Impact Report 2022-2023
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Princeton University - for providing and managing our beautiful facilities including our outstanding kosher dining hall. Hillel International – for grant funding to support our 2022-2023 programs. The Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh made a significant gift to Princeton University to establish the Posner Family Endowment Fund for the Center for Jewish Life. This fund, made in fall 2022 as part of the University’s Venture Forward campaign, will grow the CJL’s existing, nationally recognized programs and provide resources to develop new initiatives and innovative approaches for strengthening Jewish life at Princeton. “We are so grateful for the partnership of the Posner Foundation, and specifically for our longstanding relationship with Anne and Henry ‘77 P12 and Ida ‘12,” said Rabbi Gil Steinlauf ‘91, CJL Executive Director. The Posner family represents three generations of Princetonians who have been deeply committed to building vibrant Jewish life on campus and to establishing the CJL back in 1993. It is especially meaningful that the Posner family has established this endowment to ensure that generations of Jewish Princetonians will have increased opportunities to meaningfully connect with Jewish life on campus and to make a substantive difference in the world through their future endeavors and leadership.” The Posner Foundation was founded in 1963 by Henry Posner Sr. to support charitable causes in the Pittsburgh region and was later expanded by his son Henry Posner Jr. ‘41 to include support for global philanthropic endeavors, especially within the former Soviet Union. Today, the foundation focuses its grantmaking on the social, economic and environmental challenges around the world. Henry Posner III ’77 and his wife, Anne Molloy, are both trustees of the foundation and their daughter Ida Posner ’12 serves as an advisor. In addition to this gift, we are grateful to the Posner Foundation for its longtime annual contributions as a CJL Honorary Trustee. Posner Foundation Establishes Fund to Enhance Jewish Life at Princeton When I got into Princeton, the first words out of my mouth were “I get to be part of the CJL!” I knew little about the community at that point, only that I’d spent a wonderful Shabbat at the CJL a few months prior (and that the cookies were unforgettable). Now, as I prepare for my final year of college and my final semester on the CJL Student Board, I think about how much more excited I would have been when I got in had I known what being part of the CJL really means. Being part of the CJL means being part of vibrant communities of student leaders. One that I am particularly grateful for is the 2023 Student Board, the largest in CJL history. I have the privilege of collaborating with 22 of my peers to plan amazing programming, to make the CJL into the most welcoming and inclusive community it can be, and to envision and work toward the future of the organization. Being part of the CJL means learning from mentors. Two of mine are Rabbi Gil Steinlauf ‘91 and Marc Mehl ‘87, the immediate past Chair of the CJL’s Board of Directors. Rabbi Gil exemplifies how to simultaneously teach and learn from others and how to inspire people by sharing a love of Judaism and of Princeton. Marc demonstrates how to value and make space for everyone in a room and how to focus on details while not losing sight of the big picture. Being part of the CJL means these things and so many more, and I hope that present and future Jewish Tigers can share my excitement about getting to be part of the organization. I hope that our community is perceived as the place to be–a warm, welcoming, intellectual, and spirited hub of Judaism on campus. And I hope that being a part of the CJL is not a temporary experience, and that current and future alumni feel that the CJL–and more importantly, the people that make up the community–are part of their lives for years to come. Julie Levey ‘24 CJL Student Board President Student President Reflections
