The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel

The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
Audrey Bachman
Brooklyn, NY
I’m Audrey Bachman from Brooklyn, New York. I go to the Beacon
School in Manhattan where I’m
captain of the Girls’ Ultimate
team, a sport I’ve been playing
for three years. Last summer, I became the first female
captain in the history of the Ultimate team at Ramah
Berkshires. I’m the oldest of 3 girls in my family. Both
my parents went to University of Wisconsin and my
dad grew up in Milwaukee so I have been brought up
loving the Badgers, Packers, and Brewers. I’m interested in writing and sports journalism. My favorite writer
these days is Ernest Hemingway. After Hurricane
Sandy, I volunteered with my synagogue in a feeding
program for victims of the hurricane and worked with
my school to visit affected families in Staten Island.
It became obvious that just because today the city
seems to have returned to normal, the people who
were hurt by the hurricane still need ongoing help.
Since freshman year I’ve been an active member of
the Madricha (counselor) program at my synagogue
where I volunteer in the Hebrew school and help kids
on the spectrum remain integrated in the classroom.
In addition to being a Madricha, I recently became a
part of the Atid Fellowship at Beth Elohim. As an Atid
Fellow I received a stipend and organized programs
for Jewish kids in Brooklyn. I recently visited Civil
Rights landmarks with high school kids in Alabama and
Georgia which certainly prepared me for Passover in a
new way. Finally, I come from a very close family who I
love to spend time with. In my free time I look for new
bands and follow my favorite teams. When it’s nice out,
I love to throw a disc with someone. I’m excited to be a
Bronfman Fellow and meet all of you!
Sophie Bartholomew
Philadelphia, PA
Hello all! My name is Sophie
Bartholomew and I live in Philadelphia PA with my mom, dad, older
brother, and two cats. I’ve gone to quaker school my
whole life, and my family belongs to a reconstructionist
synagogue where I became a Bat Mitzvah and went to
Hebrew school twice a week for years. I love learning
both modern and ancient languages, and Latin is one
of my favorite classes this year. I also really love learning about and being in nature. One of my favorite activities is hiking, especially in the American Southwest.
I really love to read, and some of my favorite books
include The Great Gatsby, Travels with Charley, and
Hell’s Angels: a Strange and Terrible Saga. I also enjoy
reading poetry and talking about books. This year I am
taking a course in 3-D art and it’s definitely one of my
most challenging classes. I’m enjoying thinking in the
3-D, and literally adding another dimension to my art.
Last year I took a class in Color and Design, which was
definitely one of my favorite art classes. Also last year
I started crew, which I have continued this year, and
which I love. I have played the piano for 11 years and
I just finished a Nocturne by Chopin, which was really
fun to learn. Traveling is another one of my passions,
and I am so excited for this opportunity to travel to a
new place with new people!
Sapira Cahana
Montreal, QC, Canada
S elf-definition stirs my questioning mind
Challenges my philosophy of living and being,
Who am I not versus who will I be
Visual art vitalizes the soul
Music fertilizes the spirit
Poetry is the exhalation of G-d’s initial breath
Torah conjugates my belief into practice.
A poet. Swedish born. Canadian citizen. A Conservadox rabbi’s daughter with four creatives for older
siblings. I, Sapira Tzalel Koli-Chen Cahana (a mouthful,
yes, but not a handful) am a hybrid, raised in a broadspectrum family passionate about adventure, community, spirituality, creativity and conversation.
P roverbial cups runneth over in my family, but we
broach politics/religion/money taboos and respectfully
engage in polarized chit-chat on Zionism, Jewish practices, and economic systems. My family fishbowl has
been my preparation for BYFI, and I am so eager to
hear each of your slants on life, liberty and the pursuit
of everything.
I am graduating from an Orthodox Day School that
has provided equally rich outlets for athletics and
immersive learning through National Bible Contest,
Model UN and Science Fairs. I’m active in advocacy
for global justice and have been intensely involved in
programs with children with disabilities since I was five.
R eturning from studying Gemara (Talmud) at
Mechon Hadar last summer, where I realized that Halacha (code of Jewish law) and egalitarianism are compat-
2014 Fellow Autobiographies
The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
ible, I introduced a Women’s Megillah Reading (scroll of
Esther read at Purim) at my school. I adore connecting
to other human beings, sharing experiences together,
being touched by the wisdom that emerges from the
encounter, and actualizing the impact of that in my life.
I believe that’s where earth meets heaven—where we all
encounter G-d.
