David Rittberg: Acting Executive Director

David joined the Bronfman Center team in May of 2007. As Director, his duties involve managing many aspects of the Bronfman Center operation, including overseeing the vision and scope of programming at the Bronfman Center, and working with staff and students to implement that strategy. David’s career path has included two other Hillel institutions; The University of Arizona and Stanford. David is passionate about his work and is constantly amazed by the creativity, innovation, and work ethic of NYU students. His interests outside of work include his family and friends, music(guitar specifically), fitness, sports(NY sports specifically), food, and fun. Originally from Binghamton, NY, David received a BS in Marketing from the Smeal College of Business Administration at Penn State University.

| 212.998.4117

Rabbi Yehuda Sarna: University Chaplain

Rabbi Sarna serves as a University Chaplain for NYU and Rabbi of the Bronfman Center, which he joined in 2002. He and his wife, Michelle, also serve as the Educators for the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus, a program of the Orthodox Union. Rabbi Sarna was awarded the Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence from Hillel International in 2008, and was listed as one of "36-under-36 Changemakers" by the Jewish Week in 2009. He and Michelle live with their four children, Batya, Maayan, Moshe, and Dovid in Gramercy Green, an NYU residence hall.

If you're looking to become more involved in religious life on campus, need spiritual guidance or interested in learning opportunities, send Rabbi Sarna an email so you can set something up. He can be found on the 5th floor of the Bronfman Center M-Th from 9-6 or later.

rabbi.sarna@nyu.edu | 212.998.4120

Michelle Sarna: Jewish Educator

Michelle Waldman Sarna serves as an Educator for the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) at NYU. Michelle is also the Associate Director for Training and Strategy of JLIC, mentoring JLIC Educators on 12 other U.S. campuses. Though she completed coursework for an MA in Biblical Studies, an M.S. in Preschool Psychology and an Advanced Certificate in School Psychology, she is concurrently writing her Phd in Developmental Psychology at Fordham Graduate School of Education on emerging adulthood and religious community. Despite her academic and professional accomplishments, Michelle maintains a strong focus on her 4 children, Batya, Maayan, Moshe and Dovid.

michsarna@yahoo.com |

Melanie Meadows: Administrative Assistant

Melanie is excited to be a part of the Bronfman Center team! Originally from Southern California, Melanie graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a BA in English and Dance and worked briefly as Assistant to the Director of Student Life at UCR. She moved to New York in 2003 and continues to have a hand in the arts community through volunteer work and occasional performances. She now lives in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. She likes candlelit dinners and dancing on tabletops.

| 212.998.4123

Eli Freedman: Rabbinic Intern

Eli is a 5th year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College, right here in the West Village, baby! Before coming to HUC, Eli studied at Leo Baeck College in London as well as Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He has worked for Hillel in New York City before as the Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow at Columbia/Barnard Hillel back in 2002, right after graduating from Brandeis University. Eli is from Boston, MA and is a die-hard Red Sox fan. When not studying or working, Eli enjoys playing sports, video games and cooking (his attempt at) gourmet meals.

elifreedman@hotmail.com | 617-775-5ELI

Adam Courtney: Arts on the Move, Director

Adam Courtney joined the Bronfman team this year as the Director of Arts on the Move, a UJA Federation funded program designed to foster Jewish arts and culture programming on New York area campuses. Specializing in community development through the arts, Adam received his Masters Degree in Public Art Studies from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parson at the New School for Design in New York City. In addition to his community development work, Adam is a photographer and installation artist and has a book of his work being published in early 2010. If you'd like to view his work you can find it at http://www.adamcourtney.net

adam.courtney@nyu.edu | 212.998.4131

Erica Frankel: Arts on the Move, Program Coordinator

Erica is psyched to be back for her second year as a part of the Bronfman Center team. She has been a part of the Bronfman community longer than most other staff (with the exception of Rabbi Sarna), kicking it off with her studies in Dance at the Tisch School of the Arts many moons ago, where she received her BFA. Erica performs around the city as a dancer and performance artist, currently with Sinecdoche Dance, Ilana Webber Dance, M.E.L.D. Danceworks and more, and at venues including the Guggenheim, Lincoln Center, and even the Bronfman Center! This year, through her work with Arts on the Move, she'll be providing resources and support to students interested in Jewish arts and culture. Sound cool? Let's chat- come by my office and we'll grab some tea or, better yet, fro-yo.

