ABOUT US
University of Florida is home to one of the largest Jewish student populations in the United States. UF Hillel seeks to provide EVERY Jewish Gator with a positive and meaningful Jewish experience during their time at UF -- one that they will carry with them long after graduation.
At a university as large as UF, our Hillel provides Jewish students with community and connection through a wide range of opportunities. Each year UF Hillel takes over 300 students to Israel; empowers hundreds of students to explore their Jewish identity through fellowships and internships in Jewish learning, community organizing, social justice, Israel, and more; serves thousands of Shabbat and holiday meals; and supports the work of hundreds of student leaders who oversee a full calendar of programming.
We are not a membership-based organization - anyone and everyone is welcome anytime.
Mission
UF Hillel's mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.
Vision
UF Hillel envisions a campus community where every Jewish Gator is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.
Professional Staff
Rabbi Jonah Zinn (he/him)
Executive Director
jzinn@ufhillel.org / 352.248.2602
Rabbi Jonah Zinn is the Executive Director of University of Florida Hillel. Prior to assuming this role in 2019, Jonah was the Associate Rabbi at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis. During his tenure he served the diverse needs of members of all ages, with a particular focus on youth, young adult, and early childhood engagement. He came to Shaare Emeth from New York City, where he received his rabbinic ordination and MA in Hebrew Literature from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. Before entering rabbinical school, Jonah served as Assistant Director of Hillel at the University of Virginia, during which time he was honored as a Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence. Originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, Jonah has a B.A. from The George Washington University. He is married to UF alumna, Jamie Silverstein Zinn, who took him to his first game in the Swamp shortly after they met. Jonah and Jamie are the proud parents of Jacob, Talia, and Maya.
Hannah Blend (she/her)
Springboard Fellow
Born and raised in New Jersey, Hannah graduated from Seton Hall University (SHU) in Spring 2024 with a degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences, concentrating in Culture and Society. At SHU, Hannah became involved with Hillel early on, finding it a welcoming place that reminded her of her family and traditions. Growing up, she spent time at Temple Beth El where her mother taught and her grandmother was the principal. However, as she grew older, her connection to Judaism waned. Finding Hillel in college helped her regain that connection through experiences like JLF and Birthright. Hannah served as the President of Seton Hall Hillel her senior year, where she experienced significant personal growth and learning.
In addition to her involvement with Hillel, Hannah held leadership positions within the Seton Hall community. As the Director of Member Engagement and Sisterhood for her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, she not only developed her leadership skills but also discovered a passion for their philanthropy, mental health awareness.
Outside of her professional life, Hannah is an avid fan of the New York Giants and Mets and spent much of her time in Manhattan. She enjoys being outdoors and staying active, often spending weekends in Central Park for picnics with a good book. Hannah is excited about the Springboard Fellowship and the opportunity to combine her passion for Jewish life with her interest in engagement and events at the University of Florida!
Jenna Dube (they/them)
Springboard Fellow
Born and raised in Exeter, New Hampshire, Jenna graduated from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec in spring 2023. They majored in Honours Classics and minored in Hispanic Studies, with a research emphasis on Jews in Ancient Greece and Rome. As a nonbinary queer person who grew up in NH without a Jewish community, Jenna was not sure where they fit into Judaism but was open to trying different approaches in university. However, the most significant step on their “Jewish Journey” was summer 2022, when they did Birthright and Onward — an experience that helped them more deeply affirm their Jewish identity and made them passionate about Israel.
As an undergraduate, Jenna took on numerous leadership roles, including Vice President of Community Relations for their sorority, and Vice President of Finance of the McGill Classics Students Association. They also worked for McGill Residence Life for three years as an advisor to student councils and loved empowering students and seeing their ideas come to life. They are excited to combine this passion with their love of Judaism as a Hillel Springboard Fellow. Outside of their professional life, they enjoy cooking, playing board games, reading, traveling, and seeing movies in theaters.
Jenna Hasher (she/her)
Assistant Director of Development
jhasher@ufhillel.org / 352.663.9500
As the Assistant Director of Development for UF Hillel, Jenna is responsible for maintaining and cultivating relationships with the organization's donors and supporters.
Born and raised in Virginia, she attended Virginia Commonwealth University and graduated Summa Cum Laude in only 3 years with a degree in Public Relations. While attending VCU, Jenna worked as an Assistant Coordinator for Jewish Life at VCU. This is where she found her love for Hillel and everything it stands for.
With her background in event planning, Jenna brings a unique perspective to her role. Jenna is passionate about Hillel's mission and the impact it has on the Jewish community at UF.
