Whippany—Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ is pleased to announce the creation and launch of the Greater MetroWest Multi-Campus Hillel in partnership with Rutgers Hillel. GMW Hillel will provide outreach and engagement to the Jewish student populations at Montclair State University, Kean University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rutgers-Newark, and NJIT-Newark. Together these campuses host approximately 2,000 Jewish students.
Underwritten through the generosity of the Cooperman Family Fund for a Jewish Future, the Wilf Family, the Paula and Jerry Gottesman Family Supporting Foundation, Sharon and Steve Seiden, Arden and Alan Epstein and Robert and Ethel Singer, along with support from Federation’s UJA Federation Annual Campaign, the Multi-Campus Hillel will harness the power of Greater MetroWest’s Birthright Israel busses, Federation’s Campus Israeli Shaliach (emissary) and Community Relations Committee, the expertise of Rutgers Hillel, and partnerships with other Jewish communal organizations to create a comprehensive Hillel experience for the Jewish students on Greater MetroWest-area campuses.
Rebekah Adelson was recently hired as the director of this new program. She comes to the Multi-Campus Hillel from her most recent position at the Jewish National Fund where she served as Israel programs admissions director. With an extensive background in experiential education programs, Rebekah oversaw recruitment for all Israel trips with high school and college students throughout New Jersey.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of such a fantastic and influential organization and lucky to be able to work with Jewish students in a campus setting,” she said. “I couldn’t be more excited to work towards building a welcoming, empowering, and fun community for all of them.”
For many years, Greater MetroWest has provided support to these universities through one-off programs and a part-time shaliach. According to Federation President Scott Krieger, “When BDS came to Montclair State last year, we knew it was time to raise our level of support for our college students. Every college campus should be a safe place for students to learn, build leadership skills and create community. The coordinated effort of the vision of some of our leading philanthropists, the power of our annual campaign and strong institutional partnerships have continued to move us forward in turning this long-time dream into reality. We are proud that Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ is helping to provide this opportunity to our students.
