Illini Hillel: 100 Years In The Making
1923
Rabbi Ben Frankel founds Hillel “for the Jewish students of the University of Illinois a religious, moral, social, and recreation center, to teach the principles of the Jewish faith, and to cooperate with other similar agencies in the cultivation of a moral and spiritual life.”
​
Dr. Abram L. Sachar serves as faculty advisor to Hillel.
He also serves in the History department of UIUC, specializing in modern English history.
1924
B’nai B’rith adopted Hillel at the University of Illinois and allocates $1 million for the expansion of Hillel around the country.
​
Frankel was appointed first national director of B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundations.
1927
650 Jewish students enrolled and identified as Jewish, compared to 1923 when only 100 students openly identified as Jewish.
​
Rabbi Louis L. Mann of Chicago was named national director of B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundations, following Frankel’s death.
1933
Dr. Adam Sachar becomes the next national director of B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundations.
1947
Dr. Sachar retires as national director. Under his leadership, Hillel grew from 9 chapters to 157 throughout US and Canada.
1950
Illini Hillel building opens at the corner of Fifth and John, where it is still located today. The building is named the Benjamin Frankel Memorial in honor of the late Rabbi Frankel
It was designed by Max Abramovitz, a Jewish American architect. He also designed the State Farm Center and Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at U of I.
1965
Hillel Kosher Dining Club is established.
1973
Hillel hosts its fiftieth anniversary celebration. Dr. Abram L. Sachar speaks at the ceremony.
1982
The Chicago Rabbinical Council (CRC) grants certification to the Hillel Kosher Dining Club of the B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation.
1991
Illini Hillel receives the National Hillel Center Burns Ethics Grant for the inception and implementation of Alternative Spring Break. A program that is still running today.
1994
Ilini Hillel wins The William Haber Award for programs of quality for the Jewish campus community.
2008
Illini Hillel's new facility opens at the corner of Fifth and John. It is named the Marjorie K. and Louis N. Cohen Center for Jewish Life.
2018
The 500 block of John street is given the honorary name of Ben Frankel Way after the late Rabbi Frankel, Hillel's founder. The decision is unanimously approved by Champaign City Council.
2023
Illini Hillel celebrates 100 years of Jewish life and community on campus and prepares for the next 100 years to come.
Executive Directors:
Rabbi Benjamin Frankel: 1921-1924
Rabbi Louis L. Mann: 1925-1927
Dr. Abram L Sachar: 1928-1929
Rabbi Judah Goldin: 1939-1947
Rabbi Sanford E. Saperstein: 1947-1950
Rabbi Samuel Berkowitz: 1950- 1953
Rabbi Benjamin Rudavsky: 1953- 1956
Rabbi Hirsch Cohen: 1961- 1964
Rabbi Nathan Gaynor: 1965- 1969
Rabbi Ed Feld: 1969-1972
Rabbi Steven Steinberg: 1972-1977
Howard Alpert: 1977- 1980
Rabbi Stephan Sniderman: 1980-1985
Mark Mulgay: 1985- 1986
Rabbi Jeffrey Falick: 1989-1996
Andrea Hoffman: 1996-1997
Hershel Worsh: 1997-1998
Alan Potash: 1998-2003
Joel Scwitzer: 2003-2010
Rabbi Raif Melhado: 2010-2011
Rabbi Rogerio Cukierman: 2011-2013
Erez Cohen: 2013- Present
Student Presidents:
Morris Sostrin: 1923
Howard Cohlan: 1940
Jeremy Fine: 2001-2004
Jessica Melhado: 2006
Brittany Abramowicz: 2008
Sammy Marks: 2009
Lena Shapiro: 2010
Joshua Gibbs: 2011
Roxie Zeller: 2012
Robert Schnitzer: 2013
Joseph Winner: 2014
Evan Frank: 2015
Dakota Karson: 2016
Danah Kirsh: 2017
Irene Zharnitzky: 2018
Itamar Steiner: 2019
Mollie Kramer: 2020
Alena Fishkin: 2021
Rachel Weingart: 2022