After four years at Santa Cruz Hillel, executive director Jim Atkins announced in a Jan. 29 email that he will be leaving the post later in the spring. “The exact date has not been set as the goal is to have a new director in place before the end of the school year,” he said in the email.
When he came to Santa Cruz Hillel “it was at a time of need, both spiritually and financially,” Atkins told J.
“It’s now a warm, thriving dynamic center for Jewish life that’s literally bursting at the seams with students, so much so that we’re looking to invest in popup tents to put out on the sidewalk for Shabbat dinners,” Atkins said. “So I feel like it’s in a good place and it’s time for the next person to take it to even a better place.”
Atkins initially came on board as an interim director, Santa Cruz Hillel board president David Kliger said in the email. He cited the stabilization of the budget as one of Atkins’ biggest accomplishments.
“Jim has been wonderful. He’s inspired students so that participation is higher than it’s ever been. He will be greatly missed,” he told J.
As for what’s next, Atkins said he is “exploring various opportunities, some in the Jewish community and some not.” — david a.m. wilensky