May 13, 2021
Hillel Milwaukee is deeply disappointed and surprised to see the leadership of the Marquette University Student Government (MUSG) issue a one-sided statement on the complicated Israeli-Palestinian conflict, furthering divisiveness among students. The inflammatory language used against Israel in the statement has made many Jewish students feel unseen and unrepresented by MUSG. This one-sided statement was released while rockets were being launched into Israel, with no consideration of how many students with a connection to Israel may be feeling.
As an organization, we stand in solidarity with the Israeli people and seek peace for the entire region. We aim to bring diverse voices forward to be heard and considered. MUSG made their statement without any experience or communication with us. We welcome dialogue with the leadership of MUSG to explain the impact of their words on many Jewish students.
We also want to thank all of the students who have reached out to us with your concerns. We are here for you. If you are seeking a space to discuss how you are feeling about this statement or the present situation in Israel, please reach out to the Hillel Milwaukee staff.
Deb Carneol Fendrich
Executive Director
As an organization, we stand in solidarity with the Israeli people and seek peace for the entire region. We aim to bring diverse voices forward to be heard and considered. MUSG made their statement without any experience or communication with us. We welcome dialogue with the leadership of MUSG to explain the impact of their words on many Jewish students.
We also want to thank all of the students who have reached out to us with your concerns. We are here for you. If you are seeking a space to discuss how you are feeling about this statement or the present situation in Israel, please reach out to the Hillel Milwaukee staff.
Deb Carneol Fendrich
Executive Director
October 1, 2020
Hillel Milwaukee is delighted to announce the appointment of Anna Goldstein as our new Director of Jewish Student Life, effective October 15, 2020. A Hillel Milwaukee alum herself, Anna graduated from Marquette University in 2017 with a BA in Social Welfare and Justice and Minors in Political Science and Spanish. During her time at Marquette, Anna reinvigorated Jewish life at her University and at Hillel. Not only was she Hillel’s Engagement Intern tasked with engaging Jewish students specifically on Marquette’s campus, but she also was a dedicated Shabbat service leader. She established student leadership through the Jewish Student Union at Marquette, advocated for a Center for Jewish Life on Marquette’s campus and helped bring Kosher food to campus.
“My experiences at Hillel Milwaukee truly shaped the person and professional I am today,” Anna said, “and I look forward to empowering students and young adults to explore their Jewish identities and strengthen their connections to the Milwaukee Jewish community.”
In addition to building her Hillel Milwaukee connections, Anna was very involved in our larger Milwaukee Jewish community. During her undergraduate years she volunteered at Ovation Jewish Home, worked in a classroom at Gan Ami, and interned at the Nathan & Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center. Upon graduation, Anna continued to make Jewish Milwaukee her home as the Outreach Coordinator at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. In the three years Anna was with the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, she welcomed hundreds of new Jewish Milwaukee residents with the Shalom Milwaukee program, engaged young families with new babies through the Shalom Baby Program, expanded LGBTQ+ involvement and inclusion through J-Pride Milwaukee, and built from the ground up the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Teen Philanthropy program.
"This feels like a true homecoming," Deb Carneol Fendrich, Executive Director said. “Not only does she bring new and exciting ideas to engage with our Jewish students and young adults, but she has a passion for enhancing our greater Milwaukee Jewish community as a whole. Anna has always been a part of our Hillel Milwaukee family, and now we are excited to welcome her in this professional role.”
Our Hillel Milwaukee staff, students and young adults look forward to working with Anna on building her vision for Jewish Life on campus and continuing to strengthen Hillel Milwaukee to impact Jewish students and young adults throughout the Milwaukee area.
August 3, 2020
The Board of Directors of Hillel Milwaukee is delighted to announce the appointment of Deb Fendrich (née Carneol) as our new Executive Director, effective September 8, 2020. Deb has deep roots within the Milwaukee Jewish Community, as an alumna of Milwaukee Jewish Day School, a president of the Wisconsin Region of BBYO, and a camper, counselor and member of the administrative team at Camp Interlaken JCC.
Deb graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota, where she served as a Hillel Public Relations Intern, and she received her MBA from UWM's Sheldon Lubar School of Business. Since completing her MBA, she has participated in several professional development programs and was accepted into and completed the 5th cohort of Hillel International's Debra S. & Joseph S. Weinberg Accelerate Executive Training Program.
