Kol Koleinu Fellows

Charlotte M. (she/her) is a junior at Crystal Springs Uplands School in Hillsborough, CA. She has an interest in neuroscience and psychology, and she has a podcast (It’s A Teen’s World) where she posts weekly. She plays lacrosse on her school’s varsity team, and she is affiliated with the Jewish Affinity Space at her high school.

Eliana K.G. (she/her) is a junior at Julia R. Masterman High School and belongs to Germantown Jewish Centre in Philadelphia, PA. She is the captain of her school’s debate team, an avid figure skater, an instrumentalist affiliated with her city’s youth orchestra, and the vice president of peer counseling. Eliana is passionate about biology and English, and in her spare time, she loves to read and run.

Eve K. (she/her) is a junior at Newton South High School and a member of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA. She plays soccer and hockey for her high school team, works as a Madricha at her temple, and has spent the past nine summers at URJ Crane Lake Camp. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and listening to music.

Jo-Jo M. (she/her) is a junior at Greenfield High School in Milwaukee, WI and is a member of Congregation Sinai.  She plays soccer for her high school team, and is a member of her school’s GSA.  In her spare time Jo-Jo enjoys reading, playing and watching sports, and baking. 

Kayla K.G. (She/her) is a junior at Julia R. Masterman and a member of Germantown Jewish Centre in Philadelphia, PA. She is the captain of her school’s debate team, plays tennis for her high school team, and serves as a youth representative on her synagogue’s board. Kayla enjoys challenging herself through difficult conversations and is looking forward to the new insights that being a teen leader will bring. In her free time, Kayla enjoys baking and running.

Naomi G.B. (she/her), a senior at Franklin High School in Portland, Oregon, is returning for her second year of Kol Koleinu as a Teen Leader! She loves writing and is a features and frontline editor for her school newspaper, where her reporting focuses on the people impacted by policies and events. An avid swimmer, she swims for both her club and high school swim teams. She also runs cross country with her high school team. She is an active member of her synagogue, a Rising Voices Fellowship alumna, and a member of her school’s constitutional law team.

Shoshanah G. (she/her) is a junior at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, FL. She is captain and MVP of her high school soccer team, mock trial Vice President, and lead vocalist in her high school band. Shoshanah is passionate about politics, music, and loves playing bass.

Taylor B. (she/they) is a junior at Park Vista Community High School in Greenacres, FL, and is a member of Temple Beth El in Boca Raton, FL. They play an active role in their community, serving on their Temple’s teen board, and is a teacher’s assistant.  She is a blue belt in Jiujitsu, enjoys Academic Game competitions, is an active member of both National Honor Society and Psychology Club, enjoys reading, and has a passion for social justice.

Tina R.-M. (she/her) is a rising junior at Cheltenham High School just outside of Philadelphia as well as a member of the Mishkan Shalom Reconstructionist Synagogue in Manayunk. This is her second year in Kol Koleinu, and she is returning as a teen leader after an extremely enriching and transformative year as a fellow. Additionally, she is the Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate for 2025, a dedicated cello performer with the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County (as well as one of their 2026 concerto competition winners), and president of her school’s Model UN team.

Abby Z. (she/her) is a junior at Burlingame High School in California. She is a Madricha for the Youth Education program at Peninsula Temple Sholom and was involved in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency’s Spring Teen Journalism Fellowship. As an avid competitive swimmer, she spends a majority of the time at the pool training, teaching kids to love swim as much as she does, and volunteering for Special Olympics Northern California. Outside of the pool, Abby writes for her school’s newspaper, enjoys listening to music, making string bracelets, and following sports news.

Alexandra B. (She/Her) is a senior at Gann Academy in Waltham, MA. She serves on the advisory board for the Holocaust Museum Boston set to open in 2027. She is the President of her school’s Israel advocacy club, newspaper, and Women in STEM. She is extremely passionate about history and geopolitics. 

