Student Board
The Hillel Student Board is the general programming and coordinating group at the center of Boston University Hillel’s student activities. The Student Board creates and implements social, religious, social action and community service, and community outreach programs throughout the school year. Additionally, the Student Board works with the other Hillel student groups on larger programs, as well as with non-Hillel groups to strengthen relationships between student groups on campus. In essence, the role of the Student Board is to bring all the parts of Hillel together to create and maintain a vibrant Jewish Community on campus.
Please feel free to contact members of the Hillel Student Board for information about programs and events, and about how to become more involved in Hillel activities.
| Yoni Yudin, President |
| Danielle Tuft, Executive Vice President |
| Rachel Levy, VP of Public Relations |
| Colette Friedenson, Treasurer |
| Geoffry Gordon, Secretary |
| David Straus, Director of Programming |
| Stephanie Greenberg, Religious Life VP |
| Yoni Gontownik, Outreach Vice President |
| Kim Maniovich, Social Programmer |
| Rachel Borlack, Social Programmer |
| Halene Weiner and Simmi Shulman, Social Action Vice Presidents |
| Lana Osher, Culture & Education VP |
| Yoni Yudin, President |
| Yudin is the President of Hillel’s Student Board. As a sophomore in CAS, majoring in philosophy, Yoni has come to love Boston, BU, and especially Hillel. Yoni feels that Hillel is a great organization with amazing people and great programs to keep BU students very busy. "There is always something going on here. I am from Tel Aviv Israel, and at first it was difficult for me to adjust to the college life here in Boston, but when I found Hillel I found a second home, and I hope you will feel the same." -Yoni |
| Danielle Tuft, Executive Vice President |
Danielle is from Texas and really misses the "oh so hot" weather! She is majoring in Cultural Anthropology and minoring in Public Health, with hopes of one day working in international health. This is her second year on the BU Hillel Student Board, previously serving as the community service programmer, and loves every moment of it. Danielle looks forward to every Shabbat as a chance to come together with everyone. |
| Rachel Levi, VP of Public Relations |
Rachel Levi is currently a freshman in the College of Communication, majoring in Public Relations. She is from Minneapolis, MN and loves Boston and BU, especially Hillel! She dances in Kalaniot (Israeli dance) and is involved in COMSA and PRSSSA, too. She also loves walking around campus and the city and meeting new people. |
| Colette Friedenson, Treasurer |
| Colette is the Treasurer of Hillel's Student Board. She is a sophomore studying biology and public health, and is originally from Minneapolis. Colette is a theater nut, and one day hopes to go to work in Africa! Colette is at Hillel almost everyday, and it has become a family for her. She encourages everyone to get involved! |
| Geoffry Gordon, Secretary |
| David Straus, Director of Programming |
| David is the Co-Director of Social Programming here at BU. He is a senior in the School of Management and Hospitality. David grew up in Long Island and it was a great change coming here to BU. He enjoys the long walks on the beach that he takes with the rabbis here, as well as the burgers at Rubin’s for breakfast. Hillel is the place to be on campus, be it for dining or socializing between classes, and David wants to keep it that way by getting a permanent DJ to mix tracks. Hope to see you soon. |
| Stephanie Greenberg, Religious Life VP |
Stephanie Greenberg is a sophomore in the school of education studying elementary and special education. She is originally from Bron, New York, but Boston is really starting to warm her heart. Stephanie is very active in Boston University Hillel as the religious programmer. She loves the inter school spirit that comes to life through the different major specific activities that are offered, like the volunteer work in elementary schools in the area and she can't wait to share more with you. |
| Yoni Gontownik, Outreach Vice President |
Yoni is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, and VP of Outreach on Hillel’s Student Board. Yoni is from New Jersey, and transferred to BU after his freshman year to major in history and work at an energy company in the area. He finds Boston a real breath of fresh air when compared to my nearest city, Manhattan, because it has a really nice town feel in a city environment. He is a big fan of BU’s fitrec, where he plays a lot of basketball. Yoni also hopes to see new faces at Hillel, where we have an amazing community and exciting events waiting for all students. |
| Kim Maniovich, Social Programmer |
Kim is a freshman in College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in International Relations. She hails from Savyon, Israel, right outside of Tel Aviv, but grew up in Israel and spent high school in Bucharest, Romania and London, England. For Kim, freshman year at BU has been amazing thanks to a fantastic group of people at Hillel, Boston’s electric atmosphere, and her lovely teammates on the Women’s Crew team. The Hillel Student Board has been working hard to make this year Hillel’s best yet and she cannot wait for you to see what we have in store for next year. |
| Rachel Borlack, Social Programmer |
| Rachel is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, and is majoring in biology and intends on going to medical school. She is originally from Toronto, Canada, and is the Co-Director of Social Programming on the Hillel Student Board. Rachel's life revolves around a tv and sleep schedule. Outside of those two passions (and studying), the rest of her time is devoted to her friends. |
| Halene Weiner and Simmi Shulman, Social Action Vice Presidents |
Helene is the Co-VP of Social Action on Hillel's Student Board. She is a freshman in the School of Hospitality Administration, where I am studying for a career in the hotel business. Helene is originally from Boston originally (Go Sox!) and even though she has lived in the city her whole life, it still never gets old for her. Helene loves being on an urban campus because there is always something going on, whether it be an on-campus event or an event outside of the Boston University campus. A great place to find a wide selection of on-campus events is in the George Sherman Union, located in the center of campus. I hope to see you both there and at Hillel, where we host awesome events ranging from religious speakers to themed food nights to awesome parties! Simmi Shulman is a freshman in the School of Hospitality Administration. She is originally from Atlanta, GA, but now lives in Miami, FL. She enjoys cooking/baking, being outside when the weather is nice and exploring Boston. Simmi says. "As students we don't always consider the place we go to college 'home,' but in reality we spend more time at BU then we do at home." Because of this, Helene and Simmi organize events for you to say thanks, and give back to the community. |
| Lana Osher, Culture & Education VP |
| Lana is a freshman in the School of Management. She is originally from the Boston area and could not bare to leave the Red Sox so she decided to go to BU (just a few blocks from Fenway). Lana is the Culture and Education Programmer and an officer in BUSI (BU Students for Israel). If you want to chat about Israel or virtually any topic under the sun, come find her at Hillel, she hardly leaves. If you can't find Lana at Hillel, call BUPD and file a missing person report. |