Hillel International president, local university students visit – in person
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Adam Lehman, Hillel International president and CEO, met with Houston Hillel students and stakeholders earlier this month to share and learn.
Rabbi Kenny Weiss, Houston Hillel executive director, said more than a year ago plans were initiated for Lehman to make an in-person visit. After COVID derailed those plans, both organizations shifted to a virtual format.
“Like other programs we have conducted in a virtual format, we found Adam’s presence online enabled us to engage alumni and donors from around the country rather than just in Houston,” Rabbi Weiss said.
Alyssa Silva, Houston Hillel’s assistant executive director, made the arrangements for Lehman’s three sessions.
“Our most important constituency is made up of our participants – undergraduates, graduate students and young professionals – so we arranged a session just for them,” Silva said. “Adam said a few words, but chose to use the bulk of his time listening and asking probing questions. Adam arrived in his position about a year ago, so this was a good opportunity for him to learn about Jewish student life in Houston.
“We also arranged a three-student panel for a conversation with Adam during a session for Houston Hillel’s lay leaders, donors and members of the Houston Jewish community. The students represented Houston Hillel’s diverse campuses, with students from the University of Houston, Rice University and Stephen F. Austin State University.”
When asked by Lehman how Houston Hillel has enhanced students’ lives, Ashton Smith, from Rice, shared that the Houston Hillel community helped her cope with the sadness of an injury that prevented her from playing on Rice’s soccer team, and the pain from a grandparent’s recent death.
Jade Gordon, sophomore at Stephen F. Austin State University, spoke about being part of a very small Jewish campus community,
distant from Texas’ Jewish centers. Gordon noted Houston Hillel’s virtual programming was a great way to keep students engaged at campuses that are far away from Houston, in addition to local students who might live in suburbs like Katy and Pearland.
Avery Lucas, from the University of Houston, talked about how Houston Hillel’s students nurtured and welcomed her during her conversion to Judaism.
Rabbi Weiss also arranged for Lehman to meet with Rice University President David Leebron.
“Adam’s visit really illustrated the wonderful relationship that exists between Hillel International and local Hillel foundations,” Rabbi Weiss said. “Our success locally has much more impact on our participants because of the support we receive from Adam and our other colleagues on his staff.
Rabbi Kenny Weiss, Houston Hillel executive director, said more than a year ago plans were initiated for Lehman to make an in-person visit. After COVID derailed those plans, both organizations shifted to a virtual format.
“Like other programs we have conducted in a virtual format, we found Adam’s presence online enabled us to engage alumni and donors from around the country rather than just in Houston,” Rabbi Weiss said.
Alyssa Silva, Houston Hillel’s assistant executive director, made the arrangements for Lehman’s three sessions.
“Our most important constituency is made up of our participants – undergraduates, graduate students and young professionals – so we arranged a session just for them,” Silva said. “Adam said a few words, but chose to use the bulk of his time listening and asking probing questions. Adam arrived in his position about a year ago, so this was a good opportunity for him to learn about Jewish student life in Houston.
“We also arranged a three-student panel for a conversation with Adam during a session for Houston Hillel’s lay leaders, donors and members of the Houston Jewish community. The students represented Houston Hillel’s diverse campuses, with students from the University of Houston, Rice University and Stephen F. Austin State University.”
When asked by Lehman how Houston Hillel has enhanced students’ lives, Ashton Smith, from Rice, shared that the Houston Hillel community helped her cope with the sadness of an injury that prevented her from playing on Rice’s soccer team, and the pain from a grandparent’s recent death.
Jade Gordon, sophomore at Stephen F. Austin State University, spoke about being part of a very small Jewish campus community,
distant from Texas’ Jewish centers. Gordon noted Houston Hillel’s virtual programming was a great way to keep students engaged at campuses that are far away from Houston, in addition to local students who might live in suburbs like Katy and Pearland.
Avery Lucas, from the University of Houston, talked about how Houston Hillel’s students nurtured and welcomed her during her conversion to Judaism.
Rabbi Weiss also arranged for Lehman to meet with Rice University President David Leebron.
“Adam’s visit really illustrated the wonderful relationship that exists between Hillel International and local Hillel foundations,” Rabbi Weiss said. “Our success locally has much more impact on our participants because of the support we receive from Adam and our other colleagues on his staff.