Meet the
fellows

Yasmine Abouzaglo (she/her) is from Dallas, Texas. Her father is Israeli-Moroccan and her mother is Costa Rican-Polish. She is a sophomore at Columbia College and is studying Sustainable Development. Abouzaglo plans to pursue a career in law in the future and one day make aliyah to Israel.

Ella Amouyal is a senior at Brandeis University, majoring in Art History and minoring in English. She is from Massachusetts and has Ashkenazi and Sephardic roots in Algeria, Morocco, and Ukraine. At Brandeis, she serves as the Social Events Coordinator for the Brandeis Organization of Sephardic Students (BOSS), Co-President of the French and Francophone Club, and an Undergraduate Department Representative for the Art History department. She has a deep love for museums, painting, poetry, and film. Ella is thrilled to be part of the Sephardi House Fellowship cohort for 2024-2025.

Yaniv Ashwal grew up in Beachwood, Ohio attending Fuchs Mizrachi School. After graduating, he studied in Yeshivat Torah V Avodah (Chovat Hatalmidim) in Jerusalem. During this time, Yaniv developed his Yemenite Jewish identity and his love for Israel. Now, Yaniv is studying Information Science at the University of Maryland, hoping to build the Sephardi and Edot Hamizrach community there. After College he plans to use his knowledge and skills to contribute to the thriving tech scene in Israel.

Gabriella Borukhov is a sophomore studying International Relations and Environmental Studies at SUNY New Paltz. She grew up in the Bukharian Jewish community in Queens, New York. As someone with complex Bukharian roots that have shaped her upbringing, Gabriella has a strong interest in Bukharian, Sephardic, and Mizrahi history and culture. At school, Gabriella is an active member of Chabad, a Sustainability Ambassador in the Communications and Engagement Team of the Sustainable Purchasing Team, and a member of Theory Club. In the future, Gabriella hopes to utilize her interest in diplomacy and international law while attending law school. She also hopes to learn Farsi and further connect with her Bukharian culture. In her free time, Gabriella enjoys listening to music, reading, and writing book reviews.

Abi Cohen is a senior at Rutgers University studying computer science and Environmental Studies. She grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey to Israeli parents of Iraqi and Yemenite descent. Abi was the co-chair of the Conservative community at Rutgers Hillel where she started student-led Shabbat text study sessions. When she’s not in school, she loves to study Torah, informally or at a formal institution, including the Conservative Yeshiva, Hadar, and Pardes. In her free time, Abi is always listening to piyyutim and niggunim or talking about sustainability!

Sara Elyassian is from Great Neck, NY, and is currently a senior at Stern College for Women studying Speech Pathology. She is heavily involved on campus, serving as President of the Sephardic Club and President of the Student Holocaust Education Movement, as well as a Student ambassador for Yeshiva University. Her hobbies include learning Torah, singing, and spending time with friends and family. She is passionate about her roots and bridging the gap between Jews from different cultures and religious backgrounds.

David Erdos is a Syrian Jew from Brooklyn, NY. David attended Yeshivah of Flatbush High School and spent a gap year learning at Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi in Jerusalem. He is now studying Food Science at Cornell University and is very involved with Jewish life on campus as a member of the Cornell Center for Jewish Living and the Cornell Sephardi-Mizrachi Council. In his free time, David can be found playing guitar or piano, and he is very interested in Middle Eastern and Arabic music. While David's family comes from Syria and Egypt, he is very interested in all cultures and enjoys sharing his own culture with others!

Maya, who is entering her junior year at Baruch college, is excited to bring her passion for Israel onto campus this year more than ever. Following October 7th, Maya made it her goal to advocate for Israel and the Jews at Baruch by fostering Baruch’s club YOFI (Youth Organization For Israel) and bringing together a community of like minded individuals who want to come together for their love of Israel. Maya is excited to host events and bring together speakers that will inspire and educate this coming year!

Benjamin Golsaz is a Persian Jewish sophomore majoring in Computer Science at GW. He currently takes both Persian and Hebrew language courses to learn more about his own cultural history and identity. Through taking courses in all three of these seemingly disparate subjects, Benjamin hopes to gain a better understanding of the world around him and to combine the worlds in his daily life through the lessons he learns. He holds his friends dear, loves working on important projects with them, swimming recreationally, and playing the saxophone.

Gavin Hakimian is a sophomore at Cornell University’s Dyson School studying Applied Economics and Management with a minor in Real Estate. He is a Mashadi (Persian) Jew from Great Neck, New York. He is the Recruitment Chair of the Cornell Sephardi and Mizrahi Council at Cornell, and is also involved in Cornell Game Changers and Dyson Undergraduate Council. He enjoys playing volleyball, listening to rap and R&B music, and reading the Torah. Gavin is very excited for this unique experience, hoping to build on his Sephardi pride.

Rebecca Izkiyayeva is a junior at Brooklyn College, majoring in Business Management. She is a Kavkazi Jew and is involved in the Mizrahi club on her campus. A fun fact about Rebecca is she loves traveling and trying new foods!

Daniella is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UCLA studying Cognitive Science and Statistics. This summer, she participated in Onward, in which she did an internship in Tel Aviv for two months, allowing her to grow even closer to her culture and Jewish identity. She is extremely excited to learn more about her Sephardic heritage and roots through the fellowship and looks forward to meeting new friends and having a community to engage in her culture with!

Daniel Kovan is a sophomore at Binghamton University pursuing a major in Financial Economics and a minor in Accounting. He is from Long Island where he was raised by his Georgian parents. Academically Daniel has taken an active role on campus as Director of Fund for Tamid and a member of the Binghamton Investment Fund. Religiously Daniel has also taken an active role where he is a member of Chabad tier 1 and played a role in the organization of Shabbat 2400. Daniel was interested in joining the the Sephardi House Fellowship to gain a deeper understanding of the Sephardic tradition and help spread it on the Binghamton University campus.

Alon Leshem is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh School of Computing and Information, pursuing a major in Computer Science with a secondary field of study focused on the history, culture, and politics of Israel and Palestine. Born in Israel, Alon moved to the Pittsburgh area at the age of five. Alon is heavily involved in the Jewish community at Pitt---he previously served on the board of the Student Coalition for Israel at Pitt, was the co-organizer of the Chai Tech conference, and is active in both Hillel and Chabad on campus. He is passionate to learn more about and spread awareness of the cultures that make up his background---specifically, the Syrian, Tripolitanian, Levantine, Ukrainian, and Israeli Jewish traditions.

My Jewish journey is rooted in my Persian heritage, which my parents brought with them when they immigrated to the U.S. 20 years ago. In high school at SAR, I made it a priority to celebrate and elevate Sephardi culture despite being surrounded by mostly Ashkenazi peers. I founded the Sephardi Culture Club and served as president of the Sephardi Minyan, ensuring that Sephardi students felt a sense of belonging. Through initiatives like integrating Sephardi food and music into school events, I attracted more Sephardi students to our community. At NYU, I am excited to continue this work through the Sephardi House Fellowship. I aim to deepen my connection to our traditions and further develop my leadership skills. I believe my experience in promoting Sephardi culture will allow me to contribute effectively to the fellowship, helping to create a strong and proud Sephardi community on campus.

Isaac Malka is a sophomore at Brandeis University from Rockville, Maryland studying International Relations and Arabic. Growing up, he attended the Magen David Sephardic Synagogue, and his family practices Moroccan and Turkish traditions. A graduate of the State Department’s Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad Program, Isaac has lived and studied in Morocco where he developed a deep understanding of Moroccan culture along with the Jewish history of Morocco. Isaac hopes to use his experience and knowledge, in the future, to work as a diplomat for the United States. He hopes to pursue a career in diplomacy and is an active member of the Jewish community at Brandeis.

Rebecca is a rising sophomore at Brandeis University, majoring in Economics on the pre-law track. She’s involved in the Brandeis Investment Club as well as BETA, the Brandeis Entrepreneurship and Technology Association. As a Bukharian Jew from Queens, Rebecca is committed to making Sephardi voices heard. Through her work as first year representative of Brandeis’s Organization of Sephardic Students (BOSS), she’s worked to create a welcoming environment for other Sephardi freshmen, and enjoys sharing Sephardi culture with the greater Brandeis community.

