Rachel Happel '02
Hailing from Massachusetts, Rachel received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College in 1996, double majoring in Studio Art and Psychology. While at Hornstein, she was awarded the Fein, Shain, Pinanski Fellowship through Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP). She also received the Davidson, Hermelin Zlotoff Fellowship during her first year. Rachel completed fieldwork at Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland and at CJP's Commission on Jewish Continuity.
Her time at Hornstein was the first time Rachel was part of an intentionally pluralistic environment since, prior to Hornstein, her primary experience had been within the Reform movement. The classmates and faculty she met at Hornstein opened her eyes to new perspectives of text, ritual and religious practice, broadening her understanding of Jewish life and practice.
The Foster Seminar in Israel was also a high point for Rachel. Her previous trips to Israel had been with The North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) or with family. On the Foster Seminar, she was able to think critically about Israel, to delve more deeply into Israeli life, culture and politics through meetings with professionals and other community members. Rachel finally gained a sense of connection to Israel as a state and as a land – a connection that had been missing from her experience as a Jewish professional.
Upon graduation, Rachel worked as the Havayah Director at Temple Beth Elohim, Wellesley, MA where she oversaw formal, informal and family education programming for grades 6-12. During her five year tenure, she initiated an innovative learning model for synagogue education that blended formal and experiential learning and offered more choices post-b’nai mitzvah. Rachel recently wrote an article about the program and the philosophy behind it (soon to be published) as part of the Institute for Informal Jewish Education's (IJE) Jewish Experiential Learning Seminar.
In 2007 Rachel became the Associate Director of BIMA and Genesis at Brandeis University, two summer programs for Jewish teens, where she works year-round as the Associate Director. BIMA brings a select group of talented high school students together to pursue serious artistic growth in a supportive, challenging Jewish community. Genesis participants get a taste of college through courses, social action projects, community life and workshops that integrate Jewish exploration with intellectual challenge. In addition to her full time work at Brandeis, Rachel also continues to teach part-time (8th and 9th grade) at Temple Beth Elohim.
Rachel has participated in two fellowships through the Institute for Informal Jewish Education: The Seminar in Professional Leadership (2003-2004) and The Jewish Experiential Learning Seminar (2005-2008). In 2004, she received the Etz Chayim Award from the North American Alliance for Jewish Youth (NAA). This award recognizes a young professional who has made a unique contribution to his/her organization and/or to the field of informal education.
Rachel currently lives in Melrose, MA, with her husband, Jason, and daughter, Eva.
If you have any questions about the Hornstein program, you can write to Rachel at happel@brandeis.edu.