Hillel Staff
Yaffa Muhlbaum (she/her)
Associate Director of Oberlin Hillel
Yaffa Muhlbaum is the Associate Director of Oberlin Hillel. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Yaffa returned to Ohio after living in New York City for 7 years when she began working at Oberlin Hillel in 2023. She is a graduate of Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary where she earned BA's in Archaeology and the Hebrew Bible, respectively. She is a second year student in Hebrew Union College's MA in Jewish Nonprofit Management. Yaffa has been a Kraft Global Fellow, a Jewish Changemakers Fellow, a Jewish Ideas Fellow, and a Masterclass: Israel Fellow, and she also completed the iCenter's Conflicts of Interest certificate program. Her primary connection points to Judaism include music, tikkun olam, and Adam Sandler. Yaffa has a passion for fiber arts, Sesame (her dog), and relational work and is always looking for her next great read!
Email: ymuhlbaum@clevelandhillel.org
Kayla Eydel (she/her)
Springboard Fellow
Kayla Eydel grew up in sunny Southern California. Her passions were split between classical ballet and visual arts from early childhood. Kayla attended LA’s renowned High School for the Arts and continued her education at CalState Northridge, where she graduated with honors in May 2025 with Bachelor of Arts in Art History. While attending CSUN, Kayla found her community at Hillel 818 and became an LGBTQ+ intern, followed by a role as a Grapevine fellowship over several years. In these roles, she led a variety of art-themed events, and helped lead Shabbat services alongside fellow students and staff. Outside of Hillel, Kayla was an active member of CSUN’s art community, leading the Art History Club, participating in the Printmaking Club, and working at the school’s Art Galleries. In her personal time, she loves hanging out with friends, bonding with her siblings, and going out for sweet treats. Kayla is so excited to start the next chapter of her journey as a Springboard Fellow for the students of Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio. She can’t wait to take students for cozy coffee conversations, create innovative programs, and check out the local art scene.
Email: keydel@clevelandhillel.org