Lisa Harris Glass
Chief Executive Officer
Lisa serves as Chief Executive Officer of Rutgers Hillel; having joined the team in July 2023. Previously, she served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey overseeing Financial Resource Development and Community Planning and Allocations endeavors. She joined the Federation team in 2010, previously serving as its Chief Planning Officer. A 30-year veteran of the Jewish non-for-profit world; her professional experience includes fourteen years as a synagogue executive director, ten years as an agent of change for synagogues, and many years of private consulting and executive coaching.
She has traveled across North America teaching at conferences, workshops and providing coaching to organizations and individuals. She holds a certificate in Leadership and Executive Coaching from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Lisa’s insights and expertise have been sought after by such varied endeavors as think tanks and start-ups and her Op Eds have appeared in the Jewish Standard/Times of Israel.
email: lisa@rutgershillel.org
Rabbi Esther Reed
Chief Experience Officer | (she/her/hers)
Rabbi Esther Reed grew up in East Brunswick, NJ. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College, she received both her master’s degree in Jewish Women’s Studies and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. She is a Conservative rabbi and lives in Highland Park with her husband, Mordy Schwartz, and three sons: Isaac, Sammy and Jonah.
email: RabbiReed@rutgershillel.org
Rabbi Avi Schwartz
OU-JLIC Educator | (he/him/his)
Rav Avi Schwartz was born in Queens, but grew up in Sharon, MA, and West Orange, NJ. He is an alumnus of Yeshiva University’s Yeshiva College, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, and Wurzweiler School of Social Work. After working for Bnei Akiva and NCSY for many years, he studied in RIETS’ Gruss Institute in Jerusalem for three years. During the week, Rav Avi is a social worker, providing mental health support for youth, adolescents, and their families.
Rav Avi lives in New Brunswick, NJ with Sara and their three kids, Noam, Kiki, and Dani. They are all devout New England Patriots fans.
email: RavAvi@rutgershillel.org
Sara Schwartz
OU-JLIC Educator | (she/her/hers)
Sara Schwartz grew up on Long Island and currently lives in New Brunswick, NJ. She holds a BA in psychology from Queens College and an MBA from Bar Ilan University.
In addition to her position as an OU-JLIC Educator, Sara also works for New Jersey NCSY. She is married to Rav Avi and they have three adorable children.
email: SaraS@rutgershillel.org
Naama Baroch
Jewish Agency Israel Fellow | (she/her/hers)
Naama was born and raised in Ramat Hasharon, a city near Tel Aviv. During her time in the IDF she served as a meteorologist in the Navy. After her service, Naama spent the summer as a counselor and the tennis instructor at URJ Eisner Camp. Naama recently earned her BA in Political Science and International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she was involved in Hillel Jerusalem. In her free time, Naama loves to spend time with friends, work out, listen to music, and watch movies. Naama is excited to join Rutgers Hillel and looks forward to meeting everyone!
email: naama@rutgershillel.org
Alicia Rosenbaum
IACT Coordinator for Birthright Israel | (she/her/hers)
Alicia Rosenbaum grew up in Mt. Laurel, NJ and has lived in Philadelphia the past year. She double majored in political science and Jewish Studies at Lafayette College and just finished her Masters in Jewish Experiential Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. She has been to Israel 5 times and has loved every time. For the past two years, she has worked as a preschool teacher. While she loved working with young kids, she is excited to now work with college students. For fun, she enjoys trying new foods, ice skating, pub trivia, and watching romantic comedies.
email: alicia@rutgershillel.org
Jeremy Davis
Director of Engagement | (he/him/his)
Jeremy Davis was born and raised in the Long Island suburb of Merrick, NY. A lifelong Ramahnik, he attended Camp Ramah in the Berkshires for 15 summers as a camper, special needs counselor, and division head. Graduating from the University of Delaware, he studied Psychology and Neuroscience with minors in Cognitive Science, Jewish Studies, and Philosophy. While at UD Jeremy found his tribe at Hillel, where he served as an intern, student leader, and board President. He loves all things nerdy as well as classic rock, a fresh bialy, the Mets, and the Islanders.