Before beginning her tenure at Hillel Milwaukee, Deb worked in marketing and was the Social Media Coordinator at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center. She has volunteered in several local Jewish organizations, including the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, the Jewish National Fund and BBYO, and is a recipient of the Anna Agulnick Young Professional Award from Women's Philanthropy of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
Deb became the Director of Jewish Student Life at Hillel Milwaukee in 2016 and was promoted to the Assistant Director in 2018. She loves Milwaukee and is passionate about the mission of Hillel Milwaukee to create a dynamic, warm and celebratory Jewish environment for Milwaukee's university students and young adults (ages 18-30) where they can explore and express their Jewish identities and gain a sense of belonging within the Jewish community.
"As a life-long member of this Milwaukee Jewish community, it is a true honor to step into the role of Executive Director for Hillel Milwaukee," Deb said. "I am excited to continue to collaborate with Hillel Milwaukee's talented staff, dynamic board leadership, committed donors, diverse community partners and exceptional students in order to fulfill Hillel Milwaukee's mission."
Even before officially stepping into her role as Executive Director, Deb is busy working with the outgoing Executive Director, Julie Schack, on critical tasks such as a safe reopening plan for Hillel Milwaukee and a national search for a new Director of Jewish Student Life.
"Our talented professionals at Hillel serve as the cornerstone for our success in engaging and inspiring students," said Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman. "We have been blessed by the strong leadership at Hillel Milwaukee of outgoing Executive Director Julie Schack, and couldn’t be more excited to have Deb Fendrich stepping into this critical Hillel leadership role. Deb will be able to draw on substantial Hillel experience, unique programmatic vision and deep community roots in elevating Hillel Milwaukee to its next level of success."
The Board of Directors looks forward to working with Deb on building her vision for Hillel Milwaukee and continuing to strengthen this important organization to impact Jewish students and young adults throughout the Milwaukee area.
Kathy Wheatley
Board President
July 23, 2020
Dear Hillel Milwaukee Family,
Julie Schack has decided to step down as Executive Director of Hillel Milwaukee and will become the VP of Philanthropy at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation overseeing its annual fundraising. Julie has given her heart and soul to our organization over the past four years, and she is leaving Hillel in a much stronger position than when she arrived. While her departure is a loss for Hillel, it is a gain for the greater Milwaukee Jewish community, and we are fortunate that she will still be nearby to offer her support and guidance through this transition. We are confident that the solid foundation that Julie has developed at Hillel Milwaukee will secure our success into the future. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Julie for her dedicated work at Hillel MKE, and wish her great success in her new position at MJF.
Kathy Wheatley
Board President
Julie Schack has decided to step down as Executive Director of Hillel Milwaukee and will become the VP of Philanthropy at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation overseeing its annual fundraising. Julie has given her heart and soul to our organization over the past four years, and she is leaving Hillel in a much stronger position than when she arrived. While her departure is a loss for Hillel, it is a gain for the greater Milwaukee Jewish community, and we are fortunate that she will still be nearby to offer her support and guidance through this transition. We are confident that the solid foundation that Julie has developed at Hillel Milwaukee will secure our success into the future. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Julie for her dedicated work at Hillel MKE, and wish her great success in her new position at MJF.
Kathy Wheatley
Board President
June 3, 2020
“If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?”
--Hillel The Elder
--Hillel The Elder
Our nation is broken.
Tikkun Olam- repairing the world, is a core value in Judaism, holding us responsible to fix what is wrong. This concept motivates much of the work we pursue at Hillel Milwaukee.
We have watched the unfolding events throughout the country over this past week sparked by the horrific murder of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer. But as we all know and must own, this week’s events are not isolated, as there has been a long history of pervasive injustice and racism within our society for generations.
Our Hillel Milwaukee community stands in solidarity, partnership, and friendship with the black community and all who fight racism in our world today. And while we strive to educate our students and the greater campus communities we serve about the destruction that bigotry and hate inflicts on our society, we recognize that we have still have so much work to do. We must listen and learn from our brothers and sisters in the black community - and in all communities of color – so we can work together to address the inequalities and systemic racism that is embedded in our society, on our campuses, and in our institutions.
In particular, we stand arm in arm alongside all black students and students of color, including those within our Jewish community, whose lives are intrinsically more difficult due to societal intolerance, prejudice and hate.
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote: “It was ‘illegal’ to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler’s Germany. But I am sure that if I had lived in Germany during that time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers even though it was illegal.” (Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963)
As Jews, it is time for us to share this same sentiment with our families, friends, colleagues, and fellow citizens. It is time for us all to offer aid and support to the black community; because black lives DO matter.
Our nation is broken.
But when something is broken, it can be repaired.
And if not now, when?