The 2022-2023 year marked the start of an exciting new chapter for the Center for Jewish Life. As I began my third year as Chair of CJL’s Board of Directors, we were thrilled to welcome Rabbi Gil Steinlauf ’91 as our new Executive Director. Rabbi Gil has already made such a positive impact on the CJL community and especially with our students in just his first year back at Princeton. We are so fortunate to have his passion for Judaism and Jewish life, We enjoyed our first fall semester of full, in-person programming since 2019. Signature CJL programs such as Shabbat dinner and Jewish Learning Fellowships attracted hundreds of new and returning students. In January, our Israel Tiger Trek experience – focused on exploring Israel through the lens of the “start-up” nation made its longawaited return to Tel Avi and Jerusalem. More than 100 outstanding student leaders partnered with CJL’s dedicated and amazing staff to offer q wide range of meaningful opportunities for engagement, rebuilding community, connecting with Israel, studying Jewish texts and making friends. In February 2023, CJL celebrated the 30th anniversary of its opening with a special Shabbat dinner in our building as well as several alumni-hosted dinners around the country. I wish that all of the many alumni and university partners who worked for nearly a decade to make a Center for Jewish Life a reality in the heart of Princeton’s campus could see the incredibly diverse, welcoming, creative and caring community that gathers daily in our beautiful home at 70 Washington Road. I am not sure they fully imagined or appreciated the lasting, positive impact that CJL has on the students we engage directly through our amazing programs and on everyone who walks through our doors. I am personally so grateful for their vision and for creating a space where Jewish life thrives on the Princeton campus. I am proud to present this report that highlights the experiences of our students and the important role that CJL plays in their Jewish journeys during their time at Princeton. I hope they inspire you. On behalf of the CJL Board of Directors, our staff and most especially, our amazing student community, thank you to everyone who invests in our mission and our students. May we all continue to go from strength to strength! Marc Mehl ‘87 Chair, CJL Board of Directors 2022-2023 Message from CJL Board Chair Now that I have completed my first year as the new Executive Director of the CJL, it is a privilege to share with you my insights into a year in the life of our amazing students. Probably the greatest impression I have gotten of Jewish life here at Princeton is the sheer numbers of Jewish students who come and engage with our vibrant community. As you read this report, you will see how CJL is incredibly successful at providing students, regardless of background, with opportunities for Jewish connection and growth. It is this connection that helps shape the Jewish character of our students, inspiring so many to leadership at the CJL and beyond on campus. When I was an undergraduate at Princeton decades ago, there were certainly excellent opportunities for Jewish life on campus. But there was nothing so focused and powerful as the kind of Jewish community and experience that the CJL fosters today. It’s not just that the CJL provides a home away from home for our students. It’s not just that we provide vibrant and diverse religious services and experiences for our students. It’s not even just that we provide extraordinary options for learning, traveling, socializing, celebrating and having fun for our students. Probably the greatest achievement of the CJL is that we succeed in empowering so many of our students. 1 out of 5 students are engaged as leaders within the CJL and Jewish students are living proudly and fiercely as Jews all over campus. They lead various student organizations, write proudly as Jews in our many Princeton student publications, and speak up as Jews for justice and for a wide array of causes. One of the reasons I came back to Princeton was because I know, on a personal level, the power that Princeton has to inspire us to be in the service of humanity. The Princeton experience itself is a call to leadership in our nation and in the world. I see in the CJL the potential to partner with and enhance that Princetonian call to leadership, and to help our Jewish students see themselves as called to leadership proudly as Jews. This report illustrates the many ways we are doing this work each and every day at the CJL. As we move forward, we will focus and hone our potential to provide connection, tradition, meaning, community--along with leadership inspiration--to ever greater heights. It is the generous support from you; our alums, parents, faculty and community members that is helping us get there. We look forward to our continued partnership to ensure that our future looks even brighter Rabbi Gil Steinlauf ’91 Executive Director and Jewish Chaplain Executive Director’s Message
