Hillel Heroes
This Hillel Hero was the board chair who hired Matt, oversaw our building renovation, and only has one weakness: dogs running into her legs!
Who is Kathi Mangel?
This student favorite is filled everyday with bagged snacks, our new trail mix bar, fancy coffee machine, and a whole lotta love.
What is the Hillel snack bar?
The namesake of Hillel 818's Executive Director position, this donor and former board member is a pillar of the LA Jewish community, who kept the Hillel 818 board afloat for much of the 2000's, and who, along with his brothers, has named countless Beit Midrashes around LA in honor of his parents.
Who is Mark Lainer?
No longer just a term for killing dragons, this word means to do something exceptionally well, look amazing, or succeed with high confidence
What does it mean to "slay?"
We regularly bring it to each of our campuses, using it to draw attention from both Jewish students and non, and pass out tons of drinks, snacks, and swag.
What is the "Cafe Hillel" coffee cart?
This staff member is serving her second year as Hillel 818's Assistant Director who oversees all programming and engagement, and supervises the engagement team. And her uncle-in-law officially joined the board today!
Who is Adena Goss?
An estimated 25% of our students suffer from this, which is why we have a full offering of snacks, frozen meals, and 2-5 other meals offered every week.
What is food insecurity?
Our lobby, or welcome center, is named for these two powerhouses of Jewish philanthropy, who were bestowed the Federation's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
Who are Janet and Jake Farber (of blessed memory)?
To be something average, mediocre, or low quality.
What does it mean to be "mid?"
This will be the 3rd year of this leadership program, where the chosen students attend monthly leadership seminars, run programs / initiatives for the Hillel community, and are paired with a community mentor.
What is the Grapevine Fellowship?
Known by students for his muscles, and sometimes confused as Matt's boss, he is our Hillel 818 Director of Operations, and oversees the upkeep of our building, runs payroll, supervising purchases, and directing our burgeoning rental business - which saw $90,000+ in revenue during the 2025-2026 year.
Who is Darren Klein?
Our freezers are always stocked with delicious, microwavable kosher meals from this partner organization.
What is OBKLA?
The student lounge is named in honor of this Turkish born philanthropist, whose relative is a long time friend of Hillel 818, member of the CSUN Foundation board, and whose daughter once lived in the Hillel 818 apartment.
Who is Maurice Amado?
A sudden feeling of disgust or loss of attraction toward someone, and something we hope none of our students ever feel about Hillel 818!
What is "the ick?"
Raz currently serves in this role, in which she recruits for Birthright, leads Israel learning fellowships, runs Israel cultural programming, and supervises Chai Society - CSUN's pro-Israel student club.
What is a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow?
The President and CEO of Hillel International, last year he visited Hillel 818 and ate dinner with our board of directors, and afterward met with our Grapevine Leadership Fellows.
Who is Adam Lehman?
She orders most of the food, designs most of the menus, and her mastery of the kitchen has helped Hillel 818 build a reputation as a happy place for hungry college students.
Who is Hillel 818 Assistant Director Adena Goss?
The front garden is named in memory of this person's two brothers of blessed memory. This long time friend of Hillel 818 was the first ever board member of Hillel 818, and two years ago shared the definitive history of Hillel 818 at our annual brunch.
Who is Rick Entin?
Short for charisma, meaning the ability to charm someone romantically.
What is, "Rizz?"
Every day at 3pm whoever is in the building gathers in the lobby to share wins of the day, hear a brief Jewish intention, and say a communal l'chaim (usually over grape juice).
What is the Daily L'chaim?
He famously taught, "Do not separate yourself from the community!" and "If I am not for myself, who will be? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"
Who is Rabbi Hillel / Hillel the Elder?
Every week students gather for this program, where they dive deep into Jewish study with Rabbi Jess or another Hillel 818 educator, and then join together for a delicious dinner usually cooked by the Hillel 818 staff.
What is JLF (Jewish Learning Fellowship)?
Before they officially merged - CSUN Hillel, LAVC Hillel, and Pierce College Hillel held joint fundraising dinners where they referred to themselves as this.
What are the Hillels of 818?
To be obsessed but not in a creepy way - like all of us for Hillel 818?
What does it mean to "stan?"
David and Shana have served in this role for the past 3 years, and before them Bryan and Sondra, working with the sizable orthodox college student population at our campuses and throughout the San Fernando Valley.
What is OU-JLIC?