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THE HOW TEAM
RACHEL E. KLEIN, MSW
Executive Director
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Alma mater(s): University of Pennsylvania, '03 (MSW), University of Delaware, '01 (BA Sociology, Concentration in Social Welfare)
Favorite Shabbat Activity: the moments of silence after lighting the candles.
Superpower: creating space for others.
Contact Rachel about: travel guidance for your Jewish journey, social justice, volunteerism, universal inclusion, Israel, and leadership development.
Reach out to Rachel by emailing her at rachel@hillelsofwestchester.org
Rachel joined the HOW team in 2014. Prior to her time in the Hillel family, Rachel served as a Reform synagogue director in New Jersey, youth group advisor, and teacher. She began her social work career in 2003 as a direct-practice social worker in mental health and substance abuse. Her journey from clinical social work to Hillel professional brought her to serve as an Assistant Child Advocate with the State of New Jersey for nearly a decade, where she focused on anti-bullying efforts, childhood lead poisoning, legislative oversight and individual advocacy. She is an award winning hobby winemaker and currently lives in Stamford, Connecticut with her husband, Brian, rescue dogs, Betty White and Bear, and (master of the house and Manhattanville alumni) cat, Ollie.
Jonathan Horowitz
Director of Community Engagement
Pronouns: he/him/his
Alma mater(s): Binghamton University ('16) - Double Major in Jewish Studies and English (focus in Creative Writing)
Favorite Shabbat Activity: Singing zemirot (Shabbat songs)
Superpower: Making puns for every occasion
Contact Jonathan about: connecting with other Jewish orgs in Westchester, how HOW can best serve you on your Jewish journey
Reach out to Jonathan by emailing him at jonathan@hillelsofwestchester.org
Jonathan Horowitz (who you can also call Jon or Joho) is thrilled to be joining the Hillels of Westchester family. Since a young age, Jon has found creative and meaningful ways to share his love of being Jewish with others. Jon grew up in Sharon, MA and participated in and held leadership roles in USY, attended the Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel and most recently worked as a Jewish Studies and Tefilah (prayer) teacher at Schechter School of Long Island. Before that, Jon was a counselor and Rosh Edah (unit head) at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack and taught at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School in Chicago, IL. When he's not helping others find their personal Jewish spark, Jon loves to cook, listen to and talk about music, cheering on his New England Patriots and his fantasy football teams, and spending time with his lovely wife Sarah and toddler Aviva.
Lielle Leni
Israel Fellow
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Alma mater(s): Peres Academic Center – B.A. in Behavioral Sciences
Favorite Shabbat Activity: A long Friday night dinner with family and friends.
Superpower: Turning strangers into friends
Contact Lielle about: Israel, Jewish life, campus events, Hebrew, traveling in Israel, or if you just need to get something of your chest., best dessert in every city ,travel recommendations, baking tips, or if you want to hear an Israeli say words you definitely can’t pronounce.
Best way to reach me: liellelevi12@outlook.com
Hi! I’m Lielle from Israel. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Sciences, I’m a former pastry chef (yes, I will happily talk about desserts), and I served in the Israeli Air Force before starting my journey with HOW. I joined HOW because I love building community and creating spaces where people feel comfortable, connected, and proud of who they are. One of my favorite parts of this job is getting to know students, hearing their stories, and creating fun and meaningful experiences together.
When I’m not working, I’m probably planning my next trip, trying a new café, baking something sweet, or convincing people that dessert should always come first.
I’m always happy to chat, so don’t be a stranger!
Tamar Rozen
Youth Social Worker
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Alma mater: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel, and Master of Social Work (MSW) from Tel Aviv University.
Favorite Shabbat activity: Spending quality time with my family and friends.
Superpower: Listening with curiosity, exploring different perspectives, and helping people discover new ways of understanding themselves and their experiences.
Contact Tamar about: You're navigating a life transition, coping with grief or loss, feeling overwhelmed by stress, facing relationship challenges, exploring your identity, or simply looking for someone to think things through with. I'm always happy to listen, consult, and support you.
I love connecting with people, and building meaningful relationships is one of the most rewarding parts of being a social worker. As an American-Israeli woman, I've always felt a deep connection to the Jewish community. Joining Hillel has allowed me to combine my passion for supporting students with my commitment to strengthening Jewish identity, fostering belonging, and creating joyful, meaningful experiences for students.
Reach out to Tamar by trozen@wjcs.com
LINDA EISENKRAFT
Bookeeper
Celebrating her 15 year anniversary with HOW in 2024, Linda is the longest serving staff member. She is the proud Jewish mom of Ben and Sam, alumni of SUNY Binghamton University.