August 2016
A Note from Interim Executive Director, Scott Selig:


Hello, I would like to take a brief moment to introduce myself and share what we have instore for the fall 2016 semester at UCONN Hillel. I was a Hillel Director 20 years ago, 1996 and 1997, at the University of Hartford. I have worked for the Jewish community at the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and have served on the board of directors for the Solomon Schechter Day School and Jewish Family Services and been a chapter advisor to two Jewish fraternities and one Jewish Sorority. I am excited to work to help our great staff, student leaders and partners creating meaningful Jewish experiences on campus.

We are expanding our Shabbat experience every Shabbat starting this week by incorporating the award winning "Ask Big Questions Jewish conversation" series. I will be piloting the Bible of Business program with students, this program weaves together the vision and values of 15 well known and highly successful Jewish entrepreneurs to teach students of all backgrounds on the skills necessary to successfully launch, run and scale their own project or business.

I look forward to supporting our team as we provide programming for; the Huskies for Israel, High Holidays, Birthright, Sukkot, First Year Students of Hillel (FYSH), The Humus Experience, Kosher Kooking, and many more... we are going to have a great year, come join us!

Update from Hillel Institute
 
The UConn Hillel team, along with 50+ Hillels from North America, attended the Hillel International Engagement Institute in St. Louis from August 2-8. Staff members had the opportunity to attend sessions ranging in topic from creating an inclusive Hillel environment to Ask Big Questions, a Hillel International initiative to create a community dialogue during Shabbat. Staff also network with peers and share ideas on enhancing the Jewish experience on campus. 

Four UConn Hillel students were able to attend. They learned how to better engage their peers and network with the greater Jewish community in programs that were lead by a diverse group of faculty, including our very own Michele Schulman, UCONN Hillel's Director of Jewish Student Life..    They experienced "Shabbat 500" and "Shabbat Across Campus", lead by Shabbat Scholars, Yavilah McCoy, Rabbi Jessica Minnen, and Noah Aronson. The students had workshops which focused on community organizing, disability inclusion, racial justice, hospitality, student wellness, and more.


(L-R: Director of Jewish Student Life Michele Schulman, Students: Samantha Schwartz, Emma Strumpf, Miriam Katz, Rebecca Pereault)

Student Leadership Retreat

On August 24-25, twenty Hillel student leaders came together to learn from one another and develop their leadership skills. The group was comprised of the Hillel Student Board and the Huskies for Israel Student Board, along with emerging Hillel leaders. The students spent the training attending sessions organized by Director of Jewish Student Life Michele Schulman and Israel Fellow Noa Rifkin. They participated in bonding activities, and set leadership goals for the upcoming academic year. The students were also joined by speakers from The David Project, The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA).


(Emma Strumpf- Vice President of the Hillel Student Board setting goals with Alexander Dobensky- President of Huskies for Israel)
Alumni Spotlight
 


This month we are featuring Emily Block,  a recent graduate from the University of Connecticut. Emily completed her Bachelor of Arts in 2015 as a double major in political science and human rights and graduated with her Master's in Public Administration, with a focus in nonprofit management in May 2016.

At UConn, Emily explored her passion for Human Rights by interning with the International Institute of Connecticut, a nonprofit organization that helps refugees and immigrants settle in Connecticut. In addition she interned abroad at Gender DynamiX in Cape Town, South Africa, the first and only transgender advocacy organization on the African continent.

Emily's involvement at UCONN Hillel began as an undergraduate where she served as the UCONN Hillel Vice President of Social Justice. She has also served as Student President and most recently as a member of the Board of Directors. Emily has also interned as the Academic Advisor for the UCONN Urban and Community Program, and has also worked as a Peer Career Advisor in the UCONN Career Center.

After graduating with her MPA in May 2016, Emily began her career in nonprofit management this past July as the Assistant Director of UConn Hillel. She is specifically focusing on Alumni, Graduate Student and Parent programming, along with fundraising and marketing.
Upcoming Events

Friday, August 24, 2016


Saturday, August 27, 2016

 
Sunday, August 28, 2016

Contact Us



Trachten-Zachs Hillel House
54 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, 06268
Phone: 860.429.9007
Fax: 860.429.2344

Our Staff

Scott Selig
Interim Executive Director
tel: 860.429.9007 Ext 101

Emily Block
Assistant Director
tel: 860.429.9007 Ext 102
cell: 203.556.4370

Michele Schulman
Director of Jewish Student Life
tel: 860.429.9007 Ext 103
cell: 951.264.9014

Noa Rifkin
Jewish Agency Israel Fellow to UConn Hillel
tel: 860.429.9007  Ext 105
cell: 860.574.2379

Maureen Harakaly
Office Manager
Tel: 860.429.9007 Ext 100