黑料传送门 Scholarships

Proud to be Jewish

Investing in Creativity is Tikkun Olam 鈥� A Way to Repair the World

Author

Mark L.

Date

January 9, 2025

Mark is a 2024 recipient of the Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education through 黑料传送门. As a first-generation college student at Stanford University, Mark uses filmmaking to tell a diverse array of stories. Learn more about 黑料传送门 scholarships and apply today.听

I鈥檓 constantly amazed by the power of storytelling, and the way that, no matter who you are, a camera can help you share a story that might otherwise be lost. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and every individual鈥檚 story has value. 

My story is driven by my aspiration to be the first in my family to attain a four-year college degree in the United States. My dream is to become a storyteller, a changemaker, and a leader who contributes to the world through the power of film. Through the Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education, 黑料传送门 is helping me make that a reality 鈥� and helping me show that storytelling is another way we can start to repair the world.

As a 黑料传送门 scholarship recipient, I attend Stanford University, and I鈥檓 so grateful to have found a home with Hillel at Stanford. Hillel has become a part of my weekly routine, especially on Shabbat. Receiving a 黑料传送门 scholarship has been an honor 鈥� not just because I love my Judaism and I love Hillel, but because I see this scholarship as a way of really putting my Jewish values into action.听

Long before I found my way to Hillel, I started down the path of connecting my Jewish identity with filmmaking. My camera became not just a tool but a bridge, connecting me with people who tackled adversity with hope and determination. I decided to harness the power of film to ensure that my peers鈥� amazing stories would not go unheard. 

I also committed to helping other filmmakers realize their dreams. When I saw that financial barriers have kept many aspiring young filmmakers around the world from breaking into film festivals and sharing their work with a broader audience, I began to envision and build a student-led, free-to-enter film festival that prioritized the voices of marginalized artists. 

In 2022, the Student World Impact Film Festival (SWIFF) was born. Within the first week, we had thousands of entries, and since then, we鈥檝e received nearly 20,000 films from student filmmakers in 149 countries. But beyond the quantitative impact, many of the filmmakers鈥�  stories really resonate with me. 

For example, one student from Brazil wrote to us and told us that she didn鈥檛 have enough resources to afford submission fees at film festivals, and in Brazil, there are very few film festivals that showcase student work. SWIFF gave her the opportunity to submit her work, and it really helped her take the next step in her filmmaking career, sharing her story with a broader world.

My Judaism inspires me to do this work as a way of practicing tikkun olam, repairing the world. While there are so many different ways we can make the world a better place, for me, serving others through the arts just makes sense. Hillel鈥檚 support, community, and dedication to all kinds of tikkun olam make me proud to be a 黑料传送门 scholarship recipient, and I look forward to continuing to share stories, and promote healing and respect across the world.  

Read about more inspiring 黑料传送门 scholarship students like Oscar Seltzer, a Dartmouth student who carries his grandfather鈥檚 name and legacy with him as he pursues his education.听

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黑料传送门 Scholarships

Jewish History

Jewish Identity

Carrying a Family Name and Legacy 鈥� and Building a New Future

Author

Oscar Seltzer

Date

November 26, 2024

Editor鈥檚 note: An aspect of the Thanksgiving story that strongly resonates with many people in the Jewish community is the experience of immigrants trying to create a home in a new place. This Thanksgiving, we spoke to a student whose story shows the lasting impact of seeking a new home and a new future.

I never met my grandfather, but he鈥檚 always with me.

I mean that literally 鈥� I鈥檓 named for him, and I carry that name with me everywhere I go. But I also feel his legacy in everything I do, because his choices and his bravery made it possible for me to live the life I have today.

My great-grandparents, my grandfather Oscar鈥檚 parents, fled pogroms in Ukraine in the early 20th century. They came to the Americas, looking for a safe place to raise their Jewish family.听At that time, because of quotas on Jewish immigrants, they were only able to enter Argentina, Cuba, or Mexico. They ended up in Mexico City, where my grandfather was born.听

As a teenager, my grandfather left Mexico to make a new life in the United States. When my dad tells the story, he always shares that my grandfather鈥檚 only belongings when he entered the country were the watch he got for his bar mitzvah, the clothes on his back, and one stick of salami. Once he arrived in the United States, he found a lawyer who was willing to trade his services for my grandfather鈥檚 one valuable possession: his bar mitzvah watch. So he gave it to the lawyer, and the lawyer helped him get his citizenship.

