H
illel at the University of
Michigan kicks off the fall
semester with a national
search for a new executive director
following the announcement in July
that Tilly Shemer, who had held the
post for the 15 years, had accepted
a new position as senior vice pres-
ident of Wellspring at the Shalom
Hartman Institute North America.
In a statement released to the JN,
Hillel Board President Abbey Frank
said that during this interim period,
the Michigan Hillel calendar is full
with religious, social and educational
programs and resources for new
and returning students.
She wrote: “
As we search for
a new director, Hillel at the
University of Michigan is backed
by the commitment of its board
members, who are a diverse
group in terms of Jewish reli-
gious expression, age, geogra-
phy and skills. For guidance
in the search and selection
process of a new director, we
are speaking with chairs of
other large Hillel chapters
around the country that have
recently conducted executive
director searches.
”
She added: “In the inter-
im, we have a deep bench of
current professionals and lay
leaders, and there will be no
disruption in services, programs,
meals and religious services.
”
Frank, of Rockville, Maryland,
graduated from Michigan in 1993
and received her MSW and MPA
from Columbia University. She and
her husband, Rabbi Marc Israel,
originally from Birmingham, Mich.,
and who graduated from Michigan
in 1992, have three children. Her
oldest graduated from the university
last spring.
New in her position as board pres-
ident, this is Frank’s third year on the
Hillel board. Frank wrote that some
Longtime Executive Director Tilly Shemer’s
departure leaves an opening at
University of Michigan Hillel.
Search Launched
Abbey
Frank
46 | AUGUST 17 • 2023
Stacy Gittleman } Contributing Writer
Tilly
Shemer
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