Staff

Jessica Lemons

Executive Director

Jessica Lemons is originally from Long Island. She began her Hillel career at Syracuse as the Coordinator of Advancement. She then served as Interim Executive Director for two years while Syracuse Hillel embarked on a national talent search. Following her tenure as Interim Executive Director, Syracuse Hillel received the Philip H. and Susan Rudd Cohen Outstanding Campus Award at the Hillel International Global Assembly. Most recently, she was the Syracuse Hillel Chief Operations Officer, continuing to work towards organizational excellence. While at Syracuse, Jessica completed the Weinberg ACCELERATE: Hillel’s Executive Training Program.

Jessica holds a B.A. in Communication from the University at Buffalo and an MBA with concentrations in Finance and Analytics from Syracuse University. 

During her time in college, she experienced first-hand how transformational a powerful Hillel experience could be in the lives of young Jewish people. She is passionate about organizational excellence, Jewish identity formation, and creating innovative and inclusive communities. When not at Hillel, Jessica can be found searching for the best lattes, browsing local bookstores, or hiking with her dog Skye.

Shachar Pinsky

Assistant Director

Shachar, an Israeli native, is a passionate individual dedicated to building young Jewish communities and forging meaningful connections. With experience at organizations like Moishe House, The Jewish Agency for Israel, and Hillel, he has honed his skills in community building and fostering engagement.

Shachar holds an Ed.M. in Educational Leadership and an M.A. in Jewish Professional Leadership from the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University. He also earned a B.A. in Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy from Reichman University in Israel.

Combining his educational background and practical experience, Shachar possesses a deep understanding of leadership principles, educational strategies, and community development. He remains committed to personal growth and creating a positive impact within the Jewish community.

Sasha Vool

Springboard Innovation Fellow

Sasha is originally from Brooklyn, NY. She has her B.A. in biostatistics from SUNY University at Buffalo. She loved being involved with the Hillel there and held multiple internship positions there. While at UB, Sasha was also involved in the dance club where she taught modern and contemporary dance classes. You can often catch Sasha at a yoga class, rock climbing, or drinking chai lattes. 

She is very excited to join the Stony Brook Hillel team as the Springboard Innovation Specialist. Hillel was such an important part of her college experience and she hopes that students at SBU can have the same positive experience with the organization.

Arin Pogany

Springboard Ezra Jewish Education Fellow

Arin is a recent graduate from Barnard College and The Jewish Theological Seminary with degrees in Anthropology and Jewish History. Arin is excited to join the team at Stony Brook University Hillel and to help people learn about and connect with Jewish culture. She is passionate about fostering an inclusive and diverse community and looks to the arts as a resource for learning and making human connections. In her free time, Arin loves to cook, watch movies, and be outside.

Noa Fishman

Jewish Agency Israel Fellow

Noa was born and raised in Tzur Yigal, Central District in Israel. During her time in the IDF she served as a Mashakit Tash, taking care of the well-being of soldiers in her unit, primarily with lone soldiers from the US. After her service, Noa moved to Tel Aviv where she recently completed her schooling and earned her BA in social work. She specializes in social work in the community field and with at-risk youth. In the past year, she worked at a hostel for tourists from around the world. Her role included organizing events and activities, as well as operating social media. During her free time, Noa enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music, reading books, and traveling the world, especially in Europe. She's excited about her new path and looks forward to meeting everyone!

Lauren Haller

Wellness Graduate Fellow

Lauren attended Queens College from 2019-2023 where she got her BA in Psychology & Urban Studies with minors in counseling & cities and social medicine. Armed with her passion for mental health, wellness, lgbtq+ and Jewish communities, Lauren is perusing a masters degree in social work at Stony Brook University. A lover of all things Broadway, creative expression, self care, Lauren is thrilled to be a part of the Stony Brook Hillel team!

Julie Kaplan, LMSW

Social Worker

Julie is working with Hillel as a social worker from the Family Service League’s Jewish Support Services program. Julie holds a BA from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA and received her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. 

Julie is working with Stony Brook Hillel through a UJA Federation grant as part of a collaboration between Hillel and the Family Service League. Julie works with students at Hillel to provide individual counseling and referrals to community providers, with the goal of helping students thrive, promote the continued development of interpersonal skills, and assist students in recognizing their own individual strengths and challenges. Julie has experience helping people recognize their own strengths and improve their self-esteem and day to day functioning.

Julie is available for both in-person and telehealth appointments and can be reached at 631-560-5049. There is no cost associated with appointments. If you are struggling to cope or feeling in crisis, Family Service League’s DASH Crisis Center Hotline is available 24-hours a day at 631-952-3333.

Prior to scheduling with Julie, please reach out to her to set up an intake conversation.

Rabbi Jeremy Perlow

Part-Time Orthodox Chaplain

Rabbi Perlow currently serves as the Rabbi of Stony Brook Hebrew Congregation (SBHC) which holds services not too far from campus during the week and on campus on Shabbat and holidays--come for a visit! During the week, he teaches Judaic studies at Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC). A native of Chicago, Rabbi Perlow studied in Israel at Yeshivat Shaalvim. After returning from Israel, he graduated with a B.S. from Yeshiva University, received his Rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, and is now completing a master’s in Bible at Bernard Revel Graduate School. He resides in Stony Brook with his wife Devora and their daughter.

Rabbi Joseph S. Topek

Director Emeritus

Rabbi Joe, as he was known to generations of students, served as Director of Stony Brook Hillel from 1982 - 2019. He began his 40 year Hillel career at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1979 and holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, Brandeis University, and the Academy for Jewish Religion. While at Stony Brook he also served as Chairperson of the Interfaith Center from 1989 - 2019 and continues to serve as Adjunct Instructor in the Undergraduate Colleges and as the Jewish Chaplain for the Long Island State Veterans Home and Stony Brook University Hospital. Rabbi Joe is proud to have been honored with the Sister Margaret Ann Landry Award for Lifetime Achievement in Advising and the Shirley Strum Kenny Steel Magnolia Award. He continues work in his academic field of American Jewish military history with writing and lecturing and enjoys spending more time with his spouse, Susan Remick Topek, their three daughters and sons-in-law, and their six grandchildren.