Staff

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• Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, Executive Director

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  Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller
  310-208-3081 x103
  rabbichaim@uclahillel.org
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  Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller is in his 38th year at Hillel at UCLA as director. He previously served as Hillel Director at Ohio State and as Rabbi of Congregation Ahavat Achim, New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was ordained in 1971 at Yeshiva University where he also earned a Masters Degree in Rabbinic Literature. He has taught Kabbalah and Talmud at the University of Judaism, is a Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, and is a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Wilstein Institute for Social Policy. He is also a member of the faculty of the Wexner Heritage Foundation and is a Lehman Faculty Fellow at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute. He loves the constant challenges presented by students who consistently and persistently ask the most interesting questions. He is a known book collector and is married to Dr. Doreen Seidler-Feller, a clinical psychologist, and is the father of Shulie who studies photography at NYU and Shaul who is studying at Yeshiva University.

• PROGRAMMING:

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• Jason Leivenberg, Director of Student Life / Repair the World Coordinator

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  Jason Leivenberg
  310-208-3081 x106
  jason@uclahillel.org

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  Jason Leivenberg is our Director of Student Life, leading students in key programs like the Student Board, Leadership Development Seminar, Campus Entrepreneurs Initiative (CEI), First Year Students of Hillel (FYSH), and social justice programs such as Alternative Spring Break.  Jason learned the importance of Jewish community in his own student leadership roles with Berkeley Hillel, coordinating immersion experiences to the Gulf Coast and engagement initatives on and off campus.  He later spent his first year out of school working at Santa Barbara Hillel as the Engagement and Outreach Associate.  He is an alumnus of Jeremiah Fellowship with the Progressive Jewish Alliance in Los Angeles and LAPID Fellow (Leadership and Professional International Development Initiative) in Washington, DC, as part of a national initiative with Hillel International.

  
  

  
  

• Rabbi Aaron Lerner, Senior Jewish Educator

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  Rabbi Aaron Lerner
  310-208-3081 x104
  rabbiaaron@uclahillel.org

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  Rabbi Aaron loves a good story.  He's most interested in hearing individual's life journeys - who are you? where are you going? why? what makes you tick?  He also has a few good stories to tell, most reflect the 3,000 years of Jewish wisdom tradition of our people, but get him on the right day and he might tell you about the time he was almost killed for mispronouncing a word.  Often on campus, or hanging out at Hillel - Rabbi Aaron wants to hear your story.  Feel to walk up and say 'hi'. 

  
  

• Rabbi Aryeh & Sharona Kaplan, JLIC - Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus

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  Rabbi Aryeh & Sharona Kaplan
  310-208-3081 x102
  rabbiaryeh@uclahillel.org
  sharona@uclahillel.org

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  Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan and Sharona Kaplan, MSW are serving in their eighth year as the JLIC couple at UCLA.  Originally from Teaneck, NJ, the Kaplans – who met in High School - lead a vibrant student community at Hillel, offering an exciting diversity of individual study sessions, interactive learning experiences and formal classes. Aryeh and Sharona live in Westwood and, along with their four young children, spend every Shabbat on campus and spearhead Hillel’s holiday services and celebrations.  Bringing with them expansive experience in Jewish education, programming, community building and engagement, the Kaplans’ warmth, sincerity and passion attracts and inspires students and community members alike.  The Kaplans are sought after mentors, teaching brides and grooms before their weddings, escorting students through an array of defining life cycle events and offering advice and personal counsel to students.  JLIC, the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus, is a national partnership between Hillel and the Orthodox Union that places an Orthodox, Rabbinic couple on select campuses to serve as Torah Educators and mentors for Jewish students. For more information about JLIC, go to www.jliconline.org. 

• Perla Karney, Artistic Director

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  Perla Karney
  310-208-3081x108
  perla@uclahillel.org

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  Perla is in her 9th year as the artistic director of the Dortort Center for Creativity in the Arts at UCLA Hillel where she has transformed the center into a vibrant, popular destination for students and the Jewish community seeking art and culture. Perla presents nine art exhibits every year in over two thousand square feet of gallery space at Hillel. In addition, she mentors student artists, showcases emerging artists, introduces documentaries, book authors and coordinates the Hillel lecture series. Perla was born and raised in Bavaria, Germany. She left her home town of Munich as a teenager and was educated in the United States, Canada, Switzerland and Paris. She returned permanently to the United States for her college education (BA from UCLA, graduate work in English Lit. at Loyola Marymount University). Before taking the position as artistic director at Hillel at UCLA Perla was a successful theater producer in Los Angeles bringing such plays as "Woman in Mind" with Helen Mirren to the stage as well as many other West Coast premieres. In addition to being the Vice-President of the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, Perla sits on the board of the UCLA Fowler Museum Arts Council and is a founding member of the Temple of the Arts.

