Longtime Brandeis Hillel employee Ora Gladstone was released from the organization after 22 years as a result of staff restructuring, according to Rabbi Allan Lehman, the Jewish chaplain for Brandeis University, on July 31.Hillel eliminated Gladstone's current position as associate director, making her no longer an employee of the Hillel Foundation.

"Hillel at Brandeis has been engaged in a strategic planning process since fall of 2001 looking at all different areas of Hillel's work ... in Jewish life at Brandeis," Lehman said. "One part of that was a restructuring of our staff to work more effectively. Part of (the restructuring) was the elimination of (the position of) Associate Director."

Gladstone said the decision came as "a complete surprise."

"I got very good feedback from students. I always had excellent evaluations from the people I had worked with," she said.

Hillel President Rachel Silverman '05 said the restructuring had been in the works for two years. Gladstone, however, said she never knew about any restructuring plans.

Although two new positions were created to replace her position, according to Gladstone, she was never offered either one.

Silverman said Gladstone is welcome to apply however Silverman said she believes the new positions isn't something Gladstone wanted to do. Gladstone said though she was never asked to consider the new positions.

Over the duration of her time at Brandeis, Gladstone acted in many roles for the organization. Outside of planning for various Hillel events and working with students, she helped establish the Klal Hillel Pluralism Initiative, a program that fosters dialogue between Jewish students from all backgrounds. Gladstone also created the Small Shabbat Dinners and is co-founder of the Religious Pluralism and Spirituality Group.

Before Lehman's arrival at Brandeis, Gladstone also served as Interim Director of Brandeis Hillel.

"All of us are very sad to not have Ora work with us. Ora's a very good friend and was an extremely valued co-worker. The decision was not about Ora's professionalism or her value as a worker."

Gladstone fondly remembers her time at Brandeis, in particular her relationships with other Hillel workers and students.

"I (worked at Hillel) from when I was in my upper 20s to lower 50s. It was a really wonderful job for me. I love working with students. I developed a lot of strong personal relationships with students throughout the years."

She also said that while she misses Brandeis, she eagerly anticipates new experiences and opportunities that may present themselves.

"It was a big part of my life. I do miss working with students. I miss Brandeis, (but) it was also 22 years, so there is part of me that feels this is a real opportunity," Gladstone said. "It is a chance to do something else.