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At Appalachian State, Hillel's a Family Affair
November 28, 2006Comments (1) | Add | E-mail this to a friend
 Rachel and Daniel Rosenberg are a brother-sister team at Appalachian State Hillel.
When Rachel Rosenberg came to Appalachian State University in tiny Boone, N.C., three years ago, it wasn’t surprising that she would want to get involved with Jewish life on campus.
Growing up in a traditional Jewish household in Raleigh, N.C., Rosenberg regularly attended religious services and was very involved in her synagogue’s youth group. So while the Jewish community at Appalachian State is small, with approximately 175 students, Rosenberg saw ample opportunity for growth. Today, she’s the Hillel president.
“When I first came to Appalachian State, we were just a ‘Jewish Student Association,’ now we have the name: We’re a Hillel,” she says proudly.
The growth on campus was evident this semester as the Hillel sponsored such campuswide events as “Israel at Heart” and a “Bipartisan Discussion with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.”
Also this semester, Rachel was joined on the Hillel board by her younger brother, Daniel, a sophomore, as the Hillel vice-president.
“We’re not in it for a family takeover,” says Daniel. “But it’s a small Hillel. Rachel was the best candidate for president and I became vice-president.”
The biweekly Hillel board meetings are usually the two siblings quibbling in the student union.
“We didn’t think being a brother-sister team was a big deal,” says Rachel. “But it’s pretty cool and it’s easier to boss around family.”
The siblings also acknowledge that they work best by playing to each other’s individual strengths.
“Daniel has different contacts on campus than I do,” says Rachel. “He knew professors in the political science and history departments which was very helpful during the bipartisan discussion with Congresswoman Foxx. He’s a good promoter and a great communicator.”
But Daniel admits, “Rachel’s much more organized and better with logistics.”
“We’re three years apart in age, so we weren’t particularly close growing up, but this has brought us a lot closer,” explains Rachel.
And to other sibling Hillel teams she says, “Even if you argue all the time, set your sights on getting something accomplished and go for it.”
At Appalachian State, however, things will soon change. Rachel is preparing to graduate at the end of the semester, leaving the Hillel presidency and her brother.
“It’s going to be tough. She’s a great older sister and she still takes care of me,” says Daniel. “Rachel was a wonderful president and I’m not just saying that because she’s my sister.”
After a brief pause he adds, “And obviously, I love her.”
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