Testimonials

What have others said about our programming?

R' Eliezer Sneiderman

Chabad Rabbi, University of Delaware

I would like to thank the Heart to Heart program and the students from YU, Penn, and Stern that came down to lead a Shabbat. Delaware, like many campuses without a Kosher meal plan, lacks an Orthodox population. Having attended Penn as an undergraduate, one can take the presence of Orthodox Jews for granted. At a school with an Orthodox population, everyone knows about Shabbat observance. It becomes part of the culture. As does Sukkot, Purim, and other Jewish holidays.

The Heart to Heart students led services, engaged students in conversation, and sang hours of zemiros. These things just don't happen on a regular Friday night. Sure, we have services, but, it is different with one or two voices singing as opposed to a full room. The Carlebach service led by Shlomo Gaisten was awesome. The dancing felt like the Kotel.

Lev Vygotsky speaks about the importance of mentors as providing the "Zone of Proximal Development". This is a very important element in experiential Jewish Education. A Rabbi can have a certain Hashpa on his students But, the Rabbi is a professional Jew of a certain age. He is supposed to be interested in this material. When students closer in age and life experience show an interest and a commitment to Jewish observance, it has a profound effect on students.

I have been looking for a program like Heart to Heart ever since Panim folded almost 10 years ago. Thank you so much for sharing your passion and inspiration with the University of Delaware community.

May you have continued success.

R' Daniel and Naomi Levitt

JLIC Educators, University of Guelph

Dear 'Heart to Heart',We just wanted to take a moment to say thank you and tell you how much we appreciate and benefited from your work. When we were looking to recruit men to ensure a minyan on our campus for Rosh Hashanah, RabbiAaron Greenberg connected us with 'Heart to Heart'. We were put in touch with Dov Winston who managed to get an additional 4 students from YU to come to us. We were a bit apprehensive at first to have them come out as we didn't want our students, most of whom who are not observant at all, to feel threatened or displaced. Dov met with the YU students in advance to make sure everyone understood the culture on our campus.The boys did an incredible job. They gave Divrei torah, led davening, sang zemirot and, most importantly, interacted with our students in a very open, sincere and non-judgmental manner. They truly enhanced our Yom Tov and it was an honor to have them with us.

Thank you again

Gmar Tov

Nathaniel Moldoff

Student, Franklin and Marshall College

"I am so glad you were able to make it for Shabbos. It's clear to me that your simple presence made a huge impact on F&M students & the Lancaster community."

Ben Bolnick

Student, University of Pennsylvania

“Funny moment: We were walking to the Hillel (at Dickinson) and we had passed an old-school movie theater where an accaupella competition was taking place... Suddenly we hear ""Ben Bolnick?!"" We turn around and my friend from the last H2H shabbaton I went on, to Delaware, was there (he had seen us pass by through the glass doors). Last time I saw him we were eating dinner together in Delaware and he had to leave early to go try out for the accupella group. He had made the group and was now performing in the competition in Carlisle, PA while we were there. Trippin'"

Eli Bass

Program Director, RIT Hillel and SUNY Geneseo Hillel

I wanted to take a moment to thank YU and Stern College students Benji, Shimra, Devorah and Dov for their Shabbaton visit to RIT campus. As students, they are living examples of engagement with Jewish peoplehood. They led worship, created discussion, and engaged many of my students after the Shabbaton. They were warm, helpful and accommodating to set up and implement the Shababton. They also took an active interest in our student’s furthering their Jewish engagement. While the students at H2H live in the orthodox world, they were helpful at broadly encouraging my students towards Jewish engagement and growth. Most importantly most of my students’ left the weekend feeling empowered by Heart to Heart’s DIY Judaism. A positive Shabbat experience. Thank you!