Amara B. (she/her) is a freshman at Campolindo High School in Moraga, CA. As a member of Temple Isaiah of Contra Costa County, she is involved in teen Noar Night and is an Avodah teaching assistant. Her interests include soccer, sailing, backpacking, camping, and traveling. She is also an active Girl Scout and recently earned her Silver Award.

Clara M.-J. is a senior at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in Baltimore, MD. She plays Varsity soccer and lacrosse, and is involved in several clubs, including the Jewish Student Union (JSU). She also served as a Leader for Environmental Action Fellow at the National Aquarium. Clara is very passionate about her community and her friends and enjoys spending time with those she loves.

Ella K. (she/her) lives in New York City and will be a high school sophomore in the fall. Ella is the Communication Coordinator for her schools student government, is on her high school’s varsity soccer and softball teams, and is a member of her schools Jewish Student Union. Outside of school Ella plays club soccer and is a TA at her synagogue’s religious school. In her free time, Ella enjoys reading and watching movies.

Irene F. is a sophomore at the Bronx High School of Science in New York City, NY, where she is in JV Policy debate and Treasurer of the Chess Club. She is an active member of Bet Am Shalom Synagogue in White Plains, NY, where she enjoys intergenerational connections and serving as a madricha (teen assistant) in the Hebrew School. Irene is a musical theater fan and an avid reader.

Izzy H. (she/her) is a sophomore at The Bush School in Central District, WA where she plays volleyball and tennis. She is a member and Madrichah at Kol HaNeshamah in Seattle, WA and a member of NFTY Northwest and KHTY, the Kol HaNeshamah youth group. Izzy is in her 11th year as a Girl Scout, is interested in Marine Biology and loves to read.

Jessa O. (she/they) is a rising senior at Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, OK and a congregation member of Temple B’nai Israel in Oklahoma City. She is an all-state flute player, painter, marching band section leader, and the senior officer vice president at her school. She is also the membership vice president for her congregation’s youth group, OKATY, and on the engagement and recruitment team for NFTY’s national board.

Kaitlin R. (she/her) is a member of the class of 2027 at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, CA and a member of Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades. She is the president of Homework Hotline Club, plays guitar in her school band, and plays on the high school tennis team.

Leelah M. (she/her) is a senior at Needham High School and a member of Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, MA.  She is actively involved in many activities that are meaningful to her, including Jewish leadership and those that involve racial inequities. She works at her synagogue in the preschool program and often finds herself babysitting on the weekends or hanging out with her friends, especially those from summer camp.  Leelah is passionate about history and righting the wrongs of this country.

Lindsay Z. (she/her) is a rising ninth grader at The Abraham Joshua Heschel School in New York City. She enjoys playing tennis, lacrosse, and piano. She attends Camp Ramah in the Rockies, and in her free time she likes to bake and spend time with family and friends.

Lyla M.(she/her) is a senior at Palisades Charter High School in Castellammare, CA. She works at a bookstore and is a hostess at a restaurant. She loves spending time with her family and watching new movies and shows in her free time. 

Mabel H. (she/her) is a rising freshman at Bethlehem Central High School in Bethlehem, NY, a suburb of Albany. She is an active member of Congregation Beth Emeth, where she has participated in the Madrichim Program for nearly three years. Mabel is also involved in the congregation’s youth group and Teen Leadership Committee. An avid dancer, she has been studying and performing dance for more than a decade.

Maren K. (she/her) is a senior at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, CA where she is a student leader in her school’s Model UN program. She is actively involved with the Friendship Foundation and runs track. In her free time, she enjoys baking, traveling, and going to the beach.

Maya D. (she/ her) is a senior at Strath Haven High School in Wallingford, PA and a member of Congregation Beth Israel of Media in Media, PA. She is a member of her high school marching band and last summer, Maya played clarinet in the American Music Abroad program. She is president of the TED-Ed Club at her school and enjoys creative writing, philosophy, and art.

