Recipients of Bronfman Fellowships announced

DELMAR, New York (Press Release)–The Bronfman Fellowships has selected its 28th cohort of high school students, among them a varsity hockey player who founded a popular prayer service at her school; a saxophonist, clarinetist and composer who has performed at Lincoln Center; an avid participant in Revolutionary War reenactments; and a budding scientist who works at a Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory.

The 26 fellows, including San Diegan Max Greene,  chosen from hundreds of applicants across North America, will participate in a transformative five-week program of study and travel in Israel, followed by a rigorous year of programming centered around pluralism, social responsibility and Jewish texts. The new class of fellows will join a vibrant alumni network that includes some of today’s most inspiring Jewish writers, thinkers and leaders.

The program was founded by Edgar M. Bronfman, z”l, formerly CEO of the Seagram Company Ltd. and a visionary Jewish philanthropist. Mr. Bronfman passed away in December.

“Edgar Bronfman placed enormous faith in young people’s ability to see the world not just as it is, but as it ought to be,” said Rabbi Mishael Zion, co-director of the Fellowships. “He believed that young people energized by their Judaism were best equipped to both shape a Jewish ‘Renaissance’ and improve the world. This year’s Fellows are already a remarkable group; we have the privilege of instilling in them a love for learning Jewish texts and a commitment to pluralism and communal responsibility that will serve us all into the future.”

Following a competitive application process, the 2014 Fellows are from 14 states across the United States and Canada. They represent diverse Jewish backgrounds, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, unaffiliated and non-denominational. The Fellows, who have already distinguished themselves as leaders in their communities, will spearhead Jewish community or social action projects upon returning home after the summer.

The Fellows will study with an esteemed faculty, including Rabbi Zion; Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, Executive Director of the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at New York University and the subject of a new documentary produced by Chelsea Clinton; Rabbi Or Rose, Director of the Center for Global Judaism at Hebrew College; Dr. Judith Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Jewish Women’s Archive; and Rabbi Laurence Edwards, former Hillel Director at Dartmouth College and Cornell University.

Over the summer, Fellows meet with political and cultural figures in Israel such as authors Etgar Keret and A.B. Yehoshua, politician Ruth Calderon, activist Anat Hoffman and journalist Jodi Rudoren, the New York Times Jerusalem Bureau Chief. They also spend a week with a group of Israeli peers who were chosen through a parallel selection process as part of the Israeli Youth Fellowship, Amitei Bronfman. This aspect of the program reflects Mr. Bronfman’s early recognition that the future of Jewish peoplehood should be considered a global enterprise, forged through deep collaboration, discourse and friendship between Israelis and Americans.

There are now over 1,000 Bronfman Fellowships alumni across North America and Israel, among them 8 Rhodes Scholars, 4 former Supreme Court clerks, 15 Fulbright Scholars, 27 Wexner Fellows and 21 Dorot Fellows. Young leaders of note among Fellowship alumni include Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, author of the best-selling “Series of Unfortunate Events children’s books; Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and editor of the New American Haggadah (featuring commentary from Lemony Snicket, among others); and Angela Warnick Buchdahl, the first woman to be named Senior Rabbi at New York’s Central Synagogue and the first Asian-American person to be ordained as a rabbi and cantor.

Others include: Igor Timofeyev, former Supreme Court clerk and former Special Advisor for Refugee and Asylum Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Dara Horn, author of In the Image, The World to Come and All Other Nights; and Anya Kamenetz, the youngest person ever nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her Village Voice series “Generation Debt: The New Economics of Being Young.”
Our Israeli alumni have also ascended to positions of influence in government, civil groups, the private sector and cultural institutions. Israeli alumni include attorneys at the State Justice Department, a member of the Yokneam City Council, noted journalists, successful filmmakers including a Tribeca Film Festival winner, political advisers to Members of Knesset, members of elite IDF units and university lecturers.

“We are thrilled to welcome the latest class of Fellows into a community that has grown to become a talent bank for the Jewish people,” said Rebecca Voorwinde, co-director of the Fellowships. “As the past three decades have shown, the five weeks in Israel are just the beginning.”
Visit www.bronfman.org for application information.

