The JLIC Fellowship for Campus Professionals 2023-2024

Alex currently works as a landscape architect in Jerusalem, holding a Masters in Architectural Engineering from the University of Leeds, UK. He is also ba’al koreh, ba’al tefillah, and ba’al tokea, and learned safrut during his gap year at Yeshivat Migdal HaTorah. Alex enjoys singing Jewish choral music in the several choirs of which he is a part. Talya holds a degree in Government & Diplomacy from Reichman University, with a focus in International Law. She is passionate about living a Biblical life, enjoying learning the laws of Shmitta and agriculture in Israel, and hopes one day to have her own farm in Eretz Yisrael. Her love of Tanach started at a young age when she competed in the Chidon HaTanach and achieved third place in the United States. Talya and Alex live in Armon Hanatziv in Jerusalem. They enjoy hosting Shabbat meals, especially for the students at Ulpan Etzion down the hill.

Amira grew up in Los Angeles and attended YULA Girls High School. After spending a year learning at Migdal Oz, Amira decided Israel was her home and drafted into the IDF. She had a very meaningful service serving as a Mashakit Tash. The highlight of her service was receiving the award of excellence from the President of Israel. After completing her service, Amira started law school at Bar Ilan. She is finishing up her degree and is excited to begin working in a family law firm. Aron grew up in London and attended Hasmonean High School. He then made Aliyah and began the Hesder program at Yeshivat Hakotel, serving as a combat soldier in Nachal. Upon returning to Hakotel, Aron was a madrich for their leadership program while participating in Mizrachi’s Mechanchim program. He is currently studying Business Administration at Machon Lev while working in Herzliya. Amira and Aron met during their army services and got married in 2021. They live in Givat Shmuel.

Benny was born and raised in Efrat, and attended Hesder at Yeshivat Maaleh Adumim and Har Etzion. He served in Field Intelligence in the army, and continues to serve as an army rabbi in reserves duty. He is trained as a teacher and accountant and currently works as a manager at Prometheus, a financial consulting firm. Tehilla made aliyah with her family as a child, and also grew up in Efrat (no, they did not know each other growing up :)). Following high school she did sherut leumi at the Vehadrta project and studied for a year at Migdal Oz. She is an organizational psychologist and currently works as a project manager at Momentum. Tehilla and Benny got married during COVID (and take pride in no one having caught it at their wedding, as far as they know) and currently live in Jerusalem.

Zach Beer grew up in Woodmere, NY. He went to Rambam Mesivta and then continued his love of learning in Yeshivat Har Etzion for 2 years. Afterwards, he studied in City College where he graduated with BA/MA in History. Zach was very involved in Jewish life on campus there. He also participated in the Nachshon Project as an undergraduate and graduate fellow. Zach has worked in educational leadership roles in NCSY Relief Missions and Camp Morasha. Zach is the creator and co-author of Haftarah Helper. He is currently completing smicha at RIETS and an MS in Jewish Education at Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration during his time at the RIETS Gruss Israel Kollel. Alex Beer grew up in Teaneck, NJ. She attended Ma’aynot Yeshiva High School for Girls before studying in MMY. She earned a BA in Jewish Studies with a concentration in Education from Stern College and an MS in Jewish Education from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. Alex taught at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva HS for 4 years and also served as a religious guidance counselor and assistant head of student activities. She also coached the JKHA/RKYHS girls hockey teams for 6 years. Alex has a history of informal education with organizations such as Yachad and Camp Morasha. She is currently teaching at Midreshet AMIT, where she is also serving as a Rakezet, and Aish Gesher for Women.

Shira is originally from Passaic, New Jersey. After finishing high school she went to study in Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim and then went to Stern College where she planned on finishing a computer science degree. Only one year into college she decided that she belonged in Israel, and so she picked up and moved to Jerusalem. She is now completing her last year of computer science at Machon Tal. Shira enjoys hanging out with her family and friends, playing guitar, and losing herself in a good book. If you ever have the chance to meet her, be ready to answer a hundred questions about yourself. Yehuda hails from Brooklyn, New York. Before he finished high school he knew that Israel was where he needed to be. This led him to Yeshivat Birkat Moshe in Maale Adumim for Yeshiva. After a year and a half of studying, he was drafted into the Paratroopers for another year and a half. Upon completion of his service, he went back and received a Bachelors of Psychology from Yeshiva University, while also starting his Semicha studies at Riets. He now studies in Gruss Kollel in Jerusalem and is currently in his final year of Semicha as well as a Masters in Jewish Philosophy. Nothing brings him more joy than a good existential question and a warm cup of tea. They currently live in Bayit Vagan, Jerusalem for the year, and are excited about all the fantastic possibilities for the future.

