THE HILLEL BROOKLYN TEAM
Nadya Drukker
Executive Director
Email: Nadya@bchillel.org
Phone: 718-859-1151 Ext 12
Bio
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 Executive Director of the Tanger Hillel at Brooklyn College. She has a passion for travel and theatre and resides in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.
Michaela Williams
Springboard Fellow
Email: SpringboardFellow@bchillel.org
Bio
Michaela Williams is originally from Stoughton, Massachusetts (in between Boston and Providence). She moved to New York City to attend Marymount Manhattan College where she majored in playwriting and psychology. During her college years, she volunteered with Good Shepherd Services, mentoring foster children in the Bronx. At Marymount, Michaela founded The Tiny Producers Club with a group of friends to give artists a chance to collaborate across multiple disciplines. She also belonged to the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at NYU. There, she was involved in the Jews of Color Torah Academy and the Social Justice Chaburah. Her positive experience in Hillel made her want to give back, so she applied for the Springboard Fellowship and now she is here at Brooklyn College Hillel! Outside of Hillel, you would probably find her writing, walking in Prospect Park or hanging out with friends in the city.
Stephanie Bruck
Director of Operations
Bio
Stephanie Bruck oversees the Finances, HR, and Facilities. Prior to joining the Brooklyn College Hillel, she spent 11 years at Goldman Sachs in the IT Database Group. When Stephanie is not working at Hillel, she is working as a health coach or being a mommy to her 4 children. She has a passion for color and creativity and uses that in all aspects of life.
Yelena Azriyel
Director of Jewish Student Life and Community Affairs
Email: Yelena@bchillel.org
Phone: 718-859-1151 ex. 20
Bio
Yelena Azriyel has been working at Tanger Hillel since August 2011, first as the Program Director and now as the Assistant Director. She is originally from Ukraine and grew up in NYC. After her college graduation she spent a year volunteering in Kiev, Ukraine as a Jewish Service Corps (JSC) Volunteer with JDC.Yelena is passionate about Jewish community and helping students find their Jewish journeys while they’re in college and beyond. Outside of work, Yelena likes to explore NYC and spend time with her family.
Shira Boshnack
The Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) Educator
Email: Shira@bchillel.org
Phone: 718-859-1151 Ext. 18
Bio
Shira Boshnack is an educator par excellence, having graduated from Stern College for Women and Nova Southeastern University where she obtained her BA in Psychology and Masters in Education, respectively. A creative programmer and an energetic implementer, Shira enjoys teaching, cooking, and hosting upwards of seventy students in their apartment. Shira, is a Shadchan for YU connects, advocating for her students, and creating events that students can meet their Bashert in a comfortable environment. She is also a veteran Kallah teacher, educating her students for their next stage in life, with sensitivity and soul. Rabbi Reuven and Shira Boshnack met while they were working for NCSY in Suffolk Country, Long Island. They currently have four children: Levi, Gitty, Shimmy, and Chumie.
Leena Zelman
Engagement Associate
Email: Leena@bchillel.org
Bio
Leena Zelman is a recent graduate of Brooklyn College where she studied history and business. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Leena is part of a vibrant Jewish community, which led her to become involved in Jewish life on her college campus. Leena spent much of her college years taking Jewish history classes, interning in museums and participating in Hillel activities on campus. Leena now works with Kingsborough Hillel to get students involved in Hillel activities, as well as provide students with the same awesome college experience she had!
Olya Malov
Israel Fellow
Email: IsraelFellow@bchillel.org
Phone: 718-496-1778
Bio
Olya Malov was born in a small town in Russia and made her Aliyah when she was thirteen years old. After finishing high school, she joined the IDF and served in the Air Force for three and a half years, as operations room and security clearance commander. After she completed her Army service she started her BA in Psychology at the Haifa University. During her studies, she was part of The Rothschild Ambassadors Leadership program and began volunteering with Hillel at Haifa University and Technion. During study breaks, she worked as a counselor at JAFI summer camps in the Former Soviet Union. After graduation, she began working as a coordinator at Haifa Hillel and as a guide at the Museum of the Jewish People at the Tel Aviv University. In her free time Olya enjoys music, loves to travel and to spend time with her friends and family. She is very excited to begin her new position as a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow to Brooklyn College Hillel. Come to say hi and have some coffee with her!
Reuven B. Boshnack
The Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) Rabbi Educator
Email: Reuvenb@bchillel.org
Phone: 718-859-1151 Ext. 19
Bio
Rabbi Reuven Boshnack attended Yeshiva University, where he obtained his BS in Psychology, two Master’s degrees—one in education, the other in Mental Health—and semicha. Before working for OU-JLIC, Rabbi Boshnack served as a successful Rabbi and educator in Boca Raton, Florida. Along with his larger love for Chassidic writings, he has written and published a translation of the Sfas Emes on the parsha, as well as on izhbitz and Maharal. Known for his smiling disposition and sense of humor, Rabbi Boshanck energizes the halls of Hillel and the campus at large. When not giving shiurim, learning one-on-one with students, writing books, leading trips, or wandering around campus, he can be found playing with his children Levi, Gitty, Shimmy, and Chumie.
Michal Amit
Shinshinit
Bio
Michal Amit is currently serving as a ShinShinit for the Jewish Agency in Brooklyn, New York. Michal was born in Haifa and grew up in Kiryat Tivon. Prior to going on Shlichut, Michal was a student in "Reut" arts' High-School and majored in Fashion Design and Biology. Michal was a member in the Israeli Scouts for ten years. During her last three years, she was a counselor in "shevet alon"- scouts of Kiryat TIvon, where she guided 4th, 7th, 9th and high school graders. In addition, Michal founded a new scouts tribe with her team in Kiryat Motzkin- "Shevet Onot". Michal is looking forward to bringing her own point of view of Israel and connect with the Jewish community in Brooklyn. She is excited to meet new people and learn from them.
Favorite Israeli Song:
Ravid Plotnik - Hareni