Jewish Student Life
Hillel Jewish Student Union
At West Chester University Hillel, Jewish life begins with the ambition of knowing every Jewish student by name and story, and the desire to build meaningful one-on-one relationships with each of those students. With over 500 Jewish student on campus, Jewish life is in a moment of tremendous growth! Our commitment to celebrating all modes of Jewish expression, practice and identity, allows us to then connect students with Jewish opportunities, teachings and communities that meet each student’s diverse needs and goals.
Whether you are interested in getting involved in celebrating Shabbat and holidays, pursuing social action projects, developing leadership skills through our internships and leadership retreats, exploring your spirituality, traveling to Israel, or engaging with Jewish life in another way, West Chester University Hillel is here to take the journey with you. Explore our website, visit our instagram page, or schedule a coffee date with our incredible staff or student leaders to learn more about the ways to get involved and build your Jewish life at West Chester University.
What type of programs does Hillel host? We host holiday celebrations, Shabbat dinners, community service projects, music event, Passover seders, interfaith dinners, GLBTQA collaborative events, trips to Philly, and the list goes on… Interested in leading a program or getting involved,
email the Hillel President Alex Habbart.
Jewish Student Life Advisory Board
WCU's Jewish Student Life Advisory Board was founded in December of 2015 with the goal of providing a welcoming environment for all Jewish students to thrive personally, professionally and spiritually.
West Chester University Affiliation
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Ann Colgan | Co-Advisor for Hillel, WCU Exploratory Studies |
| Rachel Davidson | Rabbinic Intern, Reconstuctionist Rabbinical College |
| Mindy Fortin | Community Member |
| Susan Gans | WCU Department of Psychology |
| David Gold | Community Member |
| Alex Habbart | Hillel President |
| Vanessa Johnson | WCU Department of Psychology |
| Jodi Roth-Saks | Co-Advisor for Hillel, WCU Office of Service-Learning and Volunteer Programs |
| Rabbi Elyse Seidner-Joseph | Makom Kadosh: The Jewish Fellowship of Chester County |
| Ben Strauss | Community Member |
| Rabbi Lawrence Troster | Kesher Israel Congregation |
| Babs Winicur | Retired WCU Staff |
| Daniel Winicur | Community Member, Retired Registrar of WCU |
| Scott Zukin | Community Member |
Rabbinic Intern
Rachel Davidson is a second year Jewish Advisor/Rabbinic Intern for West Chester University. She graduated from Oberlin College where she majored in Psychology and also studied Jewish Studies and Religion. She is currently finishing up her second year at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. Before coming to RRC she worked in a domestic violence shelter, as we well as Oberlin College’s Hillel. She has truly enjoyed working with a dynamic, passionate group of student leaders. Some of the highlights from her experience as the Jewish Advisor/Rabbinic Intern, include: a co-sponsored Shabbat dinner with the Sexuality and Gender Alliance student organization, the yearly Promukah Party celebration, and fun weekly socials.