Meet the Scholars

Born and raised in Berlin, Germany, Selma Spinner speaks fluent German, Hebrew and English. After completing a Bagrut at Lauder Tichon in Berlin she spent a year and a half at Shaalvim for Women in Jerusalem. Selma’s interest in politics and public policy led her to intern for Gitta Conneman, a leading member of the German Bundestag, for the Conference of Material Claims against Germany, and for the congressional campaign of George Latimer. She has exercised her passion for communal service through volunteering for Ukrainian refugee relief efforts in Berlin, fundraising for Lauder Yeshurun outreach programs in Germany, and participating in the Kedma Cohort Chessed Program. Selma has also been active in Muslim-Jewish dialogue in Germany with Meet2respect. She is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Psychology and plans to pursue a career in public service. 

Noam Schechter, from Monsey, NY, is a graduate of MTA. Noam attended Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavne for two years, balancing intense learning with trying to find his place among a changing nation in the shadow of October 7th. While in Israel, Noam created a project to deliver personal letters from Jews around the globe to grieving families in Israel, delivering thousands of personal letters of comfort to dozens of families. Noam is always curious, and whether through reading, lively conversation, or exploring nature, he is always interested in learning more about anything. As a Straus Scholar, Noam hopes to continue fueling his curiosity and continue to understand what it means to be an American Jew in the 21st century.

Ava Eden grew up in the Upper West Side of Manhattan and graduated from Yeshivat Frisch in 2022. She was involved in many extracurriculars over her high school years including i-Shine, Torah Bowl, and the Young Politicians Club, and held leadership positions on Student Council, Debate Team, Night Seder Leadership, Mental Health Awareness Committee, and the Racism Awareness Club. She has received several awards for her debate skills throughout high school as well as graduating with honors in Chumash, English, and History. Following her time in Yeshivat Frisch, Ava attended Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY) for two years, where she was involved in an intensive study of Talmud, Halakha, Chumash, and Machshava. Ava has spent many summers as a camp counselor at Camp Nesher and now volunteers with Magen David Adom in Jerusalem. As a Straus scholar at , Ava is pursuing a dual degree in Judaic Studies and Neuropsychology.

Gavriel Buchwald grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey. He attended The Frisch School, where he captained the College Bowl Team and participated in Model Congress. Additionally, he was a Senior Big Sibling, helping freshmen acclimate to high school, and spent considerable time volunteering for Zoommates, zooming with special-needs children to provide entertainment during Covid-19. In recent summers, Gavriel was a lifeguard and counselor at Camp Moshava, Indian Orchard. He spent two gap years at Yeshivat Orayta, where he engaged in serious Torah study. Throughout his second year in Israel, he participated in the Tikvah Overseas Student Institute, partaking in seminars regarding the intersection of Halacha and public policy. He is also a member of the Tikvah Collegiate Forum. In his free time, you can find Gavriel reading Wikipedia, plowing through an early modern European history book, or pursuing his Talmudic studies.

Sruli (Jason) Friedman was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York where he graduated from Yeshiva Torah Vodaath High School in 2022 before coming to the same year. Friedman has served as a news editor for The Commentator, a fellow at PAC, and an active member of the Tikva Collegiate Forum, while also pursuing majors in Political Science and Philosophy and intense Gemara study in the Mazer Yeshiva Program. In the summer of 2023 Friedman participated in the Heritage Foundation’s online Summer Academy, while taking electives in economics and psychology. An avid reader interested in a plethora of subjects, Friedman hopes to continue to progress in his studies at the Straus Center during the remainder of his time in , and looks forward to pursuing law school and a fulfilling career in the future.

Liev Markovich was born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC).  At TABC, Liev was a captain of Mock Trial and a member of Model UN, Model Congress, and Soccer teams. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of the opinion magazine Storm Currents, which covered topics ranging from politics to sports to social issues. After graduating high school in 2021, Liev studied at Yeshivat Orayta for two years, where he took classes as part of the Tikvah Overseas Student Institute. In his free time, Liev enjoys learning Torah, reading literature, meditating, and playing FIFA with friends.

