Texas Hillel values the health and well-being of our community above all else. In Jewish tradition, pikuach nefesh, saving a life, is the highest priority. In light of UT’s recent announcement that classes will be moved online for the remainder of the semester, Texas Hillel is making adjustments to our operations and programs to be in line with the guidance of campus and local policies as we face this unprecedented situation and public health crisis together. We ask all to stay informed via the university’s dedicated site, and to monitor your email for updates from UT and Texas Hillel.
Amid the uncertainty of this moment, Texas Hillel remains a dependable presence for all of our students. We are here for you. Our entire staff team is on call, and you’ll find our full contact information at the bottom of this page. We will work in the coming days and weeks to adapt our plans and offer a blend of engaging, interactive online resources to keep our relationships and connections vibrant. Keep reading for updates on our programming and operations!

Programs & Community Connections
- Every Sunday, Texas Hillel will post an update to Facebook and Instagram, sharing opportunities for the week ahead. We are excited to present speakers, discussions, and other content to keep our students connected to each other, wherever they are, and to provide enriching and meaningful Jewish content throughout the semester.
- All cohort-based programs, including the Life’s Big Questions Jewish Learning Fellowship, the Social Justice Fellowship, and Campus Engagement Interns will continue to meet virtually through Zoom at their regularly scheduled times. Texas Hillel’s student groups and leadership boards are continuing their regular meetings via Zoom as well.
- Ongoing programs like Shal-OM Yoga, Café Ivrit, and We Talk Feminism will move to an online format via Zoom and are open to all students each week. Links will be posted online weekly!
- While we will not be able to offer Shabbat services and dinner in person each week, every Friday we will continue our Student Spotlight tradition, with a different student each week sharing their reflections and leading the community in a pre-Shabbat moment of connection. You can find these student videos on our social media each Friday.
- Our 21st annual Israel Block Party will be postponed until Fall 2020. The student leadership team has been hard at work all semester putting together a fantastic celebration, and we are looking forward to coming together as a community for this momentous event in a few months.
- Leading up to Passover, stay tuned for opportunities to join Carolyn and Maiya for a pre-Seder workshop, and other virtual content. In addition, we are thrilled that Gail’s Catering will be offering pick-up Kosher for Passover catering this year for the Central Texas community. Please contact Gail’s Catering for specifics on pricing and menus.
- We are proud to offer national learning opportunities through Hillel@Home, a virtual platform for programming and engagement hosted by Hillel International. Hillel@Home will feature guests such as Amar’e Stoudemire, Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Sarah Hurwitz, and more.

Building Operations
Texas Hillel’s building is currently closed, and staff are working remotely. The facility will remain closed to in-person programs and meetings through at least April 6th. Please look for updates via email and social media on any changes to building hours or operations. Students, if you need to retrieve an item from our building, please be in touch with Jordenne and she will make sure you are able to have access.

Staff Contact Info
In additional to virtual programs, our staff are available for one-on-one Zoom or FaceTime conversations and virtual coffee chats. Please reach out to our staff below to schedule a time!

Maiya Chard-Yaron, Executive Director
Spencer Hirsch, Associate Director
Angie Harrison, Director of Development
Jordenne Parker, Operations Manager
Ashira Boxman, Birthright Israel IACT Coordinator
Shimi Mizrahi, Jewish Agency Israel Fellow
Carolyn Hamburg, Springboard Social Justice Fellow
Helaine Wolf, Family and Alumni Relations Manager
James Thomas, Development Assistant