Kicking Off the Fall 2025 at Hillel
by Sara Rudinfeld, Development Manager at the Hillel at University of Delaware
It was an exciting summer for Hillel at the University of Delaware, as we welcomed three new staff members and over 200 members of the Class of 2029 for Markell Fresh Fest! During Markell Fresh Fest, over 180 students came together at Hillel for a two-day introduction to Jewish life at UD. Kicking off with a barbecue lunch, students and
parents from the class of 2029 had the chance to mix, mingle, and meet new people. As part of the program, students moved in two days before the rest of the Class of 2029, received personalized tours of the campus, met up on Main Street with upperclassmen group leaders, and learned all about the Jewish community here at Hillel. We are so grateful for the generosity of the Markell/Weinstein family, longtime supporters of the Hillel at the University of Delaware, who make it possible for Hillel at UD to put on this monumental experience for incoming students
As Hillel at UD continues to serve more students each year, we are thrilled to be able to expand our team. Over the summer, we welcomed three additions to the Hillel at UD professional team: a new Springboard Innovation Fellow, an IACT Campus Engagement Associate, and a Jewish Agency for Israel Fellow.
Gaia Steinberg, our Springboard Ezra Fellow, hails from Las Vegas, NV and graduated from University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in Spring 2025. As the
child of two Israelis, Gaia is a fluent Hebrew speaker. On campus, they served as the president of Hillel Las Vegas for two years, served as president and founder of Students Supporting Israel, completed the StandWithUs First-Year Leadership Internship, completed the StandWithUs Emerson Fellowship, ran a Jewish-Israeli Student Leadership Coalition, and served on the Task Force on Jewish Identity and Inclusion under the UNLV president. They look forward to working at the University of Delaware Hillel and helping Jewish college students develop their unique personal connections to Judaism.
Haddie Daner moved to Delaware from sunny California and will spend this year serving as our IACT Campus Engagement Associate. She is a graduate of Sonoma State University. During her time at SSU, she served as president of the Sonoma County Hillel, Phi Sigma Sigma, and the Order of Omega Honor Society. Following an unforgettable Birthright trip during her senior year, she committed to returning to Israel and, after graduation, moved to Jerusalem to pursue an MA in Nonprofit Management at Hebrew University. She hopes to help others discover the beauty, meaning, and magic of Israel through travel, conversation, and connection.
Yedidya Tzur, is the Hillel at UD ‘25–’26 Jewish Agency for Israel Fellow. He is a graduate of Ariel University, where he studied Electrical Engineering. “As a Jewish Agency Fellow here in Delaware, I’m here to help bridge hearts and minds—to make Israel feel a little closer and strengthen our community.” Yedidya is passionate about people, opportunities for the exchange of ideas, and bringing Israeli culture to UD. Through his work, he crafts experiences that spark curiosity and meaningful connections for our students.