A ll of this is just to say, that I really can’t wait to share
this experience with each of you!!
Talia Cohen
Santa Barbara, CA
Hey, fellow Fellows! I’m from Santa
Barbara, California. (FYI, it is in
fact currently a sunny 75˚. Some
stereotypes are based on truth.) As
far as Judaism goes, I’m part of a reform synagogue,
although my personal religious beliefs/practices are sort
of a reform/conservative blend. I teach at the Sunday
School at my temple, and work at a Jewish day camp
during the summer. I’m kinda-kinda not a part of NFTY
(North American Federation of Temple Youth). A brief
description of me: I’m part of the engineering academy
at my school, which competes in the FIRST Robotics
Competition (Team 1717.) I’m very involved in theater,
currently stage managing a production of Mary Poppins. I’ve been a part of almost every aspect of theater,
including performing, orchestra, lights, build, costumes,
and obviously stage management. I also love dance,
although it’s tough to get to class when I’m so busy. I
take ballet and modern, and I’m just getting into swing
and ballroom. I love learning things in pretty much
any discipline, though some of my favorites are math
and history. And languages. And chemistry. Okay yeah
basically everything. I proudly consider myself a nerd,
both because I love informationy things like science and
math, and because I’m a part of some nerdy fandoms.
I’m pretty into Marvel, BBC Sherlock, and Star Trek,
and I ADORE Disney. And if you get me started talking
about the Lizzie Bennet Diaries or Pentatonix, I may
never shut up. Funfact, I went to VidCon last summer
and it was SUPER GREAT. I won’t be going this year
because I’ll be getting ready to meet all you lovely humans! I’m thrilled to have been selected for the Fellowship (always makes me think of Lord of the Rings), and
can’t wait to meet everyone! xo Talia
David Cohn
Charlottesville, VA
My name is David Cohn and I’m
from Charlottesville Virginia. Charlottesville is a small city in Central
Virginia where Jews are few and
far between. I live with my mothers, both of whom are psychologists, and my twin sister
Eliza. I also have an older sister Sarah, who’s currently in
college. I would describe my family as being Reform Jewish. One of my mothers is Jewish but the other is not,
and I did not have a Bar Mitzvah. I attend Charlottesville
High School, and in my class, the only other practicing Jew is my twin sister. I often have found myself
needing to explain Jewish practices to friends and others
at school. Even though I would not describe myself as
observant, I have often played the role of explaining
Judaism to others. I participate in a number of activities. I play on the tennis team and run cross-country (I’d
love to find someone to run with this summer). I play
cello in my school orchestra, and on weekends, I play at
weddings and other events with my string quartet. I am
a member of my school debate team; with my partner,
I compete in Public Forum, a style of debate dealing
with various national and international policy issues. I
also have worked on state and local political campaigns
and helped out at political events in our community. I’m
interested in government, politics and economics and I
hope to pursue one of these fields in the future.
Emily Faber
Memphis, TN
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, I’ve always been passionate
about two things: writing and theater.
These outlets allowed me to project both my voice and
sentiments to a wider audience. My theater roots began
in kindergarten as ‘Butterbean #1’ in ‘Peter Rabbit.’
In that starring role, I led the other vegetables in Mr.
McGregor’s garden with pride. Since my legume days, I
have been in over 25 productions, played piano for 12
years, and am currently Fine Arts Council President. I
write to remember, to reflect, to create new worlds, and
to advocate. In lower school, I penned fiction about
mystical heroines and undercover spies. In high school,
those interests morphed into nonfiction through journalism. I’m currently co-editor of my school’s print and
online newspapers, as well as co-editor of my school’s
arts and literary magazine. I’m president of ‘Live Poets,’
a group of students passionate about the English language. I’m also founder of the Diversity Lecture Series,
2014 Fellow Autobiographies
The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
which tackles subjects like mental illness, gay rights,
homelessness, and religious differences. I’d never
considered Judaism for a third passion until my rabbi
approached me on my Bat Mitzvah and suggested I
become a rabbi myself. Yet Judaism didn’t take center
stage until freshman year of high school when I joined
BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization). Later on,
some friends and I created JPYO (Jewish Pluralistic
Youth Organization). Our group enables teens of all
denominations to explore the common threads of the
Jewish faith. We have dissected Israeli-American relations, discussed our perceptions of Shabbat, and celebrated Jewish holidays together. Through my writing,
theater, and youth groups, I have learned to explore the
‘other’, examine different roles in life, understand the
opposite point of view, and respect the faiths of all.
