This past year was about rebuilding deep connections. While masks and social distancing are less frequent, the healing needed from living through a pandemic was still well and alive.
We witnessed students craving community— connections to mentors like our fantastic staff and to friends who will travel the road of life alongside them.
We witnessed students craving education— signing up for classes in record numbers and showing up week after week at Hillel to invest in their own Jewish knowledge.
We witnessed students craving ritual—what other explanation can we provide for serving three times the number of Shabbat meals we have ever served?
And I witnessed community members, parents, and supporters alike seeking more connections to us and our work. From showing up at our first annual L’Dor V’Dor fundraising evening to visiting Hillel at key moments, we saw that for so many, supporting Hillel means showing up and being open to connection.
As I celebrate 10 years here, I remain grateful for each and every individual that comprises our Hillel at ASU family.
Sincerely,
Debbie Yunker Kail Executive Director
Board President Ed Ober
I could write a book about why Hillel at ASU is so special, but I have a limited word count. Therefore, I’ll get right to it. In my opinion, the biggest reason that Hillel is thriving is because we have an exceptional Executive Director and a gifted and dedicated staff.
Debbie Yunker Kail, who is a true superstar in the Hillel International community and serves on its Board of Directors and as Chair of the Hillel Directors’ Cabinet, has just completed her tenth year as our Executive Director. Under her leadership, we are engaging more students than ever before in a wide variety of educational and social events, sending more students to Israel, and providing an environment and culture that is inclusive, diverse and welcoming and honors our Jewish tradition and values.
On February 4, 2024, we will honor and thank Debbie for her ten years of dedicated service at our annual L’Dor V’Dor dinner. Please plan to join us.
Hillel at ASU is also very fortunate to have Taylor Silverman as our Assistant Director and Rabbi Suzy Stone as our Senior Jewish Educator/ Campus Rabbi. With each year, Taylor assumes more and more responsibility, particularly
with programming and student engagement, and Rabbi Suzy continues to teach, counsel and inspire our students.
Debbie, Taylor and Rabbi Suzy excel in their jobs largely due to the staff responsible for student engagement and programming. Todah Rabah to Rafi Abramowitz, Community Engagement Manager; Devin Davidson, Community Engagement Specialist for Birthright and Greek Life; Shira Khotim, Community Engagement Specialist for Multi-Campus Activities and First Year Students; Arielle Rauch, Programming and Marketing Specialist; and Arielle Schwartz, part-time Campus Marketing and Development Manager.
I also wish to thank our dedicated Board of Directors and all of you, our generous supporters who continue to invest in our Jewish Future. Together, with our dedicated staff, we nurture the future leaders of our wonderful Jewish community.
Ed Ober
JEWISH and NEWISH
First-year students are looking for connection, support, and understanding. Hillel at ASU plays a pivotal role in allowing first-year students to find their place of belonging and adjust to campus life more seamlessly.
Hillel’s robust first-year student programming and engagement reaches students on all four campuses and includes weekly events in and around first-year residence halls, a BigLittle mentoring program, and leadership opportunities.
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Hillel cultivates a positive community for first-year students, fostering them a home within ASU that provides:
• A space where they feel comfortable and cared for
• Encouragement to further their role within the Jewish community at ASU
• Friendships and connections with other Jewish students
Through this, ASU students end their first year with a fuller understanding of their Jewish and personal identities.
Hillel feels like a home away from home. It’s hard to feel comfortable when you’re in a completely new state, but Hillel has done so since I first stepped through the door, especially through my involvement in the first-year BigLittle program. Through BigLittle, I made many new friends and mentors and, of course, enjoyed tons of home-cooked meals, all of which helped set me on my path in college.
Hillel provided me with countless opportunities to be an active member of the community during my freshman year. As I begin my sophomore year as an outreach specialist on our executive board, I can't wait to work with friends and peers to make an impact and help our community thrive!
Abe Mogelson '26
BUILD JEWISH EDUCATION Diverse class offerings
All Hillel staff serve as educators, and our educational vision is led by Rabbi Suzy Stone, Senior Jewish Educator and Campus Rabbi. She shared,
My vision as a Jewish educator is to help students
Authenticity. Create a rigorous platform for Jewish education that is genuine to students’ needs. Outcome: Students are able to own their own Jewish identity with pride and see themselves are inheritors of an authentic stream of Jewish tradition and history.
