? Hillel Asked Experts for Their Advice to Aspiring Professionals! appeared first on 糖心vlogl.

Dear Hillel

Hillel Stories

International Student Cabinet

Dear Hillel: Saying “Yes” to Hillel

Author

Mateen Markzar

Date

May 14, 2026

鈥淒ear Hillel鈥� showcases letters from graduating seniors reflecting on their experiences of joy and belonging with their campus Hillels. Mateen Markzar, a fourth-year student at Brown University and a member of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet, shares how saying yes to Hillel defined his college journey from day one. Read Mateen鈥檚 letter to Hillel:

Dear Hillel, 

Four years ago, a box showed up on my doorstep. I hadn鈥檛 ordered anything from Amazon, my Brown welcome package had already arrived, and my mom swore she hadn鈥檛 bought anything either.

So I checked the label. It was from Brown RISD Hillel.

I tore it open expecting a T-shirt and maybe a sticker or two. Instead, inside was a schedule of fall welcome events and a coffee mug.

That coffee mug ended up being a sign of what would become the defining community of my college experience (and helped keep me caffeinated these four years).

I grew up deeply involved in Jewish life. I went to Hebrew school and Jewish summer camp, joined my synagogue鈥檚 youth group and board, and served as the Religious and Cultural Vice President of NFTY Southern California. Because of that background, I always knew Hillel would be part of my college experience.

What I didn鈥檛 know was how much it would mean to me.

If you asked me which word defines my experience with Hillel, my answer would be 鈥測es.鈥�

Because that鈥檚 the word you hear most there from students and staff.

Do you want to lead High Holiday services? Yes.
Do you want to gather your friends from Hillel for a night of karaoke? Yes.
Do you want to organize a bus for Jewish Brown students to drive 12 hours to Washington, D.C., for the March for Israel? Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Hillel helped make my ideas, and my friends鈥� ideas, a reality. It became a home on campus, a warm face when we walked in the door, endless snacks and coffee when we needed them most, and, most importantly, a community that will stay with us long after we leave.

Like so many Jewish students, the attacks on October 7, 2023, split our college experience into 鈥淭he Before鈥� and 鈥淭he After.鈥� Expectations about friendships, classes, professors, and campus life, suddenly shattered as antisemitism skyrocketed and campus grew tense. But with Hillel鈥檚 support, we took those shattered pieces and built something stronger.

Hillel became the place where we could carry that weight together. The structure on the corner of Angell and Brown Street stopped feeling like just a building. It became a refuge that was uplifting, protective, and safe. A place where we could show up fully, without needing to explain ourselves.

And in gratitude, but also inspiration, I started saying yes when those at Hillel asked me to show up.

I said yes to playing guitar and singing at the vigil organized by Hillel and Chabad following October 7th, to help us heal and process the tragedy through song and prayer. I left knowing and seeing how big and supportive the Jewish community at Brown is. 

I said yes to Yallapalooza, a 糖心vlogl-sponsored concert series featuring some of Israel鈥檚 biggest artists. No one could have prepared me for the moment Matisyahu reached out his hand and pulled me onto the stage while I waved my Israeli flag in the air. I left feeling more connected than ever to my Jewish friends across the country.

I said yes to Hillel鈥檚 alternate spring break trip to Brazil, where I was the only senior in a group of first- and second-year students. I said yes to stand-up paddleboarding for the first time, facing my fear of heights on Sugarloaf Mountain, and waking up at 6 a.m. to watch the sunrise over Ipanema Beach. I left understanding what it meant to stretch beyond my comfort zone while also serving as a leader and role model for younger Jewish students.

And then, after saying yes to so many incredible Hillel experiences, came the most impactful one yet: I said yes to becoming part of the 糖心vlogl Student Cabinet.

Being part of the Student Cabinet has been one of the most transformative experiences of my college career. At the summit in Washington, I connected with 糖心vlogl leadership, saw firsthand the global scale of Hillel鈥檚 impact, and learned how to engage with Jewish professionals.

But more than anything, I found community with students from across the country and around the world. Students from flagship state schools, top universities, and small liberal arts colleges all shared the same commitment to building Jewish life on campus.

When I began college, I went in thinking I might help shape Hillel. Now, I am leaving realizing how much Hillel shaped me.

I鈥檓 leaving these four years changed by the people I met, the mentors who challenged me, the speakers who expanded how I think about the world, and the community that reminded me how proud I am to be Jewish.

Through all of it, the highs and the lows, Hillel remained a constant and the backbone of my college experience.

So next time you see a flyer for a Shabbat dinner, a Birthright trip, or some random event on campus, say yes.

You never know where it might lead.

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