By State, the new cohort of Bronfman Fellows includes:

California
San Diego–Maxwell “Max” Greene, son of Raquel Graciela Birman and Kevin Jerome Greene of Buenos Aires and New York City respectively, is a junior at the Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High Charter School in San Diego. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, Max “[has] ever had a pleasure in obtaining any little anecdotes of [his] ancestors.” This is due to Max’s rich and varied heritage. Max is the son of an Ashkenazi Jewish-Argentine mother and a father of Southern Baptist African-American descent. As indicated above, Max currently resides in picturesque San Diego and attends High Tech High, a textbook-free project based learning school that strongly values equal opportunity. In school, Max is a Student Senator and the soon-to-be Secretary-General of the Model United Nations club he helped revitalize. At High Tech High, Max cultivated a passion for activism and politics. This passion has driven Max to speak before the City Council regarding the obesity epidemic, join the YMCA’s Youth and Government program, and work at a sustainable, organic, volunteer-run farm. Outside of school, Max volunteers as a madrikh at Congregation Dor Hadash, where he also served as a student member of the Board of Trustees. Despite staying late after school to take college-level political science and college algebra courses, Max manages to find time to pursue some of his leisurely interests. Outside of school, Max is a dedicated classical pianist, an avid learner of Hebrew, and a student of history. Max also enjoys spending time with his friends, eating healthy (and tasty) food, and when he can, travelling.

Santa Barbara– Talia Cohen, daughter of Judy Karin and Dan Cohen of Santa Barbara, is a junior at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta. She is very active in the Dos Pueblos Theater Company, where she is currently stage managing a production of Disney’s Mary Poppins. She is also part of the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy, home to FIRST Robotics Team 1717, with whom she recently traveled to Las Vegas for a regional competition. Talia is a madricha at the religious school at Congregation B’nai Brith, and works as a counselor at a Jewish day camp during the summer. She is very passionate about learning, dancing, and spending time with her friends.

Connecticut
Stamford–Sally Klapper, daughter of Elissa and Dr. Philip Klapper of Stamford, is a junior at The Ramaz Upper School in Manhattan. She is an active member of her school’s Debate, Model United Nations and Math teams. She has been awarded “Best Team” in Debate competitions and has earned an “Honorable Mention” in a national Model Congress competition. She is currently president of her school’s Junior Statesmen of America team, president of the Human Rights Club, co-captain of the Model Congress team, president of the Israel Advocacy Club, co-captain of the City Harvest club and an editor of the Pre-Med newspaper. An avid hockey player, Sally has been playing Varsity hockey since her freshmen year. She is a volunteer at, and Development Board member of, The Friendship Circle of Fairfield County. She has also founded a prayer service at school aimed at educating her peers about the meaning behind this daily ritual.

District of Columbia
Washington–Talia Goldberg, the daughter of Pamela Reeves and Jeffrey Goldberg, is a junior at Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C. Talia is the oldest of three; her sister Elisheva is a 9th grader, and her brother William is a 7th grader. Talia and her family are members of Adas Israel Congregation, a conservative synagogue, in Washington. She is a graduate of the Children’s Chorus of Washington, and is a member of the GDS Singers, as well as a member of the school’s chamber chorus and touring choir, with which she recently toured Spain. She is also a member of an all-girls a cappella group, and she has served as the group’s manager. At Adas Israel, she has sung at services throughout the year, sometimes performing duets with the cantor. Talia is deeply involved in her school’s theatrical productions. After serving as costume crew head, Talia became the lead costume designer for her school’s fall play and spring musical this year. Outside of school, she loves canoeing, and for three years spent her summers on canoeing trips through the Adirondacks and Quebec. She spent last summer at the Middlebury-Monterey language immersion program, studying French. Talia is a member of Poets and Playwrights, one of her school’s literary clubs, and she is a member of her school’s Academic Committee. She volunteers at Martha’s Table, a food bank and social service center in Washington, DC, and she has volunteered for many years as a teacher’s assistant at Adas Israel’s religious school, working with kindergarteners.

Florida
Weston–Lauren Goboff, daughter of Debbie and David Goboff of Weston, is a junior at American Heritage School in Plantation. Lauren is the president of the Best Buddies club at her school. She recently organized a school assembly to promote the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, a movement that advocates for the acceptance and equal treatment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her principal plans to make the assembly an annual event. In addition to Best Buddies, Lauren is a member of the National Honor Society, English Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Key Club, and the AHS Dance Ensemble. She is an active volunteer at the Schott Community Center’s Saturday program for adults with special needs; Camp Dan Marino Center, a summer program for children with developmental delays; and the Young At Art Children’s Museum. Outside of her academic pursuits, Lauren enjoys the performing arts, reading, and creative writing.

