CEO of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island and Hillel of Staten Island

Orit Lender, CEO of the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island, is a community-minded leader with more than 20 years of experience in Jewish communal work. In 2023, Orit also became the CEO of Hillel of Staten Island, which the JCC operates through a management agreement.

Her leadership fosters a spirit of teamwork within the JCC. She also helps bring the JCC out to the larger Staten Island, New York, Jewish and Israeli communities. Under her leadership, the JCC has greatly expanded its programs and services and implemented a strategic plan to ensure financial stability including the purchase of another facility.

Director

Rachel Vaynshteyn was born and raised in Staten Island, NY. She graduated from the College of Staten Island, where she was an active leader in Hillel. Rachel has a passion for Jewish life, community and identity. She loves engaging with students, and young professionals aiming to foster a love for their Judaism. Outside of her work Rachel enjoys baking, music and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Reach out to Rachel: rachel.hillel@sijcc.com

Program Coordinator

Originally from Long Island, Ruth attended Wagner College where she studied Theatre Performance and Holocaust and Human Rights Studies. She was the President of her Hillel chapter for all four years of college, where she fostered her love for all things Jewish, community building and leadership; something she hopes to bring out in each and every student. She’s passionate about impactful programming and creating lasting memories for all students. In her free time, she enjoys cruising around the world, and eating while she does so!

Social Worker

As a dedicated social worker for Hillel, Raquelle is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for students at the College of Staten Island and Wagner College. With a passion for advocacy and empowerment, she strives to address the diverse needs of our campus community, offering guidance and resources to promote student well-being and success.

She eagerly anticipates collaborating with the Hillel team to build a campus culture where every individual feels valued and supported on their journey to personal and academic growth.

Reach out to Raquelle: rbalser.hillel@sijcc.com

Israel Fellow

Lishay is originally from Emek Hefer, Israel, and is excited to be joining Hillel as the new Israel Fellow at Wagner College and the College of Staten Island. She has a background in Information Systems and Project Management, and previously worked as a flight attendant and served as a shlicha at 92Y Camps in New York.

Lishay loves meeting new people, learning about different perspectives, and creating spaces where people feel comfortable connecting and being themselves. Outside of work, she enjoys running, photography, studying philosophy, exploring new places, and is really looking forward to getting to know the students and becoming part of the community.