When I started at ASU, I didn’t understand Judaism much. Getting connected with Hillel piqued my interest to learn. When I realized the community that Jewish Learning Fellowship created through a learning experience, I knew I wanted to give it a shot.
I quickly discovered that the lessons learned were applicable to my everyday life. I learned new things to take with me every day, and I built friendships I wouldn’t have otherwise. JLF allowed me to find a new community and connected me to my Jewish identity in a new way that I know will have a lasting impact throughout my life.
Because of JLF, I not only know more about my Judaism, but I know how I fit in the Jewish community.
Ryan
Greenwood '24
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Hillel at ASU’s mission is to enrich the lives of undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people, Israel, and the world. The experience that students receive at Hillel throughout the years prepares them for making a difference during their adult lives.
Hillel helped me tremendously during college; it was the only community where I felt I belonged and I don't think I would have graduated without it. If they believed in me as a leader, I felt I could also believe in myself as a leader. Hillel helped me gain confidence and connected me with people who made me feel cared about and valued. Now, I am the Phoenix Community Ambassador for OneTable. OneTable empowers people who don’t yet have a consistent Shabbat dinner practice to build one that feels authentic, sustainable, and valuable. Shabbat dinners are an amazing time for routine, connection, spirituality, and nourishment. These are all things I believe are integral to mental health, and these are all things I discovered through Hillel at ASU.
Aleeza Kaplan '20
Throughout my time at ASU, Hillel was the anchor that kept me connected to the Jewish community. More than just an organization that put on fun and meaningful programs (of which I went to many!), Hillel was truly a "Jewish Student Center". Living at home freshman and sophomore years, I was so grateful that Hillel provided a safe and welcoming place for me to hang out between classes, meet friends to study, and get to know other Jewish ASU students. Not only are many of my fondest Hillel memories actually from the "informal" experiences that Hillel facilitated, but it was these day-to-day experiences that showed me what the Jewish community is all about.
Since graduating, I've held various leadership roles in the Jewish community, including serving on Hillel at ASU's Board of Directors, chairing JNF's Shabbat in the Desert, running Dad's Club at the JCC preschool, and sitting on the Phoenix Chief of Police's Jewish Advisory Board. Throughout all of my involvement, whether on the boards I've sat on, at events I've chaired, or at programs I've attended, I regularly reflect back on my time at Hillel for a model of how community is built—one relationship at a time!
Mark Khazanovich '11
IMPACT beyond the CAMPUS
Mazel tov to these wonderful couples on their engagements during the summer of 2023! Both met through Hillel, and all were active participants in Hillel during their college years, fostering Jewish community for others in many different ways. Here are a few highlights.
Andy Weiss '20 • Scottsdale, AZ
Andy furthered his Jewish education by taking several classes through Hillel including Engage Israel and the Jewish Learning Fellowship. He also worked with Becca as an ambassador to host Shabbat dinners during the pandemic when Hillel was supporting small “pod” gatherings in lieu of larger communal meals and events.
Becca Smith '22 • Flagstaff, AZ
Becca served as a student ambassador, hosting intimate Shabbat dinners in her home for other students. Fun fact: She also benefited from the Hillel network in securing her first full-time job out of college!
Matt Allen '20 • Tempe, AZ
Matt, who received a Master of Music in Performance from ASU, shared his talents with our community several times by playing cello at Kol Nidre.
Gabby Litevsky '22 • Chandler, AZ
Gabby served as VP of outreach on the Hillel student board, helping to reach more students in the Greek system through new (at the time) events such as Greek Shabbat and Greek Seder.
Hillel at ASU is dependent on the generosity of parents, alumni and friends. We sincerely appreciate every individual who supports Jewish life on campus.
We apologize for any errors or omissions; please contact hillel@hillelasu.org with any corrections.
