2026 Hillel Student Board

The Hillel Student Board’s mission is to create opportunities for Brandeis undergraduate students to engage in all aspects of Jewish life, learning, and Israel.

Justin Rubenstein ‘28, Treasurer, (he/him)

Justin is a sophomore from the suburbs of Chicago, majoring in Politics and minoring in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS) and Business. He serves as President of Brandeis Reform Chavurah (BaRuCh), is an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow, and teaches at Temple Shir Tikva. In his free time, Justin can often be found shmoozing in the Hillel Lounge, reading a book, or listening to podcasts about the world. He is passionate about making Hillel events run smoothly behind the scenes and about meeting people and learning about their Jewish identities.


Samantha Epstein ‘28, Communications Coordinator, (she/her)

Hello! My name is Samantha R. Epstein and I am delighted to be your Communications Officer! I am a second year junior majoring in Creative Writing, English, and F.T.I.M. I have served as both social engagement coordinator and president of H.O.G, and on BaRuCh board as secretary and now social engagement coordinator. You can also often find me setting up for Shabbat on Fridays with Shabbat Committee. I am also a UDR for the English and Creative Writing Departments. In my free time I love playing videogames, painting, and writing short stories. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, or to just chat!

Nathaniel Weinstein ‘27, Education Coordinator, (he/him)

Nathaniel is a Near Eastern and Judaic Studies major (Bible and the Ancient World track) hailing from Seattle, Washington. He is extraordinarily excited to learn and to teach this coming year and to make sure Brandeis continues to have excellent Torah learning programs. He is especially interested in learning and talking about Jewish languages, Tanakh and Talmud, and Jewish folklore. In the slowly vanishing part of his life not preoccupied with Jewish life and learning, Nathaniel enjoys board games, card games, and especially tabletop role playing games. He can regularly be found on campus engaged in BaRuCh programming as well. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk about Jewish learning, or if you have a concept for a shiur or event you would like to share with the wider Brandeis Jewish community.


Coco Trentalancia ‘27, Vice President (she/her)

Coco Trentalancia is from New York City, majoring in Education with minors in Near Eastern Judaic Studies and Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies. She is passionate about creating a warm and welcoming space where all members of the community are embraced, regardless of their Jewish background. She enjoys listening to Taylor Swift and hanging out with friends in her free time. You can often find Coco in the Hillel lounge or the library working. Feel free to reach out to Coco about anything regarding Hillel. She is excited to serve on the Hillel Student Board for a second term and looks forward to fostering more connections within the Brandeis Hillel community!

Headshot of Ollie Small

Ollie Small ‘28, President, (they/them)

Ollie is a member of the class of 2028 from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. After a year of serving on the Hillel Student Board as Tikkun Olam Coordinator, they are so excited to be able to serve this community on an even wider scale. Outside of Hillel, they are an education major who works at the Waltham Dual Language School and Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley. Feel free to talk to them about anything from getting involved in different areas of Jewish life to your latest read!

Micha Lorber-Lew ‘27, Religious and Cultural Coordinator, (/)

Micha

Lior Baker ‘28, Social Engagement Coordinator (he/him)

Lior is a Chemical Biology and Biology double major with minors in Hebrew and Anthropology. Coming from the far land of Stoughton Massachusetts, Lior has roots from all over the world, but primarily Israel, Morocco, and all over Europe. You can usually find Lior asleep, anywhere and everywhere. Passionate about friendships and connection, he enjoys hanging out with his friends and can always make time for a meal or some Dunkin’. Lior enjoys playing games of any type (table top, video, cards, board) and has a unique skill to turn anything around him into a fidget. Lior also likes to write songs and poems, inspired heavily by his Spotify addiction. As the Gabbai Rishon of the Brandeis Orthodox Minyan, Lior also has a deep connection to his Jewish roots. Making sure to be at davening and leading with a steady hand, you can always count on Lior to help you out with anything services related.


Rachel Abelson ‘28, Tikkun Olam Coordinator (She/Her)

I'm a double major in Psychology and HSSP with a double minor in NEJS and Anthropology. I am from New York City and I want to be a pediatric psychologist. I am also the president of Sharsheret at Brandeis and love volunteering and working with kids. In my free time you can find me with my friends. Some of my favorite foods are sushi, chocolate, pasta, and ice cream. I want to meet with students and student leaders on campus to help bring Tikkun Olam into daily lives.