February 12, 2025

14 Sh'vat 5785

Our Torah Queeries group got to virtually speak with Dr. Sara Glass, author of the memoir Kissing Girls on Shabbat

A group of students spent their IAP volunteering in rural parts of Israel

Students hanging out with new friends at the Yom Ahava "Day of Love" Social

Shalom From MIT Hillel!

MIT Hillel Update

Welcome to the spring semester! As our fearless leader, Rabbi Fisher, is on sabbatical, I am currently holding down the fort as Acting Director, with support from our incredible Hillel team and so many others from our board and MIT administrators. Despite this being only my second year at MIT Hillel, we are all so excited for the many programs our staff and students have planned which are meant to bring joy, meaning and excitement to our MIT community.


Our first Shabbat back was Shabbat 250, a program done in conjunction with Chabad to bring together, you guessed it, 250 people for a raucous, engaging and fun Shabbat dinner. We had nearly 290 people RSVP and while we’re still going through the list to get the final number of those who attended, Walker Memorial was packed to the gills! It was incredible to see the health and vibrancy of our MIT Jewish community.

We have so much in store for the coming months including:

  • A Jewish jam session where we’ll come together with drums, guitars, and more to play classic and contemporary Jewish music and explore the questions, what IS Jewish Music? 
  • A field trip to Mayyim Hayyim, a community mikveh where we’ll learn about what a mikveh is and why it’s so important for a Jewish community to have one.
  • A twice weekly Lunch & Learn (I know I’m biased to like these) on topics ranging from the ethics of gene editing to whether or not we can prove God exists!
  • Our new student board has an incredible semester of programs planned from “Purim on Ice” to “Cocoa and Crochet”, and everything in between!

While the pace of IAP is gentler than the regular semester, we still had many meaningful 1-1 coffee schmoozes with students, where we asked them about their research and their Jewish journeys. We had a packed GradHillel Shabbat, weekly community lunches and we were able to bond as a staff as we actively worked to engage with our vision of offering meaningful, pluralistic, empowering, and engaging programs.

Our staff certainly misses Rabbi Fisher, but part of her greatness as a leader is that she set us up for success by clearly documenting and delegating her many responsibilities and personally connecting me with many of the administrators and people on and around campus that she has a relationship with that have supported her over the years. Rabbi Fisher also came up with the lovely suggestion of having each member of our programming team take on this column during the semester, giving all of you an opportunity to get to know us a bit better and hear some different voices.

May you all have a joyful, meaningful and cozy rest of your winter!

L’shalom,

Rabbi Joel Dinin

Acting Director

Director of Education/Orthodox Rabbi

[email protected]

Mentshn of Mention

Hi! My name is Joseph Cohen, and I’m a sophomore studying Course 2 (Mechanical Engineering) at MIT. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, in a family with Israeli parents who moved to the U.S. as kids. My family is half Kavkazi and half Yemenite Jewish, which has shaped much of my upbringing and traditions. As a first-generation, low-income (FLI) student, coming to MIT has been both exciting and challenging, but finding strong communities here, including Hillel, has been a huge source of support.

Since I was a kid, I’ve been drawn to technology and building whether it was programming, learning about cars, or assembling keyboards and computers. I’ve always loved figuring out how things work and creating things from scratch, so it’s no surprise I ended up at a place like MIT, studying engineering among fellow students who share that same curiosity. Outside of Hillel, when I'm not working on psets, you can usually find me working on the Solar Electric Vehicle Team (SEVT), rock climbing, reading sci-fi or fantasy books, or diving into my next random project.

My Jewish upbringing was unique compared to many of my peers at MIT. I attended a religious Sephardic Jewish school, but at home, my family was more similar to Hilonim. We observed many traditions — Shabbat dinners, holidays, and cultural customs — but we didn’t fully observe Shabbat and were lenient with kashrut outside the house.

Before coming to MIT, I wasn’t sure where I’d fit within the Jewish community here. I didn’t know if I belonged in the kosher suites or how often I’d be involved in Hillel, if at all. But during my first semester, I explored different spaces and quickly found myself naturally drawn to the kosher suites and the Hillel community. The people I met were so welcoming and accepting, and before long, it started to feel like home.

