Kol Koleinu Fellows

Carly Abrams (she/her) is a sophomore attending Grover Cleveland Charter High School in Los Angeles, CA. She is a member of Temple Beth Hillel and works at Monarch Day Camp over the summer. She is a proud member of the YMCA’s Youth and Government and spends most of her day dancing. Carly is very passionate in the performing arts, enjoys fashion, and loves to listen to music.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu to reconnect with my Jewish heritage a couple of years after my bat mitzvah. I am looking to feel empowered by this program and know how my powerful voice can make true change in the world. Some of my fields of interest are environmental justice and beauty standards.”

Sierra Anthony (she/her) is a rising junior at Bloomfield Hills High School who belongs to Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy, MI. She is on varsity cross country and track and enjoys other extracurriculars such as refereeing soccer, being on her school’s forensic team, and working at her congregation. Her favorite season is summer and she hopes to travel around the U.S. after high school.

“I want to learn more about my Jewish and feminist identities and expand my circle of Jewish connections. I want to make a difference in the community I live in, which is often misinformed about Judaism and feminism as well as other social matters.”

Ava Berman is a senior at Westfield High School in Westfield, New Jersey where she is active in the journalism program. She was a member of the 2023 inaugural Girls Flag Football Team, a member of Temple Emanu-El where she has been part of the Madrichim program since middle school, plays goalkeeper for the Union County FC Premier Club soccer team, was a Jewish National Fund 2022-23 Sababa Fellow, and is a member of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest Teen Israel Leadership Council. Ava enjoys writing, watching films, playing sports, skateboarding, hanging out with family and friends and enjoys spending her summers at Camp Evergreen in New Hampshire, where she is currently a junior counselor.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu to continue my Jewish leadership journey and to be around like-minded teenagers who I hope to become close with. I also look forward to working on a social change project because I am very passionate about creating change in my community and fighting injustices.”

Inessa Berman (she/her) is a junior at Weston High School in Weston, Massachusetts and belongs to an independent congregation led by Rabbi Jennifer Rudin. She is the co-founder and co-president of a club called Teens in Action where she and her peers take action for movements and organizations that they believe in. Inessa enjoys learning about history and art and likes baking and watching movies in her spare time.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu as a returning Fellow because in my previous year, I was able to learn a lot about how to actively and effectively advocate for change in my community. I enjoyed my time in Kol Koleinu last year and am looking forward to being a guide and a leader for my peers this upcoming year.”

Lily Block (she/her/hers) is a junior at Jones College Prep in Chicago. She belongs to Temple Sholom and is on the youth board for the Crown Family High School program. She was a participant in a Moving Traditions Rosh Hodesh group. She participates in Model UN at school and in her free time she likes listening to music and reading.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I wanted to improve my leadership skills and make positive change. I hope that through this program I can learn from others.”

Callie Boren (she/her) is a senior at Mira Costa High School and a member of Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach, California. Callie is a teacher’s assistant for Model UN, a teacher’s assistant for her Hebrew school, and a pole vaulter. Callie enjoys reading and spending time at the beach in her free time. 

“I applied to Kol Koleinu to advocate on behalf of others and share my beliefs on certain issues, particularly with regard to both Judaism and feminism. I look forward to working with Kol Koleinu Fellows and collaborating with them to propose realistic solutions. Due to the instances of vandalism on my school’s campus and my desire to end antisemitism on high school campuses generally, I felt compelled to be part of the program.” 

Talia Boren (she/her/hers) is a junior at Crossroads School for Arts and Science and a member of Wilshire Blvd Temple in Los Angeles, CA. She is a Diller Teen Fellow, president and founder of the Alzheimer’s Awareness Club, a co-chair of the Alzheimer’s Awareness Youth Ambassador Program, an editor for her school paper, a member of the LA Times High School Advisory Board, content leader of Crossroad’s Community Engagement Honors Society, and a starter on both her high school varsity soccer team and her club team outside of school. Talia is a passionate writer and when faced with spare time you’ll find her with her nose in a book or hanging out with friends, family, and her new rescue dog.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I’m an avid feminist looking to work with like-minded, devoted teens. I’m excited to learn from my peers and obtain better public speaking skills.”

