2 Orlando teens USY Fellows

USY is pleased to announce the third annual Heschel Fellowship cohort. Twenty-one teens from across the United States will be gathering virtually every week for immersive Jewish learning and fellowship through April 3, 2024. The two students from Central Florida are Yael Brener of Orlando and Jaynie Ragas of Sanford.

Brenner attends Lake Brantley High School. She is a member of the Temple Israel USY chapter as well as C-Teen, the Chabad youth group. 

Ragas is a homeschool student. She is a member of the Temple Israel USY chapter and also volunteers with the synagogue’s kitchen committee for kiddush luncheons. 

The Heschel Fellowship was designed for students not currently enrolled in a Jewish day school. The 21 fellows selected for this cohort are impressive young leaders in their communities, with glowing recommendation letters outlining community service, civic engagement, athletics, and dedication to Torah. 

The course will be taught by guest faculty member Bennett Decker, a rabbinic seminary student from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). Decker is currently a Slifka-Nadich Fellow at JTS, an initiative connecting rabbinic students with Hillel chapters for young adult engagement. He is a List College alumnus with bachelor’s degrees in Talmud Studies from JTS and political science from Columbia University.

The 2024 Heschel Fellowship cohort also includes: 

Elianna Block-Kaplan, Riverwoods IL

Phoebe Dickler, Princeton NJ

Miriam Gunsburg, Merrick NY

Winter Hamm, Arlington VA

Leor Hersh, San Francisco CA

Mia Hoang, Northridge CA

Yael Hodara, Harrisburg PA 

Violet Hoffnung, Bronx NY

Ezra Hulnick, Herndon VA

Sammy Kritzer, Livingston NJ

Lorelai Lindon, Deerfield IL

Gracia Mejia-Jacobson, Oklahoma City OK

Liza Mendelev, Ames IA

Jonah Rosman, Arlington VA

Kimberly Saltsberg, Syosset NY

Naomi Schiller, Los Angeles CA

Hanna Sclar, Westfield NJ

Alexandra Sinrich, Wayland MA

Aaron Wein, St. Petersburg FL

All fellows will receive a $1,500 scholarship to USY programs, or $750 to outside Jewish programs, upon completion of the course. 

 USY is a leading force in Conservative/Masorti Jewish life, providing meaningful and engaging experiences for Jewish youth across the United States and Canada. With more than 300 local chapters, USY offers a wide range of programs, including leadership training, social action projects, and Israel experiences.

For more information about USY and its programs, please visit www.usy.org.