Maya S. (she/her) lives in Chapel Hill, NC, is a sophomore at East Chapel Hill High School and attends Camp Ramah Darom in the summer. She is a Madricha (teacher assistant) for the Kindergarten class at her synagogue, Beth El Synagogue in Durham. Maya also loves doing multiple styles of dance including contemporary and jazz. She enjoys doing musical theater and ceramics. She also is very passionate about mental health and feminism.

Meira K. is a sophomore at the Edmund Burke School and member of Temple Micah in Washington D.C. She plays volleyball on her schools JV team, is an active member of her local BBYO chapter, and does ceramics. She is very passionate about social justice, human rights, and spreading kindness. In her free time, Meira enjoys hanging out with friends, crafting, listening to music, or discovering a new TV show.

Mila D. (she/her) is a freshman at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA and belongs to Temple Micah in Washington D.C. She loves to play competitive basketball and softball. In her free time, she loves to read, watch sitcoms, cook for her family, and spend time with friends. Mila’s favorite school subjects are English and History/Civics.

Nicole A. (she/her) is a sophomore at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, FL. She is a committed soccer player; she plays for her travel team. She also runs cross country. Nicole spends her summer at Camp Ramah Darom in GA. She is passionate about music. In her spare time, she likes to read, listen to music, and take photos.

Nora S. is a freshman at John T Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC where Nora runs cross country and is on the competitive swim team. She spends her time cooking at the soup kitchen, and is a member of B’nai Israel Congregation. Nora also plays the violin for her school’s orchestra, and during the summers Nora attends Blue Star Camp in Hendersonville, NC. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, running, throwing parties, traveling, boating, shopping with friends, and getting fun coffee drinks.

Raisa Z. (she/they) is a sophomore at Franklin High School in Portland, OR and is an active member ofHavurah Shalom Synagogue teen engagement program. She participates in her school’s swim, tennis, speech and debate team, and band program. In her free time, Raisa enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, cooking, hiking, and thrifting.

Rebecca N. (she/her) is a Sophomore at Montville Township High School in Montville, NJ. She is the Manager of the Montville Theatre Company, as well as a member of the Junior Varsity track and field team. Her passions include singing, reading, and spending time with friends.

Sofia R. (she/her) is a rising freshman at Oregon Episcopal School where she plays volleyball and lacrosse, as well as participates in debate, choir, and the Jewish Student Counsel. She is passionate about seeing the world through the lens of art, music, history, and literature. Sofia lives in Portland, Oregon and loves to travel internationally. In her spare time, she reads, writes, and loves to spend time with her friends and family.

Sophie B. (she/her) is a sophomore at Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, MD and a member of the New Synagogue Project in Silver Spring, MD. She is an active member of Model UN at her high school and has been a classroom assistant and Hebrew teacher at her Hebrew school for over two years. She loves listening to music, writing songs, and reading.

Tessa W. is a Sophomore at Needham High School in Needham, Massachusetts. She is a member of Temple Beth Shalom in Needham and works as a teen helper in a Hebrew School classroom with third graders. She is an active member of her schools’ environmental club where she helped to plant a pollinator garden and minimize waste during school lunch. She runs on her school’s cross country and track teams as well as participating in the school musical in the winter. She enjoys writing and playing her clarinet. She loves to travel and explore new places with her friends and family.

Zahara C. (she/her) is a freshman at New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL and a member of The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David, also in Miami. She enjoys many forms of art, including visual art, film, music, as well as writing fiction, poetry, and journalism.

Zara Q. is a sophomore at Piedmont High School and currently living in Oakland, CA. She was a 2025 OYPL Youth Poet Laureate Finalist, the News Editor for her high school’s newspaper, and has published two anthologies, A Dragon In Our Midst and I Witnessed These Years. Zara competitively rock climbs for Team Touchstone and loves going to Camp Tawonga.

Zoe Z. (she/her) is a sophomore at Interlochen Arts Academy, which is located in northern Michigan, but lives in Boston, MA. At school she is on the JSU board, and majors in visual arts, but in her free time, she loves to write, sew, bake, and hike. Zoe was in Kol Koleinu last year and is so happy to be back!