Hillel International is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship, Lilly E. Reiser Graduate Student Award, Jules and Gwen Knapp First Generation Student Scholarship, Jules and Gwen Knapp Campus Leadership Award, Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education, and the Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students. These outstanding high school and college students from the U.S. and Canada exemplify Jewish values, as they foster a better world through leadership and volunteerism in their communities.

2024 Recipients

Benjamin Kagan

Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship

Samantha Zack

Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship

David Pernick

Lilly E. Reiser Graduate Student Award

Barry Mantell

Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education

Daniel German

Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students

Neria Spense

Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship

Samuel Sievers

Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship

Salima Zeira

Jules and Gwen Knapp First-Generation Student Award

Mark Leschinsky

Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education

Itai Lavie

Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students

Perla Dahan

Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students

Oscar Seltzer

Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship

Adam Elitzur

Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship

Tom Dubnov

Jules and Gwen Knapp Campus Leadership Award

Aviel Seltzer

Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students

Moshe Janani

Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students

Ruben Saror

Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students

Paula Fishman

Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship

Evin Schwartz

Lilly E. Reiser Undergraduate Student Scholarship

Maxwell Dell

Jordan and Elise Levin Scholarship for Jewish Enrichment and Education

Rechuma Hafter

Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students

Uriel Alpin

Paulson Leadership Award for Jewish CUNY Students

2023 Recipients

Salomon Bibas

Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship

“My name represents my Venezuelan and Jewish heritage and identities, and keeps me grounded in my values.”

Maya Friedberg

Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship

“I’m Jewish, Mexican, and a young woman—all demographics that are disproportionately affected by gun violence. I went to the Capitol to show our lawmakers that I represent the 80% of Texans who support gun safety laws.”

Victoria Yusupova

Knapp Campus Leadership Award

“However, after visiting Israel, the rest of my Jewish identity started to take shape, and I was able to feel pride in my Jewish identity, and derive joy from being Jewish.”

Lia Abuhsira

Knapp First-Generation Student Scholarship

“This relationship with my Safta anchors my desire to pursue a college education – not just for myself, but for my Safta, my family, and for the women who will come after me.”

Miriam Borvick

Hillel Graduate Student Award

“I developed a community health program to provide Orthodox Jewish communities with access to evidence-based, high-quality health information and to create moments of direct, genuine connection between health professionals and community members.”

2022 Recipients

Elijah Harris

Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship

“By being a part of these communities, I have felt encouraged to embrace myself — no matter what Jewish space I occupy.”

Elizabeth Shvarts

Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship

“Bridge to Literacy renews my faith in the promise of a community founded on empathy-driven leadership and dynamic, one-on-one mentorship.”

Ethan Voskoff

Hillel Campus Leadership Award

While I may be wearing a surgical mask while interacting with my community, the smile underneath has never faded.

Aharon Grama

Hillel Campus Leadership Award

When our student community sees themselves represented in leadership roles, they feel more safe, secure, and seen on campus.

2021 Recipients

Emma Rosman

Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship

“My experiences were the tip of the iceberg; I had just as much learning to do as everyone else.”

Sarah Frank

Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship

“Each experience reminds me that I am the role model I’ve always wanted to be — and that all the hard work was undeniably worth it.”

Dylan Patrick

Hillel Campus Leadership Award

“For me, being lucky enough to be a Jew means my life’s purpose is to heal the world, one action at a time.”

Adele Smolansky

Hillel Campus Leadership Award

“My college major allowed me to make an impact on my sister’s life that I never even knew would be possible.”

2020 Recipients

Andrew Kaye

Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship

“We were almost homeless. That pushed me to live my Judaism through acts of social justice.”

Juliana (Jules) Oringel

Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship

“The unthinkable happened in Parkland. That fueled me to create a nonprofit.”

Eva Liebovitz

Hillel Campus Leadership Award

“My Judaism is no longer an inconvenience, but a rich, centuries-old tradition I cherish.”

Enav Zusman

Hillel Campus Leadership Award

“I am raising my son to be immensely proud of his Jewish identity.”

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