Pillar • $25,000+
Hillel International
The Molly Blank Fund
Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix
Rosenbluth Family Foundation
Alyse & Tony Wanger
Barbara & Barry Zemel
Sustainer • $10,000+
Carrie & Morrie Aaron
Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation
Diane & John Eckstein
David Frazer
Fran Frazin
Cheryl & Ira Gaines
Benjamin Goldberg Memorial Trust
Marcy Gringlas & Joel Greenberg, Seed the Dream Foundation
Jaburg Wilk/Gary Jaburg
Joel Jacob
Cyndi & Jamie Rosenthal
Joel Schaller
Sheila Schwartz
A Mountain • $5,000+
Arizona State University
Chulew Family
Amy & Andrew Cohn
Shelley Cohn
Flo & Paul Eckstein
Tom Frenkel
Bruce Greenberg
Deeann Griebel
Cheryl & Stan Hammerman
Rachel & Jonathan Hoffer
Maccabee Task Force Foundation
Judy & Mark Searle
Pitchfork • $2,500+
Judy Ackerman & Richard Epstein
Eva & Samuel Binder
Nancy & Zach Brooks
Randi & Alan Jablin/Friedel
Family Foundation
Barbara & Allan Friedman
Samantha Friedman
Elyse & Adam Katz
Kimberly & Norm Kur
Kristina & Marvin Lustiger
Gail & Ed Ober
Sacks Tierney P.A.
Sun Devil • $1,000+
3rd Ave Investments
Arizona Community Foundation
Karolyn Benger & Rabbi
Michael Beyo
Engelman Berger
Susan & Lee Berk
Dorothy & Michael Blaire
Allyson Brooks & Robert Feldman
Sharon & Allan Bulman
Vicki & Howard Cabot
Wendy & David Carriere
Elaine & Sid Cohen
Robyn & Bennett Cohen
Francine Coles
Melanie & Hilton Efune
Rosana Bodanis Farber Memorial Program Endowment
Adam Feldman
Helene & Steve Figman
Trish & Jeff Fleischer
Lynn Frazin-Lerner & Marc Lerner
Kristin & Dan Friedman
Charles Friedman
Danny Goldberg
Charities Aid Foundation
America/Goldman Sachs
Beth Shapiro & Steve Goldstein
Lev Gonick
Gary Grove & Diane Mann Grove
Marion & Jeffrey Isaacs
Israel on Campus Coalition
David & Pat Kader
Debbie & Ben Kail
Eli & Selina Z"L Kaminsky
Shari & Irwin Kanefsky
Amram Knishinsky & Anne Summerson
Sue & Neal Kurn
Marlene & Lanny Lahr
Tracy Leonard-Warner & Randy Warner
Stan Marks
Michelle Meiches
Robert Meza
Shannon & Keith Mishkin
Nancy & Larry Moffitt
Mara Pernick
Allen Plotkin
Karen Quick
Becca & Aaron Sacks
Julie & Bradley Schoen
David Schuman
Jennifer & Steven Schwarz
Tracy & Marc Schwimmer
Secore & Niedzialek, P.C.
Shapiro Endowment Fund
Sara & Bob Silver
Dale & Alan Singer
Daniel Spiegelman
Eva & Marvin Steiner
Mikayla Laufer Stokes & Derek Stokes
Deedee Vecchione
Caryll & Gerald Webner
Gayle & Jay Weiss
Winston Foundation
Sherri Wolson
Pamela & Gary Yunker
Beth Jo Zeitzer & Adam Nach
Robin & Thierry Zerbib
Gold • $500+
Shotsy Abramson
Sue & David Adatto
Benevity/American Online
Giving Foundation
Tim Benson
Tricia & Andy Beran
Laura & Jeff Beraznik
Alison & Adrian Betts
Julian Beuzieron
Sheryl Bronkesh
Barbara & Lewis Brown
Ivy & Joe Ciolli
Scott Frindell
Judith Gardenswartz & David Efron
Marilyn & Joseph Gimbel
Liza & Doug Golden
Judith Gottschalk
Jared & Jessielyn Hirschl
Joshua Hoffman
Fred Horne
Zachary Jaburg
Stephanie & Frank Jacobson
Jewish Free Loan
Jewish National Fund
Ohad & Dafna Kadan
Dee Dee & Doug Kahn
Rabbi Elana Kanter & Rabbi