That watch became a symbol in our family, and ended up starting a tradition. My father received a watch for his bar mitzvah, and eventually, so did I. In fact, the one I received has my grandfather鈥檚 original watch band, which he was allowed to keep, and the watch face is the one he eventually replaced for himself almost 70 years ago. I wore it proudly at my bar mitzvah, along with my grandfather鈥檚 , a ritual garment. That day is still one of my most powerful memories: I was reading the Torah, wearing my grandfather鈥檚 watch and tzitzit, and bearing his name. It was like he was there in the room with me, watching his legacy take shape. 

When I finished reading the Torah portion, I hugged my dad, and cried at that feeling of connection. That moment opened my eyes to the element of my Jewish identity that I treasure the most: no matter how tough any day gets, thanks to the sacrifices of my great-grandparents and my grandfather Oscar, I have a deep connection to a Jewish community that has my back, no matter what.

My grandfather died when my dad was in his early twenties, but I don鈥檛 think he could have imagined the life I live today. He never went to college, though my father did. Today, my sister attends Harvard University, and I鈥檓 studying mathematical data, science, and economics modified with computer science at Dartmouth College. 

Jewish student life at Dartmouth is amazing, with a large Hillel community and so much programming that鈥檚 available to Jewish students. One of my favorite things to do is to stop by the Hillel offices to talk to the Hillel director 鈥� he鈥檚 a great resource, but also just asks such wonderful questions. I love the way he makes me think about Judaism and life.

听As a Hillel scholarship recipient, I feel a sense of gratitude to the organization 鈥斕齛nd knowing th黑料传送门 is part of what makes my life at Dartmouth possible makes me feel like I really have the support of the Jewish community, like they came together to help me achieve my dreams.

When I think about my grandfather today, I sometimes wonder what he would think of his legacy. Not just what he built, through his own successful businesses, or what my dad built through his career, but what my sister and I are building through our education and our commitment to Jewish life.听

If I could talk to him today, I鈥檇 ask if he was proud of me. I think he would be. I鈥檓 certainly proud of him 鈥� and even prouder to carry his name, each and every day.

Oscar is a 2024 recipient of the Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Award, which awards eight incoming college students with up to $10,000 for every year for their undergraduate degree up to four years. Find out more about 黑料传送门 scholarships today.

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News

Inspired by Family鈥檚 Legacy, 黑料传送门 Scholarship Recipient Advocates for 鈥淲orld Free from Hatred鈥�

Author

黑料传送门

Date

August 27, 2024

This year, 黑料传送门 is awarding more than $100,000 in scholarships to college students to ensure that a college education 鈥� and the Hillel experience 鈥� is accessible to as many young adults as possible, regardless of their financial means. Scholarship recipients have demonstrated leadership, entrepreneurship, and/or volunteerism in their local or campus community, and have plans to continue making an impact throughout their college career.

Salima Zeira, recipient of the Jules and Gwen Knapp First Generation Student Award 2024, knows all about the power of a strong, devoted Jewish community. That鈥檚 why she鈥檚 determined to take everything she鈥檚 learned about Jewish history, Jewish resilience, and Jewish determination and put it into her college experience.

鈥淚 try to align my work on campus with Hillel鈥檚 mission of fostering Jewish identity, building community, and promoting social justice,鈥� she said. 鈥淯ltimately, I will always fight for every person鈥檚 right to be heard and respected. It is through empathy and compassion that we can combat hate and build a more inclusive society.

For Salima鈥檚 family, that right has been hard-won. Her family is originally from across the Middle East, with roots in Egypt, Turkey, and Iraq. Her grandmother, for whom Salima is named, was married at the age of ten, and had her first child at age 13. 鈥淗er full name was Salima Shulamit, but they had to disguise her name because she was Jewish,鈥� Salima said. 

Her grandparents were persecuted in Iraq for being Jewish, and later fled to Israel. 鈥淭hey had to escape with nothing on their backs, or they were going to be hanged,鈥� she said. 

