Ariela (Ari) Katzman-Jacobson is a Jewish learner and community organizer. Ari graduated from Bard College in 2021 with a B.A. in Anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies. During her studies, she developed an interdisciplinary and ethnographic approach to understanding the ways in which Jewish texts and traditions are interpreted by Jewish communities around the world. She spent a semester at Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, during which she was active in the cultural activist organization, Auróra. As a student at Bard, Ari was elected Co-Head of the independent Jewish Student Organization. She fostered partnerships with Muslim, Christian and Hindu Student Organizations, co-hosting events and volunteering opportunities. After graduation, she worked on the Program Team at the Hadar Institute, a center of Jewish life, learning, and practice, where she helped plan and execute Jewish learning opportunities for people of all ages and learning backgrounds. Currently, she’s a Fellow at Paideia: The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden, engaging in a year of Jewish learning in a multifaith, action-oriented environment. In her freetime, Ariela is an avid traveler, chaotic cook, and concert-goer.

Daniel Brot is received a Masters of Jewish Studies at Oxford University. His research focused on the history of liberal Judaism and how Jewish history can inspire vibrancy through changing times. Daniel graduated from William & Mary Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Government and Religious Studies. A highlight of those studies were the three semesters he spent studying across the world in Washington DC, the United Kingdom, and Israel. In addition to learning about international development through his Major, he participated in Model United Nations and helped host William & Mary’s annual collegiate Model United Nations Conference. Daniel grew up in Chicago going to OSRUI, a URJ camp. Most recently he served as a Unit Head for OSRUI in the summer of 2023, marking his 15th summer. Summer camp helped teach Daniel the value of being proud of your Judaism and embracing educated individual reflection on Jewish practices. He applied those values as President of his Temple Youth Group and as Shabbat and Holiday Chair at William & Mary’s Hillel. In addition to Judaism, Daniel has a great passion for reading, chess, and ultimate frisbee.

Ellie grew up in London, UK and recently graduated from Bristol University with a BSc in Economics and Politics. In 2022, she spent a year at Yonsei University in South Korea, where alongside her studies, she was an English tutor and assistant researcher at an East Asia-focused macroeconomic consultancy. On her return to the UK, she founded Bristol University Exchange Society to support international students studying abroad and promote intercultural connections. In the past year she taught English to refugee and migrant children with Jacari Charity and was awarded volunteer of the term. This summer she interned at Jumpstart, which matches ambitious individuals in their early career with startups and previously interned at Tortoise Media, a slow news organization. She has a diploma in Youth Education and Leadership from Leo Baeck College and was a youth leader with RSY-Netzer throughout her teens.

Emily is a driven, passionate, creative, and empathetic individual, whose values both embody and continue to mould her identity. Her early life experiences, enriched by a Jewish education, have played a crucial role in shaping her into the woman she is today. Emily excelled in her education, completing her schooling from kindergarten to year 12 at Mount Scopus College. Graduating in 2017 with an impressive ATAR of 98.80, she ranked in the top of her cohort. Prior to university, Emily embarked on a transformative gap year program in Israel, where she engaged in Jewish learning, Arava work, army experience, and first-responder training/volunteering with MDA. In 2019, she commenced her university career with a Bachelor of Psychology but soon transferred into a double degree, combining Science and Global Studies, to infuse more flexibility and travel into her academic pursuits. Throughout her academic journey, Emily dedicated time to volunteering and part-time jobs, showcasing her commitment to diverse interests beyond her degrees. She also served as Social Officer for Monash University’s Jewish Society, allowing her to marry her Jewish identity with her university career.

Emily’s professional journey has been diverse, spanning various fields from hospitality to facilitation. Currently working as a part-time medical receptionist and part-time nanny, she continues to balance her professional responsibilities with her academic pursuits. For leisure, Emily enjoys reading, swimming, drawing and moments spent with family and friends. Above all, she finds energy and inspiration in travel and intercultural learning, immersing herself in experiences that broaden her perspectives.

Liam Faigen originally hails from Houston, Texas. He attended New York University and graduated in 2021 with a degree in Global Liberal Studies, concentrating in Critical Creative Production. His thesis discussed how the modern American sitcom helped to steer social progress in the United States. Since graduation, he has worked at UJA-Federation of New York, most recently as a Development Associate in the Manhattan Division. Liam’s journey in the Jewish non-profit world began when he became a member of BBYO in 2013, where he eventually served as a Regional President and as the International Vice President of Globalization and Fundraising, introducing him to the work of JDC. He was lucky to join a BBYO-alumni Entwine trip to Mumbai, India in 2017 and has been endlessly inspired by Global Jewry ever since. In his spare time, he performs stand-up and improvisational comedy in theatres and clubs across the five boroughs. He is an obsessive of pop culture and a huge fan of reality competition series, civil aviation, and the Eurovision Song Contest.

Originally from Antakya, a small Jewish community in southern Turkey, Liza now lives in Heidelberg. She loves exploring new places, tasting new flavors, learning new languages, and listening to new stories. She is interested in music, art, sociology, philosophy, psychology, linguistics, and history. Liza completed her undergraduate education in International Relations in Italy with a thesis on political transitions in Turkey, minority identity, and its implications on the Jewish community. She will soon finish her master’s degree in Germany, focusing on oral history, diasporic identity, and cultural memory. She is a research and media assistant at KIgA e.V. and a member of the Students’ Union, where she is responsible for Events Planning and Cooperation. She recently published her first book, “At the Point of Joy and Sorrow: Essays about Jewish Life in Turkey.” In her free time, she loves to travel, meet new people, listen to music, play table tennis, basketball, and football, and exchange languages.

