Laughs for Longhorns

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Thank you to those of you who Zoomed with us on Wednesday, May 27th for a night of comedy followed by a special tribute to our outgoing Board President, Ian Spechler, and the Class of 2020. 

Benji Lovitt, Comedian

Since making aliyah in 2006, comedian Benji Lovitt has performed for audiences around the world including Federations, synagogues, Birthright Israel, and more. His perspectives on Israeli society have been featured in USA Today, Time Magazine, BBC Radio, and the Times of Israel. His commentary during 2014’s Operation Protective Edge led to his being called “the only reason to go on Facebook”. Benji graduated from JJ Pearce High School in Dallas and is a proud Texas Ex.

Ian Spechler, Board President

Ian first roamed the halls of Texas Hillel as an undergraduate at UT in 2000 and spent much of his time there before graduating in 2004 and finishing Law School in 2007. Ian has served on the Texas Hillel board since 2010 and is completing his term as Board President. His commitment to the Texas Jewish community has included leadership roles with Jewish Family Service of Shalom Austin, the Schusterman Center Advisory Committee at the University of Texas, and in 2019 he received the Joe Krassner Campaign Leadership Award from Shalom Austin. Ian’s passion for Hillel is unmatched, and he is respected by students, staff, and lay leaders for his commitment to Jewish students on campus. You are equally likely to find Ian leading a board retreat about Hillel’s long-term vision and strategy as you are seeing him grill burgers on the patio after work, laughing with students.

Hosted by the Texas Hillel Board of Trustees:

Michael Abkowitz (Austin), Vice President
Kevin Alter (Austin)
Liat Avivi (Houston)
Jay Bernhardt (Austin)
Adam Blum (Austin)
Stefani Eisenstat (Dallas)
Dia Epstein (Dallas), Officer
Steven Finkelman (Houston), Treasurer
Robert Frachtman (Austin)
Evan Golden (Austin)
Benjamin Isgur (Fort Worth)
Rebecca Isgur (Fort Worth)
Nora Lieberman (Austin), Vice President
Adam Loewy (Austin)
Amy Marcus (El Paso)
Susan Noorily (San Antonio), Officer
Eric Pomerantz (Austin)
Richard Rudy (Austin)
Danielle Rugoff (Dallas)
Mark Salmanson (Austin)
Zachary Silverman (Houston)
Moriah Sonsino (Dallas)
Robin Stein (Houston)
Leah Stolar (Houston), Secretary/President Elect
Lisa Strauss (Houston)
Jim Sud (Austin), Immediate Past President