As Jewish students on campuses coast to coast have faced antisemitism and institutional inaction, the American Sephardi Federation’s Sephardi House has welcomed a select group of 55 Fellows—students who exemplify Jewish values, vision and vitality.
From the University of California, Los Angeles and Virginia Tech to the State University of New York school system and Harvard and Yale universities, students joined nearly 60 ASF Sephardi House alumni in making a significant impact on Jewish campus life and beyond.
Since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Fellows have been mobilizing against antisemitism, as well as standing up for the Jewish people and the Jewish state, including organizing more than 100 campus programs that have reached thousands of their peers.
Students have also written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Yale Daily News and The Times of Israel, appeared on MSNBC and Fox News, and testified before Congress.
The Sephardi House Fellowship is an innovative year-long learning and leadership development experience that immerses students in the vibrant history, traditions and intellectual legacy of the Greater Sephardic world. The program is composed of educational sessions, mentorship, access to the ASF’s robust resources, a Shabbaton leadership summit and student-led campus programming.
“The past two academic years, we had an overwhelming number of students apply, which shows the clear need for what we are doing,” stated Ruben Shimonov, ASF’s national director of Sephardi House and Education. “With a sense of urgency as well as a dedication to the next generation of Jewish leaders, we are meeting this critical moment with a movement that celebrates Jewish diversity and cultivates Jewish unity.”
Since its inception in 2020, the Sephardi House Fellowship has nurtured 113 student leaders from schools such as Columbia, Cornell, Duke and Stanford universities. These Fellows engage thousands of their peers. They are making their mark on Jewish student life not only through meaningful Jewish programs but also through systemic change, including starting clubs and strengthening existing groups.
Jessica Yeroshlami, former president of Baruch Hillel and a current Columbia University law student, said that “the Sephardi House Fellowship introduced me to the vastness of the Sephardic-Mizrahi community. I was able to explore my own heritage while learning about the interconnectedness of a larger Jewish community. I am grateful for the opportunity to strengthen my own identity.”
In November, Sephardi House’s flagship leadership summit occurred in New York City, filled with Jewish learning sessions; a Sephardic Shabbat celebration; a panel with Sephardic entrepreneurs and industry leaders; and visits to synagogues in Manhattan.
Reflecting on her cohort’s Shabbaton, Stella Salmon of the University of Arizona said that “the experience of engaging with, learning from and forming connections with so many young people who share my broader cultural heritage was an incredible one. … I felt seen and rooted in my heritage and was filled with renewed excitement and drive to be more vocal about the richness and value of Sephardi Judaism, both within the Jewish community and the world as a whole.”
Since then, Stella was empowered to launch a Sephardic and Mizrahi club at her school.
Sephardi House was spearheaded by Joshua Benaim—an award-winning real estate entrepreneur, Harvard Business School alumnus, author and opera singer.
Motivated by a love of their heritage, and a desire to counter the rise in reductive narratives and antisemitic tropes, Benaim and ASF executive director Jason Guberman envisioned a program to fortify students with deep knowledge of Jewish traditions, inspire them and nurture the next generation of young leadership.
“The wisdom and warmth of the Sephardic tradition has much to offer to humanity. In these challenging times, we need that resilient spirit that has been passed down through the ages in the form of Sephardic poetry, philosophy, music, food and spirituality,” said Benaim.
Guberman recalled how “we were criticized before Oct. 7 for being too intellectual, too academic, and supposedly, not being activist enough in the fight against antisemitism, notwithstanding our principled opposition to critical ethnic studies. But, as Josh says, ‘we don’t want to just fight antisemitism, we want to win,’ and the way to win is by enlightening and empowering Jewish students.”
“The students are thirsty for knowledge and authentic Jewish connection,” added Benaim. “These are the superpowers that have kept the Jewish people strong for millennia. We are overwhelmed by the demand for Sephardi House, and we need help scaling this exciting program that is already generating impressive results.”
Shimonov has been instrumental in shaping and realizing Sephardi House’s vision.
Join us in congratulating the young leaders who serve as ASF Sephardi House Fellows for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years.
- Elon Abergel, Yale University
- Yasmine Abouzaglo, Columbia University
- Lia Abuhsira, Fordham University
- Debi Ahitov, Duke University
- Ella Amouyal, Brandeis University
- Yaniv Ashwal, University of Maryland
- Roey Beniluz, University of Pittsburgh
- Thalia Bentolila, Cornell University
- Gabriella Borukhov, State University of New York at New Paltz
- Opal Cohen, Virginia Tech University
- Abigail Cohen, Rutgers University
- Joseph Edrei, New York Institute of Technology
- Sara Elyassian, Yeshiva University: Stern College
- David Erdos, Cornell University
- Maya Gavriel, City University of New York: Baruch College
- Benjamin Golsaz, George Washington University
- Gavin Hakimian, Cornell University
- Vivian Hamui, Brandeis University
- Joseph Heaney, Brandeis University
- Leah Inoyatov, Hofstra University
- Rebecca, Izkiyayeva, City University of New York: Brooklyn College
- Daniella Kalaie, University of California, Los Angeles
- Rebecca Kalimi, Columbia University: Barnard College
- Elizabeth Katanov, City University of New York: Hunter College
- Daniel Kovan, State University of New York at Binghamton
- Eli Lavi, New York University
- Alon Leshem, University of Pittsburgh
- Ruben Mahgerefteh, New York University
- Isaac Malka, Brandeis University
- Orah Massihesraelian, Yale University
- Rebecca Matayev, Brandeis University
- Leav Michaeli, State University of New York at Binghamton
- Chanelle Mizrahi, University of Southern California
- Stella Moussa Salmon, University of Arizona
- Shaya Naimi, University of California, Los Angeles
- Gabrielle Nakkab, Hamilton College
- Keanu Natan, University of Pennsylvania
- Rachel Pakan, City University of New York: Queens College
- Liora Rahmani, Yeshiva University: Stern College
- Yaron Rahmani, City University of New York: Queens College
- Nima Rahmanian, University of California, Berkeley
- Tori Raphael, University of California, Los Angeles
- Ittai Saadia, Virginia Tech University
- Julie Saadia, City University of New York: Baruch College
- Steven Sabbagh, Cornell University
- Amit Sapir, University of Florida
- Dana Sapir, University of Florida
- Tomer Shaked, University of California, Los Angeles
- Sabrina Soffer, George Washington University
- Tehila Soleimani, Fashion Institute of Technology
- Laura Julia Tapiero Fleischmann, Columbia University: Barnard College
- Julia Tellides, Harvard University
- Bettino Weisser, Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University
- Ben Zareh, University of Pennsylvania
- Aviel Zuri-Shaday, University of Maryland