Even though I missed the original deadline, I decided to apply for the Hillel board, and my involvement only grew from there. I served as VP of Programming for a year, and now, I have the amazing opportunity to serve as Co-President alongside Alec Sheres '26. It’s truly meaningful to give back to a community that has made me feel so at home and supported during my time at MIT.

As president, my goal is to make Hillel an even more open and welcoming space, especially for those who aren’t sure where they fit in Jewishly. I know firsthand what it’s like to come to MIT and feel uncertain about connecting with the Jewish community. That’s why I want to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or level of observance, feels comfortable walking into Hillel and finding their place.

Beyond that, I want Hillel to be a space where people connect not just through religious practice, but through culture, tradition, and shared experiences. Whether it’s through events, fostering deeper connections among students, or simply making sure everyone knows they’re always welcome, I hope to help build a Jewish community that feels like home for as many people as possible.

Being part of Hillel has been such a rewarding experience. I’ve gained friendships, support, and countless opportunities to grow alongside an incredible community. I’m so thankful for everything this space has given me, and I’m excited to pay it forward by helping to strengthen and expand this community for others. It is thanks to the support and dedication of so many people that Hillel continues to thrive, and I’m honored to be a part of it.

Joseph Cohen '27

[email protected]

Torah From Tech

Noam Buckman is a Senior Applied Scientist at Cruise, developing perception algorithms for autonomous vehicles.  Noam lives in Somerville, MA with wife Naomi and son Remi, where he serves as executive chef and chief safety officer, and a vocal member of his shul’s finance committee.  



In this month’s weekly Torah portions, we begin reading about God giving the Torah to the Jewish people after their exodus from Egypt. In many ways, this acceptance of laws and rituals at Mount Sinai is the climax of the Torah—a free people embracing their Jewish heritage. However, just before this monumental moment, the Torah pauses to share an important lesson from Moses’ father-in-law, Yitro.

In Parshat Yitro, we read:

Exodus 18:14-18

(14) But when Moses’ father-in-law saw how much he [Moses] had to do for the people, he [Yitro] said, “What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you act alone, while all the people stand about you from morning until evening?” (15) Moses replied to his father-in-law, “It is because the people come to me to inquire of God. (16) When they have a dispute, it comes before me, and I decide between one party and another, and I make known the laws and teachings of God.” (17) But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing you are doing is not right; (18) you will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.

Yitro observes that Moses is single-handedly resolving every issue for the Jewish people, acting as the sole source of judgment and knowledge. Yitro rebukes him, saying, “The thing you are doing is not righttov (1)—,” and advises him to delegate responsibility. This advice ultimately leads to the establishment of a judicial system—beit din—that remains in practice today.

(1) It’s interesting that the word “Tov” is used here, perhaps alluding to God resting during creation because creation was “Tov”

I was recently discussing this idea with a member of MIT’s Corporation (Board of Trustees) and reflecting on MIT’s mission “to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.” MIT’s role in society isn’t just about producing the smartest or most educated individuals—it’s about creating people who will serve the nation and the world. Yitro’s insight reminds us that knowledge alone is not enough to fulfill that mission. Just as Moses needed to surround himself with others and entrust them with responsibility, so too must we combine knowledge with action, collaboration, and community.

Yitro’s advice is a call for balance. Knowledge without effective communication, community, empathy, and trust in others is “not right.” It must be complemented by interpersonal skills, connection, and humility. Looking back on my ten years at MIT and my years since graduating, I realize how much of my growth came not just from the classroom but also from outside of it. Some of the most valuable lessons happened in the Small Dining Room in W11, during an MIT Hillel Board meeting, negotiating house chores at AEPi on Bay State Road, or discussing politics over espresso in Stata.

In the workplace, I am most impressed not by raw intelligence alone, but by those who pair it with humility, understanding, and respect. Even Moses—the greatest prophet—was not exempt from the need to delegate, to connect, and to empower others. The Torah reminds us that the key to leadership and service is not solitary excellence but shared responsibility and collaboration.

May we continue to learn from Yitro’s wisdom and further the mission of serving the nation and the world with knowledge, humility, and connection.