Annie Bovitz (she/her) is a junior at the Bronx High School of Science and is a member of B’nai Jeshurun in New York City. She attends Camp Ramah in Ojai, is a novice director on her school’s speech and debate team, participates on the teen executive board at B’nai Jeshurun, and is a part of a Moving Traditions Rosh Hodesh group. She loves history, music, and philosophy.

“I am particularly interested in the peer teaching that occurs in each monthly meeting of the Kol Koleinu fellowship because I think it is a great way to further my knowledge about how Jewish tradition has been adapted to exist in the context of our ever-progressing feminist society.”

Zahava Brenner (she/her) is a senior at SAR High School, lives in Teaneck, NJ, and is involved in the youth groups at her synagogue Netivot Shalom. She is a writer for her school’s economic journal, a GSA member, and a peer tutor in her community. She has attended and volunteered at Camp Moshava and was a JNF Sababa Fellow. Zahava is passionate about international human rights and enjoys doing ceramic art and reading in her free time.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I am committed being a part of an accepting place in the Jewish community. As part of Kol Koleinu I hope to open conversations and spread information about diversity within the Jewish community. I would like to connect with other fellows to share our experiences and learn from each other.”

Livnat Brody (she/her) is a sophomore at George Washington High School and a member of Rodef Shalom in Denver, Colorado. She loves hiking, reading, baking, and writing, especially poetry. She’s part of her synagogue’s USY chapter and enjoys performing in her school’s plays and competing at speech and debate tournaments.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I’m passionate about social justice and want to spread awareness about issues such as period poverty and improved sex education. Through this program, I want to learn how to speak up so I can better advocate for topics I care about and lead others to create change.”

Gabby Cohen (she/her) is a sophomore at New Rochelle High School. She is the communications vice president of the USY board at Beth El Synagogue as well as the social media manager of Hope From the Heart, a school club that raises money for breast cancer charities. She has been attending Cedar Lake Camp for five years. Gabby is passionate about writing and musical theater.

“I am looking forward to finding a community of other Jewish feminists who can relate to issues that I am passionate about. I hope that with the help of my Kol Koleinu mentor and other fellows, I can make a difference through my social change project.”

Zimran Deikman (he/him) is a sophomore at Wyncote Academy and a member of Mishkan Shalom in Philadelphia, PA. He has participated in a Moving Traditions Kulam program. Zimran is passionate about politics and history, and actively participates in canvassing for key elections.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I am dedicated to justice and creating positive social change. I hope to engage with other fellows who are interested in both discussing ideas and as well as taking action to move things forward.”

Eliana Duessing is a senior at Stevens Point Area High School (SPASH) in Wisconsin where she is on the swim and rugby teams. She is a member of Mt. Sinai Congregation in Wausau. She is a lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA where she also competitively swims. Eliana enjoys volunteering and fostered 7 cats for the Humane Society this summer. She plans on studying medicine and being able to travel to help people in underserved countries.  

“I applied to Kol Koleinu as a returning fellow so I can build on the life-changing transformation I experienced in my first year. Being around other Jewish feminists, along with the deep discussions we had, built my confidence to speak up and help create positive change. It felt like a family. There is so much more I want to do and learn. I am excited to work on my next project with the insights and support of this amazing group.” 

Anna Eliasson (she/her) is a junior at the Bronx High School of Science in New York City and belongs to Congregation Or Zarua. She has been a camper at Ramah Nyack and Ramah Berkshires. She loves attending bioethics club and is a three-year member of her school’s debate team. She loves reading, going on hikes, and cooking.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I wanted a space to creatively express my ideas about improving my community. I’m looking forward to collaborating with other fellows and learning new ideas and points of view. I hope to create awareness on issues of subconscious and implicit misogyny as well as abortion.”

