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> The pandemic turned last school year upside-down from the start, and our students’ lives with it. By September, most UNC System campuses had moved classes online and emptied their dorms. The others weren’t spared the stifling constraints. Gathering our Hillel communities in person would be impossible. Facing this disjointedness and tumultuousness, with students combating isolation and desperately needing community and connection, NC Hillel rose to meet the moment. We engaged more Jewish students through recurring interactions than ever. Unable to convene large gatherings or bring students on immersive experiences, such as our Birthright Israel trips, we focused instead on fostering deeper and ongoing connections: • We engaged 310 students at least six times last year, more than ever before. • That represented 25% of the Jewish students we knew, our highest percentage ever. Our incredible staff, whose dedication to our students throughout the pandemic has been nothing short of heroic, used technology and innovation to support the hundreds of students who embraced Hillel to help them survive the year’s challenges, which also included increased anti-Zionism and antisemitism. In these pages, you’ll read about how students have been sustained throughout the pandemic by the friendships, mentorships, inspiration, joy, and hope they have found at Hillel. Of course, even with our students’ enthusiasm, our staff’s commitment, and our board’s leadership, our success during this difficult year was made possible by our many supporters’ generosity. We Jews have gratitude literally woven into our DNA - the Hebrew word for Jew, yehudi, shares the same root as the word for thank you, todah - so even after the pain and loss of the pandemic, we express gratitude for our good fortune, including for our many partners whose care for our students makes our work possible. Thank you for helping us deliver North Carolina’s Jewish future, > Peter Levinson Board Chair
> Ari Gauss Executive Director 1 | nchillel.org
Mission and Values > North Carolina Hillel empowers and inspires students to pursue their own Jewish journeys by creating strong communities and transformative experiences. We aspire to cultivate within students a commitment to: > Community ( | Kehillah): Building relationships with Jews at home, in Israel, and around the world; > Hospitality ( | Hachnasat Orchim): Welcoming people from diverse backgrounds and creating a warm, pluralistic environment; > Learning ( | Limmud): A lifelong pursuit of deeper understanding and Jewish learning; > Spirituality ( | Ruchaniut): Investigating religious questions and seeking personal growth and moral fulfillment; and > Justice (
| Tzedek): Striving for a more just and righteous world.
2 | nchillel.org
Income and Expenses Investment Revenue: 26%
Fundraising: 11% Donations: 53%
Grants: 21% Income: › Donations: 53% › Grants: 21% › Investment Revenue: 26% › Other: 1% › Total: $1,497,025
Admin: 15%
Programming: 74% Expenses: › Programming: 74% › Administration: 15% › Fundraising: 11% › Total: $1,199,258 3 | nchillel.org
Board of Directors Officers: › Peter Levinson, Chair › Laura Stein, Vice Chair › Marissa Milstein, Secretary › Harold Berger, Treasurer Directors: › Jason Chautin › Marcia Davis › Marcy Geller › Lori Jackowitz › Harry Kaplan › Rabbi David Kessel › Rosa Perelmuter, Carolina Center for Jewish Studies representative › Jennifer Rich › Mark Rosen › Mike Ross › Graham Satisky, Development Committee Chair › Chris Smith › Eileen Springer, HR Committee Chair › Eileen Taylor › Gary Zarkin
Of Blessed Memory Rick Rosenberg z”l (1955-2021) Rick Rosenberg, Chair of the NC Hillel Board of Directors from 2011-2013, was a mensch of mensches. He was kind, gentle, and generous, quick to smile and always willing to offer his support and wisdom. A graduate of UNC (‘76) and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth (‘93), Rick made a successful career as a small business owner. With his experience as a jack of all trades - in businesses as diverse as caps & gowns and concrete - his insights were regularly transferable to NC Hillel, which he accurately understood through the lens of a small business. Moreover, as a native of Roanoke, VA, he understood firsthand our students’ experiences as minorities - not only at UNC, but across the state. Whether presiding over a board meeting or serving smoothies with his wife, Rebecca, to students at Hillel during final exam week, Rick led NC Hillel with grace, humanity, and profound dedication to NC’s Jewish students. He served on the NC Hillel board for nearly a decade in various capacities, as well as on our Strategic Planning Task Force in 2013-14. We will miss him greatly. We offer our condolences to Rebecca, to their children, Sarah (and Erin), Lake, Abby (and Sabri), and Gabe, and their whole family. 4 | nchillel.org
Students Helping Students > We empowered our student leaders to make even deeper connections with their peers on and off campus and to build bridges between Jewish students at other schools.
