Reaching out to every Jewish student – welcoming Elle Cutler
Dear fellow members of Harvard’s Jewish community,
The most meaningful Jewish experiences at Harvard Hillel start with relationships. Conversations over coffee, Shabbat dinners with new friends, the everyday moments that make Hillel feel like home.
At Hillel, the IACT Coordinator is the staff member who makes those moments happen: reaching out to students, following up, and traveling with them to Israel on Birthright. I’m delighted to welcome Elle Cutler into this role and our Harvard Hillel community.
Elle is exactly the person we had in mind when we imagined this job. She makes people feel welcomed and valued, and students will notice right away how curious she is about them.
A graduate of Tufts, Elle was deeply involved in Jewish life on campus, creating religious, cultural, and community-building opportunities and making room for thoughtful conversation across different perspectives. She’ll bring that same spirit here.
Whether you meet Elle over coffee, at a program, or on Birthright Israel, please join me in welcoming her to Harvard Hillel.
Rachel Eilbaum
Senior Director of Jewish Student Life
Dear new Harvard Hillel friends,
I’m Elle Cutler, and I’m very excited to be the new IACT Coordinator & Community-Building Associate at Harvard Hillel. I’m eager to start meeting students and to continue creating a space that feels welcoming and accessible to all members of the Harvard Jewish community.
Before coming to Harvard Hillel, I was just a short T ride away, having graduated from Tufts University this past school year. At Tufts, I was an active participator and facilitator of Jewish life on and off campus. I served on the Student Executive Board of Tufts Chabad, where I worked to organize and plan religious, social, and cultural events for the student body and local Jewish community. I was also engaged in Tufts Hillel through my involvement in Challah for Hunger, where I was able to be active in Jewish life in a way that made a positive impact on people in need. Jewish education was an important part of my academic pursuits as well, where through my Judaic Studies minor I studied the history, language, and culture of the Jewish people. While at university, I also worked as an Event Planning Assistant for the Tufts Center for Expanding Viewpoints in Higher Education. Working there, I planned and ran educational programming to promote meaningful dialogue across differences—productive discourse which I hope to contribute to in my current role.
I am beyond thrilled to join the community at Harvard Hillel and to begin hosting events and interactive activities that will cultivate meaning and belonging for the Jewish student body. I’m especially looking forward to getting to know students, providing information on Harvard Birthright Israel trips, and supporting student leaders in bringing a vibrancy to Jewish life here.
When I’m not chatting with students or planning programming, you can probably find me watching a good comedy special, going on walks with friends, or trying out a new baking recipe. Stay tuned for announcements about my upcoming Study Break & Baking event series!
My door is always open so please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, event ideas, or if you’re just looking for someone to talk to. I really want to help make Harvard Hillel a home away from home: one that fosters friendships, builds community, and creates meaningful memories for students.
With lots of love and immense gratitude,