A fifth-generation Southerner, Matthew Minsk was born and raised in Atlanta, where he graduated from the Atlanta Jewish Academy (AJA). While in high school, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the school’s student newspaper, led its Israel Advocacy Club, and captained its Model UN and basketball teams. Upon graduation, he was inducted into the AJA Hatmada Society for his “consistent commitment to Judaic Studies.” During past summers, he has interned for the Orthodox Union Center for Communal Research, the Institute for Family Studies, and assisted Jewish communal and political advocates; he also participated in the Tikvah Scholars Program. Matthew spent two gap years at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh (KBY) immersed in Torah study, an area in which he hopes to continue to learn and grow, alongside secular pursuits, at .

Adina Feldman was born and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, and she attended Manhattan High School for Girls (MHS). During high school, she served as both literary and art editor for the school publication, and was a member of the Arista Honors Society. As part of her work with StandWithUs’s Teen Leadership Council, Adina spearheaded social media content aimed at educating the public about Zionism and the State of Israel which garnered over 50,000 views. After high school, Adina studied at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY), followed by a year of National Service (Sherut Leumi) at an Ethiopian Absorption Center in Jerusalem, where she organized targeted programming for the immigrant community. Additionally, she served as the director of the neighborhood Youth Beit Midrash program. At , Adina is majoring in both clinical psychology and marketing, with a strong appreciation for the humanities through the Straus Center. She interned with Mitchell Silk, former United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets, and she spent the summer interning with a trauma therapist in Jerusalem, focusing on providing support to parents of soldiers following the events of October 7th.

Rebecca Guzman was born and raised in Staten Island, New York. She attended Bruriah High School for Girls, where she served as Senior Co-captain of the Bruriah Debate Team, Junior Editor of the Bruriah Blaze, and Senior Editor of Bruriah's literary magazine. Throughout her senior year, Rebecca was a member of the Kaplun Foundation Teen Philanthropy Board, and before spending a semester at Aish Gesher for Women, she reported for The Jewish Press. Rebecca's writing has received recognition from the National Council of Teachers of English and The New York Times, amongst others. Rebecca hopes to synthesize her passion for literature and her studies in creative writing with her love for Jewish history and philosophy, aiming to devote her life to telling Jewish stories. In her free time, Rebecca can be found listening to music, reading, writing in her journal, or baking.

Tziporah Pinczower was raised in Riverdale, NY where she was first enamored by the intricate philosophy of law. Apart from the theoretical aspect of law, Tziporah recognizes the importance of taking pragmatic action to advance vital causes, prompting her to participate in the NORPAC's annual Mission to Washington for many years. She attended Manhattan High School for Girls, where she spearheaded her school's first Law Review Journal, served as editor of her school's Lexington Weekly blog, was elected Senior Class President, and authored a quarterly column dedicated to highlighting the philosophical implications behind both Jewish (Halacha) and secular law derived from discussion of the upcoming holiday. After high school, she conducted legal research at Agudath Israel and attended Michlalah in Jerusalem. Tziporah is determined to put the knowledge and skill gained as a Straus scholar to good use to pursue a career in law that will bring fulfillment to her life and joy to the lives of others.

Shana Schwartz grew up in Hillside, NJ, and attended Bruriah High School. While in Bruriah, Shana learned to think critically and analytically about various topics in Judaism and secular society, and was taught to infuse Torah into all her areas of study. She participated in the Torah bowl and debate teams, and coached middle school students for the Chidon HaTanach. She also studied engineering, and applied her skills towards constructing a website to safely display the renowned Bruriah Holocaust Museum during the COVID-19 pandemic. During her senior year, Shana won the Jerusalem Science Contest for her research in molecular biology and Halacha. In her free time, Shana enjoys painting and drawing, and works as a makeup artist and monogram designer. At , Shana plans to pursue her interests in medicine while studying Torah and the humanities with the Straus Center.