Chanelle Mizrahi is a senior at the University of Southern California, majoring in Human Development and Aging with a minor in Hip-Hop Dance and Business. She is deeply passionate about bridging scientific innovation and business, particularly in the life sciences industry, with a focus on therapeutic solutions for aging populations. On campus, Chanelle is actively involved in Hillel, Chabad, and Trojans for Israel, where she advocates for Jewish values and Israel’s relationship with the United States. She also serves as the West Coast Regional Director on AJC's Campus Global Board, working to strengthen Jewish presence across campuses. With a strong Sephardic heritage and commitment to community building, Chanelle is eager to contribute to the Sephardi House Fellowship and celebrate the diversity of Jewish traditions.

Gabby Nakkab is a senior at Hamilton College concentrating in World Politics with a focus in the Middle East and North African Region and minoring in Religious Studies and French and Francophone Studies. Gabby grew up on Long Island, NY in a family with strong Egyptian and Syrian traditions. Gabby is an active member of the Chabad of Clinton and is so proud of the Jewish community that has been cultivated on her campus. As a Sephardi House Fellow, she is hoping to introduce Sephardi culture to her peers and celebrate diverse Jewish backgrounds through education, food, and music, shedding light on the history of the Jews from MENA whose stories are too often untold.

Yaron Rahmani is a student at Queens College, and a member of the Macaulay Honors program. Yaron grew up in Long Island, New York and graduated from HANC. Following high school, he spent a year at Yeshiva Mevaseret Tzion where he further developed in his Jewish studies and found a greater pride for his Sephardic heritage. Yaron comes from a Persian Jewish family and enjoys hearing stories about his background and values the lessons he learns from them. Yaron is excited to meet fellow students who are passionate about their Sephardic heritage through the Sephardi House Fellowship.

Dana Sapir is an Israeli-American college student at the University of Florida. Coming from a Georgian background, being a Sephardic Jewish leader on campus is largely important to her, as she is Chabad UF’s Executive Israel Education Director, UF's StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, and recently co-founded a new chapter for Students Supporting Israel. Dana is majoring in biomedical engineering, with a computer science minor, and is looking forward to continuing in her mission of spreading pride for our culture, traditions, and identity.

My name is Tomer Shaked, a dedicated UCLA student majoring in Psychology with aspirations of becoming a personal injury lawyer. In light of the events since October 7th, I have felt a profound calling to deepen my contributions to the Jewish community, both through physical actions and spiritual engagement. This sense of responsibility has led me to embrace leadership roles within Chabad and Hillel, where I strive to make a meaningful and lasting impact. Alongside my academic and community involvement, I am passionate about language learning, and I am fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew. A core aspect of my identity is my connection to Judaism, particularly my Sephardic heritage and Iraqi roots, and in this fellowship I aim to strengthen it.

Sabrina Soffer is the former commissioner of the Special Presidential Task Force to Combat Antisemitism at the George Washington University, where she is a senior double majoring in Philosophy & Public Affairs and Judaic Studies. On campus, Sabrina is also the President of Chabad GW, and is a columnist for her school's newspaper, the GW Hatchet. Her writing appears in publications like The Hill, The Times of Israel, Jewish News Syndicate, the Jerusalem Post and others. In addition to speaking about Jewish life at various campus events, she has also spoken on national news outlets and most recently, at the American March for Israel in Washington D.C. She has also interned at the Congressional Committee on Education and the Workforce Investigating Antisemitism, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Hillel International where she helped build the organization's Content Creators Forum. She has also participated in the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA) and Geller International fellowships, and recently joined the World Jewish Congress Jewish Diplomatic Academy. Sabrina has also recently published her first book, My Mother's Mirror: A Generational Journey of Resilience & Self-Discovery, that offers creative, memoir-based tools based on the USC EDGE Center award-winning Self-Ex Guide, authored by Sabrina and her mother. Sabrina’s work, daily life, and aspirations are shaped by her gratitude and deep love for the state of Israel and the Jewish people who have endowed her with rich traditions, values, and life-guiding principles.

Bettino Weisser is a junior in the Joint Program between The Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University. At Columbia he majors in History and JTS Jewish History. Weisser grew up in Amsterdam, born to an American father and Dutch mother. Besides school, Weisser plays classical piano and enjoys composing.

Ben is a freshman studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He is from Roslyn, NY, and went to North Shore Hebrew Academy for High School. Ben is a Persian Jew from the town of Hamedan, Iran, and is excited to share about Sephardi culture to other college students. He is also looking forward to exploring the Sephardi practices of others.

Elon Abergel is a dedicated student at Yale University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. With a strong foundation in tech and leadership, he currently serves as a Software Engineer at UNS, focusing on privacy-preserving software development. As a Principal at Yale Undergraduate Capital Partners, he leads sourcing efforts and identifies investment opportunities. His impactful contributions as a Software Engineer at Olympix Smart Contract Security reflect his commitment to innovative solutions. Elon's leadership extends beyond academics, having served as the CEO of Pool House, a startup specializing in pool imports, where he led a team and guided the company to success. In the Israeli Defense Force, he commanded a team in the Combat Fitness Department and developed a warm-up routine utilized by elite units. Proficient in languages such as Python, JavaScript, and more, Elon's diverse skills are complemented by his interests in running, traveling, photography, and reading.

Lia Abuhsira is a rising freshman at Fordham University, eager to begin her role as a Sephardi House Fellow. Lia was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel and has always been dedicated to advocating for and exploring her Mizrahi/Sephardi culture. Coming from Moroccan and Algerian origins, Lia has utilized her identity as a catalyst for change; honoring fallen soldiers from peripheral backgrounds at Project Zkor, taking on independent educational heritage projects, and striving to raise awareness to Sephardi history through her First-Gen Scholar Award at Hillel. By becoming a fellow, Lia is excited to delve into her own identity and become a Jewish leader on campus!

Debi Ahitov is a sophomore at Duke University studying Neuroscience and Computer Science with a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Raised in Istanbul, Turkey, Debi grew up in a Sephardi household that immigrated from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. For the past 500 years, generations have transferred the Sephardic culture and Ladino up to Debi’s generation despite living in a highly Islam-dominated country, which has ignited her interest in the Sephardi culture. In the past, she conducted research and interviews about Sephardics’ continuation in Turkey despite various anti-minority policies. After being involved in the Turkish-Jewish community growing up, now she has been an active member in Hillel and Chabad at Duke, and she couldn’t be more excited to share more of her Sephardic culture as one of the few Sephardics in her community. On campus, she is also involved with organizing and participating in Hackathons, community outreach, event planning, and neuroscience research. Debi is looking forward to learning new perspectives on Sephardic identities and sharing her unique story with her campus and Sephardi fellows!

Roey Beniluz is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, and is an Israeli-American with Moroccan and Algerian-French heritage. He is currently finishing up a Neuroscience degree, with plans to attend medical school. However, he plans to take a gap year in between to conduct research in Spain, and use this exciting opportunity to explore the birthplace of Sephardic Judaism. On campus, he has been extensively involved with Hillel and Chabad, working to infuse the traditions of Sephardic Jews into campus Jewish life. Most recently, he brought his grandmother’s Mufleta recipe to Pittsburgh at a widely popular Mimouna celebration at Chabad. When not busy studying, he enjoys biking, hiking, running and exploring the city of Pittsburgh.

Thalia Bentolila is an incoming Sophomore at Cornell University. She is majoring in Hospitality and Culinary Arts. She looks forward to gaining a greater perspective to her very nurtured Sephardic culture along with making great connections in an amazing community. At Cornell she is excited for spiritual growth and great involvement with the Chabad and Hillel organizations.

Opal Cohen is a business student at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business with plans to become a lawyer for the State Department. Opal has a powerful connection to her Israeli, Moroccan, Egyptian, Turkish, and Spanish roots. Because of her upbringing, Zionism was never a question, and Opal ended up working and interning for StandWithUs for two years. While interning for StandWithUs, Opal dedicated many of her events to educating about Israeli minorities and underrepresented Jewish populations. At Virginia Tech, Opal is very active in Hillel, Chabad, Hokies for Israel, Collegiate Women in Business, and the Leadership and Social Change Residential College.

