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Hillel to reduce program funding
by Nashrah Rahman
Editorial assistant
News | 1/27/09
Posted online at 7:09 AM EST on 1/27/09
The Brandeis chapter of Hillel, part of Hillel International, will be forced to cut back allocations to student programs and will be unable to hire a full-time Jewish Chaplain for the time being as a result of declining revenues due to the financial crisis, according to Brandeis Hillel Executive Director Larry Sternberg.
Hillel is dedicated to enhancing Jewish life at colleges and universities.
Vice President for Communications of National Hillel Jeff Rubin '81 said that Hillel International has suffered a loss of $620,000 due to investing in Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme. He said the Madoff scandal had the greatest impact on Hillel organizations in the former Soviet Union and in Israel.
"To my knowledge, none of the [Brandeis Hillel] major donors were directly affected by the Madoff scandal, but given the overall climate and past experience, it is prudent to plan that there may be a significant decline in donations this year," Sternberg said. Though Sternberg said that none of the major donors was affected, he did say that some of Brandeis Hillel's donors were affected by the Madoff scandal.
Brandeis Hillel is mainly supported by donations from alumni and parents of students who participate in Hillel, and by the money raised from fundraising, Sternberg said.
According to Sternberg, Brandeis Hillel does not receive any money from the University's tuition fees or endowment. However, "In the past, Brandeis has provided loans to cover up to 3 percent of Hillel's annual expenses, which Hillel pays back, in addition to very valuable" office space, Sternberg said. Despite the budget cuts implemented by the University, Brandeis is still providing Hillel with "about the same" amount in loans because "Hillel is paying back [the University]," Sternberg reasoned.
"We have a figure toward which we are working to cover on operating expenses," Sternberg said, but he declined to disclose the amount.
"Professional positions are being vacated and not being filled; programs scheduled to be taking place are not taking place [at individual Hillels]," Rubin said. However, President of Brandeis Hillel Bryan Wexler '09 confirmed that no student programs at Brandeis Hillel have been canceled this year.
Hillel is dedicated to enhancing Jewish life at colleges and universities.
Vice President for Communications of National Hillel Jeff Rubin '81 said that Hillel International has suffered a loss of $620,000 due to investing in Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme. He said the Madoff scandal had the greatest impact on Hillel organizations in the former Soviet Union and in Israel.
"To my knowledge, none of the [Brandeis Hillel] major donors were directly affected by the Madoff scandal, but given the overall climate and past experience, it is prudent to plan that there may be a significant decline in donations this year," Sternberg said. Though Sternberg said that none of the major donors was affected, he did say that some of Brandeis Hillel's donors were affected by the Madoff scandal.
Brandeis Hillel is mainly supported by donations from alumni and parents of students who participate in Hillel, and by the money raised from fundraising, Sternberg said.
According to Sternberg, Brandeis Hillel does not receive any money from the University's tuition fees or endowment. However, "In the past, Brandeis has provided loans to cover up to 3 percent of Hillel's annual expenses, which Hillel pays back, in addition to very valuable" office space, Sternberg said. Despite the budget cuts implemented by the University, Brandeis is still providing Hillel with "about the same" amount in loans because "Hillel is paying back [the University]," Sternberg reasoned.
"We have a figure toward which we are working to cover on operating expenses," Sternberg said, but he declined to disclose the amount.
"Professional positions are being vacated and not being filled; programs scheduled to be taking place are not taking place [at individual Hillels]," Rubin said. However, President of Brandeis Hillel Bryan Wexler '09 confirmed that no student programs at Brandeis Hillel have been canceled this year.
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