Of Joy. Of Sorrow. Of Hope.
I know exactly how the conversation would go:
“So I need to tell them about all the amazing stuff but I also need to share the bad without being too depressing. And show how we’re better than ever, but we can literally only move forward with their help. And I need to be engaging, honest, complete, and inspire people to donate money, but it has to be short enough that they actually read it.”
“That doesn’t sound fun for you, boss.” Evan would reply. “Good luck!”
Evan only ever called me boss when talking about a task she was glad I had to do instead of her. I think this email would be one of those moments. You see, in so many ways this was the best semester in the history of Hillel 818.
Fall Semester Highlights
-Already reached 700 Jewish students and 200 non Jewish students.
-Engaged hundreds of students in Jewish and Israel learning
-Launched our innovative new student leadership platform– the Grapevine Initiative
-Increased attendance at our staple Hillel Shabbats and on-campus lunches
-Given out thousands of free meals to fill hungry bellies
-Led a powerful October 7th vigil and Kites for Hope memorial
-Took a bus full of students to the Nova Festival memorial museum
-Celebrated an incredible Mega Shabbat with 125+ of our closest friends
-Held more than 150 coffee conversations with students
-Held our first ever "Camp 818" shabbaton with 40 students at Camp Bob Waldorf
-Ran student favorite annual events "Pumpkin Smashing" and "Hillel Formal"
And yet, over the past few weeks I’ve been asked repeatedly, “how’s the year going at Hillel?” and despite my inclination to whip up the highlight reel, I’ve been compelled to answer with, “it’s been amazing, but-“
Out of the 500 Hillels around the world, last week Hillel 818 was recognized at the Hillel International Global Assembly with the prestigious and coveted “Great Place to Work Award.” Our staff literally cried with joy upon the announcement – they truly love and believe in the work that we do and the organization for which they are doing it.
Amazing, but… Evan wasn’t there to celebrate with us. A few short moments later, we were crying tears of sorrow as I shared to the audience of 1,200 Hillel colleagues a tribute to Evan Taksar Levental, our recently departed Associate Director of blessed memory.
Two weeks ago, we held what was perhaps my favorite program of my tenure at Hillel 818 – a beautiful and moving B’nai Mitzvah ceremony for 3 of our superstar students. For various reasons, a lot of our Hillel 818 students never had B’nai mitzvah ceremonies at 12 or 13. Ryan, Blake, and Elliot chose on their own to spend the past semester learning and studying with Rabbi Jess, including learning Hebrew for the first time, so they could read FROM THE TORAH (!!!) and deliver B’nai Mitzvah speeches. During the service, each set of parents shared blessings for their children that were so authentically loving and proud that there was not a dry-eye in the building. This is why we do this work.
Amazing, but… While our hearts burst with pride, it was impossible not to remember the hostages still held in Gaza unable to celebrate the milestones of their loved ones. It was impossible not to think about the 40% of Jewish college students who are afraid to be publicly Jewish on campus, including many at our campuses. During this event of such profound naches, we also necessarily held room for the pain of Jewish suffering.
Such is the history of Jews. For thousands of years we’ve learned to hold our pain and our joy simultaneously, even molding that tension, energy, and motivation to progress forward. And so it will be with us, too.
In 2012, CSUN Hillel, Pierce College Hillel, and LA Valley College Hillel joined forces to become Hillel 818 and usher in what I believe to be the Golden Age of Jewish student life in the San Fernando Valley. As we enter 2025, our B’nai Mitzvah year as an organization, the work is literally harder than ever. It’s harder than ever to find the Jewish students on our campuses. It’s more expensive than ever to serve the needs of our students. And in many ways, it’s the most challenging time to be Jewish in over 75 years. And yet, Hillel 818 is more successful than we’ve ever been, and we’re changing the Jewish futures every single day.
13 years of Hillel 818 Logos!
Never have I felt more sure of the future of Hillel 818 than this past October, when Ellie and Mark Lainer, true titans of menschlikite and leadership, named the Executive Director position with a legacy endowment gift to Hillel 818, and created an additional $500,000 endowment match challenge.
Hillel 818’s future is secure because it has to be secure. Our work is too important. It’s too meaningful. It’s necessary to the fabric of the San Fernando Valley and the entire Los Angeles Jewish community. It also depends on you.
We need your help to meet the $500,000 endowment match challenge from the Lainers. We need your help to make our budget this year – after all, individual donors account for almost 70% of our revenue each and every year. Whether $20 or $20,000, every cent makes a difference. We literally can’t do our work without you. Period.
And so, I want to end this by thanking you. Thank you.
For allowing me the privilege of being the organization’s Executive Director and doing such meaningful work.
To Hillel International, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, the Jewish Community Foundation Los Angeles, The Glazer Foundation, the Leve Foundation, and the Amado Foundation for being foundational partners and financial supporters in our work.
To each of you whose financial contribution past, present, and future makes this work possible.
To everyone who sent us love and comfort after Evan’s passing.
To everyone who has sent us notes of congratulations after we won this big award.
To our students who motivate our staff to keep doing this work every day. It is our honor to support you.
And to Evan – your memory will inspire us forever.