Lauren Goboff
Weston, FL
Hello! My name is Lauren Goboff.
I live in sunny South Florida and attend a private (secular) high school.
I consider myself a nerdy, quirky
girl whose interests range from biology and literature
to Doctor Who and Disney. One of my main passions
is working with the special needs population. I grew
up with two older adopted siblings who have some
special needs of their own. Although it came with its
own unique challenges, I feel my family has taught me
to keep an open mind when it comes to the differences
of others. At school, I try to spread awareness of and
acceptance for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through my Best Buddies Club.
This year, I organized a school assembly for the Spread
the Word to End the Word campaign, a movement that
focuses on eliminating the use of the word ‘retard’ as
an insult. I tend to be loud and outgoing, and I think
this stems from my early introduction to the performing arts. My father, who worked as an IT manager but
earned his BFA in Theater Arts, thought performing as
a family could be an ideal bonding experience. And so
it began! My first puppet show was proudly presented
to my preschool classroom, back when I was too small
to even lift the puppets above the stage. Today, my
father has turned his social experiment into a full time
business. Our company is called Simply Puppets, and
we bring performances and craft activities to schools,
libraries, birthday parties, and more. In addition to puppetry, I love to dance and write. My family is culturally Jewish, but I am still exploring my faith, forming
my opinions, and searching for my own path. I am so
excited to take this journey with you all!
Coby Goldberg
New York, NY
I often try to drive myself to understand the dynamics of how the
world works. From economics and
finance to push notifications on my
phone that tell me when and where
our American diplomats are traveling. I want to learn
about the forces at play.
On the other hand, I can be quite silly too (though
the first paragraph might have successfully concealed
that). If you asked me to describe my hobbies two
years ago, that list probably would have been limited
to Model UN, the school newspaper, and video games.
Acting certainly wouldn’t have leaped to my mind. Yet,
recently I found my joy in the Stuyvesant Theater Community, both as an actor and a writer. I’ve taken small
parts, like Freddie in Pygmalion, and larger one’s like a
Hardy Boy who also rapped (check me out on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMHXIRA18T4).
What’s been most eye opening about my time at
Stuyvesant--a public high school with 889 students per
grade, which I started attending after eleven years at a
small Jewish Day School with 42 students in my grade-has been the people I’ve connected with most. Though
I entered the school expecting to immediately bond
with kids who shared my precise interests, I’ve found
that many of my closest friends are in fact those who
share few of those same fundamental interests with
me, interests such as politics and economics. Rather,
there is a bit of a mystery to my friendships. At the
heart of it is a kind of chemistry with someone that
allows me to discover and develop new parts of myself,
while I satisfy my curiosity about what makes them
tick. That is what I hope to experience on Bronfman.
Talia Goldberg
Washington, DC
My name is Talia Goldberg and
I live in Washington, D.C. I love
reading, writing, and listening to
music, facts that betray my introverted nature; however I also love
hanging out with my friends and am looking forward
to this summer not only as an intellectual Jewish
experience, but as an opportunity to make friends with
people who are interested in their culture. I am also
excited to go on this program because although I have
an instinct that Judaism is incredibly important to my
identity, I find it hard to articulate its impact. Despite
my K-8 Hebrew school experience, which theoretically taught me how to be a Conservative Jew, I don’t
feel like I know that much about my religion and how
2014 Fellow Autobiographies
The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
it informs my life. I spend my time doing homework,
writing for my school’s literary club, snapchatting, singing,
working as a madricha (counselor) in my Hebrew school’s
kindergarten, and designing costumes for my school’s theater productions (this is the activity that consumes most
of my life). I originally joined costumes because I wanted
to work in the fashion industry, but now I do it because
of the community it gives me and the leadership skills
that I’ve learned from it that help me grow as a feminist.
For a few summers I went on wilderness trips in very remote places, but then I realized that I was neither athletic
nor a huge fan of mosquitoes. Last summer, I went to a
French immersion camp, which destroyed my grammar
but improved my vocabulary of slang words. I am quite
sure that none of these experiences will compare to this
coming summer, and therefore I am incredibly excited to
go Israel.
