By Liz Frei

A scorner of interviews. A young man who enjoys being with children. A senior. A dubbed bottomless pit of food. An illustrator. A proud man of his Jewish heritage. These are all characteristics of Andrew Pollak.

According to Pollak, Hillel is, “an outlet for Jewish college students to get involved in the Jewish community at Hofstra.” Its mission statement: “To maximize the number of Jews doing Jewish with other Jews.” Being elected as president for such an organization is quite an accomplishment.

“I felt I had done so much planning, flyer and banner making, setting up and cleaning up at programs…that I was finally evolved enough to be a good resource to other members,” Pollak said.

Rabbi Meir Mitelman, executive director of Hillel and the University Jewish Chaplain, agrees that Pollak was a good candidate for the president position.

“He’s passionate about strengthening the Jewish life on campus, as we all are,” Mitelman said. “He cares that Hillel becomes an integrated part of the University community.”

Pollak has numerous goals as president.

“I’d like to increase the enrollment and spread my enthusiasm at all the events to others…I want to help each person on the board with their programs, it is their time to shine,” Pollak said.

During his sophomore year, Pollak was elected to the Koach Chair, the chair of Conservative Judaism. Pollak was re-elected to the position his junior year as co-chair with fellow Hillel member Sara Traster.

Pollak organized numerous programs during his sophomore and junior years.

“[Pollak] helped put on some of the most successful and exciting programs,” Mitelman said.

One of the most successful programs was the Cabaret during his junior year that brought an estimated seventy students to the event.

“Lots of people came including groups of individuals not Hillel affiliated,” Mitelman said.

Pollak and others also decided to develop a roast for each office member of the Hillel. He portrayed Mitelman by “tastefully conveying him,” Pollak said, with a laugh. Pollak also portrayed another member by dressing up in blond pigtails. Writing and performing songs for the audience turned out to be a big hit.

The Cabaret is just one of numerous programs Pollak organized, others included Jewpardy Dick Clarkowitz’s New Year’s Rocking Eve and Jewish Sexual Ethics. All of these events were successful because of Pollak’s theory that, “Students have been lectured at all day, they don’t need to be lectured at about Judaism.” By combining informal learning and socializing, these programs have been popular.

However, it seems to be agreed upon that Pollak’s position as president is best contributed to his personality.

“He makes you enthusiastic because he is so enthusiastic,” Nati Har-Sinay, a senior Hillel member, said. “He makes a fun, sociable environment and works hard to get people involved.”

Pollak enjoys getting people excited about Hillel. “We offer so much that people aren’t really aware of all the benefits Hillel has to offer,” Pollak said.

Making friends and working closely with other members is a main highlight for Pollak’s work in Hillel. “I like when I can meet with people who have questions and through teamwork they get the answers they’re searching for that I knew they had within themselves all along,” Pollak said.

Being president, however, is a demanding job. Some responsibilities include ensuring programs are being organized and run in each area, running council meetings, meeting with chairs, attending Student Government meetings and the 2004 Hillel International Lay Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. this May.

With all these responsibilities, Pollak still finds time to do numerous other things. The psychology and elementary education major also holds a passion for art. On the weekends, Pollak teaches second to ninth grade students cartooning at the University’s “Saturday Classes for Young People.”

Pollak also draws for Nonsense, the University’s humor magazine. Aside from art, Pollak’s favorite pastime includes making everyone around him laugh.

“[Pollak] is a very exciting person to be around. If you are feeling blue, he will make you laugh,” Jonathan Shaoulian, a sophomore Hillel member, said.

“He’s down to earth, easy to be with, and fun to be with. He’s a really, really wonderful person,” Mitelman said.

If you are interested in joining the University Hillel, or would like to see just how hard he can make you laugh, the organization always welcomes new members. By working alongside Pollak, you’ll be sure to catch his contagious smile and optimism.