I am on the board of the CJL because I want to help others feel more comfortable, excited, and proud to be Jewish on campus. I tell my Jewish and non-Jewish friends to come to the CJL whether for a welcoming Shabbat dinner, to end a stressful week, or just for a chat over coffee in the lounge, there are always opportunities at the CJL to grow friendships and build new ones. Oren Swagel ‘26 SNAPSHOTS CJL leaders, our largest cohort ever, act as ambassadors on Princeton’s campus to build relationships with their Jewish peers to connect them to meaningful Jewish experiences. The CEIs, trained in community engagement by CJL staff, connect with friends over a warm cup of coffee, a stroll through campus or a delicious meal in the CJL dining hall. 54 Fostering COMMUNITY Community Engagement Interns (CEI) BAYIT (GRAD STUDENT OUTREACH) • Social Events (Superbowl Party, Bowling, Game Night) • Shabbat Dinners (student hosted, staff hosted and at CJL) • Holiday Celebrations (Chanukah, Purim) • JLF participation We connected with grad students via a variety of programs and events. 75 “ ”
Being a part of the CJL has grounded and enhanced my entire Princeton experience. This year, I’m loving serving on the board as VP of Programming, which allows me to give back to the community by planning events that engage all different types of Jews and students on this campus! Abigail Goldberg-Zelizer ’24 of Jewish undergrads at Princeton have a leadership role at CJL. 20% Total of student groups centered around a variety of topics such as social justice, performing arts, dialogues and partnerships, politics and advocacy, and prayer. • N ewest additions Working Title - an improv group and MEJA (Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Jewish Alliance) • Students initiated participation in CJL Sustainability Committee and Hazon’s Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition • Student-led themed Shabbats such as LatinX Shabbat and Israel Shabbat 18 EMPOWERING LEADERS “ ”
SNAPSHOTS MAKING JEWISH LIFE JEWISH LEARNING FELLOWSHIPS (JLF) 96 • students participated in 10 Jewish Learning Fellowships • of JLF student surveyed shared that “JLF helped them feel like part of a Jewish community” • of JLF students went on to become CJL leaders Topics included: Your Jewish Story, Israel – Home and Homeland, Kol Yisrael – Ethnic Minorities in Israel, Queering Judaism, Beit Midrash, and Restorative Justice. 96% 60% STAFF & STUDENT LED LEARNING Hundreds of students learned one-onone, in small group settings with our OU-JLIC lunch & learn, TNT (Thursday night Torah), chavurot, and in larger settings with scholars-in-residence and guest speakers. This JLF was almost therapeutic for me. I’m so glad that I took it! I feel far more connected with Judaism, my personal Jewish story and future, and the Jewish community here at Princeton after participating. After many disappointing Jewish learning experiences, this JLF was the perfect balance of interactive, informative, and welcoming, and really reinvigorated my excitement about Judaism. Chana Lee Mitty ‘26 “ ”
PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL students became B’not Mitzvah at CJL last year. 4 65 CHALLAH FOR HUNGER students met at CJL weekly to braid and sell over 400+ challahs at Princeton. The students raised over $1500 for organizations helping those with food insecurity. CELEBRATING JEWISH TRADITIONS Students of all backgrounds look forward to CJL’s weekly Shabbat service and dinners and Jewish holiday celebrations. Nearly kosher meals were served at CJL by University dining. 42,000
• students visited Israel through Israel Tiger Trek & Taglit-Birthright Israel. • Over students attended Independence Day BBQ & Israel Shabbat • Students explored diverse perspectives on Israel through conversations with CJL’s Israel Fellow, JLF courses, and guest speakers. 36 300 SNAPSHOTS Connecting with Israel I planned Tiger Trek to revisit the transformative experience I had at ISTT last year. Interacting with startup founders was incredibly inspiring and gave me a strong sense of pride and connection to my Jewish heritage. We encountered a diverse range of industries, companies, and cultures, and I was pleased to see that everyone, regardless of background and interests, found ways to engage and grow personally and professionally. ANNA PRILUTSKY ’24 “ ”