Ateret Tollinsky grew up in Teaneck, NJ. She attended Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School, where she served as the president of both the STEAM Student Leadership Committee and the Student Ambassador Committee. At Ma’ayanot, Ateret participated in the Drama Society and Torah Bowl, and served as a staff writer for Ma’ayanei Torah, Ma’ayanot’s weekly parsha newsletter. Outside of school, Tollinsky volunteered for Friendship Circle and iShine, and took courses through Tikvah’s Online Academy, which focused on American Jewry in the Supreme Court and Jewish Bioethics. Additionally, Ateret took part in a two year immersive program, Write On For Israel, which focused on educating high school students on leadership, Israel advocacy and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Ed Stern Award for Excellence in History due to her rigorous study of history throughout high school. Tollinsky then studied at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY) in Jerusalem for a year. Over the course of her year at MMY, she served as the Yachad Summer Seminary Coordinator for Recruiting and participated in the Tikvah Overseas Institute. At , Tollinsky is pursuing a major in Biochemistry in conjunction with her Straus courses. 

Tamara Yeshurun is a junior at Stern College for Women, where she is pursuing degrees in political science and music. With a passion for Jewish thought, languages, international relations, and literature, Tamara is fascinated by the ideological exchanges that animate contemporary society. After high school, Tamara spent a year of study at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim, during which time she also participated in the Tikvah Overseas Program, volunteered at Keren Or Institute for the Blind, and was a youth delegate at the World Orthodox Israel Congress. Outside of class, Tamara is a student council representative, Tablet Fellow, staff writer for the Observer, co-president of the Stern College Tikvah Chapter, and vice president of the Dramatics Society. In her free time, you can find Tamara writing, crocheting, catching up on a never-ending book list, or singing pieces from the golden age of Broadway.

Yinon Gurvich was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, where he attended Ida Crown Jewish Academy (ICJA). At ICJA, he participated in Model UN and co-founded the school’s Chess Club. Gurvich was a member of the ICJA wrestling team, winning the Wittenberg Invitational Tournament and the Most Outstanding Wrestler award in his junior year. Upon graduating from ICJA in 2021, Gurvich spent a year studying at Yeshivat Sha’alvim in Israel. As a Straus Scholar at , Gurvich is pursuing a dual degree in mathematics and finance, with an additional focus on the humanities in the Straus Scholars Program.

Dassi Mayerfeld grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, and graduated from Manhattan High School for Girls (MHS) in 2021. She served as the editor-in-chief of Eastward, Manhattan High School’s literary and art journal, and as a behavioral shadow at the Friendship Circle, interned in a biochemistry lab at Cornell University, competed in the ISACA Cybersecurity Competition, and submitted writing and artwork regularly to MHS publications, many of which were recognized by the New York Times and the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. After graduating from MHS in 2021, she spent a year at Michlalah in Jerusalem, where she focused on the in-depth study of Tanach, Halakha, and Hashkafa. Mayerfeld conducted a summer internship at Cornell University Alzheimer’s research lab in NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. As a Straus Scholar at , Mayerfeld is pursuing a major in biology with a minor in studio art. On campus, she works with children with special needs through extracurricular programming, while pursuing her interests in poetry and drumming.

Jenny Rapp grew up in Washington Heights, Manhattan. She attended Manhattan High School for Girls (MHS), where she participated in the math and chess clubs, served as senior editor of the literary and art journal, and received recognition from the Ulpaniada and American Mathematics Competitions (AMC). She spent her summers interning for the Intermountain Jewish News and 12 Mile Stables. Upon graduating from MHS in 2021, Rapp studied at Michalah in Jerusalem. At , Rapp is pursuing a major in mathematics in conjunction with her studies at the Straus Center. She has used her skills in mathematics to research public health topics in internships in Georgetown and Columbia University.

Ezra Seplowitz grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, and attended Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC). At TABC, Seplowitz served as the president of the Israel Advocacy Club and was editor-in-chief of Kol Torah and Israel Report. Seplowitz graduated from TABC in 2020 as a member of the National Honor Society and was a recipient of the school’s leadership award and ’s Torah Umadda award. He then studied at Yeshivat Sha’alvim for two years. Seplowitz was a member of PAC and the roller hockey team as well as a resident advisor and head resident advisor. His hobbies include playing guitar, running, writing, and reading. He has spent his summers attending seminars hosted by the Religious Freedom Institute and the American Enterprise Institute and as a counselor at NCSY Kollel in Israel. Ezra is pursuing a major in Jewish studies and a minor in psychology and music, and he is a student of Rabbi Michael Rosensweig in the Mazer School of Talmudic Studies. Seplowitz plans on receiving a masters degree from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies and rabbinic ordination from RIETS. He aspires to be a Jewish community leader and educator.

