Rabbi Jason Klein, Director

Born in New York City, raised in Montclair, New Jersey, college in NYC, graduate school in Philly, Jason has ventured to his fourth state on the Eastern seaboard. A graduate of Columbia University, where he wrote a thesis on the experience of Ukrainian-American Christians, he continued his studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and at Beit Midrash Elul in Jerusalem, Jason spent four years as a congregational rabbi in Long Island, NY, before coming to UMBC in 2006. Jason lives in the Patterson Park neighborhood of Baltimore City.

Jason’s particular Jewish interests include text study, liturgy, music, creative rituals, and midrash. He is committed to Israeli-Palestinian peace and justice, inter-movement and interfaith dialogue and collaboration, gender and LBGT concerns, and issues of social justice in general.

If you’re interested in learning something new, if you have a new idea that you think UMBC Hillel should support, if you just want to talk (about most anything, in confidence), you can reach Jason at (410) 455-1329 or by email at rabbijason@umbc.edu.

Tanya Gutsol, Jewish Student Life Coordinator

UMBC Hillel is happy to have Tanya Gutsol, working with us for a second year as our Jewish Student Life Coordinator. Tanya comes to us from Kyiv, Ukraine, where she served as Program Coordinator at Kyiv Hillel. Tanya studied at Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture where she received her degree in 2005. Some of her interests include theatre, writing, and social justice. She is excited to be making her home in Otterbein in Baltimore City. Want to learn some more about Tanya? She was featured on Hillel International’s web page.

Tanya would love to take you out for a cup of coffee (Hillel’s treat) so be in touch with her!You can read more about her here and reach her at (410) 455-2637 or tanya@umbc.edu.

Eric Eller, Grinspoon Israel Fellow

Eric is a senior student here at UMBC expecting his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry next spring. Eric is involved in the Go Club and is a billiards champion. If you don’t see Eric in class or around our offices, look for him upstairs in the Commons Game Room. Eric would love to talk to you about Israeli history and culture and can be reached at eeller1@umbc.edu.