Michael Wasserman
Judith Karshmer
Andrea & Jay Katz
Brooke & Mark Khazanovich
Sally & Ed Kur
Melanie & John Lakovich
Eddie & Veronica Lange
Maddy Levy
Irene Lubin
Hayley Magerman
Robert & Marcia Mallin
Skeeter & Gary Marcus
Masorti on Campus
Irene Metz
Vicki & Neil Motzkin
Erika & Steven Neuberg
Robyn Perchik & Michael Feinman
Irving & Ricki Rollingher
Wendy & Jonathan Rose
Laura & Herb Roskind
Karen Scates
Tina & Irwin Sheinbein
Marty Shultz
Nancy & Stuart Siefer
Susan & Brent Silver
Evelyn & Daniel Simon
Bonnie Slavitt
Maryann & Jack Spiegelman
Elana & Daniel Storch
Suzanne & Richard Swift
Geoffrey & Jacquelyn Tatelbaum
Anna & Dave Taylor
Gerald Weiner
Weiner Insurance
Larry & Sue Wilk
Julie & Daniel Witenstein
Bonnie Wunsch
Paul Zatulove
Ann & Ted Zinman
Sara Ziskin
Marilyn & Joel Zolondek
Anonymous
Maroon • $180+
ABLE Financial
Audrey & Dan Abrams
Michelle & Rob Adler
Sandy Adler
Kiera & David Allen
Shoshi Almog
Carol & Thomas Alpert
Alpha Epsilon Phi ASU
Denise & Chase Alyeshmerni
Anonymous
Gail & Michael Baer
Lanie Bailey
Lisa & Steve Banen
Richard Bash
Alan & Karen Bayless Feldman
Lawrence Bell
Julie & Jeff Bell
Zachary Bell
Scott & Kenna Belsky
Allison & Alex Benezra
Steven Berger
Debbie Bernstein
Kim & Aaron Blau
Donna Bojarsky
Linda & Jeffrey Bonn
Robin & Ian Bratslavsky
Elisha & Steven Bregman
Danny
Steve
Gary
Stephanie Bressler
Jason Bronowitz
Risa Brown
Risa Brumer & Rabbi
Jordan Brumer
Erica Burech
Karen & Jay Bycer
Alena Cantor
Stefanie & Jerry Cargill
Alana & Zach Charnofsky
Jennifer Chester
Chompie's
Natalie & Larry Clapick
Nathan Cohen
Congregation Kehillah
Edith Cox & Brian Nickel
Ellen & Craig Dean
Holly & Ken Dolgin
Rachael & David Don
Cynthia & Edward DuBrow
Jennifer Eckstein
Jill & Adam Eisenberg
Howard & Hope Feinberg
Michael Feinman
Nicole & Samuel Felberbaum
Rochelle & Stan Ferdman
Ashley & David Flaumenhaft
Alan Gendler
Barbara & Joel Gereboff
Candice & Mark Gimbel
Jody & David Goffin
Deborah & Hirsch Goffman
Bonnie & Merrill Goldenberg
Julie & Max Goldman
Sara Goldman
Heidi & Robert Goldsobel
Precy & Ben Goldstein
Jill & Bruce Goldstein
Midge & Gerald Golner
Rachel Green Rasmussen
Fred Greenberg
Alex Greenberg
Anita & Chris Griffith
Joseph Hecht
Deborah Helitzer
Iva & Larry Hirsch
Amy Hummell
Linda Immermanstoffers
Julie & Jonathan Ivanhoe
Jonathan Jacoby
Terri & Rick Jonas
Ruthie & Ira Joseph
Abby Kahn
Ken Kalina
Julie Kaplan
Aleeza Kaplan
Rich Kasper
Adam Kass
Ed Katz
Leo & Evelyn Kelman
Endowment Fund
Gail Fisher & Mel Kessler
King Coffee
Wendi & Howard Klatsky
Ricki & Ethan Klos
Bob & Helen Kravitz
Becky Kristal
Steve & Ariella LaBell
John & Melanie Lakovich
Landman Family Donor
Advised Fund
Sue & Mark Landy
Daniel Laredo
Oriana Laredo
Marc & Sherry Z"L Lato
Judy & Nathan Laufer
Juliann & Keith Laufer
Stuart Lazar
Marc Leib
Eric & Rochelle Leibsohn
Rabbi Levi & Chani Levertov
Laura & Jon Levin
Shlomo Levin
Sara & Andrew Levy
Martha & David Lieberman
Jack Linde
Ralph Loew
Andrea & Jeff Low
Ninfa & Ronald Lowe
Cynthia Lubin
John Magoulas
Betsy Marks
Marti Markus
Beth & Rob Marsh
Robin Martin