Ava Firestone-Morrill (she/her) is a junior at Beacon High School in New York City and is a leader of both the Young Democratic Socialists of America Club and comedy club at her school. She is a member of the New Schul. Her hobbies include acting, singing, dancing, writing, and reading. She is passionate about activism.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu to form a stronger connection with the intersectionality of being Jewish and a feminist from a leadership perspective. From this fellowship I hope to challenge myself in a new environment, gain a better idea of how to execute activism projects to result in tangible differences, and make new friends.”

Ada Frankel (she/her) is a junior at Boulder High School and participates in a weekly JCC club for Jewish teens. She works at a local chocolate shop in Boulder, Colorado, and spends her free time doing ink drawings and acrylic paintings. She is a member of Synagogue of the Summit and a camper at Ramah in the Rockies and Boulder JCC. Ada loves to ski and backpack and has always been attached to art and music.

“My sister was in Kol Koleinu, which inspired me to apply as well. The changes she was making and topics she was discussing interested me.”

Margalit Fremmer (she/her) is an upcoming sophomore at Hunter College High School, a member of the Ansche Chesed congregation in NYC, a camper at Eden Village, and a member of her school’s Jewish cultural awareness club. She enjoys playing for her school’s lacrosse team and expresses her passion for music through playing the piano and cello.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I want to be a part of a Jewish community that is committed to creating change, and I hope to learn more about what it means to be a feminist.”

Quintessa Frisch is a junior at Aspen High School. She is a member of Aspen Jewish Congregation, goes to Herzl Camp in the summer, and went on an Israel trip with USY. During the school year, she plays lacrosse and is the president of her school’s gender equity club. She is also the editor-in-chief of her school’s newspaper.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I am looking to looking to make a positive change in my surrounding community while simultaneously meeting Jewish teens with similar interests.”

Kendall Geller (she/her) is a senior at DuPont Manual High School, a member of Adath Jeshurun, and a member of Jay Levine BBG through BBYO in Louisville, Kentucky. In school, she is in a journalism & communications magnet, where she is copy editor of a news magazine, as well as a participant in her school’s field hockey team. She is passionate about social justice and civic engagement, and spends her time outside of school volunteering, watching TV, and hanging out with friends.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I am looking for ways to affect change and make a difference in my community beyond journalism, which I am already familiar with. I look forward to meeting the other fellows and learning from and with each other as we work to become better leaders.”

Eliza Goldstein (she/her) is a sophomore at the Maret School and a member of Temple Sinai, DC. She is a pitcher for her high school’s first ever junior varsity girls’ softball team, an active member of her school’s Jewish Affinity and Q Affinity clubs, and a camper at Pinecliffe Sleepaway Camp for Girls. Eliza is also a massive musical theater fan. She sings, dances, and acts in her school productions, outside productions, and for fun!

“I am interested in this fellowship because I want to become part of a larger Jewish feminist community, and to grow and learn more from others around me. I have definitely experienced sexism within Judaism, and I would love to work on uniting my Jewish and feminist identities because they not only should, but must, coexist.”

Juliana Goode (she/her) is a rising sophomore at Mamaroneck High School in NY. She is a member of the congregation and teen group at the Westchester Jewish Center, and was a Moving Traditions B-Mitzvah Family Education participant. She plays lacrosse and soccer and runs indoor track. She also plays viola in her school orchestra.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I wanted to develop skills that allow me to be a more effective leader and advocate for women and girls in sports. I look forward to meeting new people and making a change.”

Maddie Gross (she/her) is a rising senior at New West Charter High School and a member at Temple Isaiah in West Los Angeles, where she participated in a Moving Traditions Rosh Hodesh group and is part of the Rishonim Fellowship Program, assisting the religious school teachers with their classrooms. Maddie is currently a Diller Teen Fellow, a leadership development program for Jewish teens actively engaged in improving the future of communities. Maddie enjoys science and math and is head of the WE Club (an environmental organization) at her school. She also is co-captain of the track and field team at her school, where she pole-vaults, hurdles, and runs the sprinting events.

“I am eager to be part of the Meyer-Gottesman Kol Koleinu Teen Feminist Fellowship because it presents me with a unique opportunity to further develop my activist skills, while exploring my Jewish and feminist identities. I am excited about joining a supportive, nurturing, and safe community, where I can collaborate with other teens, who are also passionate about exploring how feminism intersects with Judaism and engaging in meaningful and thought-provoking discussions and teachings about creating change and having an impact.”

