I walked into the Eagle office and she stopped me to introduce herself. She didn't realize that I was to be the reporter to interview her. It's rarely so fun to interview one individual as it was to talk to Lizabeth Wiener, the new program director of American University Hillel.
Hillel, the student and faculty Jewish organization on campus, serves to encourage the Jewish students at AU to express their religious identity. It also informs and serves as a resource for Jewish and non-Jewish students.
"The point of Hillel is to help Jewish students express their Jewishness in any way, shape or form possible," Wiener said.
She emphasized that Hillel is there for anyone Jewish or not. Her interests lie in teaching anyone who is interested about the Jewish faith and culture.
"It is open to anyone who has an interest not just Jewish students. Anyone with an interest in our community or programming," Wiener said. Her door is always open. She repeated her business hours at least three times during the interview (9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday).
People can always come to Kay Chapel lower level, and chances are, she'll be there, as might Rabbi Charles Arian. Sabbath services for both reform and conservative Jewish students begin at 6 p.m. A dinner follows, but reservations are necessary.
Throughout our discussion, people were coming and going, and she stopped all of them to introduce herself. When I offered to take the interview to her office, she laughed and said that her office is just as crazy. She clearly didn't mind the constant interruption.
"I am a people person and I love this job," Wiener said. "It gives me an excuse to meet people."
When talking about her role she speaks about the many dynamics. She hopes to perform all of them with a sense of humor and a smile. Wiener said that her youthful attitude will help students feel more comfortable talking with her.
"(Rabbi Arian and I) see ourselves as liaisons to the university," Wiener said. "My role is to help students find what they want, to find resources, to teach students to run things. Hillel is a resource and I am the resource person."
She laughed when I asked her about her background. Wiener received her undergraduate degree at The University of Virginia in rhetoric and communication, and went to graduate school at Northwestern. She has a masters in Film and Video studies. She was president of Hillel at UVA for two years when Rabbi Arian was there, and got to know him there. She did video production after graduation and "was miserable."
Wiener applied this summer and got the job at AU. She was quite nervous when meeting the student Hillel board, but said the members are very open and excited, though sad to see past director Lauren (Stone) Vines go.
Vines was Hillel program director for the last four years at AU and is moving with her new husband to Atlanta, Georgia at the end of this month.
Wiener spoke briefly about her worst fears in regards to her new job.
"The hardest thing for me will be that we share the space," Wiener said. "I am worried that I will be in the way. Although if we have to share space I am glad it is the people at Kay."
Wiener spoke of how "cool" it was to have that many religious and non-religious groups in one space.
She mentioned that Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) starts tonight and the celebrations continue through Wednesday. Students can pick up tickets to attend services in the basement of Kay Chapel.
She is someone who is always smiling and remembers your name, despite the many new faces and names she has encountered in the last week and a half.
"We are here for students," Weiner said. "Any way they want to express their Jewish background, whether they become involved in Jewish leadership or do one event the whole year, we hope to have something to offer to every Jewish student on campus."
So go and see the newest addition to the Hillel staff. She will offer a smile and a handshake. Hillel is one more place to get involved on AU's campus and she will help you do it.