erica.frankel@nyu.edu | 212.998.4122

Tracy Figueroa: Administrative Coordinator

Tracy joined The Bronfman Center team in December of 2007. She grew up in Charleston, SC and received her BA from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. Tracy began her career in the non-profit world as an educator at The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and from there went on to work as an administrator at Park Avenue Synagogue's Congregational School. Tracy's responsibilities at The Bronfman Center include budget, development, administration, working with NYU to maintain our beautiful brownstone and the list goes on and on. Tracy is a proud Brooklyn resident, and it is only because of her love for our students that she travels daily to the "outer borough" of Manhattan. She is excited to be working at NYU with such a dynamic, diverse and exciting student body.

tfigueroa@nyu.edu | 212.998.4113

Binyamin Lehrfield: Rabbinic Intern

Binyamin who hails all the way from Chicago (yes he says 'pop' and not soda- but we are working on him...) is currently studying as a rabbinical student at Yeshiva University. Binyamin has spent the last few years working with college students at the Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future on leadership training and service learning. In addition to his rabbinic studies, Binyamin is continuing his professional growth at Baruch College where he is persuing his MBA in Finance. Binyamin loves basketball, hiking, hip hop dance, and is really excited about being a part of the NYU community.

blehrfield@gmail.com |

David Saiger: Koach Rabbinic Intern

David Saiger, 1st-time Koach Rabbinic Intern, is a fourth-year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), and he is also working on an MA in Talmud in JTS's graduate school. Originally from Los Angeles, David graduated with a BA in Philosophy from Emory University, and spent a year studying at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem before starting at JTS. When neither studying nor helping strengthen Jewish communities, David spends his time listening to public radio, reading, playing Scrabble, tennis, Wii tennis, and table tennis.

dasaiger@jtsa.edu |

Julie Blum: Sr. Associate for Leadership and Engagement

Sources close to Julie Leye Blum report that she is excited to be joining the Bronfman Center team, and is eager to don her freshly dry-cleaned violet cape. Besides fighting crime over the rooftops of Brooklyn, some of Julie's responsibilities include leadership development and engagement initiatives, advising student clubs, and working with the graduate student community. She studied playwriting at Hunter College, and comes to 7 E. 10th St. via a background in publishing, the arts, and Jewish non-profits. Julie considers professional development to be personal development, and is looking forward to learning from and growing with students and staff alike. Interests: Yiddish, writing and editing, WordPress, management and leadership, social entrepreneurship, and guessing what's going to happen next in a movie.

julie.blum@nyu.edu | 212.998.4124

Melanie Deutsch: Fellowship Coordinator

Originally from Los Angeles, Melanie recently graduated Yeshiva University's Sy Syms School of Business with a major in Marketing and is brand new to the Bronfman Center team! She is so excited to work side by side with Rabbi Sarna and coordinate the Jewish Learning Fellowship. She prefers to be referred to as Melanie, or Mel D., rather than "The New Julia," but, whatever works.

She loves yoga, photography, and beating other people at movie trivia, specializing in early 90's classics. If you haven't met her already, stop by to say hello on the 5th floor!

md147@nyu.edu | 212.998.4118

Nicole Pines: Sr. Associate for Core Services

Nicole, a new addition to the staff, but not to NYU, is excited to work at the Bronfman Center. Originally from Livingston, NJ, Nicole received a BS in Conference and Event Management from New York University and interned at The Pierre Hotel. She then received a MA in Holocaust Studies and Jewish Education from The Gallatin School of Individualized Study at NYU and worked at The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. Nicole is passionate about her family and friends, community service, museums, travelling, food, and enjoying life.

nsp217@nyu.edu | 212.998.4111

Ben Vago: Rabbinic Intern

Ben, a third year rabbinical student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, received his BA in political science from Yeshiva University where he is also completing an MA in Jewish philosophy. He studied for three and a half years in Israel at various institutions including Yeshivat Hakotel, Bar Ilan University and The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Ben loves traveling, having visited over 25 countries. As a retired second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Ben currently enjoys spending his leisure time playing African percussions, studying Jewish mysticism and reading the New Yorker.

benvago@gmail.com |

Rabbi Daniel Smokler: Senior Jewish Educator / Hillel Director of Education

Rabbi Dan Smokler is the Senior Jewish Educator at the Bronfman Center and the Educational Director of Hillel International's Senior Jewish Educator Project. Rabbi Dan specializes in helping you get more out of your Judaism on your terms…even if you never went to Hebrew School (or hated it), don't know how you feel about G-d, Israel and tradition, or just want to learn more. He teaches classes regularly at the Bronfman Center, leads smaller study groups around campus, and meets one-on-one with students to talk about anything from music and culture to life's big questions. You can always email him to set up a time to meet or study. Want to hear some interesting stories? Ask Rabbi Dan what he did before he was a Rabbi...Rabbi Dan also thinks he is pretty serious about working out. He is always looking for someone to join him on a run. Just drop him a line.

dan.smokler@gmail.com |