Zoe Handelsman is a senior at Monta Vista’s Middle College program and is a member of the board of directors for Congregation Beth David in Saratoga, California. She plays field hockey, participated in the Alexander Muss study abroad program in Israel, and manages the portfolio for all teen programs at her synagogue. Zoe is passionate both in urban planning and business, with over a year working at the local Chamber of Commerce, and spends her spare time supporting her local community.

“By being an example in my synagogue and continuing to enhance my leadership skills the Kol Koleinu program offers me a way to find my voice. I can pursue my interests in teaching young girls while spread information about prevalent issue in our society and look forward to creating a project with my mentor.”

Shira Jaffe (she/her/hers) is in eleventh grade in New Mexico.

“I am looking forward to participating in Kol Koleinu because I want to grow in both my Jewish and feminist identities. I am interested in writing a children’s book with a Jewish feminist theme.”

Kristy Jordan-Cohen (she/her) is a junior at California School of the Arts. She volunteers at Kol Ami in West Hollywood and has attended Bob Waldorf Jewish Summer Camp as both a camper and a counselor. She enjoys softball and drawing.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I want to work with other like-minded young women in imagining a better future and how we can get there. I want to share my thoughts and learn from others. I hope to develop my speaking skills and how to apply my desire to be an activist on the issues I believe in.”

Julia Karsner is a junior at Castilleja High School and a member of Congregation Beth Jacob in Redwood City, CA. She play lacrosse and tennis for her school teams while also participating in Model UN, historical research, and community legislative work. Her passion for history, legislation, and computer science drives her exploration of the intersection between these disciplines.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I was excited by the opportunity to deepen my exploration of where I fit in feminism and strengthen my delegation capabilities through social advocacy. Also, I am thrilled to immerse myself in a supportive community of individuals passionate about promoting gender equality and social justice, and I am excited for making new friends along the way.”

Nina Legum is a junior at West End Secondary High School (WESS) and a member of B’nai Jeshurun in Manhattan. She has been a counselor-in-training at Kimama in Israel and Camp Waubanong in Vermont. She is the president of the social justice club at WESS and a member of student council. She also plays basketball and runs track for her high school team. She has interned at Repair the World and Dorot and volunteered at a children’s community center with Maximo Novel in Costa Rica.

“Throughout my childhood, I have always been instilled with a sense of responsibility towards community service work. I understand the gravity and importance of volunteering and am always looking for places where I can work towards social justice initiatives that I am passionate about. Kol Koleinu represents my values and I want to because of this I want to be a contributing member.”

Lucy Letven-Stanton (they/them) is a junior at Tremper High School and attends Beth Hillel Temple in Kenosha, WI. In the summer, Lucy goes to OSRUI, a URJ camp. At school, Lucy enjoys playing on the tennis team, playing violin in the orchestra, and participating in the theater program. At synagogue, Lucy is involved in the Sunday school and participates in the temple youth group, KRAFTY.

“Some of the reasons I applied for the fellowship is because I want to be able to do more and learn more about making a change and having an impact on topics that I am passionate about, like social justice, mental health, equal rights, etc. I want to be able to learn more about the topics and educate other people on what’s true and false about information they may have heard on the news or social media, and then help them find ways that they can help also. I also would like to be able to meet and be a part of a community that is passionate about some of the same things that I am, and actually wants to see things get done.”

Emily Levine (she/her) is a senior at Scarsdale High School in Scarsdale, NY. She serves as co-president of her school’s Jewish culture club, an officer of the debate team, and a four-year varsity softball player. Emily has attended religious school and participated actively at Westchester Reform Temple for many years. She attends Camp Tapawingo during the summer. She is passionate about the humanities and loves to read in her free time.