Maxwell Greene
San Diego, CA
Shalom fellow fellows! Like you, I
am immensely grateful and excited to
have received this incredible fellowship. Since my bar mitzvah year I have yearned to connect
with my roots and travel to the Land of Israel. When
you first meet me, you may wonder “what I am” (ethnically). I have been mistaken for Arab, Ethiopian, Puerto
Rican, Egyptian, and many other nationalities. However,
like Drake, Lenny Kravitz, and Maya Rudolph, I happen
to have one Jewish parent and one African-American
parent. I am fascinated by the intersection of Ashkenazi
Jewish and Black American culture/history, and I spoke
on this topic at my bar mitzvah. Other interests of mine
include playing the piano, science (especially biology),
math, reading, spending time with my Boxer dog and Doberman puppy, and hanging out with friends. There are a
myriad of reasons why I greatly look forward to this trip.
Firstly, I love to participate in Jewish culture, whether that
means studying and speaking Hebrew, reading about Jewish history, or experimenting with Jewish/Israeli cuisine.
Secondly, I am a bit of a political junkie, and I can hardly
sit still at the thought of speaking with actual Israelis (and
the other fellows) about Israel’s government, terrorism,
Zionism, human rights, international relations, etc. Thirdly, I am fascinated by theology and have struggled with
my own spiritual beliefs, and think it will be helpful to talk
with other Jewish teens, rabbis, and other religious figures
on the subject. Lastly, I aspire to become an activist and
want to find out how I can be a leader in the Jewish community and a promoter of peace in the Holy Land. I am
confident that this will be the trip of a lifetime, and I am
eager to share this wonderful experience with the group.
David Groden
Ann Arbor, MI
I currently attend Greenhills school,
a small independent high school in
Ann Arbor, Michigan. My family and
I have moved numerous times and
I have attended public and private
schools around the Midwest including Chicago, Cleveland,
Buffalo, and Detroit. Throughout my life I have maintained my passions for violin, tennis, math, and engineering. I play violin in a community orchestra, play tennis on
my school’s varsity team and challenge my math and engineering abilities in and out of the classroom. I also participate in my school’s competitive speech program, where
I am a part of a group acting event. Outside of school, I
work in The University of Michigan physics department
as a research assistant, where I am currently working to
create a computer program to promote the larger Laser
Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory project.
I love to use the tools of science and technology to build
things and indulge in this through individual projects like
developing a skiing heads-up display and working to construct an online business. In my spare time I love to hang
out with friends, throw around a lacrosse ball, and explore
philosophy. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you and
can’t wait for our trip this summer.
Amital Haas
Beachwood, OH
My name is Amital Haas, and I am a
Modern Orthodox Jew from Beachwood, Ohio. I have been raised in
an Orthodox family and live in the
center of a thriving religious community. In elementary
school, I went to a Schechter Day School. After that, I
spent one year as the only Jew at the Hershey Montessori
Farm School, a boarding school which embraces an experiential learning model. Since then I have been enrolled at
Fuchs Mizrachi School, a Modern Orthodox day school.
In school, I enjoy learning biology, analyzing literary
classics, and studying gemara. Outside of school, I spend
much of my time immersed in music. I am a Teen Leader
and chamber choir singer in HaZamir: The International
Jewish Teen Choir, as well as a member of my school’s a
cappella choir. This past summer I had an internship in
Recording Arts and Technology, and I have been steadily
composing songs since then. Aside from music, I enjoy
biking, swimming, and spending time with my family,
in which I am the eldest of six children. I also have an
interest in environmental awareness which I have pursued
through my year at the Farm School, leading a recycling
program at my school, and being involved in Hazon, an
2014 Fellow Autobiographies
The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
organization promoting Judaism and sustainability. I am
fascinated by the intersection of hard science, today’s
environmental challenges, and Jewish values. I love
exploring Judaism and sharing my beliefs with others
from different backgrounds, and find religious discussions enlightening and inspiring. I am overjoyed to be
able to engage in the tremendous learning opportunities that the Bronfman fellowship presents.
Sally Klapper
Stamford, CT
My name is Sally Klapper. I live in
Stamford, Connecticut but go to
Ramaz, an Orthodox high school in
New York City. I have one older sister who is currently
studying in Jerusalem on a gap year and a dog named
Bailey. I am filled not with unalterable, unwavering
opinions, but rather a true passion for self-discovery
and a longing for truth. In addition, I am captivated by
the philosophy of morals. As a Modern Orthodox Jew,
I have discovered that the Torah and Judaism satiate
these yearning for definitive answers. For me, the benefit
of our religion has nothing to do with its faith-based
origins. It stems from the morals and values our canon
promotes. It is precisely these morals that make me
proud to be Jewish. My favorite subject is history but I
love learning everything. I am an active member of my
school’s Model Congress, Model UN, Debate, Junior
Statesmen of America, and Israel Advocacy clubs in order to best familiarize myself with the vehicles through
which I hope to someday effect change. Inspired by my
Judaism, I am captain of the Human Rights Club, a Development Board member and volunteer at the Friendship Circle of Fairfield County, as well as captain of City
Harvest. I am an avid Office watcher, music enthusiast.