“Hillel has given me the chance to make things better for other Jewish students and that has increased my sense of connection, too. It’s a reminder that even though we can’t be together in person, we’re all still part of the Jewish community. It feels really rewarding to be a Hillel leader.” - Sidonia G., UNC Charlotte ‘23 > Following safety protocols, staff and students facilitated contactless pick-up of over 1,700 Shabbat to-go bags, holiday boxes, bagel meals, matzo ball soup servings, and other care packages. 5 | nchillel.org
Community Service Programs and Internships > MitzVote, a non-partisan civic engagement initiative, trained 8 students to provide voter engagement, empowerment, and education in the fall. > The Serve The Moment Fellowship (a partnership with Hillel International and Repair the World) trained 5 students from 4 campuses to create meaningful service opportunites for peers, including advocacy events, interfaith Shabbats, making blankets for hospitalized children, and providing special baskets dropped off for students in quarantine.
“The Serve the Moment Fellowship was a great experience. Along with learning how to organize volunteers with busy schedules, I also learned how to be flexible with changing environments due to COVID. I plan on incorporating more volunteer opportunities for Hillel students in the future.” - Bryn C., UNC Chapel Hill ‘23
6 | nchillel.org
Virtual Shabbatons › 200 students received our Rosh Hashanah Shabbaton boxes in September; › 170 students received our Camp NC Hillel Shabbaton boxes in November; › 125 students received our Purim Shabbaton boxes in March; › 240 students received our Passover Shabbaton boxes in April. Each box included themed materials and educational resources students used to celebrate the holidays in the comfort of their own homes while still being connected to their peers through asynchronous and synchronous online programming. Our innovative program boxes allowed all of our students, from Raleigh to Japan, to feel like they still had a campus community.
“The Shabbatons really help bring a sense of community, especially during these difficult and isolating times. This was the first time I felt really comfortable and engaged with Purim, because the programming was relatable and fun and it was with peers I had a blast connecting with.” - Anonymous Student Survey Participant
7 | nchillel.org
Jewish Learning Fellowship (JLF) Online > JLF is a 10-week experiential, conversational seminar for students looking to deepen their understanding of Judaism on their own terms. It inspires students to explore how Jewish values play a role in their lives and creates a close-knit community, including meaningful, new friendships. JLF graduates are more likely to participate in other Hillel activities and to develop a mentorship relationship with Hillel staff. > During the Fall and Spring semesters, 114 students from 8 NC campuses joined our JLF cohorts, thriving despite the physical distance between them. 8 | nchillel.org
Building Community Through Technology > Zoom and other online platforms allowed us to continue building relationships with our students. Our team logged 7,065 remote interactions with students at each of our campuses and beyond. While Zoom fatigue was a genuine challenge, students relished the opportunity for meaningful connection.
“Attending Zoom Hillel was a weekly thing I did with friends and one that I was able to look forward to every Friday afternoon. Hillel not only gave me an opportunity to be with others during a difficult and lonely quarantined period but also strengthened my friendship with old and new friends alike.” - Dean B., NC State ‘24
“Hillel has given me a fantastic group of friends that I have been able to rely on during this tough period. I have really enjoyed their Zoom programs and being able to meet students throughout all the NC campuses. I am truly grateful to be part of this warm, welcoming community.” - Jonathan M., UNCW ‘22 9 | nchillel.org
Group and Staff Excellence
› Jewish for Good honored Rabbi
Melissa B. Simon, our Senior Jewish Educator, with their annual Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.
› Vicki Cathcart, Director of Student Life
at UNCG, was awarded the 2020 UNCG Student Affairs Partnership Award.
› UNCG Student Affairs awarded UNCG Hillel the 2021 Outstanding Student Group of the Year award.
