JUF’s Metro Chicago Hillel is creating an innovative new model for welcoming urban students and young adults into a diverse, warm and hospitable Jewish family — Silverstein Base Hillel .

Located in Lincoln Park, Silverstein Base Hillel provides a home where a pluralistic rabbinic couple welcomes young Jews to experience and explore their Jewish identity. Bill, Ted, and Tom Silverstein purchased the carefully selected property-deliberately situated in the heart of a vibrant urban community and convenient to several universities-in order to bring to life three core values: hospitality, learning, and service.

“We really have a lot of people to thank — the Crown Family; lots of community support; Joshua Rinkov, Metro Chicago Hillel’s Chair who provided great leadership; an anonymous donor; and of course, Bill Silverstein, JUF/Federation Chairman of the Board, and the Silverstein family,” said John Lowenstein, executive director of the Hillels of Illinois. “Silverstein Base Hillel is all about hospitality, bringing people together, and you can’t do that without a thoughtful, intentional, and truly remarkable space that the brothers gifted to us.”

Silverstein Base Hillel brings Jewish students from campuses across the city of Chicago into a home created specifically to meet the needs of young, urban students. Programming occurs at times that are convenient for students: after classes are out, and before their evening plans.

“We want to fill the house as often as possible,” says Rabbi Megan GoldMarche, rabbi at Silverstein Base Hillel.

Rabbi Megan and Paige GoldMarche are working to create a warm, open Jewish home at Silverstein Base Hillel.

“Living Judaism is an immersive experience,” said Rabbi GoldMarche. “It’s not just teaching; it’s modeling that life. It breaks down barriers. Students have the opportunity to share our excitement and passion for Judaism, and it brings people together… We’ll have learning- Judaism 101, challah baking. We have ideas and will learn more from the students when school starts. We’ll provide study space. We’re here to serve the community and students. Judaism for us is joyful and filled with family and friends.”

Silverstein Base Hillel is also looking forward to partnering with other organizations. “We plan to work with all the Metro Chicago Hillel campuses, the local synagogues, and other organizations that are reaching college students and young adults. We intend to be an active partner in this community,” she said.

For Rabbi GoldMarche, Silverstein Base Hillel is a personal homecoming. “I grew up in Oak Park, I went to Jewish summer camp in Wisconsin (OSRUI), and participated in the Conservative movement’s youth group (USY),” she said. “This is my community. I’m so happy to be back.”

Together, Rabbi Megan and Paige GoldMarche have years of experience on campus. Rabbi GoldMarche has worked at the Hillel at Yale University and served as the Senior Jewish Educator at Columbia/Barnard Hillel. She graduated from Jewish Theological Seminary in 2014. Paige GoldMarche served as Director of Student Activities at the Harvard Hillel. In addition to her work at Silverstein Base Hillel, Paige will be serving as Assistant Director at the Newberger Hillel at the University of Chicago.

Karen Martin is the new assistant director at Metro Chicago Hillel.