Julie Schack Michael Schaalman
Executive Director Board President
Tikkun Olam- repairing the world, is a core value in Judaism, holding us responsible to fix what is wrong. This concept motivates much of the work we pursue at Hillel Milwaukee.
We have watched the unfolding events throughout the country over this past week sparked by the horrific murder of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer. But as we all know and must own, this week’s events are not isolated, as there has been a long history of pervasive injustice and racism within our society for generations.
Our Hillel Milwaukee community stands in solidarity, partnership, and friendship with the black community and all who fight racism in our world today. And while we strive to educate our students and the greater campus communities we serve about the destruction that bigotry and hate inflicts on our society, we recognize that we have still have so much work to do. We must listen and learn from our brothers and sisters in the black community - and in all communities of color – so we can work together to address the inequalities and systemic racism that is embedded in our society, on our campuses, and in our institutions.
In particular, we stand arm in arm alongside all black students and students of color, including those within our Jewish community, whose lives are intrinsically more difficult due to societal intolerance, prejudice and hate.
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote: “It was ‘illegal’ to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler’s Germany. But I am sure that if I had lived in Germany during that time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers even though it was illegal.” (Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963)
As Jews, it is time for us to share this same sentiment with our families, friends, colleagues, and fellow citizens. It is time for us all to offer aid and support to the black community; because black lives DO matter.
Our nation is broken.
But when something is broken, it can be repaired.
And if not now, when?
Julie Schack Michael Schaalman
Executive Director Board President
April 30, 2020
Dear Hillel Family,
Week 7. That is how I have come to count the days since I began sheltering in place with my family. While some joke about losing track of hours and days, I chose to simply count the weeks. Seven weeks since our staff has gathered for daily check in’s and organized our ’to do lists'. Seven weeks since our building was filled with loud voices and laughter from students as they ate, studied and hung out together. Seven weeks since we hugged and ate the fruity Mike and Ike candies that have become symbolic of our oneg- pre-Shabbat snack.
So, I’m just gonna say it. I miss my staff —like our Israel Fellow Shaked Ram and her daily complaints about the impossible Milwaukee winter. I miss our students-- like Robert Larson, who unknowingly hums outside my office and interrupts my train of thought while I am working. Or Matty Powell, with her throaty laugh, as she plops down on a chair in my office just to chat. I miss my visits with our gracious donors and sharing the wonderful opportunities our students are experiencing because of their generosity. I miss gathering with my amazing Game Night co-chairs as we started to plan for Year 3 of our signature friend raiser. I miss.
And yet, I am grateful. Grateful that our staff is healthy and strong, and continues to amaze me with their creativity to find meaningful ways to bring Jewish life in a virtual space to our students. Grateful for the amazing support of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation under the leadership of Miryam Rosenzweig and Moshe Katz. Grateful for my Hillel International colleagues as we navigate these times of uncertainty together. Grateful for my supportive friends and family as we laugh over Zoom and share recipes and must see TV shows.
In this week’s Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim we hear of many mitzvot ( divine commandments) from the prohibition of idolatry, giving of charity, honesty in business, honoring of parents and sacredness of life. Included is the dictum which the great sage Rabbi Akiva called a cardinal principle of Torah, and of which Hillel said, “This is the entire Torah, the rest is commentary”--“Love your fellow as yourself.”
I find this message particularly fitting as next week Hillel International will be launching its' first ever Global Giving Week. Hillel Milwaukee will be participating in this global unity fundraiser and all gifts made from May 4-8 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $2500 per gift. We know these are challenging times for many, but this is a grassroots campaign and no gift is too small. So if you are able, please consider fulfilling a mitzvah, and showing your support to Hillel Milwaukee, so that we can one day in the near future return to campus vibrant and strong. So I can lament with Shaked over the dreary winter. So I can learn the tune that Robert is singing. So I can share a laugh with Matty and then return a call to a gracious donor.
Until then…I miss. I am grateful.
Shabbat Shalom,
Julie Schack
Executive Director
Week 7. That is how I have come to count the days since I began sheltering in place with my family. While some joke about losing track of hours and days, I chose to simply count the weeks. Seven weeks since our staff has gathered for daily check in’s and organized our ’to do lists'. Seven weeks since our building was filled with loud voices and laughter from students as they ate, studied and hung out together. Seven weeks since we hugged and ate the fruity Mike and Ike candies that have become symbolic of our oneg- pre-Shabbat snack.
