Sacks-Herenstein Scholar Ayelet (Friedman) Meisels (SCW '26) reflects on her internship at The Tell Institute.
What were the main tasks you undertook during your internship or fellowship?
As an intern at the Tell Institute, my primary responsibilities included researching to ensure historical accuracy, editing for clarity, grammar, and consistency, and helping organize the overall curriculum. The Tell Institute is relatively new, having been established about a year ago, so there was always much to do. Dedicated to teaching students to actively fight antisemitism, the Tell pursues this mission by having students study history while practicing and discussing these ideals in lessons and workshops. This past summer, we officially released the curriculum after months of intensive preparation. It was incredible to be part of that process.
What were your research areas or key work objectives?
Some particular projects I was involved in included reviewing every lesson in our collection, including the Bnei Mitzvah curriculum, the high school curriculum for both Jewish and non-Jewish students, and the middle school curriculum. I was responsible for constantly reviewing these lessons as they were perfected each week. The historical topics we included ranged from the origins and evolution of antisemitism, Jewish identity in resilience throughout history, the Holocaust, lies that were propagated by leaders throughout each community, and even the way antisemitism manifests in contemporary society. While reviewing this, one of my primary objectives was to ensure that this complex and detailed history was accurate, age-appropriate, and also accessible for each group.
Which skills did you improve or develop during this experience?
During this experience, I significantly improved my research, editorial, and organizational skills. I developed a much stronger ability to fact-check historical material for accuracy and nuance, and to edit for clarity and tone across a large-scale curriculum. Because the Institute is in its early stages, I also developed project management and collaboration skills as I learned to manage multiple drafts simultaneously and work closely with a team on a shared deadline. The deadline itself was probably one of the most challenging aspects of the internship, but as a team, we encouraged each other throughout the process which made the workload much lighter.
Describe one or two significant discoveries or accomplishments. Were there tasks that surprised or particularly challenged you?
One of my most significant accomplishments was contributing directly to the official release of the curriculum. Seeing the lessons I had been fortunate to work on finally be released this summer was especially meaningful to me. Not having learned much of this history myself growing up, I felt especially proud to contribute to a curriculum that will ensure future students do. A particular task that challenged me was tailoring the same historical concepts for vastly different audiences, including students of all ages and from diverse backgrounds, both Jewish and non-Jewish. I was particularly impacted by the degree of intentionality required to make the material both historically rigorous and pedagogically effective for each group.
How did your experience as a Straus Scholar influence or impact your research or work?
As a Straus Impact Scholar, I strongly understand the need for such a curriculum and how powerful proper education can be in fighting against antisemitism. Many are familiar with Nelson Mandela’s famous quote: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” In my mind, equipping each young student with the ability to approach a generational conversation with such a fresh perspective is one of the greatest gifts one could possibly give to another. Likewise, the Straus Center promotes serious engagement with such texts, history, and contemporary issues, parallel to the Tell’s mission. Going into this internship with such clarity and imbuing these beliefs into my work enriched the skills and abilities that I had to offer.
Why do you believe this work is important, and why should other Straus Scholars consider pursuing similar research or internships?
This internship, I strongly believe, is exactly what the Straus Center hopes to promote: a cultivation of rich history, profound knowledge, diverse perspectives, and discussions, rooted in Jewish culture and traditions. What the Tell Institute specifically offered was the tool of education for combating antisemitism. By teaching students to understand the history of antisemitism, while recognizing its modern forms, we equipped them to be active in their pursuit of knowledge and challenge assumptions that may come their way. I would absolutely encourage other scholars to consider this internship (or internships of the like), because it is an opportunity to engage in skills of careful research, textual analysis, and bold moral leadership that the Straus program cultivates and promotes within the Jewish community and broader society.
