Nadya A. Drukker

Nadya Drukker was born into a vibrant Jewish home in Munkach, a small town in Western Ukraine, and emigrated to the United States in 1990. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Media communications and a minor in Marketing. As an undergraduate, Nadya served as Vice President of the Russian-Jewish Club at Brooklyn College Hillel. After graduation, Nadya decided to dedicate her career to the Jewish community and began working at the Brooklyn College Hillel in 1997 as the Director of the Center for Russian Jewish Life. In this capacity, she works with many other Jewish organizations to link Russian-speaking Jewish students to the greater Jewish community and she is responsible for coordinating city-wide intercollegiate programming for Russian-Jewish students. After a short time at Hillel, she was promoted to the Assistant Director and now is an Acting Executive Director of the Tanger Hillel @ Brooklyn College. She has a passion for travel and theatre and resides in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.

Marcos Askenazi

Marcos Askenazi  is Hillel’s community In action coordinator.  He coordinates hillels volunteer and chessed opportunities and loves every second of it.  Marcos was born and raised in Brooklyn  and now lives in queens with his parents (because the rent is free) Marcos is also the Cantor of the East 55^th street conservative synagogue of NY (coincidentally  located on 55^th street in NY) Marcos also sings for for  Harmonia Orchestra and can be heard on www.harmoniaorchestra.com.   In his spare time Marcos enjoys eating   grasshoppers  dipped in a light hollandaise sauce and watching Martha Stewart. Marcos can often be found singing on a subway platform near you. Stop in and say hello, you will be welcomed with open arms and a hat to put tips in….

Yana Drozdovski

Yana Drozdovski is our Israel program coordinator. 

In 1990, she made "Aliyah" when she was 5 years old with her family from St. Petersburg, Russia. After finishing high school  she was enlisted to the army and served for two years in the Israeli intelligence forces on the Lebanese border. At the age of 21 she started a B.A in management and behavioral science at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheva.

During her studies she was a private tutor in a community tutoring project called "Perach" and also worked as a coordinator of the "SELA" project for the "Yedidim" organization in Beer Sheva. Her position entailed working with teenage girls who recently made "Aliyah" on a number of different plains which included their integration and assimilation into Israeli society.

She is excited to bring her Israeli flavor to our campus community.

Shira Boshnack

Shira Boshnack is the OU's JLI on campus Educator.  Always with a kind word and a smile, Shira can often be found giving classes, teaching Kallot, and planning events. She is an advocate for those in need and a shoulder for everyone who needs her help. In the blink of an eye, she draws people in to whatever it is she is doing, making them feel a part.  A native of Woodmere, NY Shira holds a BA in Psychology from Stern college and a Masters in Education from Nova Southeastern University. She and Rabbi Reuven have four wonderful children, Levi, Gitty Shimmy and Chumi.

Reuven B. Boshnack

A master of many talents, Rabbi Reuven as he is called can be found doing any number of things, often at once. Whether it's cooking, teaching, having a shmuess with someone, or helping to plan the next Hillel extravaganza event, he brings a zest for life, and his boundless enthusiasm to the halls of Hillel. His warm smile, and listening ear are sought out by students. Rabbi Reuven hails from the town of Oceanside, NY and  holds a BA in Psychology, an MS in Education and ordination from Yeshiva University. He is currently finishing a Master's in counselling to better assist the students on campus. He and Shira have four kenayinahara beautiful children, ranging in ages between 9 and 1 year old.

The Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) is a program of the Orthodox Union in partnership with Hillel.

In recognition that the overwhelming majority of Modern Orthodox college students are being educated at secular universities, the OU, in partnership with Hillel, administers the Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC), a program that helps Orthodox students navigate the college environment, and balance their Jewish commitments with their desire to engage the secular world. In addition, JLIC provides avenues for spiritual development and exploration for Jewish students from varied backgrounds; JLIC presents a positive, sophisticated and welcoming face for Orthodox Judaism on campus.

Rachel Porges

Rachel has been at Hillel since July, 1997 as the office administrator. Most times you will find her at the computer doing the books, working with the fund raising software or assisting Nadya Drukker. She finds Hillel a lively spot on campus with events happening all the time and enjoys being around the young, vibrant college students coming into Hillel. Away from Hillel she spends time with her husband, three children and grandchildren. She enjoys reading and knitting for her grandkids.

Akiva Dym

Akiva has been involved with Hillel since starting at Brooklyn College in the Fall of 2006. He has served as the Hillel Student President for the past 2 academic years, 06-07 and 07-08, as well as being active in the Brooklyn College Student Gov't and many other campus clubs.

He will be the Grinspoon Intern on campus for this academic year 09-10, and will be working through Hillel and with the Israel Shlicha Yana. As the Grinspoon intern, he will be assisting in coordinating all forms of Israel related events, ranging from Israeli education seminars to Hebrew Ulpan classes to Israeli Themed Shabbat meals.

Akiva is a Senior at Brooklyn College, majoring in Biology with a Pre-Med concentration. He likes to take his classes seriously, but likes to take having a great time with friends even more seriously. He is always up for a new trip or activity, and can never say no to having a great time hanging out with friends!

During his free time, Akiva loves to engage in all forms of extreme sports, ranging from skydiving to snowboarding and paintballing. He is also an avid reader and techie, and is a proud Mac user! He is an experienced traveler, and tries to visit a many countries and places per year as his time schedule will allow. Nicaragua, Israel, Tennessee, and New Orleans are just a few of the places Akiva has visited through Hillel opportunities to date! If there's a chance to travel somewhere, Akiva will go!

If anyone would ever like to get more involved with Hillel and Israel related events, or meet some new people, Akiva's door is always open and he would love to take you out for a cup of coffee or lunch and get to know you!