Maryland
Baltimore– Rafi Lehmann, son of Pam and David Lehmann and youngest of four siblings, is a junior at Beth Tfiloh, a modern-Orthodox community day school in Baltimore, Maryland. Passionately devoted to his school community, Rafi currently presides as president of BT’s student government, where he has served for three years. As president, he seeks to enhance student life both in and out of the classroom through various projects and initiatives. Additionally, Rafi serves as captain of both the mock trial and model UN teams at his school. He belongs to two Jewish choir groups: Kolenu: The BT Choir — where he serves as a section leader — and the BT Chamber Choir, a more intensive group. Rafi also runs on his school’s Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field teams. Outside of the Beth Tfiloh community, Rafi has volunteered for numerous organizations and projects, including a tutoring initiative at an inner city public school, a program for teens with disabilities, and a local Jewish community-sustained farm. He participated in the Baltimore Jewish Federation’s Teen Giving Initiative, a Jewish philanthropy program, and attended a Panim el Panim seminar on pressing social issues. A passionate Zionist, Rafi coordinated his community’s Israeli memorial day ceremony and volunteered for two years as the publicity manager for America Eats for Israel, an annual fundraiser for an Israeli anti-poverty organization. Dedicated to progressive Jewish values, he is currently working on several projects to promote gender equality within Orthodoxy, and walks three miles every week to lead his school’s teen services.

Massachusetts
Carlisle–Lindsay Klickstein, daughter of Kathryn and Jamie Klickstein of Carlisle is a junior at Concord Academy in Concord. She has many academic interests, including history, psychology, and Latin. Her main academic interest is history, particularly local history regarding the Revolutionary War. Lindsay works as a tour guide at the Old Manse, a local historical home in Concord, MA. She also participates in historical reenactments with the Carlisle minutemen, playing the fife. In her free time, Lindsay is an avid runner, earning New England Prep School Cross Country All Star two years in a row. She also runs her school’s Psychology club. Lindsay is particularly interested in Neurology, and hopes to go to medical school after college.

Michigan
Ann Arbor–David Groden, son of Robert and Louise Groden is a junior at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor, a small independent high school. He plays on the varsity tennis team where he won the state championship tournament with his doubles partner last fall. A dedicated musician, David plays violin in The University of Michigan Youth Ensemble Orchestra as a part of the first violin section and maintains weekly lessons. In school, David shows academic excellence and was inducted into the cum laude society. He also participates in his school’s competitive speech program where he won fourth place in the state tournament with his group in a group acting performance and so far has won first in the regional tournament this year. Outside of school, David works in The University of Michigan physics department as a research assistant, contributing to the larger Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory project. For two years David worked as a madrich at the Temple Tifereth Israel and is currently a member of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization in the Shapiro chapter.

New York
Brooklyn–Audrey Bachman, daughter of Rabbi Andy Bachman and Rachel Altstein of Brooklyn is a junior at the Beacon School in Manhattan. Captain of the Girls’ Ultimate team and a member of the Student Leadership team, Audrey is an avid sports fan who is interested in sports journalism. In summer 2013 Audrey made history as the first girl to be named captain of the Ultimate team at Ramah Berkshires, where she spent the last five summers. At her synagogue CBE Brooklyn, Audrey is in the Madricha program working as a teacher’s aide with a particular interest in students on the spectrum. Audrey is also an Atid Fellow, creating peer-to-peer programs for Jewish teens in Brooklyn. Along with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts with her synagogue and school, in Spring 2014 Audrey participated in a teen seminar visiting Civil Rights landmarks in Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham, and Atlanta which sparked questions about equality in social and economic justice. A frequent traveller to Israel with her family, Audrey is thrilled to be returning on her own with the Bronfman Youth Fellows.

