This year, once again, Towson University Hillel and the rest of the world experienced a time like no other. In spite of Corona 19 and its challenges, our extraordinary staff exhibited heretofore unknown talents to embrace the new realty by creating and implementing cutting edge virtual programs and services. Students appreciated every effort we made to build on relationships made on campus in our newly hatched online world. Our Cohort learning was at an all-time high, participants choosing between Jewish Learning Fellowships, Israel Learning Fellowships (launched for the first time ever, virtually nonetheless) and Jewish Learning Fellowship 2.0 offering a deep dive for our students continuing with their Jewish identity and exploration. Our focus on deep relationship building and engagement resulted in an all-time high engagement rate this year—in a virtual world! This year Towson University Hillel was recognized in three very notable ways. We were applauded for our Homing Shabbat Innovator program with the Joseph Meyerhoff Award for Jewish Education Vision at the Hillel International Global Assembly in December, 2021. This Spring, Lisa Bodziner received the Neely Tal Snyder Community Impact Award honoring the work she has done since her time in Baltimore, building community and innovative ways to engage families, students and alumni. Adam Baumwald was the recipient of the annual Associated Harry Greenstein Award which honors exceptional lay leadership and commitment to the Baltimore Jewish community. While obviously more challenging than we could have ever imagined, the year also brought inspiration, recognition and joy for our students, staff, alumni, board, community leaders and stakeholders. Come this Fall, we are prepared—and excited—to personally welcome our incoming freshmen and their parents, celebrate our seniors, and continue to cultivate relationships with all of our students, stakeholders, partners, parents and leaders.
Most sincerely,
Adam Baumwald, Board Chair
Lisa Bodziner, Executive Director
This year, Towson University Hillel and the rest of the world experienced a time like no other. Our strongest year on campus was cut short with our transition to virtual programming on March 11th, two days before Spring break, creating a metamorphosis of face to face programs, student engagements and transformative experiences into a 21st century virtual reality. Although this year has thrown the world for a ride we never expected, our extraordinary staff has exhibited heretofore unknown talents to not only embrace the challenge but use the obvious limitations to design and implement cutting edge virtual programs and services. Our students appreciated every effort that was made to build on the relationships made on campus in our newly created online world. Our senior send-off Shabbat was one of the most touching events Lisa has attended in her nearly three years of executive leadership. Adam believes that our Jewish Learning Fellowship Shabbat was a testament to what Hillel is doing by giving students ways to connect, learn, and be inspired Jewishly. While obviously more challenging than we could have ever imagined, the year also brought incredible inspiration. Shachar, our Israel fellow, was featured on the global Yom Ha’atzmaut livestream sponsored by the Jewish Federation of North America, cooking with a famous chef in Israel. Our student leaders rallied to address the needs of their fellow classmates and friends. Our staff called every student we have in our database simply to check in and say “hey, this is really hard, we are here for you.” Despite what lays ahead, we are prepared to be hybrid— in person and/or virtual to warmly welcome our incoming freshmen and their parents, celebrate our seniors, and continue to cultivate relationships with all of our students, stakeholders, partners, parents and leaders.
Most sincerely,
Adam Baumwald, Board Chair
Lisa Bodziner, Executive Director
This year, Towson University Hillel turned 21 and we celebrated our growing success in serving our Jewish community. For 21 years, Towson Hillel has been a home for students on their religious, spiritual and personal journeys. This year was no exception. We thank those who made Hillel at Towson, from it’s inception, a safe haven 21 years ago and look forward to continuing to grow Jewish life on campus by widening our established base and making more and more lasting impressions on a greater number of students and our supporters on and off campus. From more frequent Shabbat dinners to the launch of an inaugural leadership circle of donors to engaging over 750 students through 155 programs throughout the year, we are proud to say our students can, and do, engage in unique and customized touch points during the week that nourish and enrich their experiences as Jewish students, participants and leaders. We are so proud to serve nearly half of the Jewish population on campus and look forward to increasing our talent, staff, programming, engagement and story with you. We hope you enjoy this year’s annual report. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch.
Sincerely,
Lisa Bodziner, Executive Director
So many memories to look back on…
We are so proud of Ritual Chair Jenna Heisman and Student President Rachel Kamel, with the assistance and consultation of TU Hillel Governance Chair & Secretary Dr. Sheryl Cooper, for putting together an incredible interview series for Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM).
We hope these conversations give insight into steps the Jewish community can take to make our spaces more accessible for everyone. We hope you watch and maybe learn a thing or two about inclusion!