Joseph Edrei is a driven and passionate electrical and computer aspiring engineer with a strong desire to explore his Jewish roots. As a dedicated student, Joseph's academic journey has been characterized by a thirst for knowledge and a love for problem-solving. His fascination with technology and its potential to make a positive impact on society has led him to pursue a career in engineering. Beyond his academic pursuits, Joseph is deeply committed to understanding and connecting with his Jewish heritage. He has found a supportive community in Sephardi House, an organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating Sephardic Jewish culture. Through their guidance and resources, Joseph aspires to delve deeper into his ancestry, history, and traditions. With an unwavering determination to excel in both his engineering studies and his exploration of his Jewish roots, Joseph is eager to embrace every opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Through his pursuits, he aims to make a meaningful contribution to the world and honor the legacy of his ancestors.

Vivian Hamui, is a sophomore at Brandeis University, who is hoping to double major in Psychology and Studio Art, aspiring to become an Art Therapist and work with adults and children who have developmental, cognitive, and physical disabilities. She grew up in the Syrian Sephardic Community, located in Brooklyn, New York, and attended the Yeshivah of Flatbush High School. She currently is the president of BOSS (Brandeis Organization of Sephardic Students), with the goal of providing a sense of comfort for the Sephardic Jews on campus that are having a hard time adjusting to an Ashkenormative environment. She is also active in other Jewish life clubs on campus, student government, and works for Yachad, New Egland, part time. Vivian is really excited about becoming a Sephardi House fellow, as she is excited to learn more about Sephardic heritage, and what it truly means to be a proud Sephardic Jew.

Joseph Heaney is currently an undergraduate student at Brandeis University hoping to one day go on to medical school. Despite being both Sephardic and Ashkenazi, he grew up in the Syrian Jewish community of Deal, New Jersey and attended Hillel Yeshiva high school and was surrounded with both Syrian and Ashkenazi culture all his life. With his love for learning, he tries to seize any and all opportunities that he thinks can benefit him in his knowledge of the world and himself. Being on a campus with a large Orthodox Ashkenazi Jewish presence, he wants to show them what the other side of the Jewish world is like and teach them about Sephardi heritage and culture.

Leah Inoyatov is currently a junior pursuing a Pre-Physician Assistant major and a philosophy minor. She is from New York City and is a Bukharian Jew. She is passionate about sharing Sephardic culture within her campus. She's also involved with the American Cancer Society on campus, as well as the Physician Assistant Club, the Hillel and Chabad. She is so excited to be part of the Sephardi House and broaden her knowledge of her own heritage.

Rebecca Kalimi is a passionate and enthusiastic student at Barnard College. She greets every room with a smile on her face and is eager to meet people from all over. She loves to learn new skills- her favorite fun fact is that she blows the shofar! Overall, Rebecca is always down for a good time and ready to have a new experience.

Elizabeth Katanov is a student at Hunter College in New York City, majoring in Biological Sciences and Interdisciplinary Honors and minoring in Spanish Language and Culture. She is an aspiring physician whose love for neuroscience stemmed from the many languages spoken in her Bukharian Jewish home. She now conducts epilepsy research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai while completing her final year of undergraduate studies and applying to medical school. Elizabeth serves as a director of Hunter College’s Health Literacy Initiative and American Heart Association organizations. She is a contributing writer to the Society of Bioethics and Medicine. Elizabeth is passionate about reviving the love of Jewish history and culture in her fellow peers. Elizabeth is excited to bring the traditions, lessons, and values learned through this enriching immersion into Sephardic life to her home and school community.

My name is Eli Lavi, and I am from Great Neck. Currently, I am a Junior at NYU Stern studying Finance and Economics. Over the past year, I had the opportunity to learn at Yeshivat Aish HaTorah. Currently, I am involved with Jewish events through Chabad on campus. In my free time, I enjoy Basketball, video games, and spending time with friends. I look forward to learning more about my Sephardi heritage and what that may look like at NYU.

Orah is a junior at Yale University, where she studies Humanities and is pursuing a certificate in Persian and Iranian Studies. Orah grew up in Long Island, NY. At Yale, Orah is involved in the Yale Student Mental Health Association, Climbing Team, Middle East and North Africa cultural group, Yale Daily News, Yale College Council, Buddhist Community, and Jewish Community. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, sitting in the sun, and engaging in any sort of creative activity.

Leav Michaeli is a second year student studying Business Administration at Binghamton University in New York. Leav grew up in an unapologetically Mizrahi household, contrasted by his experience attending a majority Ashkenazi Jewish Day School K-12. Even though Leav could not explore his background much at school, he clung to his heritage tightly and did not let go. During his gap-year program in Israel, Leav was finally given the platform to shape his identity and discover more about diverse branches of Judaism. On campus, Leav is a Community Assistant for Binghamton University Residential Life, a brother of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a member of TAMID group, and an avid member of Binghamton’s Chabad House. Leav is also an interfaith panelist on a local radio segment broadcasted weekly that connects students of various faiths to engage in thoughtful religious discussions. Leav is a people person; he loves to travel, cook, ski, camp, and participate in new experiences. He is ecstatic to join the Sephardi House and unearth more of the vibrant mosaic that is Sephardi and Mizrahi Jewry.

Stella Moussa Salmon is a sophomore at the University of Arizona Honors College, triple majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Arabic Language, and Judaic Studies, and minoring in Spanish, Biochemistry, and Public Health. Stella is a Sephardic Syrian Jew who enjoys connecting with her heritage through the lens of art, music, history, and language. Growing up in a predominantly Ashkenazi community in Tucson, Arizona, she was instilled with a sense of pride in her Sephardic heritage, and a drive to spread awareness and educate others about the richness and diversity of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish culture, both within the Jewish community and beyond. Stella is involved in Jewish life on campus, is a volunteer at a migrant aid center, conducts OBGYN and Orthopedic clinical research, is vice president of the club swim team, and works as an Athletic Training technician for the university. With a passion for art, science, culture, and language, Stella is interested in combining her interests through a career in medicine with an emphasis on refugee health.

Shaya is a senior at UCLA studying Mathematics with a minor in Iranian Studies. She loves being the leader of the Persian Community at Hillel at UCLA and hopes to see Persian Jewish students learning about and celebrating their heritage for years after she graduates. Aside from her Jewish involvement, Shaya interns at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and hopes to continue working there after earning a Masters degree in math. She loves studying Khayyam and other classic Persian poets in UCLA's wonderful Iranian Studies program! When she isn't on campus, you can find her swimming, camping, and posting on her taco blog.

Keanu was born in Los Angeles, the son of two refugees that immigrated to the US seeking religious asylum during the Iranian Revolution. Being a first generation American Keanu has developed a strong passion for education. He is currently studying neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania with a minor in Healthcare Management from the Wharton School of Business. In his freetime Keanu is involved in clubs such as PennTango, Penn’s premier Tango club, Penn Club Gymnastics team, and the Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club. Recently he visited Mongolia on a Penn Global Seminar meeting with environmentalist groups to help solve the problem of desertification. He aspires to become a Neurosurgeon sub-specializing in spinal sports medicine and combine his study of Neuroscience and Business to one day run hospital systems.

Rachel Pakan is a freshman at the Macaulay Honors College on the pre-medical track, with additional interests in English literature and journalism. Born to Bukharian Jewish parents in Queens, New York, she takes great pride in her Sephardi heritage and seeks to educate others on it through writing and advocacy. Outside of the classroom, Rachel dedicates herself to scientific research and volunteer work, as well as contributing to various online publications. In her free time, she enjoys cooking traditional dishes and endlessly scrolling through Jewish Instagram.

Liora Rahmani is a student at Yeshiva University’s Stern College and a member of the Honors program, majoring in Biochemistry. Liora grew up in Long Island, New York and graduated from HANC. Liora comes from a family of Persian Jewish heritage, and is excited to meet a group of like-minded students who are passionate about Sephardic Jewry through the Sephardi House Fellowship. Liora is an active member of the Sephardic and Israel clubs at Yeshiva University, and also is involved in a number of leadership roles in various pre-health clubs at Stern. Liora has always felt a strong connection to her Sephardic heritage from the stories her family shared with her, and she is very excited to share the beauty of Sephardic culture with her peers.

