LA JOLLA, California (SDONA)–Hillel of San Diego announced Sunday the appointment of a new director for its programs for Jewish students at the UC San Diego campus.
Rabbi David Singer will begin work in La Jolla in July. He was previously founder and director of Makom, a spiritual community for millennials affiliated with one of Dallas’ largest congregations. Singer grew up in San Diego and graduated from La Jolla High School and UC Berkeley, where he was elected president of the Jewish Student Union
“He has a vision for Jewish life that is exactly the right fit for UCSD,” said Hillel of San Diego Executive Director Michael Rabkin. “Every student, administrator and Hillel leader he met during his visit to campus was captivated by David’s energy and personality. He will be a vital agent for the growth of vibrant Jewish life at UCSD.”
The appointment comes as Hillel pursues construction of a student center on vacant land it owns across La Jolla Village Drive from campus. The project, which has faced criticism from some residents who say they are concerned about traffic, will come before the San Diego City Council later this year.
Hillel of San Diego opened a new center near the San Diego State University campus last year. The 10,500-square-foot Melvin Garb Hillel Center, located across Lindo Paseo from the KPBS studios, is the first modern Hillel facility for a college campus in San Diego.
The two campuses have also been the locus of some anti-Israel protests and student movements seeking to force state universities to remove from their endowments the stock of companies doing business in Israel.
Hillel is a nationwide non-profit organization that provides opportunities for college students to participate in a Jewish community. Most large universities have Hillel centers on or near campus.
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Preceding republished from The Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego On-Line News Association (SDONA)