O u r S t a f f
Shalom! We love our jobs making a Jewish home for every student at Stanford. Please feel free to get in touch if you need anything!
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Hillel at Stanford aims to empower Jewish students at Stanford to explore and deepen their Jewish identities, and to envision their futures with choices inspired by Jewish values and commitments.
Rabbi Jessica Kirschner
Executive Director and Senior Rabbi
rabbi.kirschner@stanford.edu
Rabbi Jessica Kirschner is a Bay Area native. She has deep roots in the synagogues, summer camps, and youth organizations of the Union for Reform Judaism. She graduated from UC Berkeley, where she had been a student leader at Hillel and studied at the Hebrew University. After five years of rabbinical school in Jerusalem and Los Angeles, she was ordained by Hebrew Union College in 2007. She served for seven years as a Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Washington DC, and as a board member of Jews United for Justice, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and the Washington Interfaith Network. Upon moving back to San Francisco in 2014, she worked for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism as a community organizer and leader of their state-wide legislative work. She and her husband live in San Carlos and have two daughters, Hannah and Maya
Leah Newman
Chief Operating Officer
lnewman1@stanford.edu
Leah is excited to be 'home' both in Hillel and the Bay Area. She attended UCSD where she loved being involved with the Hillel on campus. From there she worked at the Hillel at the University of Maryland and then returned to California to work at the Hillel of San Diego, where she was the Assistant Director. While there she completed a Masters degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership at the University of San Diego. Leah then moved with her husband to Los Angeles where she worked at BBYO for five years, most recently as an Area Director overseeing three BBYO regions encompassing California, Nevada, and Arizona. Leah loves reading, talking, eating, and spending time with her twin four year olds, Miriam and Jonah.
Amit Metzl Raz
Development Director
amitmr@stanford.edu
After performing several management positions in Nonprofit and social businesses where she brought to the table her background and expertise as an international social worker and a graduate Cum Lada of a Nongovernmental organization management and community development master, Amit moved with her family to the bay area five years ago.
Ben Zeiger
Curator of Graduate Experience
bzeiger@stanford.edu
A NorCal native, Ben is thrilled to be a part of the Hillel at Stanford team. Over the course of his childhood and young adult life, Ben participated in as many Jewish activities as possible: Jewish summer camp, youth group, Birthright, AEPi, a semester abroad at Tel Aviv University, and leadership at UC San Diego Hillel. He also shared his family's passion for public service, studying political science at UC San Diego and working as a field representative for a state assembly member for two years following graduation. Ben left state government to return to his roots within the Jewish community and received graduate degrees in Jewish Education and Jewish Nonprofit Management from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Hillel at Stanford, Ben worked for two years as the Director of Jewish Student Life for Hillel 818, serving the students of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley region. Ben is passionate about helping others find an active and personally meaningful place within the Jewish community, and enjoys accompanying young adults on the twists and turns of their individual Jewish journeys
Rabbi Eliezer Weinbach
Rabbi and Director of Student Well-Being
Rabbi Eliezer Weinbach is an experiential educator for the Jewish people, and strives to manifest his love of the environment and Jewish tradition in a deeply connected world. After seminary in Israel and getting a BA from Yeshiva University, Eli worked in psychology research for five years before transitioning to the Jewish nonprofit world. He worked for Hazon for three years before transitioning to graduate-level rabbinical and environmental studies. He received ordination for Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in 2024. He enjoys pickling and cooking with fake-meat substitutes. Anywhere that people are trying to free themselves from the constraints of conflicting truths, you will find Eli cheering them on.