Nima is originally from Los Angeles, California and is now a senior at UC Berkeley majoring in Computer Science. He’s an organic machine that converts ghormeh sabzi into software. When Nima isn’t teaching or researching robotics, you’ll likely find him biking, playing ping pong, or traveling. He recently hiked Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, read Crime and Punishment, and picked up volleyball.

Tori Raphael is currently a senior at UCLA majoring in English Literature and minoring in Film and Digital Media Studies. She grew up in Agoura Hills, California, and has always had a deep passion for Sephardic communities globally. Tori is committed to researching and studying Sephardic representation in global media and hopes to promote more diverse perceptions of Sephardic culture in Jewish media. In her free time, Tori is a journalist and freelance comedy writer.

Ittai is an Israeli Jew from Virginia Tech with a deep-seated love for soccer. Beyond the grassy pitch, Ittai's creativity takes a melodic turn, as he loves to make and listen to music that resonates with his emotions and experiences. When he's not making melodies or scoring goals, Ittai dives headfirst into learning new languages and educating himself on different cultures. Most of all, Ittai is an outgoing individual who takes delight in meeting new people and forging meaningful relationships.

I come from a Syrian-Jewish background and am deeply rooted in my Sephardic community in Brooklyn. I didn't speak Arabic in my childhood, but I took it upon myself to use my education to break the language barrier between me and my family. My grandfather, an Arabic teacher in Syria, and I bond over our weekly Arabic lessons. I'm a student of CUNY Baccalaureate for Interdisciplinary Studies, where I've crafted my own academic journey with a major in Middle Eastern Language and Culture. This unique path has me delving into the realms of Hebrew and Arabic while exploring their cultural intersections. Alongside, I'm also pursuing a major in Human Biology with aspirations of a medical career. My academic pursuits have led me through courses at Baruch, Brooklyn, and Hunter College. Beyond academics, I am an active member of the Baruch Hillel, where I plan various events for students. I've earned recognition through scholarships, including the Anne W. Cohen Endowed Scholarship for Study in Israel, the Excellence in Hebrew Studies Award from Hunter College, and the Memorial Scholarship for Students in Health via CUNY BA. Some fun facts about myself are that I'm a Baruch Division III Tennis Team member, an avid piano player, and currently engaged in Biology research at the American Museum of Natural History.

Steven is currently a sophomore at Cornell, studying applied economics and management. He grew up in the Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York. Steven is interested in the intersection of economics and technology, and is looking to pursue a career in venture capital. He also enjoys staying active by playing sports—basketball, football, and boxing.

Amit Sapir is an Israeli-American college student at the University of Florida. Coming from a Georgian background, being a Sephardic Jewish leader on campus is largely important to him, as he is Chabad UF’s Executive Vice President, Hillel’s Ambassador the Israel Leadership Network, and recently founded a new chapter for Students Supporting Israel. Amit is majoring in biomedical engineering, and is looking forward to continuing in his mission of seeking discomfort and doing good for others.

Tehila Soleimani is a junior studying Advertising Marketing Communications at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. She is passionate about her Persian-Jewish identity, and about being a representative of jewish life on her college campus. She is a freelance photographer, and plans to work in the Fashion Industry, in some capacity, after her graduation.

Laura Julia (LJ) Tapiero Fleischmann is a Sociology and Political Science major at Barnard College of Columbia University. Laura Julia was born in Washington, DC, to a family with Moroccan and German Jewish roots. Passionate about social justice and tikkun olam, Laura Julia was previously a co-founder of Liberate Your Mind, an initiative that created educational and artistic opportunities for incarcerated youth in the DC area. She has also worked with organizations like Girl Up, America Reads, and the Safe Passage Project. As a fellow, Laura Julia hopes to explore the vast diversity of the Jewish diaspora through oral storytelling, food, music, and art.

Julia Tellides is a rising senior at Harvard College, pursuing a double major in History and Classics. She grew up in New Haven, CT with a large, culturally diverse family, having Greek heritage on her dad’s side and Israeli Sephardic heritage on her mom’s side. Through a curiosity about her own identity, she decided to research the Sephardic Jewish community of Greece for her senior undergraduate thesis. After receiving a scholarship from the Harvard Center for Jewish Studies, she spent the last summer in Athens and Thessaloniki conducting archival research and meeting with different Jewish academics. On campus, she competes in debate competitions for the Ethics Debating team, and she volunteers for the Small Claims Advisory Service, a law-related service group run by Harvard undergraduates. In her free time, she enjoys getting a bagel and lox every Sunday at the Harvard Hillel, going for runs by the Charles River, and working as a barista at a campus cafe.

Aviel is an Israeli-Persian from Queens, New York. He is currently majoring in Aerospace Engineering and the University of Maryland. His hobbies include guitar, basketball, weightlifting, and other sports. He is very excited to join the Sephardi House fellowship.

Adam Abergel is a sophomore at Cornell University’s Charles H. Dyson School, pursuing a major in Applied Economics & Management and minoring in French. He is from Los Angeles where he was raised by his French Moroccan parents. Adam is currently the Chair of Cultural Programming for Cornell Hillel. Recently, he organized a Sephardic / Mizrahi Shabbat with the help of Hillel and Sephardi House. He is also involved with some other groups on Cornell’s campus such as TAMID Group, Cornell Finance Club, and Phi Chi Theta (a professional business fraternity). He enjoys playing soccer and following F.C. Barcelona, surfing Los Angeles’ coast, listening to EDM/House Music, exploring his Jewish Sephardic heritage, and international travel. Adam is very excited to be part of Sephardi House and dive into the depths of the Sephardic culture.

Wanting to stay close to my roots, I make efforts [at Cornell], to spread the limited Sephardic knowledge that I have whether it’s singing Sephardic piyyutim at Shabbat dinner or leading services with Sephardic-inspired melodies...However, I know that my knowledge is limited and that I need resources and support to help me continue spreading the invaluable Sephardic culture... This is exactly why I want to become a Sephardi House Fellow. By doing so, I will be able to immerse myself in a program that will deepen my knowledge of the Sephardic world ...I want to be surrounded and motivated by like-minded individuals and leaders from an overarching similar background yet all uniquely different.

Asia Esther Akperov is currently pursuing a B.A. in Human Biology at Hunter College on the pre-medical track. She engages in extracurricular activities such as volunteering for various organizations like the Red Cross and the American Cancer Society. She is passionate about the intersections between medicine and public health as well as public policy. She hopes to carry her previous experiences as well as what she gains from this Fellowship to continue to advocate on behalf of Sephardic and Mizrahi communities. She is a strong promoter of interfaith relationships and community building. This past year, she worked closely with Civic Spirit and Muslim Community Network and co-founded an interfaith environmental advocacy group called 'The EverGreen Alliance'. With over 30 members and counting, they have created a community where we can simultaneously learn about each other while working towards a common goal.

As a Bukharian Jew, growing up I faced difficulties understanding my identity. [Attending] Jewish day school surrounded by my Jewish peers, there was a sense of isolation...since my experiences were so different compared to my peers who were Ashkenazi Jewish Americans...As a Sephardi House Fellow, I would like to immerse myself deeper in understanding Sephardi and Mizrahi Jewish cultures. Through art, music and other areas of interest, I am hoping to broaden not only my knowledge but also my connection to [Jewish] peoplehood.

Yedida Bentolila is a sophomore at the University of Maryland majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice and minoring in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She grew up in a Modern Orthodox home in South Florida and attended Jewish day school all her life. Judaism has always been a big part of her identity, as well as her extensive and diverse Sephardic background. She is proud of her Sephardic heritage which has shaped her into the person she is today. After Graduation, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career in the legal field. She is currently a member of the Jewish Student Union on campus, as well as a general body member of the Empowering Women in Law Club. She has a great passion for Judaism and learning about her Sephardic heritage. She is beyond grateful to be given the opportunity to explore her Sephardic heritage further and learn about the history that shaped her ancestry.