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Shlomi Kahana (he/him)
Jewish Agency Israel Fellow
Born in Rehovot, Israel, Shlomi graduated from Ariel University with a degree in Economics and Business Administration, along with a certificate in Internal Auditing. Prior to his work at Hillel, he had the opportunity to mentor over 2,000 teenagers in Ariel, providing them with essential life skills and guidance. Professionally, Shlomi has also served as an Internal Auditor and Economist at KRESTON EYR.
A passionate enthusiast of sports and extreme training, Shlomi also loves traveling both within Israel and around the world. He is incredibly excited to be a part of the Jewish Gator community at UF, where he aims to create a welcoming and safe environment for students to connect and learn about Israel.
Logan King (he/him)
Chief Engagement Officer
Originally from Syracuse, New York, Logan attended the Syracuse Hebrew Day School and spent his childhood summers at Camp Seneca Lake. Logan graduated from the University at Buffalo, where he received a B.A. in History and a minor in Jewish Thought. After graduation, he worked at Hillel of Buffalo. In his seven years there, Logan worked to advance the student experience through mentorship, innovative programming, and design thinking. In addition to Hillel, Logan previously worked for the Buffalo Jewish Federation, designing and implementing events and programs for graduate students and young professionals. Similarly, he is a founder of Moishe Pod Buffalo.
Logan is a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and holds an M.A. in Education and Human Development from George Washington University, where he specialized in Organizational Leadership and Learning. A lover of all things flavorful, Logan is passionate about cooking, eating, and discussing Jewish food. He is a lifelong Syracuse basketball fan, an ardent Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan, and of course, loves all things Gators.
Marcus Pierre (he/him)
IACT Engagement Associate
Marcus, a Fort Myers native, is a passionate advocate for Israeli culture and travel. A proud graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa, Marcus enhanced his academic journey by participating in Onward Israel and Masa programs, which fueled his deep connection to Israel and its heritage.
Now at UF Hillel, Marcus is excited to share his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for Israel with the University of Florida community. With a deep commitment to fostering meaningful connections and cultural understanding, he is eager to contribute to the dynamic Gator spirit and inspire engagement with Israeli culture.
Rachel Waldorf (she/her)
Chief Experience Officer
Rachel comes to UF having recently served as the Director of Hillel of Northern New Jersey. There she worked on five different campuses all throughout Northern Jersey. She worked to continue to enhance the student experience through leadership development, recruitment, and innovative programming. Having grown up in Central New Jersey, when Rachel was not playing softball, she spent her summers at URJ Camp Harlam. After graduating from Rutgers University with a B.A. in Jewish Studies and Psychology, she spent a year in Israel participating in Tikkun Olam, a MASA program volunteering in nonprofit organizations throughout Tel Aviv- Yaffo. Rachel then found herself working full time for URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute as the Associate Director where she was able to get involved with everything from staff training to program development and fundraising. She currently has a M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Gratz College.
Rachel, along with her mini-goldendoodle, Orly, are excited to join Gator nation. They love spending time outside and exploring new places. Rachel and Orly are looking forward to getting to know the incredible University of Florida students and see all that Gainesville has to offer.
Jamie Zinn (she/her)
Chief Advancement Officer jamie.zinn@ufhillel.org / 352.248.2601
Jamie (Silverstein) Zinn is thrilled to help advance UF Hillel's mission as Chief Advancement Officer. A 2008 UF alumna, Jamie credits UF Hillel as the spark that ignited her passion for creating joyful Jewish community and pursuing a career in the non-profit sector. Following graduation, Jamie served as the Bronfman Presidential Fellow at Hillel International in Washington, DC, working alongside then president Wayne L. Firestone. She went on to serve as Director of Engagement for Hillel at The George Washington University before moving to NYC where she spent over five years at Repair the World. Prior to returning to UF in 2019, Jamie served as the Associate Director of Development at Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University in St. Louis, where she partnered with physician scientists and grateful patients to advance cancer research through philanthropy.
An alumna of Florida Blue Key, Jamie held leadership roles in student government, Dance Marathon, and Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, where she currently volunteers as chapter advisor. She has been involved for over a decade with Sharsheret, specifically working to raise awareness about ovarian cancer, and has held numerous leadership roles in local Jewish organizations. Jamie is married to Rabbi Jonah Zinn with whom she shares their most important role of all--proud parents to Jacob, Talia, and Maya.
Orly
Office Paws-itivity Ambassador
Orly may not have a degree or a long list of professional accomplishments, but what she lacks in traditional qualifications, she more than makes up for with her friendliness and paws-itivity.
With her infectious joy, Orly has a knack for brightening even the most stressful of days.
Outside of her official duties, she enjoys people telling her she is cute and receiving belly rubs. Her favorite office snack is dog treats although she's been known to steal the occasional pizza slice right from hands of unassuming students.