Lindsay Klickstein
Carlisle, MA
Hello! My name is Lindsay Klickstein. I live in Carlisle, Massachusetts. Personally, I am interested
in history, especially my local history. I participate in
reenactments of local revolutionary war battles, playing
the fife. I am a tour guide at a local historical home,
the Old Manse. I also work at my local cheese shop.
I love to run, hike, mountaineer and ski (I really love
mountains!). My other historical interests lie in Jewish
History and European History. I am especially interested in World War II and the Holocaust, as well as the
ethical implications of events of that sort. Through
that interest, I became more interested in Jewish history
and philosophy. My school does not have a particularly
strong program for those interested in Jewish studies,
so I mostly read on my own. This interest led me to
BYFI. I wanted the opportunity to study, travel and
learn with other students and teachers that are engaged
and interested in Judaism. Religiously, I call myself an
atheist. Despite my convictions, I have always felt a
strong connection to Judaism. When people ask me:
“Are you Jewish?” I hesitate, because although I am not
“Jewish” in the sense that I go to temple and celebrate
the holidays and had a Bat Mitzvah, I still feel “Jewish”. I feel a connection to the culture and the people, a
sense of identity that I do not fully understand. That is
the second reason I am so excited for this program—to
learn more about the Jewish culture and religion, and
to have the opportunity to explore it; so that I better
understand myself and my answer to that complicated
question: “Are you Jewish?”
Mika Koch
Seattle, WA
Hi Everyone :) My name is
Mikaela but everyone calls me
Mika. I live in Seattle, Washington
and go to the Lakeside School. I
am extremely interested in Global
Health. I always wanted to be a doctor growing up, but
after taking a global health class, became fascinated
with the public health field. I am currently active with
an international non-profit based in Seattle working on
maternal health issues in Africa. It’s been really exciting
to see global health through an NGO’s eyes. I love
to travel. I spent some time in Senegal last summer
and was able to explore a number of countries during
the year I lived with my family in Germany. I unfortunately have never been to Israel, but got an interesting
perspective on the Middle East during a month long
program on the east coast with 48 Iraqi youth. I also
love to play sports. I have played soccer all of my life
but have been on a break for a little over a year because
I tore my ACL and MCL. At school, I am on the ultimate frisbee team and the school’s Judicial Committee.
In terms of my relationship to Judaism, I call myself
Jewish but not religious. My mom is Jewish and my
dad, born in Germany, was raised Lutheran. His entire
family still lives there and we visit every winter break.
My siblings and I attended public school in Germany
during my 7th grade year. It was exciting to explore my
German heritage and look forward to exploring my
Jewish one. Can’t wait to meet all of you!!
2014 Fellow Autobiographies
The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
Rafi Lehmann
Baltimore, MD
Hi, everyone! My name is Rafi
and I’m from Baltimore, MD. I
couldn’t be more excited to be
a Bronfman fellow and learn
with and from each of you. I am
floored by your general amazingness (I hope this is a
word) and can already sense that this is going to be an
unbelievably powerful group. I can’t wait to meet all
of you!
Turns out it’s really tough to sum up who I am in
just 300 words. Before deciding to go the standard text
route, I tried lots of creative ideas: photo essays, sonnets, haikus, you name it.
I settled on choosing one word to describe myself:
Jewish. And when I say Jewish, I mean I’m barely five
feet tall, I worry more than a yente in Boca Raton,
and when someone cuts me off while I’m driving, my
shouts suddenly take on an Eastern European accent.
But more than that, Judaism is a central aspect of my
identity. Although I practice traditional Orthodoxy,
I find modernity pretty thrilling as well. On my list
of exciting things to do, you’ll probably find Talmud
study, biblical criticism, and Beyonce music. I guess you
could call me a Jewish nerd. But I’ve come to terms
with it. When people ask what I want to be when I
grow up, I now proudly respond: a Jewish History
professor, a response which elicits a lot of interesting
facial expressions.
This summer, I hope to explore my own Jewish identity by learning more about yours. See you soon!
Danya Levy
Brooklyn, NY
I live in Brooklyn, and I’m a junior
at Bard High School Early College, a public school in Manhattan. When I was nine, I moved to
Russia with my family. My parents put me in a Russian
school, even though I didn’t speak a word of Russian.