So, I’m just gonna say it. I miss my staff —like our Israel Fellow Shaked Ram and her daily complaints about the impossible Milwaukee winter. I miss our students-- like Robert Larson, who unknowingly hums outside my office and interrupts my train of thought while I am working. Or Matty Powell, with her throaty laugh, as she plops down on a chair in my office just to chat. I miss my visits with our gracious donors and sharing the wonderful opportunities our students are experiencing because of their generosity. I miss gathering with my amazing Game Night co-chairs as we started to plan for Year 3 of our signature friend raiser. I miss.
And yet, I am grateful. Grateful that our staff is healthy and strong, and continues to amaze me with their creativity to find meaningful ways to bring Jewish life in a virtual space to our students. Grateful for the amazing support of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation under the leadership of Miryam Rosenzweig and Moshe Katz. Grateful for my Hillel International colleagues as we navigate these times of uncertainty together. Grateful for my supportive friends and family as we laugh over Zoom and share recipes and must see TV shows.
In this week’s Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim we hear of many mitzvot ( divine commandments) from the prohibition of idolatry, giving of charity, honesty in business, honoring of parents and sacredness of life. Included is the dictum which the great sage Rabbi Akiva called a cardinal principle of Torah, and of which Hillel said, “This is the entire Torah, the rest is commentary”--“Love your fellow as yourself.”
I find this message particularly fitting as next week Hillel International will be launching its' first ever Global Giving Week. Hillel Milwaukee will be participating in this global unity fundraiser and all gifts made from May 4-8 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $2500 per gift. We know these are challenging times for many, but this is a grassroots campaign and no gift is too small. So if you are able, please consider fulfilling a mitzvah, and showing your support to Hillel Milwaukee, so that we can one day in the near future return to campus vibrant and strong. So I can lament with Shaked over the dreary winter. So I can learn the tune that Robert is singing. So I can share a laugh with Matty and then return a call to a gracious donor.
Until then…I miss. I am grateful.
Shabbat Shalom,
Julie Schack
Executive Director
March 17, 2020
Dear Hillel Milwaukee Community,
Given the current coronavirus crisis and the prolonged uncertainty of holding large scale community events, we have made the regretful decision to cancel this year’s Blue and Gold Community Shabbat that was planned for Friday, April 24th. We would like to thank all of those involved, particularly our co-chairs, Nina Gary, Brandon Halpern, Amanda Krahn, and Ben Stern for your passion and commitment to planning what was sure to have been an inspiring evening.
The good news is that we are still accepting student applications for our Bernard & Helen F. Soref Scholarships. Applications are available online at www.hillelmke.org/scholarship and are open to eligible students through Friday, April 3rd. Scholarship recipients will be announced the week of April 20th. We hope all of our students take advantage of this exciting scholarship opportunity.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Jewish student life and we look forward to you joining us next year for Blue and Gold Community Shabbat with Hillel MKE.
Julie Schack
Executive Director
Given the current coronavirus crisis and the prolonged uncertainty of holding large scale community events, we have made the regretful decision to cancel this year’s Blue and Gold Community Shabbat that was planned for Friday, April 24th. We would like to thank all of those involved, particularly our co-chairs, Nina Gary, Brandon Halpern, Amanda Krahn, and Ben Stern for your passion and commitment to planning what was sure to have been an inspiring evening.
The good news is that we are still accepting student applications for our Bernard & Helen F. Soref Scholarships. Applications are available online at www.hillelmke.org/scholarship and are open to eligible students through Friday, April 3rd. Scholarship recipients will be announced the week of April 20th. We hope all of our students take advantage of this exciting scholarship opportunity.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Jewish student life and we look forward to you joining us next year for Blue and Gold Community Shabbat with Hillel MKE.
Julie Schack
Executive Director
March 15, 2020
Dear Hillel Community,
As a follow up to my earlier statement about Hillel Milwaukee moving to an online learning platform as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, I wanted to follow up with the decision that we made to close the Hillel Milwaukee building until Monday, April 13th. Our team will all be working remotely during this time as a measure to ensure we all stay healthy and mitigate spreading of the virus. We are hard at work planning creative, fun ways to stay connected with you, our students, during this time and we encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions too. It is more important than ever that we continue to strengthen our Kehillah Kedoshah- our holy community, and know that the Hillel team is here to support you in any way that you need. Please note that the proverbial ‘door; is always open and we trust that you will reach out on ways we can be supportive. We will be creating new, inventive spaces for Jewish learning, mindfulness and wellness, and of course Israeli cooking! We trust that you are stocking up (but leaving some toilet paper for your neighbor!), practicing social distancing and finding ways to stay connected with friends and family.
Kol Tuv ( all good things) and we look forward to the time when we can all be together soon.