Matthew graduated from the University of Leeds this year with an integrated Masters degree in Food Science. Growing up in Manchester, UK, his first major community involvement was through BBYO, serving as National President of United Kingdom & Ireland. At university, Matthew has been heavily involved in Jewish life on campus, as Communications and Engagement Officer for the Jewish Society and as a delegate to UJS’s National Council. While studying, he was also active in student radio, hosting a regular music show, curating the playlist, and producing his own podcast. As part of his degree, he lived in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he worked in Food Safety, Quality Innovation and Compliance. Whilst there, he was involved with the Belfast Jewish congregation and volunteered as an Advisor to BBYO’s Dublin chapter, mentoring teen leaders. In the past 2 years Matthew has led 2 teen delegations to Israel and was a madrich for Birthright Israel UK. He now works for BBYO UK, responsible for redeveloping their national educational framework, and is currently participating in B’nai Brith & WUJS’s IMPACT fellowship. Matthew loves music, regularly attending live gigs and has recently started to self-teach guitar. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, travelling, and exploring the best food spots in town.

Born in New York City, Rachel grew up in Toronto. Rachel always had a strong Jewish community around her, and that community took on new meaning upon leaving Jewish Day School and attending an all-girls Anglican High School. There she realized that her Jewish identity was more important than she ever imagined, and she increased her involvement in Jewish youth groups, volunteer projects, and leadership opportunities. Rachel has been involved in or kickstarted projects supporting a broad range of communities and issues, including antisemitism and Global Jewry, international development and education, and local homelessness and hunger. Social impact is non-negotiable for Rachel. She spent the summer of 2023 in Siem Reap, Cambodia volunteering with the Jewish Agency’s TEN to bring experiential learning and informal education to the developing world. She has graduated with a Combined Honours in Contemporary Studies and Religious Studies, with a Minor in French from the University of King’s college. Her thesis looks at intersections and moments of solidarity between Jewish victims, Roma victims, and Queer victims of the Holocaust. In Halifax, Rachel played on the Dalhousie Tennis Team and is a Tennis Coach. She was also a Research Assistant on the cardiac ward of the QEII Hospital, conducting patient interviews to contribute to the projects goal of improving patient wellbeing in non-medical ways. In her free time, you can find Rachel spending time outdoors, with friends and family, and trying new cafes and restaurants.

Ted Davis is a staunch believer in the interwoven power of language, community, and culture. Credentialed as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, he continues to explore communication in myriad social and theoretical contexts—whether writing or editing or merely spitballing. Through a national service term with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, he has traveled the Pacific Northwest, leading a team of young adults in project partnerships with local organizations from Helena, MT, to Geyserville, CA, and beyond. Ted additionally draws from his experiences working for various nonprofits, including the National Constitution Center, Interfaith Philadelphia, and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, in educational and operational capacities. A Kelly Writers House grantee and Jewish Changemakers Fellow, he has also launched initiatives to bring people together, most notably the Hellologue, a grassroots deep-dive into the everyday construction of meaning. Ted considers himself a crudely aspiring poet and an avid aficionado of collegiate athletics and, hence, laughs often and heartily unless he rereads his work or watches a beloved team lose in agonizing fashion.

Yael Perlman is passionate about creating a more just society through government policies and community programming. Yael recently graduated from Brandeis University, Magna Cum Laude with Honors in Politics, and minors in Economics and Judaic Studies. Her studies and activities in college were in pursuit of probing deeper into societal issues, within both the US and Israel. In 2021, while working at the ITIM assistance center, Yael learned about issues of religion and state in Israel — particularly about issues facing the diverse populations entering the state. This prompted Yael to research further into two particular groups, Soviet and Ethiopian Jews, who came to Israel in the 1990s, which became the topic of her senior thesis. Yael went back to Israel the following summer to continue her research, meeting with academics and visiting archives. Her introduction to the Joint was because of their efforts on behalf of these groups. In addition to her interests in Israel and equal rights, Yael is a strong gun violence prevention advocate, starting a chapter of Students Demand Action at her school, and also lobbying in the Massachusetts State house. After graduation, Yael continued her government efforts working in constituent and legislative affairs. She is now a Legal Assistant at Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), a large anti-poverty community action agency. Yael loves riding her bike around Cambridge, traveling and meeting new people!

Ziv is a second-year fellow based in India, continuing his work with Gabriel Project Mumbai. Born in London to a modern Orthodox Jewish family, he attended both Jewish primary and secondary schools until A Levels, when he transferred to Wentworth College to study History, Politics, and English Literature. Ziv first started teaching Hebrew reading to a child with learning difficulties in his community at the age of 15 and later joined Aleph Learning Center Cheder to teach Hebrew reading to classes of children from ages 16 to 18. He also worked in a restaurant from ages 17 to 18 and in a deli for three months at age 20. Ziv spent much of his teenage years volunteering within his Jewish community as well as outside of it. He was a Bnei Akiva youth leader from ages 16 to 19, participating in weekly activities and summer and winter camps. He also volunteered as a youth leader with Tribe in the summers of 2018 and 2019 in Ghana and Scotland, respectively. Additionally, Ziv occasionally volunteered at the NLAH weekly food drop-in from ages 15 to 19. While at university, Ziv volunteered with the Salaam-Shalom Charity when possible. Ziv’s hobbies include drawing, reading, cycling, and bouldering.