TU Hillel honored by international organization for educational programming

By Cody Boteler on December 18, 2020

Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, recognized Towson University Hillel during its Global Assembly, awarding the group the Joseph Meyerhoff Award for Jewish Educational Vision for its Homing Shabbat Innovation (HSI) program.

The honor recognizes creative and innovative strategies in Jewish education and is awarded annually. Towson University Hillel was the only group given the 2020 award, named for the late businessman and philanthropist whose name is lent to many organizations and arts venues in Baltimore.

“It has been a team and a personal goal to win an award at the Hillel International global leadership conference,” says Lisa Bodziner, executive director of Towson University Hillel. “For it to be in the name of Joseph Meyerhoff adds all the more significance for our Baltimore community.”

Launched last year, HSI provides conversation guides for the TU community to engage over Shabbat dinners. Bodziner says more than 100 students have participated.

“The program has been really useful, like when you have a tight-knit group of friends who want to host Shabbat,” says Chad Suissa ’22. “It’s a very homey experience, even digitally, in the wake of everything that’s going on.”

Suissa, who is the immediate past president of Towson University Hillel, says the conversations inspired by the HSI program can—and have—become deep, personal and engaging.

The program is hosted on Towson University Hillel’s website, which includes guides on topics ranging from friendship to leadership to justice.

Suissa says the Jewish community at TU has consistently made him feel welcome, like he has a “home away from home.” He says he wants to see TU Hillel keep innovating to engage its members and make an impact in the greater Baltimore region.

“I think of this award as one of our stepping-stones. I don’t think TU Hillel is done with getting our work recognized. We want to keep making a difference through the larger Hillel organization but also here on campus,” Suissa says. “We are slowly but surely pushing through, keeping the work up, even with the pandemic.” 

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: Diverse and Inclusive Campus.