Welcome to Hillel at Stanford, providing undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, local alumni, as well as members of the Bay Area Jewish community with a connection to Jewish life. Hillel at Stanford is open weekdays, most evenings and weekends, too, for you to drop by, hang out, nap (we have sofas!), meet friends, do a problem set, watch TV or grab a snack from our café. Drop in - this is your home.
KORET PAVILION
TAUBE HILLEL HOUSE
AT THE ZIFF CENTER
FOR JEWISH LIFE
 

Rabbi Serena Eisenberg
 Executive Director
650.723.3002
Serena joins Hillel at Stanford as Executive Director as of August 2011. Serena returns to the Bay Area after living in Israel, where she was a Mandel Jerusalem Fellow at the Mandel Leadership Institute and worked as a consultant in Jewish education. From 2005-2007, she served as the Executive Director and Rabbi at her alma mater, the Brown University/RISD Hillel. Serena was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College where she studied as a Wexner Graduate Fellow, and also holds a JD and MSW from UC Berkeley, specializing in family welfare. Serena has five sons, ages 27-8,and loves hiking and adventure - most recently, leading a bar mitzvah trek on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Rabbi Mychal CopelandRabbi Mychal Copeland
Hillel Rabbi
650.725-1424
Mychal is a California native who joined us in 2003 as Rabbi and Senior Jewish Educator. Prior to that, she served as Associate Director of Jewish Student Life at Hillel of University of California Los Angeles. Rabbi Copeland earned a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a rabbinical degree from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

Click to read Mychal’s Sermons.

 

Pat Waters
Director of Operations
650.724.3103
Pat joined Hillel at Stanford in 2003 bringing with her many years of experience working in industry, service and university settings. Pat was instrumental in working with contractors in renovating/building the Taube House and the Koret Pavilion. As Director of Operations she is responsible for administration, human resources and facilities. Pat is a native Californian and attended Eastern Kentucky University. Pat loves long walks on the beach, trying new salad recipes, and watching Dancing With The Stars.

Shifra Elman
 Gesher Director
650.723.8871
Born, raised, and then some in Brooklyn, Shifra packed up her belongings and headed west for her dream job as Hillel at Stanford’s program director for graduate students and young professionals. Shifra holds an MSW with a concentration in Community Organizing from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University as well as a B.A. in Media Planning, and an A.A. Judaic Studies from the Stern College for Women. Shifra spent a year as an Americorps volunteer where she worked with one of New York’s largest social service agencies building micro-communities of volunteers and clients to address unemployment in New York. Her hobbies include baking fancy breads, discussing the meaning of life and watching Korean soap operas. If you have an idea for a Gesher program contact Shifra at any time — she’ll make it happen!

Susan Feist
Development Associate
650.723.3337
In late 2010 Susan made aliya from New York to sunny California, where she enjoyed a long career as Marketing and Public Relations Director at two Westchester JCCs. After a short break from work, she decided it was time to look for the perfect job. Along came the opportunity to work at Hillel. Her major responsibilities revolve around thanking all the wonderful people who donate to Hillel, therefore allowing the organization to offer the important and dynamic programs that it does. Outside of the office, Susan can be found hanging out with her grandchildren, walking her dog along the bay, hiking in the hills, practicing yoga and volunteering at the Peninsula SPCA.

Rabbi Ephriam KaminRabbi Ephraim Kamin
Rabbi, Jewish Study Network
650.444.6779
Originally from Queens, New York, Rabbi Ephraim Kamin spent fourteen years of intense study at the Rabbinical Seminary of America where he received his rabbinic ordination. At this time, Rabbi Kamin holds a B.A. in psychology. An inspiring educator, Rabbi Kamin has lectured on many college campuses across America and Israel. He also has a spiritual coaching practice and works in crisis intervention. In addition, Rabbi Kamin is an avid fly fisherman, an amateur chef and an accomplished oil painter who has exhibited his work in galleries. However, his greatest delight is teaching Torah and spending time with his family. As JSN Campus Director, Rabbi Kamin partners with Hillel at Stanford to provide programming for graduate and undergraduate students on the Stanford Campus.

Heather PaulHeather Paul
Camp Kesem Director/Jewish Life Associate
650.723.1603
Heather joined the Hillel at Stanford team in September 2010. Before Stanford, Heather spent eight years in the redwoods in Santa Cruz, California. Heather went to UC Santa Cruz as an undergraduate, where she double-majored in creative writing and history, and graduated in 2006. In 2008, Heather earned a master’s degree in history, also from UCSC. Heather was the Program Director at Santa Cruz Hillel from 2008-2010, where she discovered her passion for working with college students. When she’s not at Hillel, Heather loves reading and discussing excellent novels, visiting state and national parks, and spending hours in museums with her husband, Joseph. Heather and Joseph love museums so much, that in 2009, they got married at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, where they were surrounded by family, friends, and dinosaurs. Heather is excited to be a part of the team at Hillel at Stanford, and looks forward to getting to know you. Don’t hesitate to come say hello!

Jeremy RagentJeremy Ragent
Development Coordinator
650.724.2401
Jeremy Ragent began his work at Hillel at Stanford in 2010 as an engagement and programming professional, meeting students at secret watering holes, planning Jewish events, and training interns. In 2012, he took on the position of Development Coordinator, working with the many incredible people who support Hillel at Stanford. Prior to working at Hillel, he lived in Israel for a year volunteering on a program called Otzma, and earned his B.A. in history from UCLA in 2009. His hobbies include backpacking, singing, playing brass instruments, making puns, and meeting new people.

Roey Yamin
Israel Program Associate
650.723.3098
Roey, originally from Israel, joined Hillel at Stanford in 2012 after attending Tel-Aviv University, where he double-majored in political science and communications. During his undergraduate career, he also studied at Koteret-School of Journalism for a certification in written, broadcast, and online journalism. A huge believer in student social responsibility, as a student he volunteered at The Barak Project as a mentor and teacher for at risk LGBT young adults helping them complete their high school education. He also worked for Hillel at Tel Aviv University as the coordinator of a multicultural students program made up of Muslims, Druze, and Jews, who volunteered at Save a Child’s Heart. Roey would love to sit down and talk with you about Israel, and he will probably share his deep love of Tel Aviv with you. Want to promote a program which relates to Israel? Yalla bouu - get up and come tell him about it.

Mark Taylor
Facilities Manager
Mark grew up in Sam Mateo and attended Aragon High School. He went on to the College of San Mateo where he earned an AA in accounting. Prior to coming to Hillel, Mark worked 10 years in the painting trade and for the past seven years he worked for the County of San Mateo in facilities. Mark is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the Ziff Center.