Overcoming Obstacles – And Giving Back

Even after settling in Israel, the family still had tragedies to overcome. Salima鈥檚 uncle, Sami Zeira 鈥� known to his family as Nissim 鈥� was killed in the Six Day War at the age of 19. Though Salima never met him, his story and memory were passed down to her as a reminder of his courage and sacrifice. 

Salima鈥檚 mother, the youngest of her grandparents鈥� 15 children, was born in Israel, but later moved to the United States. Salima was raised in a single-parent household in a diverse Jewish community in Miami. Though she yearned for a father, she filled her heart with connections to her community, from dance to music to athletics.

Still, Salima鈥檚 journey to college was anything but easy. During Salima鈥檚 sophomore year of high school, her mother was hospitalized with COVID-19 for two months and nearly died. 

鈥淚 prayed every day and night that she would be okay, and thankfully Hashem (God) had other plans for her,鈥� she said.听

Her mother recovered, but the experience taught Salima to be resilient and determined 鈥� lessons she鈥檚 kept to this day.  She also has prioritized giving back to her community.  As a high school student, she got involved with the Jewish Education Center and Young Musicians Unite, two causes close to her heart, and helped set up fundraisers for both organizations. She also interned at a law firm, where she learned real-world skills that she鈥檚 been able to apply as a college student. 

鈥淐ollege represents more than just an opportunity for academic advancement; it’s a chance to break the cycle of poverty and create a new path for future generations,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted that for other people as much as I want it for myself.鈥�

Campus Life Changed After October 7

Ultimately, Salima chose to attend Wake Forest University, where she鈥檚 now studying politics and international affairs, with minors in Jewish studies, music, and dance. While going to school in a different state was intimidating, she fell in love with the campus, and quickly made friends and established a community. She joined the university symphony as a violinist, board member, and social media manager, and sought to establish a Spanish academic sorority on campus, Chi Upsilon Sigma, of which she is an academic chair.听

But as a first-year Jewish student on campus, her experience changed completely on October 7. Two of her cousins were killed by Hamas at the Nova Music Festival, along with one of their fianc茅es. 

鈥淚 don鈥檛 really think I鈥檝e even been able to grieve completely,鈥� Salima said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been traumatic.鈥� 

Since the war began, Salima lost two more friends in Israel. She also lost the sense of safety and community she felt on campus. 

鈥淭he silence on campus from my non-Jewish friends was so loud,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was anxious all the time, to the point where I was shaking in class and needed to step out because I was crying or having a panic attack. The only support I got was from my Jewish friends.鈥�

Like many other Jewish campus communities,  Jewish students at Wake Forest rallied together. When encampments and anti-Israel protests enveloped her campus, Salima helped organize tabling for the hostages, offered support for other Jewish students, and reported antisemitic incidents to 黑料传送门 and the Anti-Defamation League. She met frequently with the university administration to demand a stronger response in defense of Jewish students, and refused to back down when facing critics.

鈥淚 will never apologize for being Jewish,鈥� she said. 

Moments of Joy Amid Darkness

Even amid a year of grief and darkness, there were moments of delight. Salima had the opportunity to perform with Saul Drier, a 98-year-old Holocaust survivor and drummer. After the performance, Drier shared his story about how his entire family was killed, but he persevered. 鈥淗is testimony of survival amid that unimaginable loss reinforced my commitment to my heritage, but also my commitment to telling the stories of survivors,鈥� she said. 鈥溾�嬧�婭 am truly so grateful for all the moments I get with Holocaust survivors, because it is priceless. And we need to keep their testimonies alive.鈥�

When Salima reflects on what the First-Generation Student Award means to her, she thinks immediately of her grandmother. 鈥淗er name embodies the strength and resilience that have been passed down through generations,鈥� she said. 

She is proud of her Middle Eastern and Hispanic Jewish heritage 鈥� after all, her history has made her who she is today. 鈥淢y family鈥檚 legacy inspires me every day to carry forward their courage and fight for a world free from hatred and determination. I feel a deep sense of responsibility in this new chapter, and so much gratitude for everyone who came before me,鈥� she said.

The post Inspired by Family鈥檚 Legacy, 黑料传送门 Scholarship Recipient Advocates for 鈥淲orld Free from Hatred鈥� appeared first on 黑料传送门.

