Hillel Interns: Part 1
July 8, 2022
By Ezra Rich

While Western New York is blessed with a four-season climate, there is nothing sweeter than a Buffalo summer. The combination of the warm but not too hot weather, flowers and trees in bloom, and the vitality of the region with its myriad of outdoor recreational options and festivals.

Now in its second year, the Hillel of Buffalo Summer Internship Program aims to use this special time of year to engage Jewish students to gain professional skills, build relationships with the local Jewish community, and experience the thriving local business scene. The students, some of who attend school locally and other local students who attend school out-of-town, work with agencies and employers from Monday thru Thursday and then spend Friday together as a group, experiencing the best of Buffalo through a Jewish lens.

Initial highlights of this summer’s Hillel internship program included a group orientation at the JCC’s Camp Centerland. The cohorts first Friday involved an introduction to Western New York’s natural beauty with a ride on Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls and a guided tour of the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center and a visit to Artpark.

The following Friday, the group was introduced to Buffalo’s racial and economic diversity. Recently, the Hillel of Buffalo Summer Interns got a taste of Buffalo’s cultural tapestry as they did a volunteer project with Jewish Family Services of WNY, followed by visits to East Buffalo staples: Manna restaurant at the Northland Workforce Training Center and The Foundry makerspace, and concluded with a solemn visit to the Tops memorial site for the May 14th tragedy at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue.

Over three weeks, we are excited to introduce you to the 2022 Hillel of Buffalo Summer Interns. Meet the first three participants:

Hannah Danziger
UB Neurosurgery

I’m from Buffalo and am a rising senior year at Skidmore College, double majoring in Dance and Psychology. I am a part of Peer Health Educators at Skidmore, a group that promotes healthy living through education and empowerment. Also, I am a part of Hillel and Outdoors Club. I am a certified Yin Yoga instructor and am passionate about teaching creative movement to differently-abled people.

Zach Day
Office of Senator Timothy M. Kennedy

I’m a rising senior at The University of Buffalo majoring in Political Science and minoring in Communication. I am from Long Island but grew up in Boston. I have joined several clubs at UB including the Political Science Club, Model UN and Model EU, Amnesty International, and the Jewish Student Union. Aside from school, I love listening to music and watching movies.

Ayelet Forrest
People Inc.

I’m from Buffalo and attend UB where I’m majoring in sociology with a minor in public health. I am involved in Hillel, the Asian American Student Union, and Amnesty International. Outside of school, I like watching my favorite shows, reading, and playing video games.