Learning the language and adjusting to the culture was a
crazy and impactful experience. Since I moved back to
start high school, I’ve done some Russian-related activities to keep up my language skills. One of my favorites
was helping out with Russian events at the Brooklyn
Public Library, which was awesome because I got to
hear talks about Russian literature and spend time with
cool old Russian ladies. I love hanging out in Brighton
Beach, where I can find everything I miss about Russia,
whether it’s borscht or a Soviet movie. Living in Russia
sparked an interest in international relations and human
rights, so this year, I’m interning at a human rights organization. My Russian experience also made me interested in learning about other cultures and languages.
I would especially love to live in the Middle East. Last
summer I received a State Department scholarship to
study Arabic in Morocco, where I lived with a host family. It was an amazing experience, and I’ve continued
studying Arabic this year. One of my other passions is
art. I’ve taken art classes throughout high school, and
had the opportunity to work with an awesome muralpainting organization. I love writing, and I write and
edit at my school newspaper. In addition, I really enjoy
hiking, rock climbing, and camping. I’m not sure yet,
but I might want to study engineering in college. I’m so
excited to meet you all!
Andrew Lobel
New York, NY
I am the youngest of three kids.
I have two older sisters who have
taught me everything I know. I
have lived in Manhattan my entire
life, but I am a first generation American; my dad is
from South Africa and mom is from Canada. I am
a student at Ramaz, a co-ed Modern Orthodox day
school in Manhattan, which I have attended since I
was 3 years old. I love to play sports, especially ice
hockey, tennis, and golf. I also love watching and following major league and college sports. I am a Giants
fan, suffering Mets fan, Rangers fan, and Knicks fan.
I enjoy poring over and analyzing stats, and I admit
that fantasy football is a crucial element in my life. I’m
an avid shul goer – if leining (reading Torah) were an
Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist. At school, my
three biggest commitments are mock trial, the hockey
team, and Rampage, the school newspaper. I spend
a lot of time playing piano, although probably not as
much as I should. I am a big reader and especially like
books about history, the NY Post, Sports Illustrated,
and Charles Krauthammer’s column in the Friday
Washington Post. I am particularly interested in politics,
especially in the Middle East, and spent last summer
learning Arabic. I have been to Israel several times but
never for more than a week. I’m really excited about
this opportunity to spend a significant amount of time
in Israel with such an interesting group.
2014 Fellow Autobiographies
The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
Noah Meixler
White Plains, NY
Hi! I’m Noah and I live in White
Plains, a suburb outside NY. My
suburb is weird, a combination of
a small city and rural land compressed and mushed into a slightly
bland place. As a child growing up, I would be best
described as a sponge. I would suck up all of the information and learning I could from those around me,
leaving me identity-less. Like a suburb, I was a mush
of other people condensed into a small, playful, giggly
boy. As I grew up and matured, I began to step into
my own shoes. Near the end of middle school, I threw
in the video game controller (I was an avid Mario
Karter) and began to surround myself with culture. I
read much more, from Dickens to Etgar Keret (Thank
you 8th grade Noah for reading one of Bronfman’s
recommended books). Slowly but surely, I blossomed
into a 17-year old whose love for learning and DMC’s
(deep meaningful conversations) could only be met by
his passion for Ultimate Frisbee. Attending a Jewish
Conservative Day School, I have immersed myself in
a mixture of culturally interesting and academically
stimulating extra-curricular activities. I compete on
the Mock Trial team and am an active member of my
school’s Student Government. I have also acted in
several theatrical productions since ninth grade and
have played the piano for as long as I can remember.
I attended Camp Ramah in the Berkshires and was a
Szarvas Fellow in Hungary last summer. I love astronomy, people, film, different cultures and places, and am
super excited to meet all of you this summer. Getting
back to the sponge analogy, I can’t wait to absorb all
of your insights, and at the same time, I hope to share
some insights of my own this summer.
Sam Mellins
New York, NY
I consider myself to be four
things: a New Yorker, a Jew, a musician, and a student. New Yorker:
Born and raised in Manhattan, I’ve
lived on the Upper West Side for my entire life. I live
in what I think is the greatest city in the world, and a
very convenient one: the trip to my interview was just
a quick ride on the B Train. Jew: I’ve grown up in a
family that is absolutely Jewish, but not particularly observant. We celebrate the major holidays; some of my
favorite memories from childhood are Seders, Breakfasts, and Hanukkah parties with my family. In 2010
my mother and I became B’nai Mitzvah at Stephen
Wise Free Synagogue. I’ve received very little formal
Jewish education, so I’m extremely excited to be in an
atmosphere infused with Jewish learning this summer.