黑料传送门 Scholarships

Louie Rabinowitz Creates 鈥淒reams Come True鈥� for Jewish College Students

Author

黑料传送门

Date

August 23, 2024

Access to a warm, welcoming, supportive Jewish community on a college campus has never been more important than it is today. Yet, the price tag of a degree has skyrocketed. According to recent data, the average annual cost for tuition and fees is $36,400. That’s roughly $146,000 over the course of four years. And that doesn鈥檛 cover all-in expenses such as for food, supplies, transportation, and more. 

Frequently, higher education students and their families face financial barriers or underestimate these expenses. While many colleges and universities are unable to designate financial assistance specifically for Jewish students, 黑料传送门 helps donors create scholarships from current gifts and estate plans, making college financially possible for many Jewish students. These gifts often create (named) endowment funds, providing scholarship resources in perpetuity. 

Louis E. Rabinowitz (鈥淟ouie鈥�), who passed away in December 2023, connected with Hillel campuses in his beloved South Carolina, and had a deep understanding of the challenges facing the Jewish student population. Louie worked closely with 黑料传送门 to create scholarships that would help future generations of Jewish students attend college, seamlessly incorporating them into his estate plan.  His three named endowment funds will support tuition for Jewish students attending The Citadel (Louie鈥檚 alma mater), Clemson University, and the University of South Carolina.

Born and raised in South Carolina, Louie grew up proud of his Jewish faith and his small-town roots in Beaufort, South Carolina, where his family contributed to the founding of Beth Israel Synagogue in 1908. Louie proudly clung to his Jewish roots at military school as a teenager, and while achieving distinction at The Citadel and beyond.听

His wife, Sarah Rabinowitz, recalled how her husband often showed his faith on his lapel with a pin of the Israeli and American flags. She said he often ended conversations with the phrase, 鈥淵ou do well,鈥� and had a reputation for being kind-hearted and generous.

That generosity was evident in his desire to help Jewish college students.

鈥淟ouie wanted to explore ways to open doors and make college more accessible to Jewish students across South Carolina,鈥� said Charles Miller, JD, AEP庐,&苍产蝉辫;黑料传送门鈥檚 senior director of planned giving, who works closely with generous donors like Louie to create scholarship endowments for undergraduate and graduate students.  

During their conversations, Louie shared with Miller the joy of knowing his philanthropic vision would come true, saying his heart was full. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful knowing that the blessings of my lifetime will create dreams come true for aspiring Jewish college students,鈥� Louie said at the time.

Future generations of Louis E. Rabinowitz Scholars will have an opportunity to 鈥渄o well,鈥� due to the tuition assistance from a 黑料传送门 scholarship.  These scholarships provide the means for students to make a meaningful impact on the future of the Jewish people and the world while they grow intellectually, socially, and spiritually. By creating his legacy gift 黑料传送门, Louie鈥檚 Jewish values will continue l’dor v’dor 鈥� from generation to generation.

Learn more about 黑料传送门鈥檚 past and present scholarship recipients here. 

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News

黑料传送门 Announces 2024 Student Leadership Scholarship Recipients

Author

黑料传送门

Date

August 16, 2024

Nearly two dozen Jewish High School, Undergraduate and Graduate Students from Across the Country Honored for Their Leadership

WASHINGTON, DC鈥� 黑料传送门, the world鈥檚 largest Jewish campus organization, announced it has selected 22 young leaders across North America to receive scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year. These scholarships recognize Jewish students for their exemplary leadership, academic achievements, volunteerism, and commitment to their communities.

Since 2019, Hillel has increased its annual scholarship program for Jewish students by more than $100,000, and a record-high number of students receiving financial assistance each year. This significant increase in Hillel student scholarships has come on the heels of rising antisemitism on college campuses, as well as rising tuition costs.

In addition to previous years鈥� Jules and Gwen Knapp awards, Hillel has added the Lilly E. Reiser, Jordan and Elise Levin, and Paulson Leadership awards. The scholarships range from $3,000 to $10,000 and are awarded to a wide array of students, from incoming college first-years to graduate students. The majority of Hillel scholarships are renewable annually until the student graduates.

鈥淗illel is proud to support Jewish student leaders across the country,鈥� said 黑料传送门 President and CEO Adam Lehman, 鈥淭heir strength over the past year can not be overstated and we are honored to award these individuals for their unwavering leadership.鈥�

Since 2019, Hillel has prioritized supporting Jewish students through its rapidly growing scholarship program. This year鈥檚 announcement reinforces the organization鈥檚 continued commitment to fostering safe spaces for Jewish students on campus and rewarding those at the forefront of Jewish student leadership.