• Neri Johnson, Israel Program Coordinator

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  Neri Johnson
  310-208-3081 x 105
  Israel@uclahillel.org
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  Neri was born to an Israeli mother and a Swedish father, and her early years were spent on a "moshav" in southern Israel. Later on the family moved to the big city of Tel Aviv – and it was love at first sight. As a soldierette Neri had a unique job, serving on the IDF Spokesperson Unit, accompanying foreign journalists on different missions. Neri studied Political Science and International Relations, and worked as a news editor for "Walla," Israel's leading news website. She has also worked for Israeli TV's 'Channel 2' as website manager for different television programs, and wrote music reviews for a music portal. Neri is an avid vegetarian. In her spare time she enjoys painting, reading, traveling and going to the beach like a true Tel Avivian.

• Danielle Natelson, Engagement Associate

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  Danielle Natelson
  310-208-3081 x105
  danielle@uclahillel.org

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  Danielle hails from Orange County, CA, spending her entire K-12 career at her Jewish Day School in Irvine.  She recently graduated from UC Berkeley where she studied Psychology while "majoring" in all things Hillel as a student. Danielle lives and breathes Jewish communal work, spending every summer since 4th grade at Camp Ramah in California as a camper and staff member, teaching Israeli Dance, and spending half a year studying abroad in Jerusalem.  She has an insane love of sports and a passion for singing, and looks forward to Shabbat every week.  Danielle is excited to embark on her first year as a part of the Jewish Bruin Family here at Hillel at UCLA!

• Sydney Henning, Rabbinic Intern from Hebrew Union College

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  Sydney Henning
  310-208-3081 x109
  sydney@uclahillel.org
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  Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sydney graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Political Science and Journalism in 2003. Immediately after graduating, she spent four months in Israel studying at an Ulpan in Haifa and enjoying her first experience in the Jewish homeland. After returning to the U.S., she became professionally involved in national politics and, shortly thereafter, became a nationwide community organizer for one of the largest labor unions in America, AFSCME . In 2006, she decided that she would like to continue community organizing, but within a Jewish context. She moved to New York in February of that year to become the Director of National Initiatives for Birthright Israel’s Alumni Association, now known as Birthright Israel NEXT. She worked with unaffiliated young adults who were looking to deepen their connection to their Jewish roots. The experience she had with these young adults through Birthright Israel was priceless and eventually inspired her to apply to rabbinical school at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Now in her 5th and final year at the College-Institute, Sydney is the recipient of the coveted Schusterman Rabbinical Fellowship. She brings to Hillel at UCLA her passion for Jewish Education, spirituality, and young adult engagement as well as her diverse background, having been the Student Rabbi for Temple Beth Torah in Ridgecrest, California, Temple Shaaray Tefila and Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico and a Jewish chaplain at UCLA Medical Center. 

• Scott Westle, Rabbinic Intern from American Jewish University

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  Scott Westle
  310-208-3081 x107
  scott@uclahillel.org
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  Scott grew up primarily in Tucson, AZ before heading to the beach for college, graduating in 2004 from the San Diego State University with a B.A. in International Security and Conflict Resolution. He bookended his collegiate years with lengthy jaunts to Israel: first as a participant on United Synagogue's Nativ gap year program, learning for a semester at Hebrew University and volunteering for the second half of the year on a kibbutz, and after college learning in Jerusalem at the Pardes Institute of Judaic Studies. In 2005, Scott moved to Los Angeles, eventually working as a USY director for Shomrei Torah Synagogue in West Hills, a four-year employment that spiritually, emotionally and communally paved the way for entrance into the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, where he is now in his fourth year of five. Scott has spent summers staffing USY Israel Pilgrimage and working at Camp Ramah in California. Scott was also the rabbinic intern at Sinai Temple in 2010-2011 before returning to Israel for a year to learn at the Conservative Yeshiva. He loves the San Diego Chargers, and is only now getting used to the idea that they will break his heart at the end of every NFL season.

