Mahran Yosef is Harvard Hillel’s new Israel Fellow, originally from Beit Jann, a Druze village in northern Israel. With a background in student life and intercultural programming at Tel Aviv University’s International School, Mahran brings a passion for building community, fostering dialogue, and exploring the diverse cultural narratives that shape Israeli society. He speaks Hebrew, Arabic, and English, and is currently teaching himself French. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, creative writing, and experimenting in the kitchen. He’s very excited to engage with students from all backgrounds and create meaningful, dynamic spaces for learning and connection.
Staff & Clergy The People Behind the Mission
Rabbi Jason Rubenstein
Executive Director
Rabbi Jason Rubenstein joined Harvard Hillel as Executive Director on June 1, 2024 after six years as the Howard M. Holtzman Jewish Chaplain at Yale. Jason’s background is as diverse as Harvard’s Jewish community: a childhood at Temple Micah in Washington DC, formative years studying at Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa in northern Israel, and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. From 2010-2018, Jason taught on the faculty of the Hadar Institute, where he created classrooms, conversations, and communities that bring Torah into an open-ended dialogue with the fullness of students’ lives.
From his own formative undergraduate years at Harvard Hillel, where he met his wife, Arielle Rubenstein ‘07, Jason knows how Hillel can and should transform students’ lives – and through them, American Jewish life. For a fuller view of Jason’s plan for Harvard Hillel’s future, you can listen to his interview with Yehuda Kurtzer (PhD ‘08); and to glimpse how he lead Yale’s Jewish community through impossibly difficult months following October 7, you can read his October 26, 2023 letter to the Yale Jewish community.
In addition to rabbinic ordination, Jason holds an AB in Social Studies from Harvard College magna cum laude and a Masters in Talmud from JTS. He is also the recipient of numerous awards including the Wexner Graduate Fellowship and the Covenant Foundation’s 2015 Pomegranate Prize for Emerging Educators.
Jason and Arielle, are grateful to be raising their daughter and two sons in Brookline, and cannot wait to help to write the next chapter of this community which has given them so much.
Pamela Brenner
Mashgicha Ruchanit
Pamela Brenner is the Mashgicha Ruchanit at Harvard Hillel. She previously served as the Orthodox Educator. When not hanging out with students, she is a PhD student at Harvard, specializing in Jewish Studies in general and Yiddish literature in particular. She holds a BA from Barnard College and an MSt from the University of Oxford, both in Yiddish Studies.
In addition to her academic work, Pamela is a member of the International Halakha Scholars Program, a division of the Women’s Institute of Halakhic Leadership through Ohr Torah Stone. She is an alumna of the Migdal Oz Beit Midrash for Women of Yeshivat Har Etzion, where she studied for two years. Pamela is passionate about women’s learning and leadership within the Orthodox community, and is always happy to chat about everything from strange aggedetas to the rules of borer, and from preparing for finals to finding your religious path in college.
When she’s not reading a Yiddish novel, you might find her cooking a themed Shabbos meal, pickling her newest find from the farmers’ market, or attending a klezmer concert. Pamela lives with her husband and daughter in Cambridge, and is looking forward to inviting you over for coffee and banana bread.
Rachel Eilbaum
Senior Director of Jewish Student Life
Rachel Eilbaum is the Senior Director of Jewish Student Life at Harvard Hillel. She loves helping students build community, explore their Jewish identities, and finding ways that Hillel can enhance students’ four years at Harvard.
Before joining Harvard Hillel, Rachel was the Assistant Director of Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake where she spent nearly 20 summers. There she hired and trained staff and supported campers in creating meaningful, lasting experiences. She also worked as the IACT Coordinator for Israel Engagement at Tufts Hillel, supporting student leaders and creating opportunities for connection and learning.
Rachel holds dual master’s degrees in Jewish Professional Leadership and Jewish Experiential Education from Brandeis University’s Hornstein Program in Jewish Leadership and Non-Profit Management, and a B.A. in International Relations from George Washington University. She lives in Somerville with her mini Bernedoodle, Lucy, and can often be found at the dog park, digging through record shops, or planning her next adventure.
