David Rosenberg,
Hillel Rio Board Member

When David Rosenberg first moved to Brazil from Chicago in 2000, he set out to determine what the Jewish community needed most. ‘’I decided that quality programming for young adults was the most urgent demand,” he explains. “So, I associated myself with an awesome group of people who thought the same way.” Since then, David has become a supporter of Hillel in Brazil and a mentor to its students.

David has invested most of his time in Rio Hillel’s tzedek programming. Now over 60 student volunteers regularly participate in the six initiatives of Hillel Rio that are coordinated by a full-time professional. These programs include Child in Motion and Viva (teaching the values of citizenship and health education to children from underprivileged communities), Sababa (visiting older members of the community with limited mobility), Nota 10 (tutoring children who cannot afford private classes), and many others.

“People like David inspire us young people to grow with a social conscience and a spirit of justice, becoming better citizens and better Jews,” said Flavio Stolyar, one of the student volunteers. “They support our collective fight for a better, more fair world.”

“David is not just a member of the Hillel Rio board of directors or a supporter of Hillel Latin America,” said Marcia Kelner, the immediate past director of Hillel Rio. “He is an incredible mentor for students, staff, and his fellow board members. He brought his knowledge of successful non-profit and for profit operations from United States to Brazil and shared it generously with all of us.”

When asked why he is involved in a Hillel that is so far from his hometown, David answers: “Though I will always consider myself to be ‘a boy out of Chicago,’ Brazil is where I am now. It's a source of great joy and satisfaction to see how our young adults, and indeed the entire community, have responded to the efforts of Hillel's dedicated volunteers and professionals in Rio de Janeiro. It's a real Jewish success story, and I am blessed to be a part of it.”