Brooklyn–Danya Levy, daughter of Julie Dressner and Clifford Levy of Brooklyn, is a junior at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan. Danya attended public elementary school in Brooklyn before moving to Russia with her family at the age of nine, where she attended the Hertzen School in St. Petersburg and the New Humanitarian School in Moscow. By attending Russian schools, Danya learned to speak fluent Russian. She returned to Brooklyn in time to start high school at Bard. Throughout high school, she has been involved in many Russian-related community service activities, including translating for an organization that provides free legal aid, and volunteering with Russian events at the Brooklyn Public Library. She has been a reporter for her school newspaper since freshman year, and an editor since sophomore year. Danya also had a mural apprenticeship at Groundswell, a social justice-focused mural painting organization, and is currently an intern at Freedom House, an international human rights group. She received a National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship to study Arabic in Morocco for six weeks the summer after sophomore year, and continued her Arabic studies at the New School junior year. Danya’s family attends Kolot Chayeinu, a progressive synagogue, where she interned at a social justice and theater-focused youth group.

New Rochelle–Jacob Shteingart, son of Sam and Ella Shteingart of New Rochelle is a junior at SAR High School in Riverdale. Jacob serves on the Leadership Circle for J-teen Leadership, a county-wide teen-led community service organization and has traveled with J-teen nationally and internationally on humanitarian missions. He is an avid sportsman, starting on his High School’s Varsity Baseball Team, JV Soccer team. He runs competitively and leisurely in half-marathons and other minor races, recently earning second place for his age group at the Olga Memorial 5K race. Jacob is also an animated debater, and has won several awards at a number of metropolitan area High School debate competitions. A math enthusiast, Jacob won a silver medal for his research in the 5 borough Greater New York Math Fair. Jacob enjoys playing piano and drums and has been playing, composing, and performing piano for ten years.

New York– Coby Goldberg, son of J.J. Goldberg and Shifra Bronznick of New York City is a junior at Stuyvesant High School. A passionate student of world politics and economics, he has won numerous awards at Model United Nations conferences. He is a News Editor of the Stuyvesant Spectator, ranked the top high school newspaper in the country by the Harvard Crimson. Committed to robust civic participation, Goldberg has interned for two city-wide political campaigns, focusing on finance and fundraising, and has also volunteered for the campaigns of Senator Elizabeth Warren and President Barack Obama. Goldberg explores his creative side by playing both the banjo and guitar, and by acting and writing for his school’s theater community.

New York–Andrew Lobel, son of Judy and David Lobel of New York, is a junior at the Ramaz Upper School, a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school in Manhattan. An avid athlete, he plays on his school’s varsity hockey and varsity tennis teams. During the summers, he has represented the 92nd Street Y of Manhattan in tennis and golf at five Macabee Games where he won numerous medals. He is an accomplished pianist, and has performed at the Ramaz Annual Dinner, Celebration of the Arts, and has professionally recorded a collection of pieces ranging from Schubert to Gershwin. He is an active participant in his school’s co-curricular activities and is currently junior editor of Rampage (the school newspaper), editor of the school’s French publication, La Gazette, and an editor of the Ramaz eNewsletter for alumni and parents. He is also a junior captain of the mock trial team, a starter on the college bowl team, and president of Kosher City Harvest at Ramaz. He is an active member of his synagogue, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, where he is leader of the Teen Minyan. He also regularly leads the davening and reads from the Torah in the main service. He speaks French and Hebrew, and spent last summer learning Arabic.

New York–Sam Mellins, son of Thomas Mellins and Judith Weinstein, is a junior at Hunter College Campus Schools. A passionate saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer, he devotes much of his time to the various ensembles with which he performs both jazz and classical music. In his musical career, he has performed everywhere from Lincoln Center to the 116th Street Farmers Market. Also a writer, Sam has written for What’s What, Hunter’s official newspaper, Argus, Hunter’s literary magazine, and Polyglot, Hunter’s foreign language magazine. Sam takes great interest in politics and international affairs, and last year was one of the members of his school’s Euro Challenge Competition team, which participated in the competition finals at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. During the first semester of junior year, Sam interned at the office of Congressman Charles B. Rangel. In his spare time, Sam enjoys listening to music, watching Hatufim, and studying Hebrew with Rosetta Stone.

