What is Hillels of Westchester (HOW)?
 Hillels of Westchester (www.hillelsofwestchester.org) is a 16-year old non-profit organization led by a core group of dedicated Westchester Jewish community leaders and professional staff, whose mission is to enhance the lives of Jewish college students in Westchester so that they will make an enduring commitment to Jewish life. We are a local  multi-campus division affiliated with Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life (www.hillel.org).

Our Hillel serves a Jewish population of 1,300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students on four liberal arts campuses: Manhattanville College, Pace University-Pleasantville, Purchase College SUNY, and Sarah Lawrence College. All Jewish college students as well as the Jewish community in Westchester are welcome to participate in our ongoing programming and outreach in Westchester County.

Hillels of Westchester’s mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. Hillel student leaders, professionals and lay leaders are dedicated to creating a pluralistic, welcome and inclusive environment for Jewish college students where they are encouraged to grow intellectually, spiritually and socially.

Hillels of Westchester helps students find a balance in being distinctively Jewish and universally human by encouraging them to pursue tzedek (social justice), tikkun olam (repair of the world) and Jewish learning, and to support Israel and global Jewish peoplehood. Hillels of Westchester is committed to excellence, innovation, accountability and results.

How many professional staff does HOW employ?
Saul Spangenberg, Executive Director
Catherine Sara Schwartz, Engagement Associate
Abigail Winter, Engagement Associate
Linda Eisenkraft, Administrator

What is the total student population of the different campuses that HOW
serves and the approximate percentage of Jewish students on each of these campuses?

• 1050 students at Sarah Lawrence College (30% Jewish)
• 4000 Purchase College, SUNY (10% Jewish)
• 1400 students Manhattanville College (10% Jewish)
• 2500 students Pace University, Pleasantville Campus (5% Jewish)

How many Jewish students does HOW actually reach?
 Hillels of Westchester reaches approximately 28% or 400 of the Jewish student population. By creating a pluralistic, welcoming and inclusive environment Hillels of Westchester expects to double this number within the next 5 years. On an annual basis, we continue to grow this number.

How is Hillels of Westchester supported?
 Hillels of Westchester is supported by a Board of Directors which includes prominent members of the Westchester Jewish community. Additionally, Hillels of Westchester receives an allocation and grants from UJA Federation of NY, various student government funding, parents, alumni and contributions from the local Jewish community.

What outreach does Hillels of Westchester do in the community?

• HOW cosponsors the Jewish College Fair held at Solomon Schechter Westchester
• HOW cosponsors the Annual Jewish Studies Film Festival with the Jewish Studies Program at Purchase College SUNY
• HOW organizes performances at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College SUNY
• HOW hosts community receptions with prominent community leadership
• HOW invites the community to exclusive performance opportunities such as DAI and Tovah Feldshuh events (Irena’s Vow)
• HOW volunteers participate in UJA Federation’s Annual Super Sunday
• HOW invites the poor to it Passover Seders
• HOW volunteers participate in Midnight Run (www.midnightrun.org) several times a year
• HOW volunteers collect and donate food for the hungry

What are the programs that Hillels of Westchester students organize and run?
 Hillels of Westchester’s programming is varied and targets Jewish students with different backgrounds and levels. Hillel of Westchester focuses on 6 main areas:

ARTS & CULTURE:

• Jewish Music Performances
• Israeli Visual Artists
• Lectures like "Jews and Food"
• Comedian Nights
• Holocaust Survivor Speakers
• Klezmanukah – Klezmer concert and dance party to celebrate Hanukkah

PRAYER & STUDY:

• Holiday Celebrations and Ritual Activities

SOCIAL:

• Klezmanukah
• The Bad Jew Social
• Superbowl Party
• Hillel at Home
• Oscars Party

TZEDEK/SOCIAL JUSTICE:

• Midnight Run – serving NYC’s hungry and homeless poor
• Trick or Eat – collecting non-perishable food items and other donations for needy people in our community
• Alternative Spring Break trips to New Orleans to rebuild from Hurricane Katrina devastation

ISRAEL:

• Film Screenings
• Lectures by prominent Israeli political figures, film directors, artists, musicians, authors
• Israeli IndepenDANCE Party

JEWISH LEARNING:

• Gimme Shelter – a discussion about housing and homelessness that takes place in the Sukkah

In addition, Hillels of Westchester participates in Taglit: Birthright Israel trips. Over 200 HOW students have gone to Israel for free in the last 5 years due to this program.