Promoting Student Wellness CJL Staff and student leaders attended university training in emotional support and crisis response. • S taff-led weekly yoga & meditation classes • S taff wellness check-ins with students during 1:1 conversations • S tudent initiated Mental Health Shabbat I support the CJL with my time and resources in order for the CJL to continue to support all Jewish Princeton students in their mission to develop and enhance their Jewish identities, create Jewish community, and engage in opportunities for intellectual, spiritual, and social growth. Stephanie Levey ‘97 CJL Board Member “ ”
As an independent non-profit affiliated with Hillel International, CJL’s greatest source of annual operating income is contributions made by alumni, parents, faculty/staff and friends. These gifts enable CJL to offer a wide array of vibrant programs that engage Jewish students of all backgrounds at Princeton in personally meaningful ways. Additional annual funding to CJL comes from university endowment funds, grants and co-sponsorships and student program fees. HONORARY TRUSTEES Our Honorary Trustees propel Jewish life at Princeton into the national spotlight. These donors, who contribute a minimum of $10,000 annually, ensure that CJL continues to flourish as one of the best Hillels in the world. We are honored to acknowledge their outstanding leadership and generosity. DONORS $5,000-$9,999 Anonymous (4) Randolph Altschuler ‘93 and Cheryl Sladkin Altschuler ‘93 Ronald Arons ‘78 Tobias Citron ‘15 Jonathan and Rabbi Darcie Crystal ‘97 ‘97 Anna and Akiva Dickstein *93 Christopher Eisgruber ‘83 and Lori Martin Lawrence and Marilyn Friedland P93 G27 Elizabeth Friedland Meyer ‘93 and Dr. Mark L. Meyer P27 Stanley A. Hoffberger ‘51 Joleen and Mitchell Julis ‘77 P20 P23 Shelly and Michael Kassen ‘76 Ruth and Sidney Lapidus ‘59 P84 P88 P93 G16 Mark L. Levine ‘86 and Andrea Kott Karen and David Mandelbaum ‘57 P87 P89 P98 G23 Jill and Marc Mehl ‘87 Heather and Daniel Mendelow ‘97 Guy and Michal Miasnik P22 Avi Naider ‘94 and Debra Klein P24 P28 Anne M. Molloy and Henry Posner III ‘77 P12 Joshua H. Rawson ‘85 Douglas Silverman ‘00 and Fabienne Anstey Silverman Derek Smith ‘89 and Rachel Bluth Michele Warman ‘82 and Larry Hirschfield P20 P24 P27 Steven and Linda Weissman P17 P19 Jane and Mark Wilf ‘84 Nanar and Anthony Yoseloff ‘96 Michelle and Robert Zellner ‘98 Len Berman and Lori Zeltser ‘89 ‘89 P21 William and Karen Chast Ari and Netti Herman ‘04 ‘05 Karen Hogan *85 Rachel Kaganoff Stern ‘86 Louis and Rose Klosk Fund, Barry C. Cooper DDS, Trustee Stephen and Stephanie Levey ‘96 ‘97 P24 Alan G. Levin ‘84 Sharon Silverman ‘80 and Steven Lieberman ‘80 P10 Andrea Baumann Lustig ‘80 *81 Neil and Kami Pomerantz ‘89 ‘89 Douglas Schleicher ‘81 and Aili L. Lazaar Pamela and E. Randol Schoenberg ‘88 Isaac Silverman ‘91 Susan Singer W59 P86 P87 Hazel Stix W*54 GP10 SNAPSHOTS Impact at a glance $1,043,000 raised 879 donors 80% alumni 10% non-alumni parents 10% faculty-staff- community member GRANT FUNDERS Hillel International Israel Coalition on Campus iTrek Jewish Community Youth Foundation - Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County
DONORS $1,000-$4,999 Anonymous Carrie and Morrie Aaron P23 Ilana and Ari Berenson P25 Rosalie and Lawrence Berman ‘59 P89 GP21 Robert Bernstein ‘08 Madeline and Alan Blinder ‘67 P93 P98 The Honorable W. Michael Blumenthal *53 *56 P75 P79 Leah and Ra’anan Boustan ‘00 *04 Dina and Paul Brewer ‘88 *90 P22 P22 P24 Drs. David Bronheim and Leslie Miller P15 P19 Professor Samuel A. Cohen Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson ‘90 Jill and Jeffrey Degen ‘94 Professor David Dobkin and Ms. Suzanne Gespass P06 P10 P16 Rabbi Ira Dounn Jonathan M. Egol ‘92 and Zina Starosta P24 Shana and Adam Elga ‘96 Sara Elikan PGS Michael and Susan Falcon P15 Henry S. Farber *77 Herbert and Ruth Feinberg David Feinberg ‘63 P90 P91 Shoshana and Leonard Feiner ‘92 P22 P24 Isaac Finkle and Kim Shafer P22 Rabbi Michelle Fisher ‘94 Brian and Eleonora Goldberg P22 Sharon and Jeffrey Goldberger P23 Carol and Andy Golden Diana and Harrison Goldin ‘57 P93 Kenneth A. Goldman ‘64 Barbara and E. Robert Goodkind ‘54 Joshua and Sarah Greenhill ‘00 ‘02 Abigail and Robert Gross P24 Jack and Miriam Guggenheim P25 Steven Weiss and Professor Martha Himmelfarb P02 P06 P11 Brian Hines and Tracy