Elisheva grew up in Miami, FL and graduated from Stern College with a Bachelors in English Literature after studying in Shaalvim for Women for her gap year in Israel. She is currently studying for her MSW in the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and is part of Stern’s GPAT’s program focusing on Tanach. In her free time, Elisheva loves spending time with family and friends, listening to music, and reading classic novels. Higher north on the east coast, Eytan grew up in Woodmere, NY and graduated from Yeshiva University with a Bachelors in Psychology after spending two years learning in Yeshivat Hakotel. He has completed his masters in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and is currently in his final year of Semicha in RIETS. He has a passion for music and sports and loves fostering connections with people. Both Elisheva and Eytan have a strong drive for inspiring the Jewish Future as evident in their year round work with NCSY and Yachad respectively. Eytan is also serving as the Rabbinic Intern at the Young Israel of Oceanside this year.

Elyanna and Zechariah currently live in Bayit VeGan, Jerusalem, where Zechariah is learning in the Gruss Kollel (and loving it!) Elyanna is continuing her Jewish education in the Tanach and Halacha track of Tagel where she enjoys debating hot topics and delving deeper into Torah. Elyanna has previously studied at MMY and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management at Touro College. She has worked since in the marketing and project management fields, most recently in healthcare consulting. When she’s not curled up with a book or psychoanalyzing reality TV shows, you can find her in front of an easel painting. Zechariah studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion for two years, completed a B.Sc. in Computer Science from Yeshiva University, and has been studying in RIETS since 2022. He’s interned at Google as a Software Engineer for three summers, where he’s made sure your Google Docs are still there when you come back. Zechariah loves to whip up delicious Shabbos feasts, read eclectic newsletters, and share Torah ideas. Elyanna and Zechariah are excited to help Jewish young adults build the communities they want to see in the world!

Jasmine grew up in Los Angeles and then went to Princeton, where she studied computer science and philosophy. After graduating, she moved to D.C. where she worked for the Department of Defense and then for a tech company as a government contractor. Jasmine is spending this year learning at Yeshivat Drisha. Aside from learning Torah, she loves hiking, reading, rock climbing, and dogs. Daniel grew up in Newton, MA. He learned at Yeshivot Maale Adumim and Har Etzion and then studied philosophy and Arabic at Princeton. He is now in semicha at RIETS, currently learning at the Gruss Kollel in Jerusalem. Daniel loves hiking, skiing, and nerding out about public transportation. Daniel and Jasmine are very excited to be JLIC Fellows this year. Having housed a Yavneh Bayit residence last year, they have a passion for Torah and community building, and look forward to all that they can contribute this year and in the future to JLIC!

Yonatan was born in Israel to anglo parents and grew up in Beit Shemesh. After high school he studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion and served in the IDF as an officer in Kfir. Yonatan has a BA in education and a masters in education management. He has been teaching for six years, and is currently the educational director of the high school Har Etzion Letzeirim. Eliana was raised in beit shemesh after making aliyah with her family at the age of five. She served two years in sherut leumi and then earned her degree in nursing. Since finishing school, Eliana has been working as a nurse in Shaarei Tzadek hospital, and has completed studies to become a licensed midwife. Eliana enjoys singing and writing music on the guitar or piano, her family is her best audience. Yonatan and Eliana currently reside in Alon Shvut with their two little boys.

Sophie grew up in Hewlett, NY and made Aliyah after learning at MMY for 2 years. She then moved to Givat Shmuel where she studied psychology at Bar Ilan University. Sophie currently works as a Rehabilitation Counselor and Coordinator at Marpeh Lanefesh. Aharon grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and made Aliyah after finishing High School. He spent time learning in Yeshiva, during which he also made an active effort to integrate into Israeli society. He continues to seek opportunities to serve the Jewish people and finds deep satisfaction in meaningful contribution to community. Sophie and Aharon live in Givat Shmuel where they are very active in the JLIC community.