📧 mattb@hillel818.org

Born and raised in a small Connecticut town, Matt has spent the past decade+ building Jewish community in Los Angeles. Matt is so excited to be the Executive Director of Hillel 818, where he helps grow the Jewish community in the Valley, guiding students from CSUN, Pierce College, and Valley College on their Jewish journeys. He is a Jewish day school, youth group, summer camp, Hillel and Birthright veteran, and spent eight years at Sinai Temple as the Atid and Teen Director.

Matt earned a Masters of Arts in Education from the American Jewish University, and a B.S. in Advertising from Boston University, where he was active at Hillel as President of the Conservative Minyan, a member of the Religious Life Council, and guitar player and songwriter for Jewish rock band "The Rif." Matt is a TV & movie fanatic, die-hard NBA buff, and Johnny Cash impersonator who is always on the lookout for the next great lunch spot. Matt spends most of his free time with his wife Alayna and his baby boy Jaden Max.

📧 tiffanyb@hillel818.org

Tiffany was born in Los Angeles. She spent many summers working at Camp Isaiah out of Temple Isaiah. She graduated from California State University, Northridge in May 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. During her time at CSUN, Tiffany interned at Hillel 818 as the Social Media and Communications Intern.

After college, Tiffany worked in Marketing and PR at another nonprofit organization before returning “home” to Hillel 818, where she now serves as the Communications and Development Coordinator. Hillel 818 has always held a special place in her heart, and she is excited to dive in and help create an even more welcoming space for Jewish students.

Outside of work, Tiffany loves to read and explore art museums around Los Angeles and is always on the lookout for the perfect new book or an inspiring exhibit.

📧 adenag@hillel818.org

Adena Goss grew up in Los Angeles CA where she was active in Speech and Debate, Theatre, and played her flute for 11 years. She spent her summers at Camp Ramah in California as a camper, counselor, unit head, program manager, and even ran the acapella group one summer. Adena went on to graduate from the University of Kansas with a BA in History, Art History, and Psychology. During the spring semester of 2019, she studied abroad in Rome, Italy. After college, Adena worked in St. Louis where she taught Hebrew School and worked as a legal administrative assistant to the Varsity Tutors’ corporate legal department. She moved to New York City in 2021 and served as the Day Camp and Early Childhood Education fellow at Foundation for Jewish Camp. She spent time at a JCC Day Camp in New York as the assistant director before returning to Los Angeles to be the founding Program Director at Ramah Day Camp LA. She is thrilled to be serving as the Assistant Director at Hillel 818, bringing meaningful Jewish connections to students at CSUN, Pierce College, Valley College, and beyond! She lives in Pico - Robertson with her husband Sam and dog, Copper.

📧 ashleyj@hillel818.org

Ashley was born and raised in Northbrook, IL, just outside Chicago. She loved going to camp at URJ OSRUI and worked there on staff for five summers. Ashley earned her bachelor's degree from Rutgers University, where she majored in Political Science and Jewish Studies. During her Junior year, Ashley studied abroad at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem as a fellow of the Nachshon Project. After graduation, Ashley moved to Gainesville, FL, to work at University of Florida Hillel as their IACT Coordinator for three years. Ashley then moved to Los Angeles to complete a dual master's degree in Jewish Nonprofit Management from Hebrew Union College and Public Administration from the University of Southern California. Alongside her studies, she interned at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and has been a resident of Moishe House Sherman Oaks.

Ashley is thrilled to return to the Hillel movement as the Advancement Director at Hillel 818 and continue making an impact in the Valley Jewish community. 

📧 davidkk@hillel818.org 📧 shanak@hillel818.org

David and Shana Kashani are a dynamic couple with a shared passion for creating a vibrant Jewish community in the Valley. As the new OU-JLIC couple of the area, they are thrilled to embark on this new journey together.

David brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served as the JLIC President at UCLA and as the Yavneh West Regional Coordinator, where he successfully established the Yavneh community on the west coast. With his expertise in community building, David is well-equipped to lead the effort to bring together Jewish college students in the valley.

