Hillel Professionals

Rabbi Isabel de Koninck serves as the Executive Director and Campus Rabbi for Hillel at Drexel University. Rabbi de Koninck began her career with Hillel as the Advisor to Jewish students at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges in 2008. Prior to beginning her work with college students, Rabbi de Koninck served as the editor of Ritualwell.org and as rabbinic intern at Temple Shir Hadash of Westford, Massachusetts. A native of Montclair, New Jersey, Rabbi Isabel de Koninck is a 2004 graduate of Brandeis University, and received her rabbinic ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2010 where she additionally completed a graduate certificate in Jewish Gender and Women’s Studies. Rabbi de Koninck is also a proud alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship and currently serves on the board of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.

Rabbi de Koninck's passion for Jewish life starts with the belief that Judaism is a relevant and inspiring framework for engaging the daily opportunities and challenges of today's world. While her personal roots are in progressive Jewish community, her experiences with Jewish pluralism as an undergraduate and as a part of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship have affirmed for her that there is a mode of Jewish practice and identity for each person who seeks one, and that the diversity of Jewish expression is an asset to Jewish community and the Jewish future.

At Drexel, Rabbi de Koninck is most excited by the start-up energy embodied by the University's commitment to entrepreneurship, and by Drexel's passion for using the talents and skills of all of our University community members to solve today's biggest civic challenges. She is eager to meet each Jewish student, learn their story, and help them to discover their own pathway into Jewish living, learning and leadership.

Hannah Rosenberg came to Drexel Hillel after seven good years at Franklin and Marshall College, where she was first a student, then worked at F&M Hillel as the Ezra Fellow and Engagement/Jewish Life Coordinator, and finally Assistant Director. Hannah graduated from F&M in 2015 with a degree in Classical Archaeology and Judaic Studies, and was heavily involved in Hillel, Greek Life, and Resident Hall Advising.

Now after 2 great years with Drexel Hillel, Hannah supervises our Community and Shabbat/Holiday Engagement Interns and our Tikkun Olam Interns, manages our Student Board, oversees the First-Year Experience program (including Jewniversity and Welcome Week), co-staffs Birthright Israel trips with Leah, bakes challah every Friday (follow @challahatDrexel!), and infuses Jewish learning and values into everything we do.

In her free time, Hannah is a proud donut connoisseur (her favorites are Peace Love and Little Donuts in Pittsburgh, Daily Provisions in NYC, and obviously Federal Donuts in Philly!) and enjoys listening to podcasts while walking, cooking, or exploring new places. Coffee is her main food group, so she’s happy to get to know you better over a large iced latte!

Leah serves as the Director of Israel, Wellness & Civic Engagement at Drexel Hillel. Her role is student facing and multi-faceted - which she loves!

Leah oversees all educational programming related to Israel at Drexel Hillel, such as:
- Running the Jewish Learning Fellowship 2.0 - Big Questions about Israel
- Drexel Hillel's Israel Engagement Internship
- Drexel Hillel's Beyond Birthright Internship
- Creating and facilitating engagement trainings and lesson plans for Drexel Hillel's Bi-Annual Engagement Retreats

Additionally, Leah runs Drexel Hillel's #Birthright recruitment, orientations, staffing and post-trip outreach and programming. As well as overseeing Drexel Hillel's Israel Week Planning Committee and helping to execute Israel Week itself.

Beginning this year, Leah has the pleasure of supervising 11 fantastic Wellness Ambassadors! All of whom completed a 9 hour training using the Student Support Network Curriculum facilitated by Dr. Michael Gotlib. Leah supports Drexel Hillel's Wellness Ambassadors in planning Wellness Initiatives both digitally and in person (socially distanced).

Need help registering to vote? Want to discuss the current political landscape in Israel, the US or Philly? Interested in doing anti-racism work with other Jewish students at Drexel? Leah has got you covered and would LOVE to chat with you over Facetime, Zoom or in a green space (masked and 6ft apart)!

Please do not hesitate to write Leah an email at lthomas@drexelhillel.org or book a virtual or socially distanced ``coffee date`` using her calendly link: https://bit.ly/3iztb9U

Anna is the Operations and Communications Manager for Hillel at Drexel University. She began her career as a Hillel professional and is thrilled to be back at Hillel after ten years in Jewish nonprofits and education.

Anna received a BA at Harvard College, where she studied comparative literature and was active in the performing arts and Hillel. Upon graduating, she joined the Harvard Hillel staff and spent two years mentoring students and staffing Birthright trips. Since then, she has worked in various roles at the intersection of nonprofit management and Jewish education. In 2018, she founded Honeycake Magazine, a nonprofit Jewish magazine for young children.

Originally from Maryland, Anna lives in Wynnewood with her partner and two children. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, singing, and playing the piano.

Adam Strater is Drexel Hillel’s Rabbinic Intern and the Rabbinic Intern for Tzedek
Initiatives for the 2021-2022 school year. He is a fourth year rabbinical student at the
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Adam is also a Ph.D. candidate in Hebrew Bible and
Jewish Ethics at Emory University, where he hopes to defend his dissertation in Fall 2021.
Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Adam began exploring the world and his Judaism while
pursuing graduate degrees in Jewish Studies and History in Berkeley and in Jerusalem. Now
Adam’s “home base” while he is not in Philadelphia is Atlanta, Georgia, where he loves to
explore the city and its diverse food scene, usually on bike, with Sharon, his wife, and Milo,
his three-year-old son.
Adam’s focus is on creating inclusive and compassionate Jewish spaces. He is excited to
help students explore their Jewish identities and find their own place within the Jewish
community at Drexel. Adam looks forward to getting to know students and would love to
connect with you! Whether it’s for a coffee and a chat, a walk around campus, or a bike ride
around Philly, please feel free reach out!