Hillel Connections is a program designed to attract Jewish college students to Birmingham, allowing them opportunities to develop personal, mentoring, and professional relationships with our community at large. An eight-week immersive summer internship program enables them to envision living in Birmingham as a young professional, and to consider looking for employment opportunities here after graduation; BJF feels this is a cornerstone of ensuring our Jewish future.

We are grateful to the Birmingham Jewish Federation, Birmingham Jewish Foundation, The Grafman Endowment Fund of Temple-Emanu-El, the Levite Jewish Community Center, and several visionary individual donors who have invested in our future by previous and current support of this program. Of the 20 students that have completed the program, 4 continued to work during the following school year, seven currently live in Birmingham, and seven are still in school or in post-grad programs and have expressed interest in returning (with the potential to bring at least 3 Jewish significant others with them).

Each week, we will “showcase” student(s) interested in joining our HC 2022 summer program; EMPLOYERS are needed to offer summer internships. Please review and reach out if you can help NETWORK on behalf of these talented students. They are bright, efficient, and willing to work!

If you know of a potential employer for these students, please have them reach out to us at hillel.connections@gmail.com or text Roxanne at (205) 907-2531. A detailed resume and further information can be provided if that would be helpful before you make the contact.

Elizabeth H. is a UA Sophomore from Louisville, Kentucky with a GPA of 3.58 majoring in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources. Previous jobs have proven her strengths in communication and providing excellent customer service. She is active with Gamma Phi Beta raising money and awareness for philanthropic events. Opportunities in business/HR are desired.

Jack L. is a UA Junior in Mechanical Engineering with a 3.65 GPA from Germantown, TN. During COVID, he started his own Landscape and automobile repair business. He is a quick learner and a problem solver and is interested in any engineering-related opportunity. Jack is a member of ZBT and he has performed many hours of community service for all age groups.