A list of this year鈥檚 recipients can be found below:

Lilly E. Reiser Graduate Student Award
鈥� David Pernick, Stony Brook University

Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship
鈥� Adam Elitzur, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
鈥� Neria Spence, Swarthmore College
鈥� Oscar Seltzer, Dartmouth College
鈥� Paula Fishman, University of Michigan
鈥� Samantha Zack, University of Rochester
鈥� Samuel Sievers, University of Maryland
鈥� Evin Schwartz, Barnard College
鈥� Benjamin Kagan, Rice University

Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education
鈥� Mark Leschinsky, Stanford University
鈥� Maxwell Dell, University of Ottawa
鈥� Barry Mantell, Queens College

Jules and Gwen Knapp Campus Leadership Award
鈥� Tom Dubnov, Princeton University

Jules and Gwen Knapp First-Generation Student Award
鈥� Salima Zeira, Wake Forest University

Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students
鈥� Daniel German, The City College of New York
鈥� Itai Lavie, Hunter College
鈥� Rechuma Hafter, Hunter College
鈥� Aviel Seltzer, Queens College
鈥� Perla Dahan, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
鈥� Ruben Saror, Hunter College
鈥� Uriel Alpin, The City College of New York
鈥� Moshe Janani, Brooklyn College

For anyone looking to learn more about contributing to 黑料传送门鈥檚 scholarship efforts, please contact our senior director of planned giving, Charles M. Miller, JD, AEP庐 at cmiller@hillel.org or 202.449.6529. 

鈥� Scholarships can be created at an alma mater or other college of donor鈥檚 choice
鈥� Donors can designate scholarship gifts for immediate use or a permanent (named) endowment fund
鈥� An estate gift can establish a (named) scholarship fund.

Read more about our scholarship recipients here.

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黑料传送门 Scholarships

Jewish Identity

Honoring the Generations that Came Before Us

Author

Uriel Alpin and Liora Knizhnik

Date

February 23, 2024

As the first member of my family to be born in the United States, I think a lot about my family鈥檚 legacy and my connection to the generations that came before me.

This shows up in a lot of ways, but most prominently when I think about my education, and the way I connect with my Jewish identity.听

Honoring my family鈥檚 legacy

Growing up, I had the opportunity to attend a private Jewish day school, where I pursued a general and Jewish education. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents during those years. My grandfather drove me to school before heading to his delivery job, and my grandparents attended concerts, cheered me on during swim meets, and even helped me with my Hebrew homework, memorizing words they didn鈥檛 know to help me study. They were there to celebrate any achievement, big or small, beaming with pride.

It wasn鈥檛 until I was a little older that I understood just why my parents and grandparents cared so deeply about my education. Many immigrants face a loss of professional identity when they enter the United States, including my grandparents, who moved to this country with their families from different areas of the former Soviet Union. Even though my grandparents were highly accomplished in their fields, the language and cultural barriers they encountered meant they could never pursue their professional passions in the U.S. Instead, they focused on setting up their children for success.听

I can鈥檛 begin to imagine where I鈥檇 be without the sacrifices the people before me have made. It鈥檚 because of their hard work that I鈥檝e been able to have so many educational opportunities, from the school I attended growing up to the gap year I spent in Israel. It is because of their tireless dedication to building a better future that I鈥檝e inherited their grit and perseverance along with deeply held values of education, career, and connection to Judaism.

Connecting with my Jewish identity

But it鈥檚 not just my parents and grandparents whose legacy and sacrifices I want to honor with my education and career. During my gap year, I took a trip to Poland to visit sites that are important to Jewish and Holocaust history. I had heard many accounts about how intense those trips can be, and everyone who told me it would be a transformative experience was right. I was educated about the Holocaust from a young age, but the feeling of standing on the ground where those events really happened is impossible to put into words.