Elazar Fine
Communications Manager
617-495-3075
A Boston native returning to his roots after nearly a decade in Los Angeles, Elazar brings extensive media and communications experience to Harvard Hillel. With a background in video production, creative development, and strategic communications, he is excited to help tell the stories of Jewish life on campus and strengthen connections across the Harvard Hillel community. Elazar holds a B.A. in Media Arts Production from Emerson College.
Rabbi Elisha Gechter
Senior Director of Community Engagement
617-495-8098
Rabbi Elisha Gechter joined Harvard Hillel in March as the Senior Director of Community Engagement. Her role is focused on activating and organizing Harvard’s Jewish alumni community to protect, enrich, and expand Jewish life at Harvard. She’s dedicated to bridging the gap between the tremendous concern and dedication of our alumni, and the very real needs of Jewish students and Jewish life in this moment.
She is quite familiar with our campus as she spent the last decade at Harvard Kennedy School where she was the Senior Program Manager for Fellowships Curriculum at the Center for Public Leadership. There she designed leadership learning experiences for over 100 fellows, oversaw the Wexner Israel Fellowship and the Wexner Senior Leadership Program.
Elisha has been working in the Boston Jewish Community for 18 years – previously connecting people searching for community and for Jewish wisdom as the Associate Director of Adult Learning and Community Engagement at Hebrew College and fundraising with local young leaders at CJP.
She has rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Maharat (Modern Orthodox) in New York, an MA/MBA from Brandeis’ Heller Hornstein Program in Jewish Leadership and Non-Profit Management, and a BA in psychology from Yeshiva University’s Stern College. She lives in Somerville, MA with her husband and two kids where they attend services at Minyan Tehillah and the Tremont Street Shul and Elisha is a dedicated board member at Mayyim Hayyim Mikvah and Education Center. She’s also a huge foodie and a fan of bluegrass music.
Celine Ginsburg
Director of Development
617-495-4020
Celine is thrilled to be joining the Harvard Hillel team to lead the annual fundraising program. Born in Italy to Israeli parents and raised in Paris, France, Celine holds a BA in Government from Reichman University in Herzliya, Israel and an MA in Nonprofit Management from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Celine previously served as the Associate Director of Development at Brandeis Hillel where she was responsible for annual fundraising, alumni engagement, communications, and stewardship. She also worked at the American Zionist Movement in NYC and the Israel Fund for UNICEF in Tel Aviv. Celine lives in Brookline with her husband and two children.
Michael Maffeo
Operations Manager
617-496-6447
Michael received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Managerial Economics and an Associate’s degree in Business Administration.
He is excited to collaborate and grow with the team as he is a new addition to Harvard Hillel. Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Michael loves to explore the city, run, play sports and indulge in new foods. He looks forward to helping empower students on their journey to success, and to personally growing in his position.
Uzi Maxwell Pohl
IACT Coordinator & Community-Building Associate
Uzi is a Philadelphia native who is excited to be building a strong Jewish community in Cambridge. His passion for Jewish life started at a young age and grew in his time at West Virginia University where acted as Jewish Identity Chair, Philanthropy Chair, and Founding Brother of the Mu Lamda chapter of AEPi. (In addition to being involved in Hillel and Chabad) After undergrad, he worked as a Jewish Wilderness Educator at Adamah Pearlstone.
Uzi comes prepared for this role after finishing his time at Michigan State University as the IACT Coordinator where he led 2 successful Birthright Israel trips, increased athletic engagement and reinvigorated the Jewish Business Association & MSU Hillel Mensch Club as thriving organizations on campus. (Though the highlight of his time was hosting weekly coffee hours called “Smoothies with Uzi” which he cannot wait to bring to Harvard!)
In his free time, Uzi enjoys time in nature, hot yoga, going to concerts, playing with dogs, and finding an adventurous side quest. He feels beyond blessed to be in a position to grow this amazing community. You can also connect with Uzi on Instagram.