“I am so excited to join Kol Koleinu for a second year. Kol Koleinu has helped me deepen my understanding of social issues in relation to Judaism. I have always been drawn to feminist causes and social justice more broadly, and I have loved exploring how Judaism can help fuel my advocacy. Additionally, over the last year I have become more involved with Moving Traditions as a member of the Kol Koleinu Teen Board. As a returning fellow, I hope to create an environment in which everyone can rely on each other for inspiration, support, and understanding.”

Allegra Lief is a junior at Bronx Science in New York, NY. She is a member of Congregation Rodeph Shalom and active in JCC Manhattan. Allegra is an editor on her school’s newspaper and a member of the girl’s varsity soccer team, debate team, and her BBYO chapter, L’dor Vador. She is passionate about the outdoors and loves to hike, read, and listen to Taylor Swift.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I want to develop my leadership skills as an activist within my community and grow both the Jewish and Feminist parts of myself. I am excited to work alongside other like-minded Jewish teens to enact change through issues I am passionate about.”

Shoshana Lindon is a junior in Los Angeles, CA. At her synagogue, Congregation Or Ami, she is involved with the Hebrew school and on the board of the LoMPTY youth group. She attends Viewpoint School, where she swims competitively and is part of an a cappella group. She also loves to do art and be creative!

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I want to make a change in my community, as well as learn more about specific topics. I am really looking forward to getting to know people and getting started!”

Sylvie Markel is a sophomore in the CORE Humanities program at Grover Cleveland Charter High School in Los Angeles, CA. She plays tennis for her high school team and is interested in history and writing. In her spare time, she bakes, shops, and hangs out with friends.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu to reconnect to my Jewish community and make new friends and memories. I’m looking forward to the retreats as well as the social change project because I’m interested in speaking out about different social issues, especially regarding women’s reproductive freedom and body image.”

Katriela Nelkin (she/her) is a junior at Golda Och Academy in West Orange, New Jersey and lives in Highland Park, New Jersey. She attends Camp Ramah in the Berkshires and is a member of Highland Park Conservative Temple Congregation Anshe Emet, where she teaches a children’s educational minyan. She is an active member of her school’s Arts Council and enjoys acting in plays and musicals. Katriela is passionate about integrating the visual arts into projects both in and out of the classroom. On Golda Och’s robotics team, Katriela enjoys establishing alliances with other participants.

“I was interested in returning as part of the Meyer-Gottesman Kol Koleinu Teen Feminist Fellowship because of the incredible experience I had last year. This fellowship has truly helped me grow not only as a feminist but as a person.”

Rachel Penzner (she/her) is a junior at Chapel Hill High School and a member of Kehillah Synagogue in Chapel Hill. She actively participates in the Jewish Student Union at her school, is on the Kol Koleinu Teen Board of Moving Traditions, has written curriculum for the B-Mitzvah program, and has incorporated Holocaust education into her school district. You can find her on the softball field in her spare time, whether it be with her varsity softball team or her travel ball team. She is also a huge Swiftie!

“I applied to Kol Koleinu as a returning fellow to continue developing my activist journey. I found the fellowship to be extremely impactful last year as I learned alongside my peers about how to be an activist. I applied again to take a leadership role in the Kol Koleinu fellowship and to learn along with new fellows.”

Talia Polish (she/her) is a junior at Evanston Township High School in Illinois where she is most actively involved as a yearbook editor and a board member of the school’s Students Organize Against Racism. Outside of school, she is a member of the Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble, through which she teaches, learns, and performs circus arts. She is a member of North Shore Congregation Israel where she participates in the youth group, is a teen tutor for b-mitzvah students, and an assistant teacher for the second-grade religious school. Talia enjoys baking, swimming in the lake, playing music, and spending time with friends and family!

“I applied as a returning Kol Koleinu fellow because I’m eager to continue the intellectual conversations, close friendships, and passion to make a change. I want to continue learning and teaching with other fellows, mentors, and cohort leaders. I look forward to gaining new knowledge, reflecting more on my identity as a Jewish feminist, and helping other fellows as they explore their own Jewish feminist identities.”

Elyse Anne Reznik (she/her) is a senior at Grover Cleveland Charter High School, a teaching assistant at Temple Ahavat Shalom, and the social action vice president for the Temple Ahavat Shalom Youth Group. She is very politically active, loves to read and write, and enjoys listening to ’70s and ’80s music.