Shevell P25 Jon Holman ‘66 Dina and Marshall Huebner ‘88 P19 Irving and Alisa Kagan P24 Claire Ullman *92 and Robert Kasdin ‘80 P18 P20 Daniel S. Kaufman ‘92 Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP Melissa Lane and Andrew Lovett Josephine & Bill LeBeau P24 Aviva and Ethan Leibowitz ‘05 Simon and Carole Levin Mark Liss ‘70 and Bonnie Burt Margery and Edgar Masinter ‘52 Harriet Mehl Arthur and Linda Meisel P95 G27 Harvey and Suzie Mindel P19 P21 P25 Adam and Shelley Penstein P25 David S. Phillips ‘90 and Ellen Zweig Phillips P26 Ellen and Ari Powell P26 Seth M. Priebatsch David Ricanati ‘88 and Beth Warshawsky Ricanati P25 Tobias and Elaine Robison *65 *72 Daniel and Rachel Manischewitz Rocker ‘91 P23 P27 Rita Seplowitz Saltz Jeffrey Samberg ‘88 P23 Lisette and Hank Siegel Professor Robert Socolow Gary Stern and Michelle Logan-Stern P24 Janet Lax Toledano ‘74 and Yehuda Z. Toledano P04 P11 Jesse and Marissa Treu *73 Shira and Robert Waitman ‘83 P23 P25 Judy and Michael Walzer P82 G14 Naomi Weinberg ‘95 and Ted Berk Gadi and Caren Weinreich P25 Joseph Weinstein ‘75 Richard ‘81 and Nadine Woldenberg P15 Naomi Wolfensohn ‘87 Frances Zeitler and Fred Edelman G18 G20 G23 Andrew Zelermyer ‘85 and Daniel Romanow Kim Zinn ‘98 THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS To see our full donor list, please go to our website Hillel.princeton.edu We apologize for any errors or omissions, please contact Contact Debbie Orel at the CJL, dorel@princeton.edu with any corrections. CJL ENDOWMENT FUNDS The following funds have been established to provide core funding, in perpetuity, to CJL for general operations or for designated program purposes. We are deeply grateful to the donors who, through their extraordinary vision and generosity, have helped to ensure the ongoing financial sustainability of CJL. The Mark C. Biderman ‘67 Jewish Education Fund The Albert Einstein Fund The Goldman Sachs Gives Agus ‘89 Travel Fund The Kalvaria Family Fund for the Center for Jewish Life The Mark L. Levine ‘86 Fund for the Center for Jewish Life The Laurie and Jay P. Mandelbaum ‘84 Fund for the Center for Jewish Life The David M. Manischewitz ‘59 Center for Jewish Life Endowment The Heidi Goldberg Miller ‘74 Fund for the Center for Jewish Life The Rahmin, Marcelle and Mooshi Namordi Family Fund for the Center for Jewish Life The Sol Phillips Perlman Memorial Fund The Posner Family Endowment Fund for the Center for Jewish Life The Howard Reiter ‘81 and Jody Ellant Fund for the Center for Jewish Life The Jordan Roth ‘97 Fund for the Center for Jewish Life The James M. Shapiro ‘80 Fund for Sacred Celebrations at The Center for Jewish Life The University Chapel Fund The Jane and Mark Wilf ‘84 Family Fund for Jewish Life The Stanley S. Zelermyer Fund for Jewish Education SNAPSHOTS With Gratitude
Rabbi Gil Steinlauf ‘91 Executive Director Robin Rudofker Director of Institutional Advancement Rabbi Ira Dounn Associate Director Marni Blitz Senior Program Advisor Debbie Orel Marketing & Development Manager Rabbi Azi Horvitch OU-JLIC Co-Educator Atara Horvitch OU-JLIC Co-Educator Mor Mamoya Jewish Agency Israel Fellow Rivky Rogin Donor and Operations Coordinator Maureen Behr CJL Administrator CJL STAFF 2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022-2023 OFFICERS Marc Mehl ’87, Chair Jillian Marcus ’89, Vice Chair Douglas Schleicher ’81, Vice Chair Michele Warman ’82 P20 P24, Secretary William Chast, Treasurer PAST PRESIDENTS Robert Zellner ‘98 Mark Biderman ’67 Pierre Gentin ‘89 Rabbi Darcie Crystal ’97 Jeremy Kasdin ’85 P14 P14 Seymour Bogdonoff z’l *48 P77 Henry Farber *77 Stanley Katz Simon Levin David Manischewitz z’l ’59 P89 P91 P95 G23 Reba Orszag P91 Arlene Pedovitch ‘80 P11 Daniel Rubenstein Nathan Scovronick Thomas Spiro Julian Wolpert BOARD MEMBERS Robert Bernstein ‘08 Leah Boustan ‘00, Faculty Dina Brewer ‘88 P22 P22 P24 Tobias Citron ‘15 Danielle Cohen-Shohet ‘12 Rebecca Glasman ‘91 Stephanie Levey ‘97 P24 Samantha Libraty *23 Rachel Lieberman ‘10 Emily Pronin, Faculty Joshua Rawson ‘85 Joshua Roberts ‘17 Daniel Rubenstein, Faculty Isaac Silverman ‘91 Derek Smith ‘89 Robert Waitman ‘83 P23 Julian Zelizer, Faculty P24 P25 P26 P27 Dean Alison Boden, Ex-Officio Center for Jewish Life 70 Washington Road Princeton, NJ 08540 609-258-3635 hillel.princeton.edu facebook.com/CenterforJewishLife youtube.com/CJLprinceton princeton_cjl
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzA2NDY0