New York- Samuel Schultz, son of Dr. Andrew and Erica Schultz of Manhattan, is a junior at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, where he is an instrumental student who plays flute and bassoon. He has also studied at the Yamamura Kokusai (high school) in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, the Manhattan School of Music, and was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus. He enjoys studying under the supervision of researchers at the Museum of Natural History, where his focus is on genomics and evolutionary biology. He has been an active participant in Model United Nations, where he has won a variety of awards in Model UN conferences, and is extremely interested in international security studies.

Riverdale–Shalhevet Schwartz, daughter of Bat Sheva Marcus and Elliot Schwartz and younger sister to Yishai and Yedidya, is a junior at SAR High School, a Modern Orthodox high school in Riverdale. She is a member of two synagogues in her neighborhood, the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale and the Riverdale Jewish Center. In addition, she is an active member of a local partnership minyan, where she regularly leads services and reads Torah. She is a Co-Editor-in-Chief of her school’s newspaper and is on her school’s Mock Trial team, College Bowl team, and Torah Bowl team. Twice a week, she attends a fencing club, and she plays on her school’s softball team. She loves music, and is a member of her school’s a capella group, plays guitar, and is currently teaching herself to play piano. She also tutors students in Judaic Studies, which includes bar and bat mitzvah lessons as well as general Judaic Studies tutoring. In 2013, she came in 4th place in the International Chidon Ha’Tanach. Shalhevet enjoys attending Broadway musicals, playing board games, and watching anything written by Aaron Sorkin.

White Plains– Noah Meixler, son of Barbara and Steven Meixler of White Plains, is a junior at Solomon Schechter School of Westchester in Hartsdale, NY. Noah attends Temple Israel Center, a Conservative synagogue in White Plains. He has been an active participant in Mock Trial throughout high school, and as Co-Captain, helped lead his team to the semi-finals this year. Noah has held several leadership positions in Student Government and is currently Student Government President. This year, Noah co-launched a tutoring program, linking students from Solomon Schechter and the Woodlands Middle School. He also volunteers regularly at the Sharing Community in Yonkers. Some of Noah’s other interests include film, Ultimate Frisbee and astronomy. His past six summers have been spent at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires and most recently, in Hungary as a Szarvas Fellow.

North Carolina
Durham–Micah Pickus, son of Trudi Abel and Noah Pickus of Durham, is a junior at Durham School of the Arts (DSA) in Durham. As a 9 year old, he sang the role of Amahl for Long Leaf Opera’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. At DSA, he has studied piano, guitar and voice. He is now a member of the DSA Chamber Ensemble. He attended BIMA at Brandeis University in Choral Music, and was a North Carolina Governor’s School nominee in the same area. Since the 8th grade, he has volunteered over the summer for KidZNotes, a local Durham El Sistema program dedicated to bringing classical music education to disadvantaged youth.

Ohio
Cleveland–Amital Haas, daughter of Adam and Amalia Haas of Beachwood, is a junior at Fuchs Mizrachi School, a Modern Orthodox day school in Beachwood, Ohio. A devoted musician, Amital plays piano and sings in HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir as well as her school’s a cappella choir, the Mizrachi Mayhen. She is a HaZamir Teen Leader, chamber choir member, and soloist. Last summer Amital participated in an internship in Recording Arts and Technology, and has since been regularly involved in music composition and creative writing. Outside of Mizrachi’s rigorous dual-curriculum, Amital is an editor of her school’s literary magazine, participates in Model UN, is a member of Mizrachi’s leadership initiative, and volunteers weekly both with the elderly and the Public Education Initiative for inner-city elementary school students. Her interest in health and environmental awareness led her to spend a year at the Hershey Montessori Farm School, head a recycling initiative at Mizrachi, volunteer at the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute, and become an active member of Hazon, an organization promoting Judaism and sustainability. She enjoys biking, swimming, and spending time with her parents and five younger siblings.

Pennsylvania
Northumberland–Aaron Schaffer-Neitz, son of Robert and Rebecca Schaffer-Neitz of Northumberland, is a junior at Shikellamy High School in Sunbury, PA. Aaron is heavily involved in the Cross Country, Track and Forensics teams. He has been the most valuable distance runner for both Track and Cross Country since his sophomore year. However, Aaron’s true passion is in forensics, where he has qualified to five national tournaments in Public Forum debate, two state tournaments, and is the captain of the debate team. When not running or competing in debate tournaments, Aaron is involved in the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America, in which he is a national qualifier in business ethics (finishing second at states). He is also a volunteer teacher at Congregation Beth El, and an active member in their teen group.