“As a female in the world today, I chose to apply to Kol Koleinu to learn more about the intersectionality between feminism and Judaism, a connection that I do not know much about. I hope to meet new people and learn together on this journey. I also hope to gain takeaways which I can bring back to share with my own congregation and youth group.”

Alessandra Rosenthal (she/her) is a sophomore at The Dalton School and a member of Central Synagogue. She runs track and attends the Lese Center for Living Judaism at her synagogue.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I love the idea of a group that focuses on how a Jewish viewpoint and a feminist viewpoint can go together, and I would like to meet others who are passionate about the same. I would like to find ways to use social media to address the normalization of words historically used against women.”

Mo Scher (she/they/he) is a junior at Urbana High School in Urbana, IL. She likes volunteering and working with kids. She attended Camp Nageela Midwest. She spends most of her time doing lights for her high school theater productions, reading, watching Netflix, or hanging out with her friends.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu to make new friends, find a deeper connection with my Jewish culture, and make an impact on the world. I’m looking forward to all the changes I will learn to make, and make in the future.”

Ella Schreiber (she/her) is a sophomore at Conestoga High School and a member of Beth David Reform Congregation in Gladwyne, PA. She is a dedicated teacher’s assistant at her synagogue, has been dancing since she was three years old, participates in a global peace non-profit called CISV, is a member of Students Organized Against Racism, and is on her high school’s mock trial team. Ella is passionate about global issues and loves history class. In her spare time she is an avid reader and listens to Taylor Swift nonstop.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I have been missing a community where I can connect with other Jewish teens to talk about the things I am passionate about. I hope to create a change in community considering a recent rise in antisemitism in my district. I hope to gain guidance on how to approach uncomfortable topics and how to educate my fellow peers.”

Maayan Seltzer (she/her) is a junior at Northampton High School, and is a member at both The Ohel Minyan and Congregation B’nai Israel (where she teaches in the Hebrew school), located in Northampton, MA. She is an active member of her city’s Mayors Youth Commission, and has served as the social media manager. Maayan spent half of her sophomore year in Israel on Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim, attends camp at Camp Ramah New England, and is a member of USY. In her spare time, she likes to bike and hang out with friends.

“Education on Judaism and feminism is very important to me. I want to not only educate myself but also use what I learn to educate others, as I know that education leads to change. I think I will benefit from having this peer group of like minded teens who, like me, want to work on prevalent issues in our society and work for the changes we want to see.”

Drew Siegel (she/her) is a senior at Scarsdale High School and a member of Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, NY. She attended Camp Starlight for eight years. She is the editor-in-chief of her school’s student-run newspaper, president of the Women for Women and White Plains Hospital Clubs, and a research volunteer in the Gynecologic Oncology department at Weill Cornell Medicine.

“I am extremely passionate about women’s reproductive rights, so I was looking to work with other like-minded individuals from the feminist-Jewish community to create change. I hope to learn about the interests of the other fellows and do meaningful work with their support.”

Sylvie Simmons (she/her) is a returning Kol Koleinu Fellow, rising junior at the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and a congregant at Temple Aliyah in Needham, MA. She is an avid musician and loves to read, listen to music, make art, and write.

“I am going to be a returning fellow this year and am super excited to go into another year of the fellowship! I made great connections and friendships last year and am excited to learn and grow with new Kol Koleinu members. I hope to use my writing and art skills to create a meaningful social change project and to become even more knowledgeable about social change issues.”

Phoebe Spinnell (she/her/hers) is a junior at the Dwight Englewood School in Northern New Jersey and a member of B’nai Jeshurun in Manhattan. She loves hanging out with her friends and playing sports such as lacrosse and field hockey. She goes to Jewish sleep-away camp in Wisconsin and is involved in Jewish life at her synagogue and at the organization Friendship Circle.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu to learn more about Jewish feminists while growing as a Jewish feminist in my own right. I hope to share my knowledge of the waves of feminism and modern Jewish feminists with a broad audience, while meeting other Jewish feminists my age.”