Noam Buckman '16, SM '18, PhD '23

[email protected]

MIT Hillel's 2025 Annual Fund

To Our Current and Future Supporters,

One month from now: MIT’s 9th annual 24-Hour Challenge, On Thursday, March 13. 


As always, we have set a participation goal rather than a dollar goal, to emphasize community building and the importance of each and every donor.

Thanks to the widespread support of you, our community, we are raising our goal very aggressively. The past three years we have strived for 234 donors on that one day. This year we upped our goal 54% to 360. The outpouring of support and show of communal strength last year conveyed a strong picture of our community that we want to perpetrate. We are “counting” on you, literally and figuratively.  

Please take note of the following as it applies to you:

✡️ Haven’t yet made your annual gift to Hillel? 

➤ Please hold off until March 13, and mark your calendar!

✡️ Already made your gift to Hillel? 

➤ Please consider an extra boost ($18 suggested amount) on March 13, and mark your calendar!

✡️ Want your gift to count that day but not making your gift online by credit card? 

➤ Contact [email protected] to arrange to have your gift made by Donor Advised Fund, IRA, stock or wire transfer, etc. be timed to count on March 13, or contact me to help you with this. (One donor has already done so!)

The 2025 site will go live tomorrow, so you can bookmark this link to view Hillel’s page and all the other campus participants starting on Feb 13 for the month-long countdown.

This year the endeavor overlaps a few hours with the holiday of Purim. We all know the story of how a small voice gets elevated when used strategically. And we all know that Haman’s name is blotted out when everyone makes noise together. Purim is so joyful that we are blissful for the entire month of Adar. So, too, as you leverage your generosity in this world, may your giving be strategic, impactful, and joyful.

Thank you, as always!

Marla Choslovsky SM '88 (XV)

MIT Hillel Director of Development

[email protected]

P.S. The FY24 Annual Donor Report (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is finally in the mail! Corrections will be made to the digital version. Please contact me if you catch an error so we can update our records accordingly for this and future gifts.

Your generous support allows us to help keep Jewish life vibrant on the MIT campus!

Tamid Initiative - Planned Giving @ MIT Hillel

We invite alumni and friends who care deeply about Jewish life at MIT to consider joining the Institute's Katharine Dexter McCormick (1904) Society (KDMS) and be part of the Tamid Initiative by making a bequest to MIT, for the benefit of MIT Hillel. Your generosity will help MIT Hillel engage tomorrow's students, securing our Jewish future with confidence.

MIT and MIT Hillel are eager to help you meet your objectives. For more information, or to inform us that you have already planned such a gift, please contact MIT Hillel Director of Development, Marla Choslovsky, [email protected].

From the Archives!

In 1996, we celebrated Tu B'Shvat, The New Year for Trees, by having a traditional sede in the Student Center.

This year, we're hosting "Paint a Pot; Plant a Succulent" to help students engage with nature-y aspects of the holiday 🌳 🌿

Please let us know if you have any pictures from MIT Hillel events that you think would make a great addition to our archives!

On the Calendar

Leading Jewish Minds @ Home

Tomorrow!

Thursday, February 13, 2025: Paul Joskow: How Will U.S. Climate Policy Change Under Donald Trump?

Recordings of past events can be found here.

3-D Printed Mezuzahs

MIT Hillel has created specially-designed, 3-D printed MIT mezuzahs! Many thanks to Bob Gurnitz '60, SM'61, PhD'66 for his design, printing, and start-up support, and to Terrascope Associate Director Ari Epstein PhD'95 for further design and project support. We offered the first batch of mezuzot (with parchments) for free to current students, faculty, post-docs, and staff. Having commercially 3-D printed more, we are happy to now offer the mezuzahs to alumni, parents, and friends — also as our gift. Please let us know if you would like one.

We are currently processing the orders already received.

If you already filled out the form to get a mezuzah, please do not fill it out again.

Mazal Tov!

Mazal tov to Leah Slaten '18 and James Feuereisen on the birth of their baby boy, Gavriel!

If you have life-cycle events (a marriage, receiving an award, writing a book, etc.) to share with the MIT Hillel community, please let us know.

MIT Hillel

40 Massachusetts Ave

Building W11

Cambridge, MA 02139

[email protected]