I have a diverse Sephardic background that includes Moroccan, Greek, Syrian, Balkan and Persian roots. I am extremely proud of my Sephardic heritage, and it is an intrinsic part of my daily life. I would thoroughly enjoy exploring and learning more in depth the history and cultures that paint the canvas of my Sephardic roots

Sarah Boxer comes from Iraqi, Yemenite, and Syrian ancestry on her mother’s side. She is proud of her Israeli-Jewish, Sephardic and Mizrahi identities. Sarah was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and is a senior at George Washington University planning to attend law school after graduation. She loves to learn and teach about her family’s history and culture. Sarah is the co-director of Student Experience for Hillel at the George Washington University, where she spearheaded a cohort called “Myth of the Monolith” focused on dismantling stereotyped understandings of Jewish identity.

I have made Sephardic and Mizrahi representation my primary focus as a Jewish student leader at my university. I have often felt alone in the fight for greater representation of Sephardic Jews on U.S. college campuses. It would be incredible to have a community of students to rely on for support and learning. I have spearheaded programming focused on education about the Mizrahi and Sephardic Jewish experience as a student leader in GW Hillel and would love to expand my initiatives with the help of the Sephardi House Fellowship.

Yael Canaan is a 4th year double major in Architecture and Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University. At CMU, she is very active in the Jewish community. As a student leader at Hillel, she has hosted a variety of events from Bukera making to shabbat and holiday dinners. She also helped found a group for students in conversation with Jewish womanhood. She is currently the president of this group, called Achayot shel Carnegie Mellon--through which she has been teaching her peers about Sephardi culture and history. In the future, Yael hopes to study abroad in Spain or Portugal and take the time to learn Ladino. In her spare time, she loves taking care of her plants and teaching people her traditional recipes.

My great uncle was able to follow my family’s history back to the 15th century where he found that both my grandmother and my grandfather’s families lived in Spain...I want to be a Sephardi house fellow so that I can connect with other Sephardi Jews my age and learn about their families’ cultures and traditions...My grandparents speak to each other in Ladino. I recently expressed my interest in learning Ladino to a Jewish friend at my school and I was told to learn Spanish instead. I was hurt by this comment as the weight of learning a dying language didn’t seem to register with my friend. In my experience, Sephardi culture often seems to be pushed aside and disregarded. I hope to learn as a Sephardi house fellow how to change that attitude in people in my community.

Elizabeth Danon studies in the Environmental Metrology & Policy Program at Georgetown University. She is an aspiring environmental scientist and policy expert, author, Jewish advocate, wife to an amazing desi man, decent biryani chef, and pet mom, among other things in the tapestry of her life. She draws passion from her Sephardic ancestors who have taught her how to fight against all odds.

Breathing in slowly, I watched the waves knock onto the side of the ferry as we made our way from Grenada, Spain to Tangier, Morocco. Fire coursed through my veins, the sudden realization sending tears down my cheeks: I was in a pivotal place for my people – the Sephardim. Not only was I taking the same path that some of my ancestors took when expelled from Spain by the Catholic monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, but I was also crossing the immigrant’s gateway. Both my grandparents crossed that very same threshold when leaving Izmir for the states, and so did countless other families...The gravity of what my people had survived was not lost on me, which is why I broke down crying on the ferry ride to Tangier. I am the evidence of their perseverance...I am, and always have been, a strong Sephardic woman...Which is why every time I walk through Georgetown University on my way to classes, I can’t help but feel all my ancestors besides me - goading me on. They didn’t make the sacrifices they made, and survive through multiple persecutions, for me to give up.

Lauren Hakimi is a senior at CUNY Hunter College, where she studies history and English literature, edits the student-run news website The Envoy, and runs cross country and track. She is also a writer and journalist with bylines in CNN, WNYC/Gothamist, New York Jewish Week, Alma, Lilith magazine, and more. She has written personal essays and book reviews for Alma and Lilith magazine, as well as reported pieces for New York Jewish Week that have been reposted in JTA, the Jerusalem Post, the Forward, and many others. She is currently working on an independent study in Jewish Studies about the experiences of Mashhadi Jews at the University of Missouri in the 1970s. She looks forward to learning more about her heritage and meeting other students who share her interests.

As I’ve written for the Jewish media, I’ve learned that the vast majority of people involved in it are Ashkenazi. As a New Yorker, though, I know that the Jewish community is much, much more diverse than you would ever know from reading the mastheads of these publications. I am really passionate about telling stories for the Jewish community and thinking about how Jewish media can better serve readers from diverse ethnic backgrounds. I believe that being a Sephardi House Fellow would be a great opportunity to further enrich my knowledge of history and develop a network of Jewish students who share my interests so that I can better serve the Jewish community as a writer and journalist.

Sierra Hellman is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Supply Chain Management with a certificate in Business Analytics. She grew up in a small town outside of Philadelphia and has both Ashkenazi and Sephardic ancestry. She only recently found out about her Sephardic roots and has been trying to learn more about this part of her ancestry. At Pitt, Sierra is involved in the Women in Business Club, the Outdoors Club, and frequently attends Hillel and Chabad events. She loves outdoor activities, especially backpacking, hiking, and climbing.

I’ve known I was Sephardic for a few years now...This past summer I participated in an internship program in Israel called Onward where the word “Sephardic” kept coming up over and over again. My roommate [who was a Sephardi House Fellow last year] was telling me about her experience being part Sephardic...She told me what that meant in terms of our shared heritage and the culture that I was missing out on...Now that I know where I come from, I feel responsible for finding out what it means to be Sephardic and recover the lost customs in order to teach my children and my children’s children. Ever since I got back from Israel, I have been researching and asking as many questions as possible to reconnect with our lost traditions.

Noah Kron is currently a sophomore at Binghamton University. He grew up in Great Neck, NY, where there is a large Sephardic community and went to Great Neck North High School. He comes from a Sephardic and Ashkenazi background with roots located in Baghdad, Basra, and Ireland. In 2017, he traveled to Israel with the Sephardic Educational Center. On that trip he got to know many people from different Sephardic backgrounds. He participated in Young Judaea, Year Course, a gap year program in Israel this past year.

I want to become a Sephardi House Fellow to learn more about my Sephardic past and the Sephardic backgrounds of my peers. ..My knowledge of my Iraqi heritage begins with my grandfather, Salim Mahlab, who was born in Kuwait and grew up in Baghdad, Iraq. My grandfather was involved with both the American Sephardic Federation where he was honored in 2006 as one of the pillars in the Sephardic community. He was also a supporter of the Sephardic Educational Center. My mother followed in his footsteps and was one of the founders and president of the New York chapter of the Sephardic Educational Center.

Samantha Kron is currently a Senior at Binghamton University majoring in Human Development with a minor in Spanish and education.I grew up in Great Neck, New York, where there is a large Sephardic community. In 2018-2019, she had the amazing opportunity of attending Young Judaea Year Course, a gap year program in Israel, which shaped a large portion of who she is today. I come from a half Ashkenazi, half Sephardic background with roots located in Bagdad, Basra, and Ireland.

I want to become a Sephardi House Fellow to learn about others’ backgrounds as well as to share my own Sephardic heritage and upbringing. My mother’s family originated in Iraq, my grandfather was raised in Baghdad and my grandmother in Basra. My grandfather migrated to the United States in 1938 and after fighting in the American army during the Second World War, he became a citizen and raised his family in New Jersey. In the 1980s, my grandfather, Salim Mahlab z”l, started the first Iraqi synagogue, B’nei Naharayim, in Jamaica Estates, Queens. Today it continues to stand and is a place where my family and I feel close to his memory. In 2006, he was honored along with a few others, who were pillars in the Sephardic community, by the ASF for his tireless work in helping to build the Iraqi community. My mother followed in her father’s footsteps and was a founder and president of the NY chapter of the Sephardic Educational Center in the 1990's and currently serves as a board member of the SEC.

Stella Lessler is a sophomore at Columbia University studying Electrical Engineering. She grew up in the Syrian Jewish community of Brooklyn. She loves to snowboard and design jewelry.

My mom immigrated to America from Lebanon at 12 years old and has since then adjusted to American life while still maintaining her Sephardic Syrian/Lebanese Jewish traditions. Growing up, I always was inspired and interested in the Lebanese Sephardic culture, and tried my best to learn as many traditions and tunes as possible. Now, as I reside in the Columbia University Jewish community I want to share my love and knowledge of Sephardic Jewish culture with my campus and fellow peers!

