Hillel-JUC (1)
The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
Hillel-Jewish University Center is an educational, programming, religious, and service center in Oakland, serving Jewish undergraduate students throughout Pittsburgh.
The local chapter of the B’nai B’rith-Hillel Foundation was founded in November 1952 with support from the regional district of B’nai B’rith Women. B’nai B’rith-Hillel initially served students at the University of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), Duquesne University, and the Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham University). Rabbi Morris Feldman was hired as its the first director, and the YM&WHA provided office space at its building on S. Bellefield Ave. Feldman came to Pittsburgh after working at Jewish communities centers in the New York area but had received a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Feldman left in 1956 to accept a pulpit in Indianapolis.
Concerned about generational changes among Jewish college students, the United Jewish Federation in 1969 launched the College Youth Study Committee, a yearlong review of the needs of local college students. Following the conclusion of the study in 1970, B’nai B’rith Hillel was restructured. Its existing advisory committee became a decision-making board with equal representation from the United Jewish Federation and B’nai B’rith Hillel. The president of the new Hillel board was given a seat on the United Jewish Federation’s board. B’nai B’rith Hillel became the newest Federation beneficiary, receiving a $16,000 allocation in 1970 to underwrite a full-time director. The new organization became known as the Hillel-Jewish University Center or Hillel-JUC.[1]“‘New Hillel’ for College Students, Jewish Chronicle, June 25, 1970, p1 (online—Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project). [2]Saul Weisberg oral history, 1985 [Tape 6, Side 11], from National Council of Jewish Women-Pittsburgh Section Records [AIS 1964.40] (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
Local executive directors of Hillel include Rabbi Morris Feldman (1952-1956), Rabbi Richard Rubenstein (1956-1970), Rabbi Boris A. Rackovsky (1970-1972), Rabbi Phillip Sigal (1972-1976), Rabbi Joe Levine (1976-1992), Rabbi Art Donsky (1992-1997), Gary Coleman (interim, 1997-1998), David Weizman (1998-2001), David Terdiman (2001-2003), Aaron Weil (2003-2013), and Daniel Marcus (2013-present).
Hillel-Jewish University Center relocated to the Omega Building at 160 N. Craig Street in 1987 and to the second floor of 4551 Forbes Ave. (at the corner of Craig Street) in 1994. Following a major capital campaign, the newly built Edward and Rose Berman Hillel-Jewish University Center building was dedicated in 2001 at 4607 Forbes Ave.
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