Over twenty professionals and student interns are available to help you create the kind of Jewish experience that YOU want!
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO...
We have collected together a very diverse group of people working together to connect Jewish students to Jewish life in a way that is right for them. Our staff comes from a range of perspectives and life experiences. Some of our staff members have found meaning in traditional Jewish contexts, and some of us have found these totally alienating. What unites us is a passion for working with students and for helping students find a way to connect to an incredible civilization and culture.
Daniel Libenson: Executive Director
Dan has been executive director of the University of Chicago’s Newberger Hillel Center since 2006. In 2008 he was named a Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence, International Hillel’s highest professional award, and in 2009 he was selected as one of that year’s five AVI CHAI fellows. Prior to coming to Chicago, Dan taught law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dan graduated cum laude from Harvard College and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School where he was an articles editor of the Harvard Law Review. Dan assisted Professor Alan Dershowitz in criminal defense work and on book projects, including The Vanishing American Jew, and he clerked for now-Chief Judge Michael Boudin on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. As a college student, Dan was president of Harvard Hillel; he later served on its staff for three years as Director of New Initiatives. Dan is married to Beth Niestat. They have two children, Sam and Miriam.
Leah Kahn has the privilege of working closely with students as the supervisor of the Campus Entrepreneurs Initiative, as well as the UChicago Taglit-Birthright Israel trip and Alternative Spring Break trips. Leah graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2004 with a degree in Arts Management and Dance. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree at Spertus College in Jewish Professional Studies. She is a member of the Tikvah Company of Artists, and the Household Arts Collective. She is a vegan and enjoys makng dinner, muffins and cupcakes. Her current music obsession is The Last Atlant.
Leah Kahn: Director of Engagement
Raif grew up in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, the location of the first Hillel ever. Since its inception, this Hillel has served the local Jewish community as well as the students on campus, so Raif has been involved with Hillel since he was five years old. In 2000, he traveled to Ein Tzurim, Israel, to learn at Yeshivat Hakibbutz Hadati under the tutelage of Rav Yoel Bin-Nun. Following this, he studied history at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a focus on the colonial Middle East. He worked for some time in home remodeling and renovation, and then moved to Jerusalem to study Jewish texts and philosophy at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies alongside his lovely fiancee, whom he had met at Hillel. Upon their return to the US, they married and moved to Chicago to pursue employment in Jewish community service.
Raif Melhado: Operations Manager
Born in Mexico City, but raised on campus, Aaron considers himself a Hyde Park native. After working at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP and interning for former U.S. Congressman Rahm Emanuel, Aaron joined the staff upon receiving his BA in Jewish Studies from the University of Chicago. Aaron’s interests have included everything from professional flamenco dancing with Chicago’s Ensemble Español dance troupe, to classical military history and Israeli politics. Aaron’s Jewish interests have largely focused on the histories of ancient Israel and Judea, and the challenges presented to the Biblical Narrative by material archeological evidence.
Aaron Nuñez-Gross: Engagement Associate
Lee joined our staff team after receiving his BA in Political Science from the University of Chicago. He previously worked in the investment management field, which included a summer at the University of Chicago Endowment Investment Office. Lee's Jewish interests focus on the intersection of virtue and ethics in Biblical stories. He also enjoys reasoning through talmudic debates for fun and is passionate about Jewish Peoplehood in Ancient Judea. Lee can often be found sharing a few beers with his old fraternity buddies at Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap when not at Hillel. He is a religious reader of Andrew Sullivan's blog and tunes into The Daily Show with Jon Stewart nightly. Lee is also actively involved with his Class Reunion Committee at the University of Chicago Alumni Association, the Jewish Education Team, and the Alpha Epsilon Pi International Fraternity, where he assists in supervising Chicago area chapters as an Assistant Regional Governor.
Lee Solomon:
Alumni Affairs Development Manager
Upon graduation from Columbia College with a degree in Dance, Jena began teaching and directing movement to students of all ages, eventually returning to school at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee to receive a second Bachelors degree in Dance Education. During those same years, Jena co-founded Barefoot Productions [www.bfpchicago.com], a collaborative arts company whose mission is to propel emerging artists forward. Barefoot’s first performance, 24, was Jena’s artistic vision and flagship production, launching the company into a varied series of arts performances. She’s also proud to be a founding member, choreographer, and educator for HouseHold Arts Collective. Jena hopes to bring her passion and experience dreaming up impossible schemes to UC Hillel and is very honored to be a member of such a lovely team of staff and students!
Jena Asta: Program Manager
A Jewish journey may not require any equipment at all, only a state of mind, purpose or a pure heart...there is one plain and simple truth that shines through time and time again and that is that journeys are about more than travel. They comprise the thrilling, challenging, at time dangerous and at other times depressing, encounter with the world beyond. Most importantly however, they unlock an encounter with oneself.
Jeremy Leigh
Newberger Hillel Center • 5715 S. Woodlawn • Chicago, IL 60637 • office phone (773) 752-1127
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