Yosef Malka is a sophomore at Yale University, where he studies political thought and Jewish history. He grew up in Washington, DC and Rockville, Maryland, attending Magen David Sephardic Congregation, and his family comes from Morocco, Turkey, Ukraine, and Poland. At Yale, Yosef is involved with the Yale Undergraduate Prison Project, an organization which advocates for criminal justice reform, the Yale Undergraduate Jazz Collective, and the Yale Political Union. He is the Jewish Culture Chair on Yale's Hillel Student Board and has interned with Congressman Lloyd Doggett. As a Sephardi House Fellow, he looks forward to introducing the culture of the Sepharadim to his peers at Yale and beyond. He also hopes to honor his diverse background by learning more about the broader Sephardi community and bringing these intellectual, cultural, and religious treasures to his peers in the Yale Jewish community

I want the Sephardi and Ashkenazi communities to learn from another and grow together. This can be accomplished at the ground level, with mutual study of our traditions and challenging but joyful conversations about our collective futures. I come from a family that blends Sephardi and Ashkenazi traditions in beautiful ways…My hope is that through the Sephardi House Fellowship, by engaging with mentors and my peers, I could learn how to lead my community towards a more creative fusion between the Ashkenazic and Sephardi traditions…As a Sephardi House Fellow at Yale, I would create spaces for the Yale Jewish community that highlight Sephardi Jewry, bringing [all Jewish students] together in new ways for events such as Sephardi Kabbalat Shabbat, lectures and Sephardi history, literature, and languages by American Sephardi leaders, Jewish learning sessions based on Sephardi scholarship, and other creative cultural experiences that reflect the warmth of our culture, the seriousness of our tradition of learning, and the beauty of our culture. Too many of my Ashkenazi peers think of Sephardi Judaism simply in terms of tasty food and fun music, without understanding the depths and beauty of our tradition. I hope to help change that and build something that could outlast my time as a Sephardi House Fellow: a movement of empowered Sephardi students on campus who enliven our broader Jewish community with Sephardi Judaism.

Mckynzie Romer is currently a Master’s student at the University of Edinburgh studying Public Health. She grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Harvard earlier this year with a degree in Romance Languages and Literatures, as well as minors in Psychology and Integrative Biology while on the pre-med track. During her time at Harvard, Mckynzie worked in domestic and international public health ventures, including interning in the Connecticut Medicaid office and working on the executive board of the student-run non-profit Refresh Bolivia performing public health work in Bolivia. In her free time, Mckynzie enjoys learning languages, sketching, playing rock and Latin music, and watching old Star Trek episodes. Being of mixed Portuguese, Spanish, and Caribbean Sephardic Jewish descent, Mckynzie is exploring her ancestry through her love of language and history. She hopes to engage in the conversation surrounding what defines Jewish identity by researching the history of Caribbean Jews and exploring the gifts that being of a mixed background have given to her own sense of identity.

One of the most important things I learned through [discovering my Sephardi heritage] was how we had endured hardships...how family on both my mother’s and father’s side had migrated continuously throughout Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, Asia and the Caribbean just to preserve their identity and traditions. Despite losing records of some of this history along the way, in rediscovering it, we learned how, through these hardships, our Sephardic traditions had endured. To me, continuing to unearth and celebrate this history is crucial. Strongly embedded within Judaism is an understanding and reverence for the history of its people. I believe this is a particular aspect of the history of the Jewish people that not only warrants study and appreciation, but has enduring lessons to teach us today in an ever-diversifying world.

Layla Rudy was born in Montreal and raised in the Deal, New Jersey Syrian community, attending Hillel Yeshiva for all twelve years of her primary education. She is currently a student at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, and is part of the Honors Judaic Studies program under the Department of Religions and Cultures. As someone with a Syrian-Jewish background, her educational and research interests concentrate on Sephardic and Mizrahi history and cultures, with a focus on women in Judaism.

As a student in Concordia University's Honors Judaic Studies program, I am part of a small, wonderful group of Jewish academics that have a love and appreciation for Jewish history, culture, and identity. But as the only Syrian Jew in the program -- and one of the only Sephardic Jews, as well -- my academic pursuits are largely my own...I love learning and researching Sephardic/Mizrahi history, and my goal in academia is to cultivate the knowledge I already have from my own experiences and my twelve years of Hebrew day school, and make it so that this field of knowledge is accessible...While my school has plenty of resources to help me build up my expertise, I believe that the best thing for me to do is to surround myself with like-minded individuals who are just as eager as I am to dive into the world of Sephardic history, identity, and traditions.

After graduating as valedictorian of the Buckley School’s Class of 2021, Daniel Stauber is currently a freshman at Stanford University studying Bioengineering and Computer Science. Given his family’s longstanding involvement in the American Sephardi community, as founders and leaders of the Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America and Sephardic Home for the Aged, he is honored to continue that legacy through Sephardi House and the American Sephardi Federation. In pursuit of continuing his family's tradition of American Sephardi leadership, Daniel received the ASF Broome & Allen Scholarship and saw the Sephardi House fellowship as another incredible opportunity. He aspires to be like his great-great-grandmother one day, making an impact on the world around him, both locally and globally. He has already begun his local service, as he created a community project to feed the young children at a shelter in East LA. For more than five years, He has continued to lead this tzedakah, growing it to include over 10 volunteers, serving full meals, and even personally tutoring the children.

Since I can remember, I have been invested in Sephardic culture. My first school was a Sephardic Jewish school, where I learned Hebrew and prayers the Sephardic way. As I grew older, I became interested in my family’s history, wondering what Sephardic really meant, and how it aligns with my heritage. My parents would tell me stories of my great-great-grandmother, Leah Cohen (Mrs. Marco Cohen), who helped found the Sephardic Home for the Aged many years ago in New York City. Her initiative to start such a project as a woman in that era could only be attributed to her genuine love of and desire to care for her community, the Sephardic community…Educationally speaking, ever since I heard about biomedical engineering—a profession where you research cures and build life-changing medical devices—I knew I wanted to do it. And I know exactly what I want to do: make the world void of genetic disease. Following in the footsteps of my great-great-grandmother, I will continue to embody and study the teachings of the Torah and the Talmud as I dedicate myself to positively impacting the world around me, and eventually, cure all genetic diseases.

Mauricio Woldenberg Mischne is a sophomore at Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. He is originally from Monterrey, Mexico but now lives in Miami, FL. He has learned a lot about Judaism as a whole over the years, but is very excited to learn more about Sephardi culture and history in greater depth.

As an Ashkenazi Jew from Mexico, I have grown up immersed in jewish culture and history, but would love to learn more about Sephardic Jewish culture and history...I believe this will enrich my knowledge of Judaism as well as strengthen my Jewish identity.

Jessica Yeroshalmi is currently a junior at Macaulay Honors College at Baruch CUNY studying economics and political science. Outside of class, she is a Hillel International student cabinet member, president of WINGS at Baruch, VP of programming of Hillel at Baruch, and secretary of Pre-Law Society. Jessica’s parents fled Iran after the Iranian Revolution and her Persian-Jewish heritage has shaped her upbringing and passion for family and Judaism. Jessica works to bring a Sephardic voice to Jewish spaces on campus and empower students to find their unique voice in the larger community. She is looking forward to working with this amazing cohort and bringing about change and learning.

As a daughter of Iranian-American immigrants, my Jewish identity has been shaped by my Persian heritage. Growing up, Shabbat dinners at my grandmother’s house would be incomplete without various Persian choreshts (stews) and rices. My Persian and Jewish identities are inextricably intertwined, from celebrating Nowruz (Persian New Year) with a siddur on our sofreh (table set up to celebrate the holiday) to putting Persian coins in water on the last night of Passover for good luck. I’ve gained a unique appreciation for these experiences as I’ve witnessed and been a part of other Jewish communities. As a college student I am an active member and officer of the Hillel at Baruch and a student cabinet member at Hillel international where I focus on bringing a Sephardic voice to an often ashko-normative space. As a fellow, I hope to strengthen this voice while learning from other Sephardic experiences around me.