Rabbi Avram Ellner
Rabbi and Director of Jewish Learning
Rabbi.Ellner@stanford.edu
Rabbi Avram Ellner was ordained by The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in May 2024. During his time in Los Angeles, he served for two years as the Rabbinic Intern at Hamakom, a Conservative synagogue. Originally from New Jersey, he spent his summers growing up at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. After moving out west and falling in love with California living, he developed Camp Ramah in Northern California’s teen leadership program. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Rabbi Avram worked at Muhlenberg College Hillel and served the Jewish community of Mumbai, India as a JDC Entwine JSC Fellow. He graduated from Tufts University where he studied physics and philosophy and was a student leader at Hillel. Rabbi Avram loves music and cooking – you will often find him playing electric guitar, attending concerts, or cooking an array of Greek and Mediterranean dishes.
Branden Johnson
Associate Director
brandenj@stanford.edu
Branden Johnson (he/him) grew up in Eugene, Oregon, and attended the University of Oregon for his undergraduate education. He has an MA in Jewish Educational Leadership from the Davidson School at JTS, and is an alumnus of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators and the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. In addition to Israel and the US, he has also lived in France, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea. He currently lives in San Francisco, where he relocated in 2022 after spending more than five years living in Israel. Branden has been a competitive swimmer for nearly 30 years and currently swims with the SF Tsunami masters club in the city. He also likes to kayak, travel, cook, bake, read a variety of things from Jewish texts to graphic novels and magazines, and loves learning new languages. Most recently, he was the Business and Operations Director for Camp Ramah in Northern California, where he worked for six summers, as well as the Education Director at Peninsula Sinai Congregation in Foster City. Branden has also been a long-time leader in the LGBTQ community, including working with the Jerusalem Open House and as a board member of the World Congress of GLBT Jews.
Gil Werta
JAFI (Jewish Agency for Israel) Israeli fellow
gilw@stanford.edu
Gil grew up in Ashdod, just 20 miles from the Gaza Strip, and now he's Hillel's new Israel Fellow. After earning his BA in Political Science from Tel Aviv University, Gil made the big move to California. Whether he was rocking out as a singer in an army band during his military service or coordinating programs like Onward, Gil has always been about building those connections. When Gil is not busy with work, he’s out there giving back to the community. Feel free to hit Gil up if you want to chat about music, theater, politics, or need Tel Aviv tips!
Julianna Goldfarb
Springboard Innovation Fellow
https://calendly.com/juliannagoldfarb
Julianna is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley, where she studied Public Health with a specific interest in women's health and wellness. Originally from Miami, Florida, Julianna is always looking for good Nicaraguan food (send her recs!) or someone to chat with in Spanish. At Berkeley, Julianna loved being involved in Hillel even working the front desk as an upperclassman. She is super excited to transition into her role as a Hillel professional and continue connecting with Jewish students, even if it means trading her blue and gold for cardinal red. In her free time, Julianna loves reading, writing, sitting in the sun, and bowling!
Tamar Darom Bendror
Graduate Student Life Associate
Tamar grew up in Northern Israel and moved to the Bay Area as a teenager. She graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Film, Television, and Digital Media. Tamar loves spending time with her family, friends, and two dogs. In her free time, she enjoys reading, creative writing, watching movies, painting, and hiking. She is excited to support the student community at Stanford, and looks forward to getting to know everyone — so please don’t hesitate to say hi (or shalom), she is always happy to chat!
Maddie Schaeffer
Senior Manager, Marketing and Development
Maddie is the Senior Manager of Marketing and Development on the Hillel at Stanford team. Maddie works with the Hillel International fundraising team to build and execute grassroots campaigns for Stanford, Berkeley, and the University of Arizona Hillel. Before coming to Hillel International, Maddie spent three years as the Development Associate for Oregon Hillel. Originally from the East Coast, Maddie now holds a passion for exploring the West Coast and all the outdoor adventures it has to offer. Maddie is so excited to be a part of this team and do some great work!
Rich Stoner
Facilities Manager
Rich is our rock-star Facilities Manager. He works hard in the wee hours of the morning to keep the Taube Hillel House and Koret Pavilion in tip top shape. If you happen to be here that early (maybe you're pulling an all-night study session in the Kopa Cafe), be sure to say hello! He happens to be the coolest dude you've ever met.