Mark Messinger
Leila Mikal
Phyllis & Len Miller
Michele Millman
Steven Millman
Minkoff Center for
Jewish Genetics
Elizabeth Monaco
Linda & Les Moskowitz
Karen & Robert Nagle
Leah Nahon
Lisa & Jason Neiman
Marc Newman
Diane & Steve Ozer
Susan Persin
Randy Persson
Rachel & Itai Pines
Meredith & Scott Pollov
Hal Pollov
Blair Portigal
Mike & Susan Portnoy
Lisa & Eric Potruch
Arnold Rabin
Lisa & Steve Rauch
Lauren & Jeffrey Rips
Lisa & Lawrence Rogoff
Susan Rollins & Paul Garry
Daniel Rosen
Gail Zucker
Heather & Mitch Ross
Susie & Bob Roth
Sheldon Roth
Yajad Rozemberg
Judith & Michael Schaffert
Joseph Scherzer
Shauna & Matthew Schmeisser
Amy & David Schneider
Esther & Donald Schon
Marla Schram-Wolfe & David Wolfe
Erin Searle-Proud & Jacob Proud
Julee Landau Shahon & Robert Shahon
Rachel Shamah
Cory Shapiro & Rachel Zaslow
Jessica & Mike Sharkey
Kendra Perkins
Marc & Kindra Shecter
Sandra Sheinbein
Eli Shenker
Lisa & Dave Sherman
Bethel & Bob Shuch
Barbara & Hal Shulman
Carmen & Joel Sideman
Barbara & Barrett Silver
George-Ann & Barry Silverman
Joan & Gary Silverman
Rosalyn Silverman
Taylor & Zach Silverman
Barbara & Stephen Slogoff
Audra & James Small
Julie Smith
Maida Snapper
Marcia & Arlen Solochek
Jennifer Sosnow
Laura & Andrew Sosnowitz
Deborah Sparrow
Karen & Bruce Spiegel
Richard Stark
Kimberly & Courtney Stephens
Suzy Stone
Hava Tirosh-Samuelson & Tsimchi Manoach
Allen Vaisman
Von Veeh
Marcia Weisberg
Rochelle & Glenn Weiser
Leesa & George Weisz
Gary Wiener & Beth Crandell
Richard Wiener
Freya & Ken Winsberg
Marie & William Wolf
Amy & Robert Yosowitz
Adam Zalkin
Carl Zaragoza & Antje Graham
Jodi & Steven Zimelman
In-Kind Donations
Chompie's Costco
Liquid Death
Legacy Society Members
Judy Ackerman & Richard Epstein
Tricia & Andy Beran
Kimberly & Aaron Blau
Nancy & Zach Brooks
Nancy Bodinet & Todd Franks
Karen & Jay Bycer
Rabbi Micah Caplan Z"L
Wendy & David Carriere
Barbara & Jason Carroll
Elaine & Sid Cohen
Shelley Cohn
Francine Coles
Diane & John Eckstein
Flo & Paul Eckstein
David Frazer
Barbara & Allan Friedman
Hirsch Goffman
Deeann Griebel
Diane Mann Grove & Gary Grove
Cheryl & Stan Hammerman
Jessielyn & Jared Hirschl
Randi Jablin
Debbie Yunker Kail & Ben Kail
Shari & Irwin Kanefsky
Gail Fisher & Mel Kessler
Kimberly & Norm Kur
Sue & Mark Landy
Veronica & Eddie Lange
Tracy Leonard-Warner & Randy Warner
Irene & Donald Z"L Lubin
Andrea & H.J. Lewkowitz
Barbara Lewkowitz & Geoffrey Gonsher
Irene Metz
Andi & Sherman Z"L Minkoff
Nancy & Larry Moffitt
Bruce Nager Z"L
Gail & Ed Ober
Rachel & Elliot Rabinovich
Cyndi & Jamie Rosenthal
Sari Roth
Susie & Bob Roth
Karen Scates
Joel Schaller
Tracy & Marc Schwimmer
Beth Shapiro & Steve Goldstein
Lola & Jacob Shapiro Z"L
Sandra Sheinbein
Nancy & Stuart Siefer
Susan & Paul Stander
Marcia Solochek
Elaine Waxman & Bob Segelbaum
Marcia & Max Z"L Weisberg
Barbara & Barry Zemel
Ann & Ted Zinman
Anonymous
Z"L • of blessed memory
For more information on how you can show your support for the long-term viability of Hillel’s presence at ASU, contact Debbie Yunker Kail at debbie@hillelasu.org.
