Route 66 conjures up nostalgia for many. Officially opened in 1926 as a cross-country road from Chicago to Los Angeles, it gave birth to many mom-and-pop stores, motels and eateries in small town America. In the 1960s there was even a hit TV show called Route 66, following the exciting adventures of two buddies traveling the road in their Corvette.
So when Debbie Yunker Kail and her husband Ben were embarking on their new life adventure in Arizona, they decided to honor their fondness for “quirky” travel and follow Route 66 from the Midwest to Flagstaff. The trip was the perfect beginning for this young couple as they stepped into new roles in the Southwest after a lifetime east of the Mississippi
Debbie is the new executive director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center at Arizona State University, and Ben is the dean of curriculum and instruction at Phoenix Collegiate Academy. Debbie replaces Rabbi Barton Lee, who had led the organization since 1972. He will be staying with Hillel in a part-time position as its rabbi. “Barton has been so supportive and welcoming,” Debbie says. “I am so looking forward to learning from him and working with him.”
On her arrival in the office July 1 at the Hillel Center in Tempe, workmen were busily putting in new flooring and assembling furniture for the corner office that would be Debbie’s new work home. “I’m overwhelmed by this wonderful community,” she says. “The workmen are ‘on loan’ from the JCA, the flooring and office furniture were donated by members of the community. Everyone has been great!”
Debbie has known she wanted to be a Jewish communal worker since she was in college at Emory. “I knew my work had to be meaningful,” she says, with wide-eyed enthusiasm and sincerity. “My first job was at the St. Louis Hillel, and I was blessed to have incredible mentors. Hillel provided an amazing opportunity to me through a program called Weinberg Accelerate. It’s their executive training program, and it convinced me this is how I want to make a difference.”She recently finished seven years at the University of Pennsylvania as associate director of Hillel there.
Outgoing Board President Rachel Passon, who was on the search committee, says: “I am very pleased with how gracefully and thoughtfully Debbie is transitioning into her new positionas executive director. In the months leading up to her arrival in Arizona, she has had regular contact and involvement in our Hillel discussions and has bridged relationships in our community. The board is looking forward to working closely with her throughout the school year. With this addition to our Hillel family, the students are in for an exciting and fulfilling year!” Passon will remain on the board as the immediate past president as Ira Joseph takes over the helm.
Debbie is looking forward to helping the students to “access their Jewish identity through something they’re already passionate about.”That might be an interest in Israel, history or maybe arts and culture. Recently 20 Hillel students went on a Birthright trip to Israel. Debbie sent each of them $1 as tzedakah to be given away in Israel. “There is a traditional thought that if you are traveling to do good, i.e., give tzedakah, that you will be protected and your trip will be a safe one,” she says.
She has clearly already begun to include the welfare of the ASU Hillel students in her next great adventure.
ASU HILLEL: 480-967-7563 DEBBIE@HILLELASU.ORG | HILLELASU.ORG