On the second day of our trip, we visited the Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva, once a powerhouse of Jewish study. The Yeshiva was shuttered and destroyed by the Nazis during their occupation of Poland, and while it now stands as a hotel, it has never operated as a Yeshiva again.听

My group was staying in that hotel over Shabbat, along with students from another school. Kabbalat Shabbat, the Friday night service welcoming Shabbat, began as I found my seat in the packed synagogue. The music reverberated around the room to an almost deafening degree. As we got to Lecha Dodi, the central prayer of the Kabbalat Shabbat service, people began to stand and dance together. The dance shook the floor and ceiling.听

During WWII, the Nazis attempted to destroy this building for being a source of Judaism, and it was now once again full of it. I could imagine the same event taking place in this very spot, less than a century ago. At that moment I was not only proud to be Jewish, but deeply connected to Jews of the past.

In the face of all the adversity our people have experienced, we persevered. Nothing can destroy our joy and celebration of our culture and heritage, or our resilience. Just like I honor my parents and grandparents, I study and work to honor the legacy of the Jews who came before me.

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黑料传送门 Scholarships

Paulson Leadership Award

Cracking the Leadership Code on Campus

Author

Perla Dahan and Liora Knizhnik

Date

January 18, 2024

Perla Dahan (’26) is a recipient of the Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish students at the City University of New York (CUNY), a 黑料传送门 scholarship for students attending CUNY colleges and universities served by Hillel. For more information or to explore other 黑料传送门 scholarships, click here.

My passion for learning has been a driving force in my life. I’ve always been fascinated by books, and eager to explore new and diverse subjects. As a first generation student, college isn鈥檛 just a path to a degree, but an opportunity for me to redefine my family’s narrative and provide a foundation of support for those who come after me. It represents the realization of a lifelong dream for me 鈥� to pursue my unwavering love for learning.

At John Jay College of Criminal Justice, my curiosity has flourished, allowing me to delve deeper into the subjects I’m passionate about. College has been an opportunity for me to experience transformation and empowerment, and I鈥檝e worked to pay that forward by bringing empowerment to others.听

As a Computer Science and Information Systems major, I quickly saw that there was a serious gender imbalance in my classes. Reflecting on the gender disparity in the tech industry and my own love for coding, I felt inspired to create a Girls Who Code club, where women could explore computer science and technology in a supportive environment.听

Our Girls Who Code club has had a huge impact, on campus and off. Many members joined without coding experience, but within our club, they learned, practiced, and thrived. We also reached out to local high schools to organize coding workshops and mentoring sessions for young girls in our community, and participated in local events where we showcased the talents and potential of female programmers.

Being part of this community has been transformative 鈥� and so has my Jewish community on campus. I still remember the moment I was approached by a fellow student on campus who asked me a simple, yet profound question: 鈥淎re you Jewish?”听

This student felt safe approaching me 鈥� someone she鈥檇 never met 鈥� just because of our shared Jewish heritage. In that moment, I felt a surge of pride in my Jewish identity. I not only felt proud of who I was but also of the inclusive atmosphere I had fostered through my leadership and empowerment of others.

This inspiring Jewish moment reinforced the importance of proudly embracing our heritage and identity, even in the face of adversity 鈥� whether it鈥檚 empowering diversity in STEM or being loudly, proudly Jewish on campus amidst rising antisemitism.

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黑料传送门 Scholarships

Hillel Graduate Student Award Recipient: Miriam Borvick

Author

Miriam Borvick

Date

July 21, 2023

When I found myself in the midst of a global pandemic while caring for a medically-complex newborn, I was eager to find a way to help others through this challenging time. I saw an ad from the Covid-19 Task Force in March 2021 looking for someone to draft memos with the latest Covid-19 updates, and I jumped at the opportunity to address the unique, cultural needs of the Orthodox Jewish communities in New York. 

Writing these memos felt like something small that I, as a mom and full-time undergraduate student, could do from home while my baby napped. I never dreamed that it would lead to much greater opportunities鈥攊ncluding the opportunity to create and direct a vaccine education hotline that addressed vaccine inequity in the Orthodox Jewish community and received over 5,000 calls.

A few months after I created the Covid-19 Vaccine Education hotline, I became JOWMA’s first-ever Community Health Director. I recognized that our communities would need innovative ways to build trust in doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. I developed a community health program to provide Orthodox Jewish communities with access to evidence-based, high-quality health information and to create moments of direct, genuine connection between health professionals and community members.

