I believe the UCF Hillel is poised to be the flagship for the entire Hillel movement.” – Rabbi Jordan Gerson
Making a Change “I loved it, but I wanted to change people’s lives,” says Jordan. “I remembered college and my involvement with Hillel and Chabad. So, I went back to St. Louis [at WashU’s Hillel].” Jordan indeed made a difference in students’ lives at WashU, and he is ready to do the same
In addition, he plans to empower students by teaching them how to bring Hillel to other groups on campus, such as clubs, fraternities, and sororities. And, Jordan intends to roll out a microgrant initiative that would enable students to host holiday celebrations and other events in their own spaces. Jordan and his wife Rebecca live in Oviedo with their three daughters (ages 15, 12, and 8) and one son (4). The Gersons chose to settle there to be close to the UCF campus, so Jordan can invite students into their home, augmenting their Hillel experience. “Hillel can show students the various ways to enhance Judaism,” says Jordan. “Hillel is a major asset to the Jewish world.”
at Central Florida Hillel. He intends to create an enhanced Hillel experience here with the help of colleagues Dr. Jeff Levin, senior Jewish educator, Andie Gerszuny, director of development, and JAFI Israel Fellow Liri Goshen. Among Jordan’s initiatives, his primary goal will be to increase student engagement with Hillel. Although he says last school year’s engagement number of 2,000 students was positive, Jordan wants to take those figures to record levels moving forward. Jordan will also continue to tap into his vast knowledge of Birthright Israel, a program that offers free heritage trips to Israel for young Jewish adults. While at Washington University, he led 15 transformative Birthright Israel trips. Paramount to Jordan’s agenda will be listening to the needs of students and developing programs and activities around their requests.
Central Florida Hillel is a warm and welcoming space for Jewish students and their friends at UCF and surrounding colleges.
Jordan enjoying a St. Louis Cardinals game in his previous home of Missouri.
9 FALL 2025 | J LIFE
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