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Meet the Hopkins Hillel Staff
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Rabbi Debbie Pine, Executive Director
Rabbi Pine became the Executive Director of Hopkins Hillel in 2009 and she previously served as the Executive Director of New Orleans Hillel from 2006 to 2008. Debbie’s favorite part of Hillel is the amazing staff and the thoughtful, committed students at Hopkins. Before Hillel, Debbie was an Associate Rabbi at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh from 1992 to 1999, and she developed programs for youth, families, and women. From 1999 to 2005, she was the Rabbi/Educator at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia. Debbie has served as staff and faculty at several of the Reform Jewish movement’s camps. She has served on numerous local and national committees and boards, and has taught on the college level. Debbie was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati in 1992. She graduated from Oberlin College in 1987, majoring in Sociology and Anthropology. Her husband, Rabbi Andrew Busch, is the Rabbi of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation and they have 3 children.
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Rabbi Darren Levin, JLIC Rabbi and Educator
Darren is looking forward to his first year as co-director of the OU’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (JLIC) at the Hopkins Hillel. Hailing from Long Island, NY, Darren was blessed to have spent the past two years living in Jerusalem with his wife, Avital, and son, Shmuel, before moving to Baltimore. When he was not learning or teaching, he was found walking the streets of the Old City, frequenting “the Shuk,” visiting used book stores, hosting diverse Shabbat meals, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Darren graduated with a B.S. from Yeshiva University, and holds Master’s degrees in both Social Work and Jewish Education. Having completed his rabbinical studies at Yeshiva University (RIETS), he has taught, lectured, and counseled in a variety of formal and informal settings. Some of Darren’s memorable professional experiences include serving as the Rabbi for a Passover getaway in Greece, and fitting seven fellow camp HASC counselors into his Mini Cooper on Circus Night. He prides himself on his homemade smoothies and frappuccinos. If you would like to sit for a cup of coffee, explore a Jewish topic, or come over for a Shabbat meal, don’t hesitate to be in touch!
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Avital Levin, JLIC Educator
Avital Levin is from Monsey, NY. Passionate about education, Avital has taught at Machon Maayan, the OU Center in Jerusalem, and Camp Yavneh. She is valued for her warmth and connection with students. Avital graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and holds a Master's degree in Social Work from New York University. She has counseled adolescents in various clinical and scholastic settings. She has also studied at the Yeshiva University Women's Midrashiya where she graduated with certificates in infertility counseling and teaching kallahs. Avital loves to hike, dabble in matchmaking, hunt for clothing bargains, and chill with guests on the famous Levin couch.
Avital is excited to join the Hopkins Hillel, and can’t wait to dress her baby, Shmuel, in his Hopkins Lacrosse onesie.
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Monica Davis, Office Manager
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Jonathan Falk, Program Director
Jon is excited for another year as part of the Hopkins Hillel family. Jonathan is a Muhlenberg College graduate where he served as both Hillel President and President of the Muhlenberg’s Student Body during his undergraduate years. He believes in Hillel’s mission of Jewish pluralism as a way to advance understanding of Jewish Identity. Jonathan is a local Baltimorean and he is a thrilled to be back in the city that he grew up in. Though he lives in Owings Mills; he often finds himself downtown at sporting events or chilling with friends. He is a real foodie and some of his favorite foods include: (Green) mint chocolate chip ice cream, Buffalo wings, and of course his Bubbe’s Matzo-ball soup. Jon is pumped to be at Hopkins and looks forward to enriching Jewish life at the University through a variety of ways. He will be seen all over campus and loves to meet new people. Shoot him an email if you'd like to meet him for coffee.
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Simona Vainberg, Israel Fellow
Simona has graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she majored in Political Science and Geography. She grew up in the city of Nazareth which is in the north of Israel and lived in Jerusalem for the last few years. After finishing high school she joined the Israeli army and served as a tank simulator instructor. Days after finishing her army service she was already on a plane to North Carolina to work as a camp counselor for Young Judaea. Ever since then, she worked for different Young Judaea programs, including Tel Yehuda summer camp, Year Course and summer programs in Israel. Over the last three years, during her time at University, Simona worked for the Jewish Agency's summer shlichim program. She's very excited to be joining the Hopkins Hillel team and feel free to stop by her office with any questions or thoughts.
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