Hannah Stone (she/they) is a senior at Interlochen Arts Academy in Northern Michigan where she majors in classical percussion performance. Hannah is a member of BBYO/Achayot BBG, Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation, the Holocaust Center for Humanity’s Student Leadership Board, and her school’s JSU. Hannah aspires to be an architect. In her free time, she loves volunteering with Language Partners and the National Charity League.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu as a returning fellow to learn more about Jewish feminists while growing as a Jewish feminist in my own right. I hope to share my knowledge of the waves of feminism and modern Jewish feminists with a broad audience, while meeting other Jewish feminists my age.”

Serena van der Hulst (she/her) is a rising senior at Conard High School in West Hartford, CT, and is thrilled to be a second-year fellow with Kol Koleinu. She is this year’s senior co-president of the Newington United Temple Sinai Youth group and has been an active board member of Temple Sinai of Newington for the past four years. Serena loves dancing, art, computer science, math, and going on walks.  

“As a first year fellow, Kol Koleinu provided me with a space to further explore my Jewish identity. I learned to ask questions in uncomfortable situations and not be afraid to challenge what I do not believe in, both of which are core values of Judaism. I would like to continue down this path in my Jewish faith, and I hope to have the opportunity to continue learning the perspectives of other fellow feminists and work together to question discrimination and inequalities that have become an integral part of society today.” 

Miriam Weiler (she/her) is a senior at Chapel Hill High School and a member of Kehillah Synagogue in Chapel Hill, NC. She is a competitive and performance jump-roper and participates in many if not all of her school’s female empowerment and STEM related clubs. She is also a big fan of stress baking.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu to get the chance to meet and interact with Jewish teenagers all over the country who are passionate about social change. I hope to gain new skills in ways to enact social justice in my community and beyond.”

Cameron Weismer is a senior at Scarsdale High School in Scarsdale, New York. She is a member of Westchester Reform Temple. She serves as an advisor to incoming freshmen as part of her school’s Civic Education program. She is a member of humanitarian group Women for Women, an editor of her school yearbook, and a camper at Camp Blue Ridge. She is passionate about women’s rights and getting involved to support religious, socioeconomic and gender equality.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu as a returning fellow to learn from like-minded peers and become part of the change that I want to see in our world. I’ve always been interested in women’s rights and religious freedom, and I’m excited to combine my passion for the two.”

Mira Zatzenbloom (they/them) is a junior at Waubonsie Valley High School and lives in Naperville, Illinois. Mira is a member of Congregation Beth Shalom in Naperville, a member of BBYO, and is a participant in a Moving Traditions Tzelem teen group. Mira is an inducted thespian at Waubonsie and has been part of seven productions to date as an actor and techie. Mira also sings with the varsity singers at WVHS. Mira is passionate about social justice and history, with a particular interest in revolutionary movements.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I want to gain the skills needed to effectively organize change in my community. I hope to make friends with the other fellows, and to create lasting partnerships that I can learn from and utilize.”

Edie Zeldin is a sophomore at E. A. Laney High School in Wilmington, NC. She is a member of B’nai Israel Congregation. Edie is the sophomore class president and a member of the varsity women’s basketball team, equity club, creative writing club, and the parent-student-teacher association at her school. She is passionate about creating kindness throughout the world. She enjoys listening to music, coloring, biking, baking (or just food in general), and being surrounded by nature.

“I am looking forward to being a part of Kol Koleinu, because I want to be a light for others, and I want to change the world for the better. This opportunity allows me to connect with other young Jewish women and gain new perspectives. I would love to further my knowledge on issues I care about like civil rights (women, LGTBQ+, disabled, POC), the environment, leadership in government, and antisemitism.”

Lauren Zweibach (she/her) is a sophomore at Brookline High School in Brookline, MA. Lauren is passionate about literature, and in her spare time she enjoys hanging out with friends and trying new cookbook recipes.

“I applied to Kol Koleinu because I hope to discuss important topics with others who feel the same as I do about incorporating Judaism with feminism. I hope that by sharing my ideas with others, we can work together to make change in our community.”