he/they ~ Solomon is thrilled to be joining the Hillel UW and greater Seattle Jewish community! Solomon was born and raised in White Plains, New York, and went to Dickinson College where he received his BA in Theatre Arts and Judaic Studies. A proud product of the Schechter and Ramah institutions, Solomon has spent their life being apart of and  working in countless Jewish settings. Most recently they were working as the Director of Jewish Education at Hillel at the University of Rochester. When not at work you can find him watching baseball or hockey games (go Mets and go Devils!), going on long walks, listening to podcasts, exploring local coffee shops, jamming out to musical theater while painting his nails, and telling everyone why Yom Kippur is his favorite holiday. Solomon could not be more excited to spearhead Hillel UW’s Jconnect program and looks forward to helping cultivate a thriving young Jewish community in Seattle!

she/her ~ Rabbi Lauren Kurland most recently served as director of student engagement at the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies at the UW, where she was nominated for a James D. Clowes Award for her work connecting cohorts of students with one another and with faculty members to advance learning. She previously worked at American Jewish World Service in New York City, where she supervised the creation and expansion of materials used on immersive Jewish volunteer programs in the developing world. She treasures Judaism because its wisdom can be applied across time and place; it charges us to take care of one another and our planet; and it invites questions, dialogue and respectful disagreement. Rabbi Kurland is enthralled by life in the PNW. An avid walker, she tries to get outside every day, no matter the weather. She is a fan of fair-trade dark chocolate (75% or bust!), PB&J, and Shabbat naps. She has her famous hummus recipe memorized (ask her for it!), and thanks to her days as a former high school trombonist, can blow a mean shofar.

she/her ~ Amee Huppin Sherer has been working as a Jewish Educator in the Seattle area for over 30 years. She has taught almost every age group from first grade to adults, and before returning to Hillel UW in 2015, was on the faculty at the Seattle Jewish Community School for thirteen years. She has her BA in Jewish Studies and her Masters in Education, both from UW. Amee is married to Michael Sherer and they have two adult children. She is a fan of all things purple (Go Huskies!) and has been known to find the best deals in town because she loves coupons and sales. She always has a good stash of chocolate in her office so stop by and say hello!

she/her ~ Anna is thrilled to be returning to Jewish communal work after a 5-year hiatus and overjoyed to call Hillel UW her new professional home. Born, raised, and educated in New York (University of Rochester: BA, ‘98; MS, ‘99), Anna spent her early career working among Houston’s vibrant Jewish community (Houston Hillel, The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, and Houston Hillel, again!) before relocating to Seattle in 2007. A PNW resident for 17 years, Anna’s local stomping grounds as a fundraiser and marketing/communications professional have included The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Starlight Children’s Foundation NW, The Jewish Day School, Kindering, and The Salvation Army Northwest Division. Anna is married to and caffeinated by her coffee enthusiast husband, has one son entering middle school this fall (Time, please slow down!), and two silly pugs. A 25-year knitter, she always has a project nearby and will happily talk, knit, or teach anyone interested in learning the craft. Anna attributes her love of Judaism and commitment to Jewish continuity to her beloved Bubbe (z”l) and her high school youth group experience, believing meaningful Jewish moments really do matter.

Jonathan is a lifelong resident of NE Seattle and has been active in Jewish communal affairs his entire adult life. A graduate of Colby College in Waterville, ME, (where he was president of Hillel during his senior year!), a student at the WUJS Institute in Arad, Israel, and a camper at Camp Solomon Schechter in Tumwater, WA, he spent 27 years working in medical group administration in the Seattle area. Jonathan loves to travel –  to Israel, France and all around Washington State – and takes great pride in the growing number of Jews, synagogues, and Jewish communal institutions in the Puget Sound area. In addition to his two grown sons and his 30 year marriage to his wife Catherine, he is most proud to have guided the opening of the Seattle Jewish Primary School in 1992. Jonathan is passionate about Jewish community, education, identity, observance, and continuity and is excited to help promote these values through Hillel at UW!

she/her ~ Orliyah is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 18 years of experience as a psychotherapist working with adolescents and their families. She is a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP) as well as a nationally registered Art Therapist (AT-R). Since 2004, she has practiced in non-profit setting serving low-income families of Downtown Los Angeles and Brooklyn, NY. By 2012, she had settled into private practice where she saw clients ranging in age from 5 to 75. She holds three permanent licenses to practice in CA, NY and WA state. She has her BA in English with a minor in Biology from the University of California Riverside and her Masters in Psychology from Phillips Graduate University of California. Orliyah lives in Kirkland, WA with her three children, her husband, and their German Shepherd dog, Baxter. She enjoys time with her family, getting outside in the beautiful PNW, skiing/snowboarding in the winters, summer concerts in the park and Shabbat Fridays with her family. To learn about her therapeutic techniques, you can read more about her on her website at www.orliyahmft.com.

She/her – Amital is a proud life-long member of the Seattle Jewish Community and is excited to be joining Hillel UW as the Administrative Coordinator. While earning her B.A. in Planning, Public Policy, and Management from the University of Oregon, Amital could be found at the Hillel house every Friday, cooking meals and baking challah for her fellow students to welcome in Shabbat. In addition to her love of baking, Amital enjoys gardening, crafting and volunteering with environmental nonprofits. Prior to her role at Hillel UW, Amital worked as a preschool teacher, youth group advisor, conservationist, and disaster responder. She is a firm believer and practitioner of tikkun olam (repairing the world) through acts of service on behalf of the environment and future generations who are looking at us to set an example. Amital is looking forward to supporting the important work of Hillel UW and being a part of this amazing community.

Rabbi Dan served as Rabbi and Executive Director of Hillel UW from 1988-2007. He continues to serve as a mentor and leader in the Seattle Jewish and non-profit community.