From Student to Steward: Bella Adler’s Hillel Story

Bella arrived at Georgia State still figuring out who she was Jewishly. She grew up in a secular, “High Holidays” family, and while Judaism was part of her life, it was not yet something she carried into her everyday world. Hillel changed that. It gave her the space, knowledge, and confidence to explore her identity more deeply, find her connection to Israel, and step into leadership, something she never would have imagined for herself at the time.

As a student, she dreamed of creating huge programs that would draw hundreds of people. Now, as director, she understands what it really takes to build meaningful engagement on a unique, largely nontraditional campus. The vision is still big, but it is grounded in experience and care.

The moment she realized this could be her life’s work came a few years after college. When she learned that Jewish students at GSU needed stronger leadership and community, she felt called to act. She knew she wanted to help rebuild and strengthen the very community that had shaped her.

A major turning point was her Birthright Israel

trip in 2017. What began as uncertainty in Jewish spaces transformed into a desire to grow, contribute, and help others find their place. Having her Bat Mitzvah on that trip deepened that commitment. She took on a personal responsibility to create the kind of welcoming Jewish community that had once welcomed her.

If her freshman-year self could see her now, she would be stunned. The student who once questioned whether she was “Jewish enough” is now building and leading a vibrant Jewish community on campus. Today, Bella describes Hillel at Georgia State as warm, friendly, and inclusive, a true home away from home in the middle of the city, where everyone has a seat at the table. Guided by the value of "Klal Yisrael" and a deep sense of collective responsibility, she leads with the belief that every Jewish student deserves to feel part of something larger than themselves.