Jewish Students Across Georgia Gather to Build Leadership Skills and Community
More than 65 Jewish student leaders in Georgia gathered for a full day of learning, relationship building, and leadership development as part of the Leven-Silberman Leadership Institute (LSLI), a Hillels of Georgia initiative designed to empower the next generation of Jewish leaders.
“LSLI gives Jewish students from across Georgia the opportunity to see themselves as leaders, not only on their own campuses, but as part of a statewide community,” said Paige Simunek, chief leadership officer at the Hillels of Georgia. “By learning alongside one another, building practical skills, and forming connections with students and professionals alike, they leave better prepared to shape Jewish life on campus and beyond.”
The institute gathered students actively shaping Jewish life at 10 Hillels, including Emory University, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Georgia, Agnes Scott, Georgia Southern, and Georgia Institute of Technology, supported by a Hillel International regional gatherings grant, an initiative that brings together students from different campuses to foster Jewish community and connection. Together, they explored four questions: Who am I as a leader? Who are my people? Who helps me grow? What will I build?
This marked the second year of the annual LSLI gathering, established by Jewish community leaders Mike and Andrea Leven and Mark and Linda Silberman as part of a broader effort to strengthen Jewish student leadership across the state. Through immersive retreats, cohort gatherings, one-on-one mentorship, and a capstone project focused on values-driven impact, the program helps students build the confidence, skills, and relationships to lead with Jewish pride and purpose.
“LSLI has become a centerpiece for Hillels of GA and a powerful example of their commitment to this generation of Jewish adults stepping into leadership today,” said Hillel International Campus Support Director Ronit Sherwin. “Regional student gatherings like this one taking place in GA demonstrate how powerful belonging is to building confidence. And we want and need our Jewish leaders of today and tomorrow to feel confident in themselves and their sense of Jewish identity.”
The day began with a welcome from Rabbi Larry Sernovitz, executive director of Hillels of Georgia, who posed the first question: Who am I as a leader? Participants reflected on the qualities they bring to the table and the leaders they want to become.
From there, students turned their attention to peer conversations. In an interactive workshop led by a local improv theater group called Dad’s Garage, they learned more about collaboration, adapting to unexpected situations, and listening to others.
For Emma Gordon, a second-year student at Emory University who serves as her Hillel’s first-year chair, the workshop had personal meaning. A self-described theater lover, she said the group’s improv show was one of the first events she went to when she started at Emory. Joining their workshop at LSLI felt like coming “full circle.” “I can’t wait to use the skills and perspectives from this workshop back on campus,” she said.
Students also built relationships with people who could support their career growth. During a networking lunch, they met with Atlanta-area professionals and community leaders to hear about their experiences in the workforce.
“I realized how important it is for me to learn more and connect with my Jewish community,” said a student participant. “I want to be able to talk about my culture and life… to bring more people together.”
The final hours of the gathering focused on action. Students explored the last question: What will I build? The sessions invited students to think about their strengths and how they can make a difference on their campuses. When asked to describe LSLI in three words, one student said “collaboration, networking, and initiative.”
Gordon, who also creates short-form videos as her Hillel’s social media intern, returned to the Content Creators and Experience Designers track, building on what she learned there at a previous conference. She came hoping to bring back “new ideas on how to connect to the student population,” drawing on what she heard from speakers and learned from collaborating with student leaders at other colleges.
Programming also included an opportunity to engage with Yirmiyahu Danzig, an Israeli activist, content creator, and digital educator who focuses on Jewish history and identity. His work offered another perspective on how students can reach others and contribute to conversations about Jewish life.
By the end of the institute, the four questions that opened LSLI had become something deeply internalized by each participant. Students headed back to campuses across Georgia with new friends, new mentors, and clearer answers about who they are as leaders and how they will continue to grow.