Musician: I’m a passionate saxophonist and clarinetist, and I devote much of my time to rehearsals and
practices. I’m mostly a jazz musician, but I also play
classical, especially modern classical. I’m a composer,
and the chances I’ve had to have my compositions
performed have been some of the highlights of my
musical life thus far. Student: I go to Hunter College
High School, a public magnet school on the Upper
East Side. I also attended Hunter Elementary School,
so I’ve been going to school in the same building, with
many of the same kids for twelve years. Needless to
say, I’m very very excited to meet twenty-five new intelligent and engaged Jewish kids!
Micah Pickus
Durham, NC
My name is Micah Pickus, and I am
a current junior at Durham School
of the Arts in Durham, North
Carolina. I have spent several years
in the performing arts and my forte is choral music. I
am a classically-trained pianist and guitarist but have
since ventured into blues, folk and other styles. I also
enjoy playing at campfire style sing-a-longs. Although I
do not take theater classes at school, I am nonetheless
involved in the annual musical and Shakespeare production at my school. My synagogue in Durham is part of
the Conservative movement. I frequently lead services at
Beth El and personally find the Jewish musical tradition to be particularly moving. I got an opportunity
to delve deeper into Jewish music during the summer
of 2012, which I spent at Brandeis University, as part
of the BIMA program there. I am a firm believer that
music should be accessible to everyone, regardless of
background or socioeconomic status. During the last
few summers, I have volunteered at KidZNotes, which
is a local musical outreach program dedicated to helping
disadvantaged youth gain a classical music education.
During my free time, you might find me playing basketball at the JCC, reading fantasy/fiction novels or listening to the Pentatonix, a world-famous a-cappella group.
I love learning foreign languages and have a particular
knack for card games. I also have the utmost respect for
New York’s bagels, which we can’t get in the South.
2014 Fellow Autobiographies
The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
Aaron Schaffer-Neitz
Northumberland, PA
My name is Aaron Schaffer-Neitz.
I’ve lived in Northumberland, Pennsylvania (a small rural community
three hours from both Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh) for most of my life.
While attending the small public school of Shikellamy,
I’ve fallen in love with many extracurricular activities,
namely cross country, track and debate. As for curricular activities, I’m drawn to a few subjects in particular.
Political science/policy, philosophy and computer aided
drawing are all fascinating to me. My interests in political
science and philosophy have been spurred by courses
at a nearby university, as well as my debate experience
(which deals with contemporary issues and politics). As
far as my religious views go, I identify as a reform Jew.
Since kindergarten, I have attended a very small, local
synagogue, Congregation Beth El. While I see myself as
reform, my synagogue is non-affiliated. It has a membership of about 90 families, and is the sole synagogue in
a 40 mile radius. I’ve taken on religious responsibilities
such as teaching Sunday school and assisting in Friday
night services. Going to Israel will be an amazing adventure. I’m looking forward to both spiritual and secular
growth. Having interests in political science, philosophy
and argumentation I can’t wait to have high level and insightful discussions with peers about a plethora of issues.
Additionally, being part of a Jewish cohort will be a
new experience for me. Unlike at home, I won’t have to
represent an entire culture and religion, and there won’t
be a constant threat of stigmatization or a feeling of
“otherness”. But the most important things about me are
that I love playing pickup games of ultimate Frisbee with
friends, and eating gummy bears – a lot.
Samuel Schultz
New York, NY
I am a junior at the Fiorello H.
LaGuardia High School for the
Performing Arts, where I have a
dual curriculum combining academics with instrumental
performance and music theory classes. I am studying the
flute and bassoon. I’m interested in many musical styles,
from baroque to jazz. My favorite authors are Franz
Kafka and Cormac McCarthy, and my favorite movies are
The Big Lebowski and 13 Asassins. I study Japanese, and
spent last summer attending the Yamamura Kokusai (high
school) and lived with a host family in Saitama Prefecture,
Japan. I started long distance running while in Japan, and
really enjoy running in Central Park now that I’m back
in New York. I also have studied in the science program
at the American Museum of Natural History, where my
focus is on genomics and evolutionary biology, and I
plan to intern at AMNH in my senior year of high school
under the supervision of a senior researcher. I’m an avid
reader of history and biographies of important leaders
(good or bad). I’m extremely interested in International
security studies, and want to explore ways of enhancing
the security of the State of Israel.