Joshua Shapiro grew up in West Orange, New Jersey and attended Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, where he was captain of the varsity basketball and baseball teams and senior editor of the school newspaper. Following high school, Josh attended Yeshivat Orayta for two years in Jerusalem Israel, where he founded and managed the Orayta Food Bank and participated in the Tikvah Overseas Student Institute. At , Josh serves as an opinions editor and staff writer for the Commentator, Co-Founder and Co-President of the Tikvah Fund Chapter at and member of its Collegiate Forum, and member of the “Food 4 Thought” club, which distributes food to the hungry within Washington Heights. In his summers, Shapiro worked as a counselor in Camp Moshava, Indian Orchard. In his free time, Josh enjoys singing as part of Y-Studs A Cappella Group, reading Jewish history books, and going for runs in Riverside Park. Josh is currently pursuing a major in Jewish Studies and minors in Music and Political Science and learns in the morning in the shiur of Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig.

Aharon Soloveichik attended high school at Yeshiva Shaar Hatorah in Queens, New York, and, after graduating, the Shaar HaTorah Beis Medrash. In high school, he focused his studies on Talmud Torah (the study of the Hebrew Bible, its commentaries, and related texts), American political thought, and military history, and completed an internship at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute. After studying at the Shaar HaTorah Beis Medrash, Soloveichik spent a year in Israel at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh. As a Straus Scholar at , Soloveichik is pursuing a degree in history, war studies, and political science, while attending the shiur of Rav Hershel Schachter in the Mazer Yeshiva Program (MYP).

Yaakov Willner grew up in Los Angeles and attended LA High School. While in high school, Willner interned at StandWithUs, where he helped develop an online curriculum for middle school students on topics of Israel education, and served as a counselor at Etta Israel, an organization servicing individuals with mental and developmental disabilities. Additionally, he wrote and was an editor for multiple publications, including Kol Hanearim, Polymatheus Journal, and Likutei Ohr, and played clarinet in LA’s jazz ensemble. Upon graduation, he received the Excellence in Torah Award and was featured in the LA Jewish Journal. During his summers, Willner attended NCSY Kollel in Israel and was a member of Beth Jacob Congregation’s Summer Kollel in Los Angeles. Upon graduating from LA in 2020, Willner spent two years in Israel studying at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh (KBY), where he sang in the yeshiva’s choir. He also took seminars through Tikvah Online Academy on Jewish ideas, Zionism, and Western civilization. As a Straus Scholar, Willner pursues economics and political science degrees while engaging in serious Torah study.

Noam Mayerfeld was born in New York City, and moved to Teaneck, New Jersey, at the age of 5. He attended MTA/HSB, where he captained the debate and mock trial teams, and helped run a political action club devoted to US-Israel relations. After two years at KBY, Noam Mayerfeld returned to , where he is an active member of the Straus Scholars program, a computer science major, and a talmid in Rav Shulman’s shiur. In addition to his learning and studies, he teaches science to fourth grade students at a local New York City public school through the Start Science program, serves as a computer science peer tutor for his fellow students at , and coaches the MTA debate and mock trial teams. Noam is an associate justice on the Student Court, a member of the HackerRank weekly coding challenge club, and he belongs to ’s Association for Computing Machinery chapter. When he isn’t learning or studying, Noam enjoys reading, cooking, and playing the drums.

Jacob Sundel is from Boston, Massachusetts. In 2019, he graduated from Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael as an AP Scholar with Honor. While in high school, Jacob was a captain of the basketball team, a member of the Model Beis Din team, and recipient of the Rose Ruderman Scholar Award. Following high school, Jacob spent two years learning in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh (KBY) in Israel. Jacob is also an Eagle Scout from Boy Scout Troop 54 of Brookline, Massachusetts. For his Eagle Scout Project, Jacob started a Yachad chapter in his high school. Jacob enjoys dedicating his time to causes that help people with special needs, like participating twice in the Friendship Circle Bike Miami and being a counselor in Camp Kaylie. In the summer of 2022, Jacob was a Summer Research Intern for Timothy Carney at the American Enterprise Institute.