Smith Mediation Center

Divorce Mediation

Giving Input

WMU junior joins the inaugural
Hillel International Student Cabinet.

Jonathan Israilov } jewish@edu writer

have been privileged to be chosen to
students from around the world as well as
participate in the inaugural 2016-2017
amazing professionals employed by Hillel
Hillel International Student Cabinet.
International in Washington. The cabinet is
My journey to this point has been incred-
extremely diverse and all students have a
ible. I started my involvement with Hillel at
vast array of experiences with Judaism.
Western Michigan University
During our convening, we
my freshman year, which
spent time brainstorming ideas
piqued my interest in Jewish
and projects for the cabinet and
life on campus.
formed committees to help execute
The following year, I sat
these plans. We discussed amplify-
on the executive board,
ing student voices, representing
which then transitioned into
student stakeholders, outreach via
my presidency during the
digital platforms and even a global
2015-16 academic year. So
student conference. Additionally,
many amazing opportunities
we spoke about partnering with
and experiences came from Jonathan Israilov
outside organizations, engagement
being a part of Hillel, includ-
and using topic-based student
ing meeting diverse students,
forums to provide a space for more
creating and growing Jewish community at
widescale feedback.
WMU and working with the dedicated Hillel
We also spent a great deal of time
Campus Alliance of Michigan (HCAM) staff.
discussing individual outreach and engage-
Through the Hillel Campus Alliance of
ment, allowing students to follow their own
Michigan, I traveled to Washington, D.C.,
Jewish journey. We hope to accomplish this
to participate in the recent AIPAC Policy
by meeting students where they currently
Conference and the Jewish Federations of
are in their lives. This also means inclusivity
North America General Assembly. These
on every level. For example, 20 percent of
conferences allowed me to expand my
Jewish students have a mental or physical
knowledge and leadership skills within the
disability. We hope to provide these stu-
Jewish world.
dents with a welcoming and inclusive
Additionally, I traveled to Israel with
space, allowing them to feel comfortable to
HCAM and MSU Hillel on Birthright Israel,
participate.
meeting wonderful people and expanding
Hillel has 550 chapters and more than
my Jewish community within the state of
400,000 Jewish students on campuses.
Michigan. When I heard about the inaugu-
With the goal of creating more breadth and
ral Hillel International Student Cabinet, I
depth, we are encouraging student leaders
decided to take a chance and apply for this
to connect and engage with students on
amazing opportunity.
a personal level — through coffee dates,
The Student Cabinet is not an entirely new updates and being a real friend. Creating a
idea. In 1983-1985, Hillel International had a genuine community with meaningful rela-
student cabinet called the Secretariats — 12
tionships and connections is of the upmost
students who were voted in and were avail-
importance.
able to the CEO to help push policy. Richard
To conclude, Hillel International is eager to
Joel, Hillel president/CEO then, disbanded the involve more students in its work. They want
cabinet; Hillel International is using the les-
to hear our voices and opinions, and forming
sons learned from this experience to improve the Hillel International Student Cabinet is
upon the new cabinet, which is made up of
the first step in doing so. Our work has just
24 students from across the world.
begun, and I am excited to see the amazing
Being selected was a competitive process
things we will accomplish as a team.
with close to 100 applicants. Co-founded by
I would like to give a special thank you
Evan Traylor and Hannah Schlacter, the goal
to the Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan
of the Hillel International Student Cabinet is
and Hillel at Western Michigan University for
to share advice, opinions and perspectives
making all of this possible. I would not be
with the leadership of Hillel International,
where I am today without the experiences
while also bringing positive change and
and opportunities that these amazing Jewish
advocacy to Hillel chapters. Being selected
organizations have provided for me and the
to be part of this cabinet was a dream come
wonderful people who work within them. @
true.
The Student Cabinet convened for its first
John Israilov of West Bloomfield just completed
meeting April 10-11 in Washington, D.C., at
his junior year at Western Michigan University in
the Schusterman International Center. I met
Kalamazoo.

I

M

ediation is an alternative that can help you retain more
time, money, and privacy during your legal battle.
Barbara Smith, J.D., former district court magistrate
and administrative law judge with more than 25 years of legal
experience, lends her unique blend of reason, calmness and
tenacity to the process, helping guide opposing parties to mutually
agreeable solutions. She has successfully mediated hundreds of
cases over the past decade.

Bloomﬁ eld Hills | 248.646.8000

www.michigan-divorce-mediation.com

2043970

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June 30 • 2016

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