Benjamin (Avi) Zatz is a sophomore at the University of Vermont majoring in Agroecology. He grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey in a family of mixed Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Scottish heritage. He has been active in Jewish life on campus as a member of the UVM Hillel student board, co-leader of a Jewish dance group called JewDA, and an active member of the Israel Committee at UVM Hillel. He is also active at the national level through his work as part of the University Outreach Team of Jewish on Campus. Beyond the Jewish world, Zatz has conducted agricultural research on the algae Dunaliella salina to increase its yield of β-carotene through the use of sonication. This research has won multiple awards including the In Vitro Biology Award and first place at the New Jersey FFA State Agriscience Fair. During the pandemic, he became involved in activism for the Jewish community through social media and has since begun to manage and create content for the Instagram of the American Sephardi Federation.

I want to bring more Sephardic representation and culture to my campus and transform existing Jewish life at UVM...UVM students could learn a lot about Sephardic history and culture, including myself. I would really appreciate the opportunity to learn more about my background and the customs of other, diverse Sephardic communities...I believe this fellowship could help me learn how to best work towards creating an inclusive space for students from any background to find community and have fun while learning about Sephardic Jewry.

Ariella Levy is a sophomore studying Psychology and Spanish on the pre-Occupational Therapy track at the University of Pittsburgh. Growing up in the Greater Boston Area, Ariella has both Ashkenazi and Sephardic ancestry. However, she has always felt especially connected to her Sephardic heritage because of the pride that her grandfather instilled in her. She is honored to be included in the first cohort of the Sephardi House Fellows. As a student active with her college’s Hillel, she cannot wait to share Sephardic culture with her peers. She believes that it is essential to explore the diversity within the Jewish community, and that doing so will enrich Jewish life on campus.

Whenever my grandfather introduced himself or told someone he was a Jew, he made it known that he was a Sephardic Jew. He was proud of attending services in Ladino and speaking the language as a child, proud of the delicious foods his mother cooked, and most of all he was fortunate to have a strong sense of community in the Sephardic Brotherhood of America, having been a lifelong member…After my grandfather passed in May, I embraced my Sephardic roots more than ever before. I want to share the beauty of Sephardic Judaism with my peers while furthering my own learning and connection to being Sephardic.

Benjamin Goykadosh grew-up in a home immersed in Sephardic tradition, heritage, and love for Israel. He is currently a Senior at Yeshiva University studying Physics and Mathematics. Before attending YU, he spent two years at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel. Currently living in Washington Heights, Benjie is originally from Great Neck, New York and is of Moroccan and Persian Jewish descent. As a Sephardi House Fellow, he is looking forward to helping create a community uniting and celebrating all of the different backgrounds of the Jewish people, which can thus shed light on values and ideas often not encountered. When he is not doing school work, he can be found hiking, hanging out with friends or redesigning his fish tank.

Every Friday night my extended family congregates around the Shabbat table for meals with a rich cultural blend of our different ancestry. My father is of Persian descent and my mother, Moroccan Israeli. Not only do I see myself as an individual, but also as part of a greater collective—part of both the physical and imagined community of the Jewish people. The physical community allows me to understand the stories told. Mordechai and Esther are not forgotten relics remembered once a year; I hear personal stories of my grandparents visiting their graves. Being part of an imagined community allows me to be part of [something] larger, a part of a worldwide Jewish community, each ripe with its own value…My entire life I attended predominantly Ashkenazic institutions, in which Sephardic culture and tradition were always seen as a differing opinion, the ‘side group’ used as a contrast. This leads people to forget and undervalue important facets of history. For example, we forget that Judeo-Arabic was the most widespread and longest lived of the Jewish languages…or that many of the Rishonim and Talmudists originate from classically Sephardic and Middle Eastern backgrounds. Ignoring this means that we forget much of Jewish history.

Dvir Avnon-Klein is a passionate musician and aspiring scientist studying at Queens College. He was selected as one of 19 delegates from the United States and awarded a full scholarship by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute to conduct immunology research in collaboration with students from around the world. Afterward, Dvir developed a novel biosensor concept, becoming a finalist at the QC Pitchfest and winning first place at the JA Business Competition. As a violinist, he led his chamber music ensemble to win first place at the Lincoln Center Society Competition and the Chamber Music Competition of the Manhattan School of Music Precollege. He has studied violin with preeminent pedagogues, such as Professor Nicholas Mann (Chair of the Manhattan School of Music College Strings Department). Recently, Dvir was selected as a fellow for the Carnegie Hall Future Music Project, composing original works and performing with the ensemble at Carnegie Hall. Currently, he conducts research at the Pytte Neuroscience Lab at City University of New York, and tours with The Chutzpah Caravan, a folk music ensemble based in New York City.

My family fled Spain during the Inquisition. After wandering through Europe, they settled in Jerusalem in the 1800’s [and] created a new life in the old Yishuv. As a descendant, I feel duty-bound to preserve and revive that rich culture. As a musician, I am particularly interested in the Sephardic sound. There is a much deeper history of Jewish music that young people don’t know about. I think that music can be a tool to bring together Jews on campus. It is a thread that connects the ancient Sepharadim in Spain to the modern Jewish People. Just as the sound of the Oud gave hope to Sepharadim in the diaspora, it can help young Jews navigate life on campus. The music of Sepharadim can also be a bridge between Jewish and Muslim students. I am excited to have the opportunity to join the Sephardi House because I believe that mentorship can help make this vision a reality. I am excited about forming new relationships with like-minded Jewish students who are committed to revitalizing their cultural roots and making it accessible to fellow students.

Danielle Ryba is part of the Syrian-Lebanese community in Brooklyn. She is a student, advocate, and creative pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture with the Macaulay Honors College (MHC) program at the City College of New York. She is currently developing a research paper exploring the intricate relationship between historic Jerusalem and its fluctuation populations. Danielle is the vice president of the MHC book club. She is also a regular volunteer at Aishel Shabbat, an organization which packages food boxed for families in need. Her previous work with Girls Who Code was recognized by the College Board as having the highest participation rate of any yeshiva high school. Danielle was also awarded the NY State Thomas P. DiNapoli Achievement for leadership. She hopes to continue facilitating engagement between Sephardic women and historically male dominated fields through her work with NOMAS and FAME

I grew up in a pretty tight bubble. Going to college was a way for me to break out of that and meet new people…In college, some students hadn’t realized there were Jews in the Middle East. In our current world, representation is so important.

Esther Bentolila is currently a junior in the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, majoring in hotel and restaurant administration and concentrating in finance, accounting, and real estate. She is interested in a professional role that combines her passions for the hospitality and real estate industries. She invests most of her extracurricular time as an NCAA varsity athlete on the fencing team with thirteen years of experience in the sport, competing at the national and international levels. Her on-campus involvement also includes serving as vice president of Chabad at Cornell, one of the two fencing representatives for the Student Athletic Advisory Club, a general body member of the Cornell Real Estate Club, and a general body member of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality.

Over many generations, my family has been dispersed and scattered over a variety of countries such as Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Spain, Morocco, Syria, Iran, Greece, Serbia and Israel. This diverse Sepharadi background has greatly influenced who I am…Being a part of the Sephardi House fellowship together with the American Sephardi Federation enables me to take a deeper dive into my familial ancestry and pay tribute to my heritage. I am beyond thrilled for this opportunity that brings Jewish students together from all walks of life.

Eden Janfar is a finance major on a pre-dental track at Binghamton University. He is active with regional and national Jewish and Israel student organizations, including CAMERA on Campus and Israel21c, an online media organization that produces Israeli news and culture through social media. Furthermore, on his Binghamton campus, he has served on Meor Jewish Outreach’s Executive Board as the Head of Education, in which he developed informative educational activities, headed exciting outreach events, and educated hundreds about their religious history. He has also served on Chabad’s General Board on their education committee. Eden currently serves as an NCSY Campus Judah Fellow, in which he facilitates the continued connection between NCSY and NCSY alumni in college by coordinating with colleagues and university organizations to develop, organize, and market engaging events. He previously served on the Binghamton University Zionist Organization’s board and helped with promoting understanding between pro and anti-Israel activists. Some of his favorite hobbies include practicing piano and playing sports.

We, Sepharadim, already as a minority within the Jewish community, have a duty to continue our culture, values, and customs that our parents and ancestors worked so hard to imbue in us. I come from Great Neck, New York, which is known and celebrated for its vibrant Persian Jewish community. Because I was raised within this environment, I became accustomed to having Persian Jews around me. However, when I traveled to Israel, attended college, and entered new environments, I soon realized how little other Jews actually know about our community. So much so, I even met one person that had no idea Persian Jews even existed…One of my on-campus roles is to emphasize Sephardi Jewry within Israel to demonstrate to the world that North African and Middle Eastern Jews exist and are thriving, actually making up the majority of Israel’s Jewish population.

