Rabbi Michael Harel; Led Outreach Program

Rabbi Michael Harel, director of Chizuk L’limud Torah, a college outreach program affiliated with Young Israel of Northridge, has died in Oregon. He was 37.

Harel died Monday from injuries sustained in a car accident near Tillamook, where he had been doing kosher supervision at a nearby factory, according to program representatives.

Born in San Francisco, Harel earned a bachelor’s degree in Jewish studies from Yeshiva University of Los Angeles and was ordained by the Shehebar Sephardic Center in Jerusalem. He served as Hillel director for two years at Pennsylvania State University prior to serving as visiting rabbi for the Jewish community of Taiwan. At the time of his death, Harel was director of Chizuk L’limud Torah, which serves the approximate 8,000 Jewish students at Cal State Northridge. In that capacity, he taught classes on Judaism and organized social events.

Harel is survived by his mother, Rosemarie Hoerl, of San Francisco and his brother, David Hoerl, of Vancouver.

A memorial service is scheduled for 8 p.m. Nov. 15 at Young Israel of Northridge, 17511 Devonshire St.