email: jeremy@rutgershillel.org
Nancy Bossov
Reform Community Educator
email: nancy@rutgershillel.org
Abbey London
Innovation Springboard Fellow | (she/they)
Abbey London was born and raised in Morristown, NJ. Abbey recently graduated from Ithaca College, where she studied Communication, Management, and Design with a concentration in design. They also double minored in Sports Studies and Photography. At Ithaca College, Abbey was involved in the school’s paper, The Ithacan, and worked in many roles at the Ithaca College Hillel and the Ithaca College Athletics Department. Abbey spends most summers at URJ Camp Harlam, going from a camper to a counselor to a member of the Leadership Team. They love rock climbing, taking photos, and bingeing TV/movies in their free time, especially Marvel. Abbey is SO excited to join the Rutgers Hillel as an Innovation Fellow.
email: abbey@rutgershillel.org
Rebecca Galin
Student Rabbi for the Conservative Community | (she/her/hers)
Rebecca Galin is a fourth-year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. She has interned at DOROT, University of Albany Hillel, and T’ruah. Prior to rabbinical school, she worked at UJA-Federation of New York. Rebecca holds BAs from Barnard College in Film Studies and JTS in Prayer Studies. She studied at the Hadar Institute and the Beit Midrash Program at Maharat/YCT. Rebecca is a liturgy enthusiast and vegetarian and enjoys baking and making jam. She is passionate about egalitarian Jewish learning and LGBTQ+ rights, and recently published “Arukh Lakol,” a queer-centered birkon. She resides in Washington Heights with her partner, Sam.
email: regalin@jtsa.edu
Naomi Kutin
Social Work Intern
Naomi Kutin grew up in Fair Lawn, NJ. She attended Maayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, NJ, after which she went to learn for one year in Israel at Machon Ma’ayan. She is currently a senior at Rutgers University majoring in Social Work and minoring in Religion. Her hobbies include working out, going to concerts, and going on Dunkin runs.
Rachel Podhorcer
Office Manager | (she/her/hers)
Rachel Podhorcer grew up in Swampscott, MA and is a graduate of Brandeis University, where she received her BA in Music Performance. She is a violinist and is passionate about music education. Rachel lives in Highland Park with her husband Ari, a Rutgers Hillel alum, and their dog Gimli. Rachel loves to travel, read good books, and go to museums.
email: rachel@rutgershillel.org
Nina Bilz
Campus Marketing and Development Manager | (she/her/hers)
Nina Bilz is a marketing professional from Cincinnati, OH and currently based in Washington, DC. She holds a degree in Vocal Performance/Opera from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Prior to joining Hillel, Nina worked for several arts organizations, including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, IN Series Opera, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She is also a freelance marketing and design professional, working with clients from across the United States and Israel. Nina is passionate about grassroots initiatives, community-based programs, and inclusivity and equity in the arts and public sector. She is excited to join Hillel and to invest in an equitable and thriving Jewish community for years to come!
email: nbilz@hillel.org
Madlenne Lalush
Facility Manager | (she/her/hers)
Madlenne grew up in Akko, Israel, and fulfilled her love of the sea by serving in the Israeli Navy. She studied accounting and worked as an accountant at Leumi Bank, Discount Bank, and in the stock market. Madlenne also has 30 years of experience in building management and catering businesses. She has two beautiful kids: Shai has a heating and air conditioning company and Shelley is in nursing school. Madlenne also has a new granddaughter, Kelley. Madlenne has many talents, including interior design and jewelry design.
email: madlenne@rutgershillel.org
Michel Ade
Custodian
Alisa Bodemer
Custodian
Jean Bustreth
Custodian