Eli Khaim is a junior at Baruch College pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. He grew up in Rego Park, Queens to a Bukharian and Persian family from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. He is passionate about listening to traditional Bukharian Shashmaqam music, learning centuries-old recipes, and understanding the significance of traditional Sephardic attire. Eli is passionate about learning Jewish history, volunteering, financial markets, and spending time with family and friends. His student leadership on campus includes being a treasurer on his college’s Hillel board.

Being a Sephardi House Fellow will help me dive deep into my culture and discover more about many other diverse Sephardi backgrounds…It will also connect me to a passionate community of like-minded and driven individuals…I hope to use this opportunity to better serve our fellow Sephardic students from many different communities on campus. I am honored to learn from the program participants, work with them, and contribute to the amazing mission of helping fellow Jews achieve success and take pride in their culture at the same time.

Leah Goykadosh is a sophomore at Stern College. After graduating Yeshiva University High School for Girls – Central, she spent a year in Israel attending Midreshet Lindenbaum. She lives in Great Neck and is of both Persian and Moroccan descent. Leah enjoys hiking, political science, and the performing arts. She is passionate about Israel and the environment. As a Sephardi House Fellow, she is interested in sharing the rich history and culture of Sephardic Jewry with her fellow students, as she and her peers were not formally taught about much of this content in school.

I grew up in a house very rooted in Sephardic heritage. I spent the past year learning in Israel, and being away from home made me realize just how meaningful those traditions are…However, attending an Ashkenazi day school meant that I never learned about my practices in class. [Comments such as], ‘things didn’t really change religiously outside of Europe so we’re not really going to discuss that’’ [have been] incredibly hurtful to hear and drastically limit the educational opportunities of all students by withholding so much knowledge and spirit…[Many Jewish institutions] tend to have very European-centric ideas, viewing Ashkenazim as the ‘Normative Jewry’, whereas in actuality Judaism is such a diverse mix of Tefillot, songs, traditional foods, and identities. I firmly believe that Jews aren’t cookie cutter characters, and that my own experiences can vouch.

Mirushe Zylali is a senior at Mount Holyoke College double majoring in Religion and Studio Art. She is invested in researching and interfacing with Balkan, Turkish, Syrian, and Kurdish Jews. She is also passionate about the preservation of women’s rituals and mysticism with regards to adornments and weddings. In her undergraduate thesis, she is exploring the relationship between Mizrahi women, music, aesthetics, and processes of reclamation and cultural recovery. Mirushe is currently the co-chair of her college’s Jewish Student Union. As a student leader on campus, Mirushe has spearheaded various programs that engage her peers in learning about the experiences of Sepharadi and Mizrahi Jews. From her Challah and Chai dialogues and screening of Shalom, Bollywood, to her Zimra Multi-Resource (a project that challenges ideas about what normative Judaism looks like by making information about Mizrahi and Sepharadi minhagim more accessible), Mirushe continues to strive for multiplicity and cross-cultural connection. When not cataloguing, transliterating, or transcribing music, Mirushe is pursuing her own personal artistic journey, which includes the modernization of Turkish and Balkan embroidery work and henna culture.

In the past few years at my college, I have led multiple initiatives reaching for Sepharadi, Mizrahi, and Ethiopian Jewish representation and a re-conceptualization of Judaism as Judaisms. My focus is on collectivizing knowledge and information in order to make learning about Jewish people, history, and culture as accessible as possible.

Negeen Nicole Rivkah Arasteh is a senior at UCLA, majoring in Sociology. Hailing from Los Angeles and of proud Sephardic and Mizrahi origins, Negeen has a strong desire to make an impact on the Greater Sephardic community, engaging her peers in conversations about their identities and empowering them to make connections to their own customs and traditions. With a deep love for Israel, Negeen is the senior advisor to SSI (Students Supporting Israel). She is also a contributing columnist for Ha’am, UCLA’s Jewish student media publication. Negeen loves languages, dancing, and playing music on any instrument that she can get her hands on. Negeen’s dream is to ultimately open a Sephardic Jewish day school and help create a comprehensive system of Sephardic education.

I believe that a rich understanding of the past enables us to live our best lives. That’s why my passion for Judaism is deeply rooted in who I am, and I study Sephardic/ Mizrahi customs to be able to share them with others.

Noa Eshkar is a nontraditional student of Cinema and Computer Science at Binghamton University. She grew up in Israel, in a Sephardic family originally from Bulgaria, and is a descendant of Sephardic Holocaust survivors. Besides Ladino, many other languages were spoken in her immediate and extended family, including French, Bulgarian, Russian, German, English, Hebrew, Greek, Spanish, Arabic, and Portuguese. Possessing a deep connection to Ladino, Noa studies the language and hopes to become fluent. Noa loves cultures and cannot see life without diversity. With her love for international music, Noa is a broadcast producer for WHRW 90.5, where she hosts a world music radio show called Across the Universe. Noa is also passionate about human rights. After the Haiti Earthquake in 2010, and the 2011 Fukashima Daichi power meltdown, Noa was recruited to work with a team on a DARPA project writing the software for a search and rescue robot. She saw it as a humanitarian mission to help the victims through technology. As an avid nature lover and environmental activist, Noa has been a member of The Society of Protecting Nature in Israel since age 12. Noa’s hobbies include dance, singing, art, and learning about neuroscience.

My family’s Sepharadic heritage is important enough for me to spread the love and tradition…I remember when I was a child, my grandmother’s hot borekas and banitza, our Friday family gatherings in my grandparents’ house, the songs, the jokes, the laughter and my tremendous number of my aunts and uncles. There was always love coming from another family member. The social aspect was paramount, since that was the glue that held us together…My goal is to be able to create a sense of Jewish familia among students in the hope of belonging to something greater.

Rochelle Dweck hails from an Egyptian and Syrian Jewish heritage. She is very proud of her lineage and the ability to represent so many diverse cultures. She was born and raised in Brooklyn and currently lives in downtown Manhattan. Rochelle attended Barkai Yeshiva lower school and The Heschel School for High School. Enamored with art since birth, she is currently a sophomore majoring in Studio Art at Syracuse University with a minor in Jewish Studies.

Throughout my life I have witnessed countless moments where Sephardic people were underrepresented…So often, I have felt left out as a student on my college campus, because I was the only Sephardic representative…As a woman with strong ties to my Egyptian and Syrian heritage, it would be my honor to raise awareness on this issue. Since there has been a loss of a strong Jewish presence in Arab countries, it is important to me and my community to maintain traditions, culture, and values that are unique to who we are…With the education that the Sephardi House provides, I will continue to be a fighter for the Sephardic voice.

Shirin Benyaminpour grew up in Great Neck, New York and graduated from North Shore Hebrew Academy High School. She is a junior in the Macaulay Honors program at Queens College (CUNY) where she is majoring in Finance, minoring in Business and Liberal Arts, and pursuing an Advanced Certificate in Risk Management. She is currently the president of the QC Economics and Business Club and a member of the MHC Planning Committee on campus, and was previously a Jewish Learning Fellow at Queens College Hillel. Shirin has held positions as a financial analyst intern with InKind Space and a sales associate at Madewell, and she is currently an SAT Instructor for The Princeton Review. In past semesters, she has spent time as an Engagement Life Volunteer with senior citizens at the Atria Park of Great Neck. After graduating, Shirin plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a litigator.

I feel deeply connected to my Sephardic heritage, though I rarely have an opportunity to express that connection and grow it stronger. Being a Sephardi House Fellow will allow me to not only educate myself further on my ancestry, but also educate others and create a community of American Sephardic Jewish peers. There is so much to learn and love about Sephardic Jewish life from the past and the present, and I would love to dive in and learn alongside other passionate individuals…Nothing makes me happier than helping someone become the best version of themselves, and the work that the Sephardi House Fellowship supports will undoubtedly allow students to do so by engaging with the Sephardic spirit…I hope that this opportunity will allow me to better understand Sephardic Jewry and facilitate an open, welcoming community within my campus