Philadelphia– Sophie Bartholomew, daughter of Laura Silverman and Matthew Bartholomew of Philadelphia, is a junior at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. Sophie has gone to Quaker school her whole life, and is a member of Mishkan Shalom, a Reconstructionist synagogue. Sophie is one of the leaders of Chaverim, the Jewish affinity club at GFS. Sophie is also one of the leaders of the Student Religious Life Committee at GFS. Sophie rowed in a girls novice quad and won Philadelphia City Championships in 2013. Sophie has also won honors in the National Latin Exam for the past two years.

Tennessee
Memphis–Emily Faber, daughter of Melissa and Richard Faber of Memphis. is a junior at Hutchison in Memphis. Emily is currently the Sh’licha of her BBYO chapter Daniel Pearl BBG, as well as a founding committee member of the Jewish youth group, JPYO (Jewish Pluralistic Youth Organization), which was created to connect Memphis Jewish teens of all sects. She also teaches at Sunday school through Teen Team at her Reform synagogue, Temple Israel, and performs at Shabbat services. At Hutchison, Emily is co-editor of her school’s print newspaper, The Signpost, and of her school’s upcoming online newspaper, The Beeline. Emily is also co-editor of her school’s literary and art magazine, The Emblem, co-founder of Hutchison’s Diversity Lecture Series, and president of Live Poets, an organization of Hutchison students passionate about the English language. She is Fine Arts Council president, has appeared in over 25 plays, and has played piano for 12 years. Emily creates the curriculum and leads a mentorship program for inner city girls at Streets Ministries.

Virginia
Charlottesville,– David Cohn, son of Deborah A. Cohn and Charlotte J. Patterson of Charlottesville, is a junior at Charlottesville High School. He plays on the varsity tennis team, and is captain of the cross country team. David also plays cello in the school orchestra, and at weddings and other events with his string quartet. He is president of the school debate team, and competes at local and national tournaments. He is the vice president of the Charlottesville High School Young Liberals, and has enjoyed working on local and national political campaigns.

Washington
Seattle– Mika Koch, daughter of Debra Somberg and Johannes Koch of Seattle, is a junior at Lakeside School in Seattle. Mika is the rising chair of the Lakeside Judicial Committee where she has served for the past three years and was an inaugural member of the Lakeside Leadership Institute. She captained her premier soccer team until tearing her ACL last year. She is passionate about global health – an interest cultivated through her year- long work with the non-profit One by One working to end obstetric fistula in Kenya. In 2012 she was selected for the Iraqi Youth Leadership Program of the U.S. State Department and spent her summer on the east coast with Iraqi teens. She speaks German and Chinese, loves travel, reading and the Pacific Northwest.

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Canada
Montreal– Sapira Cahana, daughter of Rabbi Ronnie and Karen Cahana is a graduating senior at Hebrew Academy in Côte Saint-Luc. At school, Sapira has been an active athlete and placed at the regional science fair and National Bible Contest Regionals. She is a devoted Model U.N. participant, having attended both the Jewish Canadian Youth Model UN and the intensive summer Model UN in the Sun. She is s a member of the Plan International Youth Board, and has spearheaded the World Awareness Club at Hebrew Academy to raise awareness about world affairs. An active volunteer for disabled children, Sapira works with the Friendship Circle and serves as president.

Japan
Tokyo– Eve Sneider, daughter of Naomi Pollock and David Sneider of Tokyo, Japan, is a junior at The American School in Japan (ASIJ). Eve belongs to the Jewish Community of Japan, the Conservative synagogue in Tokyo. She was born and raised in Japan, where she and her sister were the first second-generation B’nei Mitzvot in their community. At ASIJ, she is an active member of the Model United Nations club and the Varsity Debate team and an editor for Daruma, the high school literary magazine. In Debate, she was awarded Speaker’s Awards three years running for her accomplishments against other schools in the greater Tokyo area. Eve is also heavily involved in theater. She has acted in numerous productions ranging from Beauty and the Beast to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and has had two original one-act plays performed at ASIJ. For her playwriting, she was the recipient of a 2014 YoungArts Merit Award . She is also a fluent Japanese speaker and a member of National Honor Society.

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Preceding provided by the Bronfman Fellowships