📧 mattb@hillel818.org

Born and raised in a small Connecticut town, Matt has spent the past decade+ building Jewish community in Los Angeles. Matt is so excited to be the Executive Director of Hillel 818, where he helps grow the Jewish community in the Valley, guiding students from CSUN, Pierce College, and Valley College on their Jewish journeys. He is a Jewish day school, youth group, summer camp, Hillel and Birthright veteran, and spent eight years at Sinai Temple as the Atid and Teen Director.

Matt earned a Masters of Arts in Education from the American Jewish University, and a B.S. in Advertising from Boston University, where he was active at Hillel as President of the Conservative Minyan, a member of the Religious Life Council, and guitar player and songwriter for Jewish rock band "The Rif." Matt is a TV & movie fanatic, die-hard NBA buff, and Johnny Cash impersonator who is always on the lookout for the next great lunch spot. Matt spends most of his free time with his wife Alayna and his baby boy Jaden Max.

📧 megw@hillel818.org

Meg joins the Hillel 818 team after beginning her Hillel journey at Hillel at the University of Rochester. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Meg is excited to call Los Angeles home in partnership with her husband and pup Mani (short for Manischewitz). Meg has been creating vibrant Jewish community and experiences for over a decade and finds the work to not only be meaningful professionally but something that adds value and color to her life personally as well. When Meg is not at work or playing with Mani, you can usually find her on the hunt for the perfect iced chai latte! Feel free to ask Meg how she links Jewish texts to the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

📧 darrenk@hillel818.org

Darren was born and raised here in the San Fernando Valley and is excited to be on the Hillel 818 team! Prior to starting with Hillel, he worked for Far West Region USY. Darren is a CSUN alum, earning a BA in Sociology with a Jewish Studies Minor, and received his Masters of Science in Management from Cal Lutheran University’s School of Management. Darren loves spending time with his wife Sarica, his kids Ari and Devorah and their dog Ricky.

📧 rabbijess@hillel818.org

Rabbi Jess, though British by birth and taste buds, received Rabbinic ordination from American Jewish University in 2014. She spent the next 8 years in pulpit positions at large Conservative Synagogues in Seattle and then Los Angeles as a spiritual leader and educator for all ages. (Adat Ari El, baby!)

Her governing principles are that of compassion, inclusivity, pluralism, and critical thinking in the face of established texts. She infuses her Judish practice with joy, music, humor, and soulfulness. She is here to support our students as they navigate the often overwhelming experience of juggling studies, careers, relationships, alongside their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. She is a safe space, and a guide to all who are questioning their identity, seeking to learn more, and desiring to find a peoplehood to belong to.

She swims! She sings! She hides from the sun! She watches Star Trek and she *still* plays Pokemon Go! She can’t wait to meet all of you, treat you to your favorite beverage, and get to know who you really are!

📧 maxw@hillel818.org

Max is the Program Manager at Hillel 818. He graduated from Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) with degrees in Music Production & Technologies and in Religious Studies. He spends his free time going disc golfing, getting outdoors, playing music, and playing Magic the Gathering. He also loves to tell stories and write music.

He is super excited to meet you, chat over some smoothies, and hang with you at all of the amazing programs this year!

📧 abbies@hillel818.org

As a San Fernando Valley native Abbie is over the moon to be working alongside students who grew up in her community. She earned her undergraduate degree at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana where she studied Philosophy of Law, Morality, and Society. Her minors included Religious Studies and Sociology. She became passionate about the synthesis of human nature and behavior and the influence religion had on them. New Orleans gave her a deep love of southern culture, Mardi Gras, and diverse religions. In exploring and studying cultures and religions from all over the world, Abbie discovered her true passion- exploring Judaism with young adults. Working in an interfaith community allowed her to learn productive ways to teach Jewish values, specifically those of culture and community. Abbie is a lover of books, people, and music. She is excited to explore Judaism with young adults and interested students with the Hillel 818 team!

📧 ellenb@hillel818.org

Born and raised in the 909 with familial ties to the Valley, Ellen has spent the past decade cultivating deep connections with the Global community. She studied Archaeology and International Relations at the American University of Rome in Rome, Italy and Human Rights at York University in Toronto, Canada. She is excited to build ties with the diverse student population in the 818 community and beyond! If you ever hear a loud honking noise while at Hillel, don’t worry as that is just her laugh! When not at work, Ellen can be found crocheting, updating her travel bucket list, cooking, or making friends with anyone and everyone.

If you ever want to talk about the hard subjects (but not math!), practice your Italian, or are in need of a cheesy dad joke, you should definitely say hi!

📧 carolines@hillel818.org

Caroline is excited to be part of the team at Hillel 818! She is originally from the Washington D.C. area and graduated from the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC with a B.A. in Communication. Caroline was very involved with College of Charleston Hillel during her time in Charleston and cannot wait to continue her Hillel experience here in the Valley. When not at Hillel, Caroline loves cooking, her cat, politics, and helping others find good books to read. If you’re ever looking for someone to discuss movies, TV, theater, Taylor Swift, or pretty much anything pop culture-related, Caroline’s your person!

📧 julieb@hillel818.org

Julie was born in Paris and lived there until she was 14 when her family decided to move to Israel. She has some Moroccan roots and her favorite celebration is the Mimuna party after Passover, and of course, her favorite dish is mufleta!

She has a degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Learning disabilities. Learning new languages is her jam and she’s all about traveling and meeting new people.

She is super excited to be part of the Hillel 818 team! Her goal is to help young people feel like they belong, no matter where they are from, and no matter who they are. She is looking forward to meeting each of you, getting to know you better and hearing all about your interests!

📧 davidkk@hillel818.org 📧 shanak@hillel818.org

David and Shana Kashani are a dynamic couple with a shared passion for creating a vibrant Jewish community in the Valley. As the new OU-JLIC couple of the area, they are thrilled to embark on this new journey together.

David brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served as the JLIC President at UCLA and as the Yavneh West Regional Coordinator, where he successfully established the Yavneh community on the west coast. With his expertise in community building, David is well-equipped to lead the effort to bring together Jewish college students in the valley.

Shana is equally committed to the cause and has a strong desire to connect with students on a deeper level to help them overcome challenges and achieve their goals. As a star student at JLIC of SMC and a former madricha at Baer Miriam Seminary, Shana has the necessary skills to support and inspire the Valley's Jewish students.

Together, with the help of Hashem, David and Shana are dedicated to making a positive impact and to bringing an optimal Jewish community to the Valley. Their enthusiasm and dedication are sure to inspire and uplift those around them, and they are poised to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many.