What they reported doing
- #1 primary $40KJEWISH HOLIDAY OBSERVANCES-PROVIDED VIBRANT AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING CENTERED AROUND THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS.THESE PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE JEWISH STUDENTS IN JEWISH LIFE AND TRADITION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
- #2 $15KSHABBATON WEEKEND EXPERIENCE -OVER 100 STUDENTS ATTENDED A MEANINGFUL SHABBATH EXPERIENCE THIS EXPERIENCE HELP FOSTER A DEEPER SENSE OF JEWISH IDENTITYH AND CONNECTION
What they call their work
What they do
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Structured Jewish Text Study Programs 2 activities
- Conduct Jewish text and topic study programsOrganizes study sessions, book clubs, and workshops on the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, contemporary Jewish writings, and Jewish ethics, including targeted programs like a Rosh Chodesh women's learning series focused on spiritual growth and leadership.
- Provide one-on-one spiritual mentorshipOffers individualized mentorship with spiritual leaders to support students in exploring their faith, identity, and personal growth within a Jewish context.
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Jewish Holiday and Shabbat Community Events 2 activities
- Facilitate Shabbat and holiday mealsHosts weekly Shabbat dinners and holiday-themed meals that include blessings, communal dining, and opportunities for reflection and connection, fostering community among Jewish students.
- Host religious services and holiday observancesOffers regular Shabbat services, High Holiday observances, and holiday celebrations including Passover Seders, Hanukkah parties, and Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur services to connect students with Jewish life and tradition. Includes multi-day immersive experiences such as Shabbaton weekends attended by over 100 students.
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Jewish Religious Education and Outreach 2 activities
- Host guest speakers and scholarly lecturesBrings in guest speakers and scholars to present on Jewish history, theology, social issues, and culture through lectures, discussions, and workshops.
- Provide integrated Jewish identity exploration programsOffers multifaceted programs combining Jewish learning, spirituality, and social activities to help students explore and deepen their Jewish identity in personally meaningful ways.
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Community Service and Charitable Outreach 1 activity
- Coordinate community service and charity initiativesOrganizes food drives, fundraising events, service projects, and alternative break trips focused on community service, social justice, and support for local and global causes.
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Alumni Community Building 1 activity
- Operate alumni engagement networkManages an alumni network to maintain connections among former students and sustain ongoing engagement with Hillel’s mission and community.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Organize arts and cultural programmingProduces art exhibitions, musical performances, and theater productions that explore Jewish themes and enrich cultural engagement.
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Jewish Leadership Development 1 activity
- Support leadership and advocacy developmentProvides leadership development programs and training in community organizing, Jewish advocacy, and social justice to empower students as leaders.
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Who runs it
- ALAN PORITZ — TREASURER
- BETH SEIGEL-GRAF — CO-CHAIR
- BRYN BIREN — DIRECTOR
- DR PHILIP HARRIS — DIRECTOR
- EDWARD FINKELSTEIN — DIRECTOR
- HEN GENISH — DIRECTOR
- HON PHILIP STRANIERE — DIRECTOR
- JACK STERN — DIRECTOR
- MELISSA RABINOVICH — DIRECTOR
- MURRAY BERMAN — DIRECTOR
- RABBI MICHAEL HOWALD — DIRECTOR
- SAM SHUSTER — DIRECTOR
- SUSAN BENDER — CO-CHAIR
Who they work with
- College of Staten Island Partner — Primary institution where Jewish student life programming is delivered.
- local organizations Partner — Partners with local organizations for community service projects and support initiatives.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Based Spiritual Growthmethodology: community_based_spiritual_growthBy creating shared experiences of worship, celebration, and learning, we strengthen both individual and collective Jewish spiritual development, because communal practice deepens personal commitment.
- Holiday-Centered Experiential Engagementmethodology: holiday-centered engagementBy using Jewish holidays as experiential and educational touchpoints, we sustain year-round engagement with Jewish life, because cyclical, ritual-based moments create accessible entry points for identity formation and community participation.
- Immersive Retreat Model for Identity Buildingmethodology: immersive retreat modelBy organizing immersive Shabbaton experiences, we deepen Jewish identity and strengthen community bonds, because extended, retreat-based environments remove distractions and foster transformative belonging.
- Leadership Development for Student Ownershipmethodology: leadership_developmentBy empowering students to lead their own Jewish journeys and contribute to community life, we foster sustained engagement, because ownership and agency increase commitment and identity investment.
- Lifelong Learning Through Relatable Educationmethodology: lifelong-learning-engagementBy offering accessible and relatable Jewish educational programming, we cultivate a lasting love of Jewish learning, because relevance and engagement drive sustained intellectual and spiritual curiosity.
- Peer-Integrated Jewish Learningmethodology: community-based-learningBy embedding peer connection and dialogue into Jewish education, we deepen student engagement, because learning is more meaningful and enduring when rooted in relationship and shared exploration.
- Personalized Spiritual Journeymethodology: personalized_spiritual_journeyBy supporting individual spiritual exploration within Judaism, we foster deeper personal connection to Jewish faith, because one-size-fits-all approaches fail to engage diverse modern Jewish identities.
- Tikkun Olam as Pathway to Engagementmethodology: tikkun_olamBy framing service and social justice through the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, we connect students to Jewish tradition while motivating action, because ethical purpose grounds faith in tangible, meaningful impact.