Shana is equally committed to the cause and has a strong desire to connect with students on a deeper level to help them overcome challenges and achieve their goals. As a star student at JLIC of SMC and a former madricha at Baer Miriam Seminary, Shana has the necessary skills to support and inspire the Valley's Jewish students.

Together, with the help of Hashem, David and Shana are dedicated to making a positive impact and to bringing an optimal Jewish community to the Valley. Their enthusiasm and dedication are sure to inspire and uplift those around them, and they are poised to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many.

📧 darrenk@hillel818.org

Darren was born and raised here in the San Fernando Valley and is excited to be on the Hillel 818 team! Prior to starting with Hillel, he worked for Far West Region USY. Darren is a CSUN alum, earning a BA in Sociology with a Jewish Studies Minor, and received his Masters of Science in Management from Cal Lutheran University’s School of Management. Darren loves spending time with his wife Sarica, his kids Ari and Devorah and their dog Ricky.

📧 razm@hillel818.org

Born and raised in Israel, Raz grew up in a home that blended her Ashkenazi mother’s and Mizrahi father’s heritage, where diverse traditions came together around a shared love for the State of Israel. From a young age, she felt a strong connection to Jewish life in the Diaspora.

This passion led her to a long-term Shlichut with The Jewish Agency for Israel as an Israel Fellow.

Raz earned her degree in Business Administration and Tourism from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Outside of her professional life, Raz loves to travel and explore new cultures, and she enjoys winding down with a good book or movie. She is excited to share her love for Israel with the students of Hillel 818 and to create meaningful connections across cultures and communities.

📧 abbies@hillel818.org

As a San Fernando Valley native Abbie is over the moon to be working alongside students who grew up in her community. She earned her undergraduate degree at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana where she studied Philosophy of Law, Morality, and Society. Her minors included Religious Studies and Sociology. She became passionate about the synthesis of human nature and behavior and the influence religion had on them. New Orleans gave her a deep love of southern culture, Mardi Gras, and diverse religions. In exploring and studying cultures and religions from all over the world, Abbie discovered her true passion- exploring Judaism with young adults. Working in an interfaith community allowed her to learn productive ways to teach Jewish values, specifically those of culture and community. Abbie is a lover of books, people, and music. She is excited to explore Judaism with young adults and interested students with the Hillel 818 team!

📧sadiek@hillel818.org

Sadie Wang Kaufman, a native of LA’s Westside, is blessed to live in this city, and to have a multicultural background, being both Chinese and Jewish. Her favorite things to do in this city are going on late night drives, frequenting farmers markets, thrifting, and eating street tacos. She attended Palisades Charter High, and recently graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Fiber Science and Apparel Design. She is passionate about heritage, tradition, and visual culture. During her summers as a college student, she interned at fine art printmaking studios and with education groups. She loves making things by hand—sewing, printmaking, cooking—creating things that last, and things that are meaningful. 

As a springboard fellow on the Ezra (Jewish education) track at Hillel 818, she looks forward to teaching JLF, organizing events that combine Jewish learning with artistic practice, and meeting students. As someone who comes from a non-traditional Jewish background, she is excited to meet students where they are and do what Hillel did for her: engaging with critical Jewish texts from past and present, connecting with people and community, and propelling the students she works with towards a future of success and growth.

📧 rabbijess@hillel818.org

Rabbi Jess, though British by birth and taste buds, received Rabbinic ordination from American Jewish University in 2014. She spent the next 8 years in pulpit positions at large Conservative Synagogues in Seattle and then Los Angeles as a spiritual leader and educator for all ages. (Adat Ari El, baby!)

Her governing principles are that of compassion, inclusivity, pluralism, and critical thinking in the face of established texts. She infuses her Judish practice with joy, music, humor, and soulfulness. She is here to support our students as they navigate the often overwhelming experience of juggling studies, careers, relationships, alongside their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. She is a safe space, and a guide to all who are questioning their identity, seeking to learn more, and desiring to find a peoplehood to belong to.

She swims! She sings! She hides from the sun! She watches Star Trek and she *still* plays Pokemon Go! She can’t wait to meet all of you, treat you to your favorite beverage, and get to know who you really are!