Since creating the community health program in May 2022, I have overseen over $700,000 in grants, directed over 60 volunteers, organized nearly 100 in-person events across Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Rockland County, and reached hundreds of people to provide culturally-sensitive, evidence-based health education to the Orthodox Jewish communities. My programming covers a wide range of preventative health topics, from vaccine education to fostering positive mental health in teenagers and everything in between. 

As a mother entering medical school, I am truly honored to be selected for the Hillel Graduate Student Award for demonstrating extraordinary leadership abilities and academic excellence. This award recognizes my unwavering commitment to service, leadership, and the countless hours poured into my studies while balancing the rewarding role of motherhood. With heartfelt gratitude, I embrace this award with renewed inspiration to continue using my unique combination of medical knowledge and empathetic communication to bring quality healthcare and education to the Jewish community.

Miriam is an incoming medical student at the University of Nevada, Los Vegas.

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黑料传送门 Scholarships

Knapp Campus Leadership Award Recipient: Victoria Yusupova

Author

Victoria Yusupova

Date

July 18, 2023

My family鈥檚 path to the United States was grounded in strength and perseverance. After escaping persecution and antisemitism, my parents immigrated to the United States in the 鈥�90s as refugees from Uzbekistan. 

While they built a home for my brother and I in the U.S., the majority of my extended family sought refuge in Israel. For a long time, I felt disconnected from my extended family and the country they chose to call home. 

During the summer before my sophomore year of high school, my mom took my brother and me to visit our grandparents and other family in Israel and to visit the country for the first time. I grew up hearing incredible stories from my friends about how it felt to visit Israel for the first time, but it wasn鈥檛 until I went for myself that I realized the impact it would have.

The feeling came almost immediately. On the drive from the airport to my uncle鈥檚 home, I looked out the window and felt that I was home. I can鈥檛 explain it better than simply saying, 鈥渋t felt right.鈥�

During our trip, I went swimming in the Dead Sea,  rode camels with my cousins, and ate too much hummus. I experienced the beauty of the country and learned more about its history.  With all those moments, the one that left the greatest impact on me was our trip to Jerusalem. I will never forget my heart filling with a deep pride when we first walked through the bustling markets on our way to the Western Wall.

As Bukharian Jews, my parents experienced antisemitic discrimination and violence in Uzbekistan. I remain grateful that I grew up in a community where I didn鈥檛 face that same reality. However, after visiting Israel, the rest of my Jewish identity started to take shape, and I was able to feel pride in my Jewish identity, and derive joy from being Jewish. That trip was a turning point for me, and I鈥檓 now more inspired to carry on the legacy of my family’s strength and resilience through leadership and service.

Victoria is an incoming senior at the University of Arizona.

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黑料传送门 Scholarships

Knapp First-Generation Student Award Recipient: Lia Abuhsira

Author

Lia Abuhsira

Date

July 12, 2023

Throughout my gap year in Israel, I took the train weekly to Jerusalem for Hebrew lessons with my Safta, my grandmother.  

Safta鈥檚 family emigrated from Morocco to Israel during World War II, as antisemitic propaganda plagued northern Africa. The political and financial instability of that time meant that university wasn鈥檛 an option for my Safta. 

Although Safta鈥檚 education happened outside of the classroom, she innately understood the importance of formal education, and always encouraged me to pursue my academic ambitions. Throughout the years,  we would dream together of what I鈥檒l be able to accomplish with a college education, while she tells her neighbors all about how I will conquer New York City in a dark blue blazer and a fresh manicure. Her endless support of my lifelong passion for learning and education have inspired me to give back to her in a similar way: by studying Hebrew together. 

Every week when we sit at her kitchen table to study Hebrew together, my admiration for her grows. With each new word, letter, and step forward, I鈥檝e come to appreciate that life is truly a gift. Each day is an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to honor our freedom. 

In our most recent lesson, I told Safta that I would be attending Fordham University in the fall. She began to cry as she realized that our dreams over the years are becoming reality. We spoke about how I am the first woman from my father鈥檚 family to graduate high school, and will now be the first to attend a four-year college. Safta鈥檚 journey from Morocco to Israel gave me the opportunity to forge this new path for my family. 

This relationship with my Safta anchors my desire to pursue a college education – not just for myself, but for my Safta, my family, and for the women who will come after me.

Lia is an incoming first-year student at Fordham University.

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