Julie Schack
Executive Director, Hillel Milwaukee
As a follow up to my earlier statement about Hillel Milwaukee moving to an online learning platform as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, I wanted to follow up with the decision that we made to close the Hillel Milwaukee building until Monday, April 13th. Our team will all be working remotely during this time as a measure to ensure we all stay healthy and mitigate spreading of the virus. We are hard at work planning creative, fun ways to stay connected with you, our students, during this time and we encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions too. It is more important than ever that we continue to strengthen our Kehillah Kedoshah- our holy community, and know that the Hillel team is here to support you in any way that you need. Please note that the proverbial ‘door; is always open and we trust that you will reach out on ways we can be supportive. We will be creating new, inventive spaces for Jewish learning, mindfulness and wellness, and of course Israeli cooking! We trust that you are stocking up (but leaving some toilet paper for your neighbor!), practicing social distancing and finding ways to stay connected with friends and family.
Kol Tuv ( all good things) and we look forward to the time when we can all be together soon.
Julie Schack
Executive Director, Hillel Milwaukee
March 12, 2020
Dear Hillel Friends,
Our primary role at Hillel Milwaukee is to support our students both spiritually and emotionally and we know that the evolving situation regarding COVID-19 has been sad, confusing and stressful. As a community we have just celebrated the holiday of Purim, in which we recognize the chaotic nature of our world where as the saying goes, a Jew learns to laugh with one eye and cry with the other.
We have been monitoring the unfolding of the corona virus pandemic, and this week we learned that the primary campuses we serve will be moving to remote on line instruction until April 10th. UWM has decided to expand its spring break for two weeks until March 29th to allow time for faculty to properly equip themselves with this decision, and Marquette will implement on line learning effective March 23rd. Students living in university housing are being asked to vacate their residence halls and refrain from returning to campus following spring break.
Hillel Milwaukee is actively engaged with University administration, Hillel International, the greater Milwaukee Jewish community and our other many partners. At this time, we have made the following decisions regarding programming and building usage until April 10th:
We recognize at times like these the urgency to support one another. Our Hillel Milwaukee team is dedicated to assisting our students in whatever way possible. Your wellbeing and safety is our #1 priority. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 414-961-2010, or contact me directly at Julie@hillelmke.org for any specific questions or concerns.
In good health,
Julie Schack
Executive Director
Hillel Milwaukee
Our primary role at Hillel Milwaukee is to support our students both spiritually and emotionally and we know that the evolving situation regarding COVID-19 has been sad, confusing and stressful. As a community we have just celebrated the holiday of Purim, in which we recognize the chaotic nature of our world where as the saying goes, a Jew learns to laugh with one eye and cry with the other.
We have been monitoring the unfolding of the corona virus pandemic, and this week we learned that the primary campuses we serve will be moving to remote on line instruction until April 10th. UWM has decided to expand its spring break for two weeks until March 29th to allow time for faculty to properly equip themselves with this decision, and Marquette will implement on line learning effective March 23rd. Students living in university housing are being asked to vacate their residence halls and refrain from returning to campus following spring break.
Hillel Milwaukee is actively engaged with University administration, Hillel International, the greater Milwaukee Jewish community and our other many partners. At this time, we have made the following decisions regarding programming and building usage until April 10th:
- We will cancel all non-essential programs including weekly Shabbat and Passover seder until April 10th. With the fluidity of the situation, we will update our students and community with any changes as they unfold.
- Despite not holding student programming, our building will remain open during normal business hours M-F 9a-5p.
- Our staff is dedicated to supporting our students during this stressful and confusing time and are working diligently to determine what remote programs we can offer in the coming weeks based on student feedback. JLF will continue with a remote learning model. We have yet to determine whether our Side x Side trip to Israel will take place in May. We will continue to monitor the travel guidelines in the weeks to come.
- Many of our students will feel the financial implications of the universities shutdown and we will be available for consultation and crisis management. In addition, we will be boosting the grocery items available from our Hillel food pantry for those students who can benefit from it. We will be adding kosher for Pesach items in the coming weeks.
- Following the recommendations from the universities and health professionals, we strongly request that if you are not feeling well, please refrain from visiting the Hillel building until you are better.
We recognize at times like these the urgency to support one another. Our Hillel Milwaukee team is dedicated to assisting our students in whatever way possible. Your wellbeing and safety is our #1 priority. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 414-961-2010, or contact me directly at Julie@hillelmke.org for any specific questions or concerns.
In good health,
Julie Schack
Executive Director
Hillel Milwaukee
