Hillel Cultural Life members met with one of three finalists for executive director of Hillel on Thursday as part of a search process that leaders said they hope to complete by the end of February.
A handful of students spoke with Michael Mishkin, who will be ordained as a rabbi in May by the Jewish Theological Seminary, over breakfast and a “lunch and learn” session during an open house at Fiedler Hillel Center.
Mishkin said that if he becomes director, he will try to continue the good sense of community among Northwestern’s Jewish students and reach out to Jewish students who do not come to Hillel events.
“Every Jew on campus should feel comfortable coming to Hillel,” Mishkin said. “This needs to be a place where Jews respect each other.”
Hillel has been without a permanent director since Rabbi Michael Balinsky, who served as director for 20 years, retired in July.
On Monday, students met with Bradley Solmsen, another finalist for the position.
Weinberg sophomore Elizabeth Bate said she noticed many similarities between Mishkin and Solmsen, who will be ordained as a rabbi this spring by Hebrew Union College.
“They’re both very young and affable,” Bate said. “I really liked both of them.”
Students will meet on Monday with the third finalist, David Glickman, who will be ordained as a rabbi with Mishkin at JTS.
Student input is very important in the search process, said Rachel Spiro, Hillel program director.
“The goal is to meet all three and hear student opinions,” she said. “We’re trying to put emphasis on students to decide what they really want.”
Eve Nagy, a Hillel student board member, said the search process has provided new avenues for student involvement in the center.
“Often the board doesn’t get enough of a chance to hear what students are interested in,” said Nagy, an Education senior. “It’s been interesting as a board member to hear students’ opinions.”
Students who spoke with Mishkin said they were impressed with his ability to interact with students.
“I think he would be a fabulous director of Hillel,” Bate said. “He would really be able to connect with the students on a social level.”
Weinberg junior Adam Blumenthal said he enjoyed Mishkin’s lunch topic, in which he discussed the differences between the current legal system and the Jewish legal system.
“He was intelligent and seemed to be able to relate well to the students,” Blumenthal said.
David Schach, a first-year medical student, has known Mishkin since they met at a Jewish summer camp 10 years ago.
Mishkin’s knowledge of the different parts of the Jewish community would help him as director, Schach said.
“He has seen so many facets of the Jewish community in his life,” Schach said. “He has a very strong ability to lead and direct such a vibrant community that we have.”
The final decision on a Hillel director will be made by a nine-member search committee, which has been meeting since January 2000.