Shalhevet Schwartz
Bronx, NY
Hi all,
I’m Shalhevet Schwartz. I’m from
New York, which means that I like
tall buildings and public transportation. It also means that
I’m impervious to bad smells.
I’m really into having lofty (read: totally impractical)
conversations about pretty much anything. Specifically,
though, I REALLY like talking about ethics, faith, politics, law, divinity of halakha, (Jewish law) and pretty much
anything else that isn’t science. And if you’re a science
kid, I will be in constant awe of you. That too.
Jewish background: I identify as Orthodox, but most
of the Orthodox community probably wouldn’t consider
me Orthodox, because I leyn (read Torah), learn Gemara
(Talmud), like Biblical criticism, and wear pants. That
being said, I keep halakha, which on the ground means
that I keep shabbat and kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) and
I pray three times a day (it also means that I don’t wear
wool and linen together, but somehow I feel like that’s
less relevant to you guys).
Other stuff about me:
-I really like music. I play guitar and am trying to teach
myself piano, so if any of you are great pianists, I’m
going to start being really nice to you. Beware. I also
harmonize to everything, which would be great if I were
good at it, but...
-I fence (read: I poke people with swords for exercise)
-I really appreciate funny people.
I’m looking forward to an incredible summer with all
of you. If you’re all as weird as I am, this is going to be
one frightening group. In a good way, hopefully.
2014 Fellow Autobiographies
Jacob Shteingart
New Rochelle, NY
Hey! I’m Jacob. Most people know
me as Shteingart, or Shtein; to my
family I’m usually J or “Jayka” -- the
easiest ways to pronounce my name
The Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel
in Russian. Both of my parents hail from the former
USSR, and as a first generation American I speak to
my grandparents in Russian. I am the oldest of four;
Sima, 13; Misha, 6; and Daniel, (almost) 4. I now go to
SAR High School, a Modern Orthodox High School
in Riverdale, and attended Solomon Schechter of
Westchester, a Conservative school, for grades 2-8. My
family identifies as Conservative or “Conservadox,” and
so do I, but for my family, Russian Jews that have fled
a land of religious persecution, religion is a tradition
and a glue, not a label. I’m a science nut, always eager
to conduct experiments, and scrutinize and analyze,
with an insatiable thirst to learn about the way the
world works. The outdoors excite me. Nature inspires
me to think, to appreciate, and to be active. Not far
behind my passion for science is a love of the logic of
math, and of the analysis and creative interpretations
of literature. When in my sparse spare time, with the
opportunity to let go, I can be found spending time
with family, beatboxing, trying to sing, or speaking in
Russian accents and imitating Sacha Baron Cohen. I
love music, playing drums and piano, or just listening
to anything from today’s hottest hits to Billy Joel, Led
Zeppelin or even Beethoven. I also love sports (mostly
baseball), whether it’s playing competitively, having a
catch, following the professionals, or analyzing statistics. I am energetic and active, love to have fun and joke
around, but I also have a pensive side. I love to learn
about the world and embrace new experiences.
ing out the conversations I would never have. Not to
mention, seeing my characters and hearing my thoughts
performed is so enormously exhilarating. On the religious front, I am a member of the Jewish Community
of Japan, a conservative synagogue with around 100
families here in Tokyo. Given the size of our community, I’ve always longed for more meaningful interaction
with Jewish peers. For this reason and so many others,
I am so honored and excited to be a 2014 Bronfman
fellow. I cannot wait for all that the Fellowship holds in
store, both this summer and beyond.
Eve Sneider
Tokyo, Japan
Hi all-- I’m Eve! I was born and
raised in Tokyo, Japan, where I
currently attend the American
School in Japan. This tends to
elicit some confusion, but I promise I don’t have two
heads. Long story short: my parents moved here from
New York in the early nineties planning to stay for
two years, and now we’re coming up on twenty. My
education has been a combination of dual-language
international school, Japanese public school, and now
American school as well, but I have always identified as
American. I tend to think of myself as a people person, not just because of how I interact with people, but
also because of what piques my interest both in and out
of the classroom. I’m fascinated by human interaction,
and by how societies and ways of thinking molt and
shift. I also really adore stories. I’m notorious amongst
my friends for getting a little (too) emotionally invested
in the characters I read and watch. Writing is one of
my favorite pastimes as well, especially plays. I love
writing dialogue, going inside someone’s head and pars-
2014 Fellow Autobiographies