“UNC Hillel has been invaluable this year, helping me find a sense of purpose and avoid getting stuck going through the motions. I can’t overstate the impact of even a few minutes together with Jewish friends or Hillel’s amazing staff. They break the monotony and remind me that it’s not too late to have the meaningful experiences I’m supposed to have in college.” - Sophie P., UNC Chapel Hill ‘22
› Ari Gauss: Executive Director › Joanna Berman: Springboard Fellow, UNC › Vicki Cathcart: Assistant Director, NC Hillel Link › Sarah Gindes: Campus Director, NC State › Sara Gottschalk: Donor Systems Manager › Maura Koenig: Director of Engagement, UNC › Carson Pinker: Springboard Fellow, NC State › Rabbi Melissa B. Simon: Senior Jewish Educator, UNC › Hannah Spinrad: Campus Director, UNC › Ginny Vellani: Director, NC Hillel Link › Max Weinberg: Director of Operations 10 | nchillel.org
Honorary Board of Governors › › › › › › › › › › › › › › ›
Tony Bates Gerald & Sondra Biller The Blum Family Foundation Heather & Peter Boneparth Nancy & Frank Brenner Mark Clein Joanna & David Delman Jonathan Fassberg Ellen & Gary Fischer Joan & Howard Gellis Laura Stein & Sam Goldfeder Beth & Adam Goldstein Randi & Steven Gordon Stacy & Todd Gorelick Luetta & Jay Gould, The Stuart S. & Birdie Gould Foundation
› › › › › › › › › › › › › › › ›
Lyn & Michael Green Sharyn & Neil Handelsman The Jacobson-Zander Family Harry & Dona Kaplan Kathy Manning & Randall Kaplan Barbara & Jerry Levin Julie & Howard Levine Sandra & Leon Levine, The Leon Levine Foundation Peter Levinson Debby & Ken Miller Susan & Joe Nehmen Wendy & Lee Pake Michelle & Adam Parker Marion & Stan Robboy Erin & Keith Rosen Rebecca & Rick z”l Rosenberg
› Sylvia & Norman Samet › Lisa & Michael Sandman › Toby Schonfeld & James Blasingame › Stacey & Bobby Selkin › Stanley & Phyllis Shavitz Family Fund › Diane & Steven Siegel › Lori & Eric Sklut, The Levine-Sklut Family Foundation › Sara Crown Star › Shelley & Ira Taub › Tobee & Leonard Kaplan z”l Chairs Emeriti
The Honorary Board of Governors is North Carolina Hillel’s highest giving society. NC Hillel deeply appreciates the generous ongoing commitments from these individuals and families for providing critical long-term support.
11 | nchillel.org
Endowment and Legacy Donors Endowment Funds: › Ackerman-Rubin Fund for Graduate Students › Rishie Baroff Memorial Fund › Sylvia & Michael Berkelhammer Fund › Benny & Bela Boren Holocaust Remembrance Fund › Ellen & Gary Fischer Fund › George & Sue Fishman Fund › Dale & Herbert Fuerst Memorial Fund › Constance & Leonard Goodman Fund for Israel Engagement › Randall R. Kaplan Leadership Initiative Fund › Tobee & Leonard Kaplan Fund › Marcus Family Fund › NC Hillel Endowment for Outreach and Social Justice › NC Hillel Endowment Fund › NC Hillel Operating Fund › Benjamin & Ruth Perlmutter Fund for Ethics at NC Hillel › Marion Meyer Robboy Fund › Shrago Foundation › The Susan and Freddy Robinson Endowment Fund › Dr. Otto & Helen Steinreich Philanthropic Fund › TEP-Omega Student Engagement Fund › Wallace/Aronson Passover Fund › Zachor - The Remembrance Project Fund › Zerden Fund
Legacy Gift Donors: › Anonymous (14) › Shula & Stephen Bernard › Nancy & Frank Brenner › Cobi Edelson Cohen › Pat & Rabbi Frank z”l Fischer › Hollis & Ari Gauss › Beth & Adam Goldstein
› Susan & David Gutterman › Wayne Hadler › Sue & David Klapper › Elaine & Lee Marcus › David & Bunny Moff › Erin & Keith Rosen › Joyce & Robert Shuman › Gladys Siegel › Jeff Zaleon
“We believe an organization’s long-term success is a direct function of its endowment assets. We have chosen to make our charitable testamentary gifts while we are living so we can enjoy seeing our money at work empowering NC Hillel students across the state to explore and embrace their Jewish identity.” - Susan and Freddy Robinson, UNC ‘73 and ’74 For more information on becoming a Legacy Donor or creating an endowment fund, please contact Ari Gauss, Executive Director, at agauss@nchillel.org. 12 | nchillel.org
Community Partner Organizations Jewish Federations: › Federated Charities of Beth Israel Synagogue › Greensboro Jewish Federation › Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte › Jewish for Good › Winston-Salem UJA Other Partners: › Albert and Florence Jacobson Fund › Beth El Synagogue › Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community › Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life › Jewish Foundation of Greensboro › Kimberly S. Bates Foundation › The Leon Levine Foundation › Maccabee Task Force Foundation › Men of Reform Judaism › Toleo Foundation › William A. Stern Foundation
“As CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, I am grateful for the incredible partnership Hillel provides in creating thriving Jewish life, programs, and experiences on college campuses across North Carolina...The NC Hillel team’s unwavering commitment to supporting the students during this prolonged time of absence and isolation has no doubt made a huge impact and difference on their lives.” - Sue Worrel, CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte
13 | nchillel.org
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