Herschel Hartz Promoted to Assistant Director of OSL

Rabbi Herschel Hartz has been promoted from program manager to the assistant director of the Office of Student Life (OSL) for the Wilf Campus.

Hartz first joined OSL as program manager in February 2021. As assistant director, Hartz will continue to be responsible for much of what he did as programs manager, such as organizing and administering student programming, controlling OSL budgets and working with student leaders to create as positive an experience as possible for YU students. In his new role, Hartz will be doing even more in these realms to enhance the YU student experience.

“What I love most about the new role is I get an opportunity to work with students at Yeshiva and give them a good experience that gives them warm feelings about an institution we all care deeply about,” Hartz told The Commentator. “I plan to think differently and expansively about our programming and make sure we’re incorporating as much of our community as possible, as well as making programs new and exciting.”

Hartz first joined the YU community in 2009, when he attended the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He graduated in 2013 with semikha and a master’s degree in Modern Jewish History. 

Since he returned to campus as a staff member, Hartz has been an active member of the YU community, regularly hosting students for Shabbos meals. This community engagement is a continuation of his previous involvement in helping the Jewish community in the Washington Heights area through his two non-profits, Chabad of Inwood and Omanut: Jewish Uptown Arts.

Hartz’s promotion follows many changes in the OSL over the last few years. Student Life Coordinator Avi Schwartz left YU to work for the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at Rutgers University in December 2020. After Schwartz’s departure, Director of Student Events Linda Stone also stepped down. Marjorie Rasinovsky-Albert, who was formerly the student life program manager at the OSL, took the new role of associate director of student life in late August.

Student leaders who had worked with Hartz during his previous role in OSL were excited about his promotion. "Anyone who has worked with Herschel knows that he is a fabulous advocate and resource for student leaders and that he stops at nothing to ensure that our ideas and programs, designed to improve the student experience on campus, become a reality,” said Sy Syms School of Business Student Council (SYMSSC) Beren President Abigail Lerman (SSSB ‘22).

SYMSSC Wilf President Akiva Poppers (SSSB ‘22) agreed. “Herschel is a legend,” he stated.

Editor's Note: This article was updated to correct when Hartz began working at OSL, which was in February 2021, not 2020.

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Photo Caption: Hartz began working as OSL’s program manager in February 2021. 

Photo Credit: Yeshiva University