Rabbi Jim Morgan
Worship & Study Rabbinic Advisor
Rabbi Jim Morgan joined the Worship and Study Minyan as rabbinic advisor in January 2012. He received his Rabbinic ordination from Hebrew College in Newton, where he focused on developing a vision for pluralistic Jewish communities and spirit-filled davvening (praying). He also holds a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Yale University, where he wrote his dissertation on early 19th-Century Russian poetry.
Rabbi Jim also serves as Community Rabbi and Chaplain for Center Communities of Brookline, a part of Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL). He is also the Russian-speaking Chaplain at HSL’s Long-term Chronic Care Hospital in Roslindale. In all of his roles, Rabbi Jim teaches Torah and secular spirituality; leads prayer; performs pastoral duties; and creates Shabbat, holiday, and other programs. Previously, he served as Spiritual Counselor for the Elder Service Plan, a PACE program at Harbor Health Services in Mattapan and as Director of International Partnerships for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, where he facilitated collaborative programs in Israel and Ukraine as well as Boston-based Israel engagement.
Linda Mulligan
Administrative, Operations & Facility Assistant
617-495-4695
Linda is a Massachusetts native and joined Harvard Hillel in 1991. Greeting students and visitors as they walk through the front door and providing visitors and callers with information about Harvard Hillel activities and events has been her role from the beginning. Linda’s role at Hillel has expanded over the years and she now supervises and schedules the front desk security team and provides support in the areas of administration and facilities management. If you have questions pertaining to meals, High Holidays, Passover, activities and events, or if you don’t know who to speak with at Harvard Hillel, Linda will be happy to assist you.
Moriah Rose Sandidge
Director of Graduate Jewish Life
Moriah is stepping into the role of Director of Graduate Jewish Life, spearheading programming initiatives for the 12 graduate schools within Harvard University. Moriah graduated with a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, with a focus on Human Development and Higher Education. Eager to integrate into the vibrant Hillel community, Moriah has already lined up an array of engaging events, including Paint ‘n Sip sessions featuring guided painting, monthly Grad Karaoke & Cocktails gatherings, and Monday night Hebrew Lessons. Stay tuned for more exciting happenings in the pipeline!
Outside of her professional endeavors, Moriah adores her feline companion Gaia and her puppy Smoke. She holds a deep passion for Broadway productions—visitors to her office are likely to catch her immersed in musical melodies while she works. Currently seeking enthusiastic students to join the Hillel Graduate School Board of Representatives, Moriah is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to connect with each of you!
Monica Steiner
Reform Rabbinic Advisor
Monica Steiner advises the Reform Minyan, is a Jewish educator, and serves as a chaplain to students of all backgrounds and levels of Jewish knowledge (including secular, questioning, multi-heritage, LGBTQIA+ Jews and more). She loves co-creating an culture of inclusion, warmth and kindness at Hillel, hanging out and chatting with students in Rabb, and her many weekly one-on-one coffee/ice cream chats. Contact Monica to find a time to meet. No questions are too big or small to explore!
Talia Young
Conservative Rabbinic Advisor
Talia Young is thrilled to join the Harvard Hillel team as the rabbinic advisor for the Student Conservative Minyan. A fifth year rabbinical student, Talia is a poet, community builder and educator with a passion for performance art and authentic relating. Currently based in Boston, Talia has called the Bay Area, the Twin Cities and rural Connecticut home. The through line of her work is cultivating communities of belonging—most recently as the rabbinic intern at Temple Kol Tikvah and a chaplain intern at Hebrew SeniorLife, and previously as the rabbinic intern for Teen Beit Midrash, the Climate Arts and Spiritual Adaptation Fellow with Dayenu: A Jewish Call To Climate Justice, an outdoor educator at Teva, a volunteer climate justice organizer with Sunrise Bay Area and a freelance poetry teacher. She’d love to talk to you about Aramaic grammar, Trader Joes, and your dreams for future programs. In her free time, you can find her biking on the Emerald Necklace and performing with her improv troupe.