Central Florida Hillel’s new executive director is eager to lead the Jewish student organization to even greater success
An Offer He Couldn’t Refuse
by Kevin Fritz
T here’s a new rabbi in town, and he’s prepared to take Central Florida Hillel to new heights. Rabbi Jordan Gerson began his tenure as the Jewish student organization’s executive director in June. Central Florida Hillel, headquartered right off the University of Central Florida’s main campus, serves UCF, Full Sail University, Valencia College, and Seminole State College. Previously, Jordan was the Silk Foundation campus rabbi/chief experience officer serving Hillel at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Express Yourself The Central Florida Hillel position finds Jordan serving Jewish students from a much larger campus than what he was used to. Washington University is home to 8,000 undergraduates, compared to UCF’s 70,000. Jordan is more than ready for the task and wants to ensure that all Jewish students here are seen and heard. “There are many different ways to express Judaism,” he says. “It’s all about students learning and developing a practice authentic to themselves.” Jordan’s rabbinic path began at an early age, even though a career as a rabbi was not officially on his radar then. “I grew up in a Zionist household and have always been deeply connected to my Jewish identity,” says Jordan. “I actually liked Hebrew school.” Jordan remembers a rabbi from his confirmation class being impressed with his knowledge and encouraging him to become a rabbi, too. Nevertheless, Jordan enrolled in premed
“This was an opportunity I could not pass up,” he says. “I love WashU, but I believe the UCF Hillel is poised to be the flagship for the entire Hillel movement.” Jordan learned about the opening at Central Florida Hillel as a participant in the Debra
S. and Joseph S. Weinberg Accelerate Executive Advancement Program, an 18-month leadership development program designed to create dynamic leaders within the Hillel movement. “I saw all UCF had to offer,” says Jordan. “After 11 years in the movement, I decided this is where I want to be.”
studies at Binghamton University in New York, where he continued to be involved in the Jewish community.
Over time, however, Jordan found heightened meaning and enjoyment in the Jewish sector and left premed behind, eventually attending the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
Rabbi Jordan Gerson is the new executive director of Central Florida Hillel.
in Los Angeles, California. He was ordained in 2011 and served as a rabbi in Pensacola, Florida, for three years.
8 J LIFE | FALL 2025
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online