  
  

• DEVELOPMENT:

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• Rachael Petru Horowitz, Director of Development

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  Rachael Petru Horowitz
  310-208-3081 x 213
  rachael@uclahillel.org

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  Hailing from the Midwest, Rachael came to Los Angeles after receiving a BA in General Studies, Certificate in Jewish Studies and a Minor in Hebrew from Indiana University.  While participating in the first Birthright Israel trip, Rachael became hooked on working to support the state of Israel and the Jewish community. As West Coast Field Organizer of the America Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC), Rachael worked intensively with Hillels throughout the western states teaching pro-Israel advocacy skills during the second Intifada.  Rachael went on to spend eight years as a major gifts fundraiser for Hadassah during which time she also earned a Certificate in Public Relations for Non Profits from UCLA Extension.  Rachael is an alumna of the Bend the Arc Jeremiah Fellowship as well as a member of the “talent” pool of the Professional Leaders Project.  Rachael is the adoring wife of Josh Horowitz and proud mama to Polly and Kaleb.  To keep herself grounded, Rachael maintains a regular yoga practice and attempts to enjoy as much California sunshine and outdoor activity as possible.

• DeAnne Millais, Development & Marketing Manager

  

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  DeAnne Millais
  310-208-3081 x214
  DeAnne@uclahillel.org

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  A proud Bruin, DeAnne has extensive experience in event production, project management and administration. After graduating from UCLA in 1997, she spent six years as an event producer, planning sales meetings, incentive trips, galas and other programs for a variety of corporate clients. In 2003, DeAnne stepped away from the event industry for four years during which time she was the PR and Administration Manager for Appleton & Associates, Inc.-Architects where she worked closely with Principal Marc Appleton, handled all public relations and marketing efforts, and coordinated two books projects: California Mediterranean by Marc Appleton & Melba Levick (Rizzoli, 2007) and New Classicists: Appleton & Associates by Marc Appleton (Images Publishing Group, 2008). Additionally, she worked alongside Mr. Appleton to develop the Southern California Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art - a non-profit dedicated to the appreciation and advancement of classicism in architecture and the allied arts. In 2007, DeAnne returned to event production, working this time for non-profit and entertainment clients producing a variety of golf tournaments, auctions and galas – and even worked on a Rose Parade float! At the same time, she found her way to Hillel, where she managed a variety of projects leading to a full-time position in 2009. When she’s not at Hillel, DeAnne enjoys designing sets for theater, film, events and live experiences.

• OPERATIONS:

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• Shoshana Hirsh, Chief Operating Officer

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  Shoshana Hirsh
  310-208-3081 x201
  shoshana@uclahillel.org
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• Hilari Egar, Facilities Manager

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  Hilari Egar
  310-208-3081 x218
  Hilari@uclahillel.org

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  Hilari Egar is a native of Southern California and currently lives in Santa Monica with her 11 year old, 18-pound cat, Cody - her pride and joy. After years in customer service at Starbucks and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Hilari (known as Hil) came to Hillel as the Assistant Manager for our own in-house Coffee Bean.  She soon made herself indispensable in so many ways that she was quickly given a position on our facilities staff.  Currently, Hil supports Hillel's daily operations and is responsible for the calendaring for all events in the building - working with students, staff and the community at large.

• Yael Cohen, Manager, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

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  Yael Cohen
  310-208-3081x400
  yael@uclahillel.org

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  Yael Cohen is the Manager of our very own in-house Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, where students meet and study while enjoying a handcrafted drink and friendly service!  Yael was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She graduated from the University of Kansas with a BFA in Jewelry Design, but found her love of customer service working in the restaurant industry. She eventually followed her future husband, Craig, to Los Angeles in 2000 when he moved here for his career in the film and television industry. After a few years as Assistant Manager at various restaurants and for a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf corporate store, Yael came to Hillel in 2005 for an opportunity to run her own Coffee Bean and to interact with young Jewish students who share her interest in Jewish life.  Yael is an avid Jayhawks fan, and she and Craig have two beautiful daughters: Greta, who was born on August 25, 2008, and Irie, who was born on April 28, 2010.

• Adrian Villegas, Facilities Assistant

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  Adrian Villegas
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  Adrian was born and raised in Inglewood. Following his work at the City of Inglewood in the Department of Public Works, he came to Hillel last year as our resident handyman and day porter in charge of keeping the building well maintained, comfortable and safe for all who visit. Away from work, he spends time with his wife of five years, Tami, and their children - son Christian (6) and daughter Adrian (4) - enjoying the park, beaches, the movies and other family fun.

• Bernard Lindberth, Security

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  Bernard Lindberth
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  Bernard is originally from Belize City, in the small Central American country of Belize, where he was a police officer for many years. After coming to the US on vacation 14 years ago, he permanently relocated. In that time, he has been employed as a security guard for various clients.  He found his way to Hillel when our current building was under construction and has been keeping Hillel safe for nine years.  Now he greets students and community members each week with his fun attitude and his unique personal philosophies.  We all love Bernard.