Alumni The Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership Artificial Intelligence Biotechnology Computer Science Cybersecurity Data Analytics and Visualization Digital Marketing and Media Mathematics Nursing Occupational Therapy Physician Assistant Physics Speech-Language Pathology Tziri Lamm Research Scholar '26Tziri Lamm is a veteran educator currently pursuing her EdD at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education. She serves as Director of General Studies at Barkai Yeshivah High School in Brooklyn, NY, and has been published in HaYidion and Jewish Educational Leadership. Alon Meltzer Research Scholar '26Alon Meltzer has rabbinic ordination from RIETS and has earned master’s degrees from the University of Auckland in Sociology and Revel Graduate School in Medieval Jewish History. He is currently completing a PhD from LaTrobe University and an MS in Jewish Education from Azrieli. He serves as the Director of Programs at Shalom Collective, a not-for-profit specializing in art and cultural programming, and as Associate Rabbi of Mizrachi Synagogue, Bondi. He has written for various news outlets and has authored several chapters for books on Jewish rituals and traditions. Leora (Muskat) Seplowitz Research Scholar '26Leora (Muskat) Seplowitz is pursuing a master’s degree in Talmudic Interpretation from The Graduate Program in Advanced Talmud Studies (GPATS), as well as a Master’s in Computer Science. She is the GPATS intern at Lincoln Square Synagogue in the Upper West Side, and the recipient of Yeshiva University’s Best Long Critical Essay Award. Ezra Seplowitz Research Scholar '26Ezra Seplowitz is pursuing a master’s degree in Jewish studies at Revel Graduate School and rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He has published an article in Tablet Magazine, an essay in Yeshiva University's history journal, Chronos, and a thesis for Yeshiva University's Straus Scholars Program. Joshua Shapiro Research Scholar '26Joshua Shapiro is pursuing a master’s degree in Jewish studies at Revel Graduate School. He serves as President of Y-Studs A Cappella LLC, works in the summer as a division head at Camp Moshava, and has published work in The Lehrhaus and The YU Commentator, where he also served as an editor. Yitzchak Sprung Research Scholar '26Yitzchak Sprung serves as Rabbi of United Orthodox Synagogues in Houston and is pursuing a PhD in Jewish Philosophy at Revel Graduate School. He holds an MA in Jewish Philosophy and Rabbinical Ordination from RIETS and a Bachelor of Law from Bar Ilan University. Uriel Sussman Research Scholar '26Uriel Sussman is pursuing rabbinic ordination at RIETS, alongside a Ph.D. in Medieval Jewish History at Revel Graduate School and an M.A. in Jewish Education at Azrieli. A Nachshon Fellow, he served as Editor-in-Chief of Beis Yitzchak, a Torah journal of RIETS, and is currently an editorial assistant at Tradition, with writing published in Beis Yitzchak and a forthcoming article in Alon Shvut. Yitzy Tanner Research Scholar '26Yitzy Tanner is pursuing Yoreh Yoreh rabbinic ordination at RIETS, while serving as the Rabbinic Intern at Shaare Tefillah in Teaneck, NJ. He earned his MS in Physics, as well as a BA with a double major in Physics and Biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania, following his 3 years of study at Yeshivat Har Etzion. Rivka Werner Research Scholar '26Rivka Werner is pursuing an MA in Biblical and Talmudic Interpretation at GPATS and has extensive research experience including positions at the Institute for Advanced Study and editing a Princeton University Press Neuroscience textbook. Her writing has appeared in The Commentator and The Canadian Jewish News, and as a Beren Summer Fellow at the Tikvah Fund. Miriam Zami Research Scholar '26Miriam Zami is pursuing her PhD at Revel in Talmud and Ancient Judaism and teaches widely across academic and communal settings. She is a member of the Sefaria Word-by-Word Fellowship and has previously published at the Lehrhaus, where she was also an editor, and writes on midrash and meaning at her Substack. Holly Hoover Impact Scholar '26Holly Hoover is pursuing a PsyD in School-Clinical Psychology at Ferkauf School of Psychology. A graduate of University of California, Berkeley, she has experience as a community health advocate, substance-use-disorder counselor, kindergarten teacher, preschool yoga instructor, and research assistant. Yerson Faber Torres Cubillos Impact Scholar '26Yerson Faber Torres Cubillos is pursuing an MA in Mental Health Counseling at Ferkauf School of Psychology and was a professor in a graduate education program at Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina in Colombia. He has worked as a Workshop Facilitator and Program Supervisor in the Supporting Healthy Relationships program at Montefiore Medical Center and is completing his internship with the Behavioral Health Team in the Emergency Department at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital. Gitti Joseph Impact Scholar '26Gitti Joseph is pursuing her MSW at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and has been working in the field of eating disorders for four years. In her Sacks Impact project, she will be working with Wurzweiler’s Care Café to provide resources to help Orthodox Jewish communities access eating disorder treatment and care. Hyeonwook Kim Impact Scholar '26Hyeonwook Kim is pursuing an MS in Artificial Intelligence at the Katz School of Science and Health and works as an application developer. In his Sacks Impact project, he used AI on medical image segmentation to enhance the precise delineation of tumors and organs-at-risk for more accurate cancer radiotherapy treatment. Maya Zor Impact Scholar '26Maya Zor is pursuing her MA at the Fish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. She is a commercial lawyer with 15+ years of experience in private and in-house practice and leads CIJA Legal Task Force (pro bono) assisting employees and union members in combatting antisemitism in the workplace. In her Sacks Impact project, she will create educational resources and programs for Yom HaShoah programs at schools, synagogues and community centers. Ryed Jadun Impact Scholar '26Ryed Jadun is pursuing his law degree at Cardozo School of Law. He worked in Cardozo's Benjamin B. Ferencz Human Rights and Atrocity Prevention Clinic, as well as in the Patent Diversity Project Clinic. In his Sacks Impact project, he provided resources to support underrepresented inventors as they navigate the US patent system. Meital Lindenberg Impact Scholar '26Meital Lindenberg is pursuing her MBA at Syms School of Business. In her Sacks Impact project, she produced a financial literacy and early-career readiness series, covering topics such as budgeting, credit, investing, and navigating early workplace finances for those entering the workforce. Asher Finkelstein Research Scholar '25Asher Finkelstein is a fellow of the Kollel Elyon at RIETS and a Master’s student at the Bernard Revel Graduate School. Ned Krasnopolsky Research Scholar '25Ned Krasnopolsky is a Master's student at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. He studied physics and Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva College and is a Beit Midrash fellow at SAR High School. Penina Marmon Research Scholar '25Penina Marmon is a former Master’s student who studied Tanakh at GPATS. She earned her undergraduate degree in philosophy Summa Cum Laude from Stern College, where she was a Straus Scholar. Annie Nagel Research Scholar '25Annie Nagel is a PhD candidate at the Bernard Revel Graduate School and teaches Tanakh at YULA Girls High School. She holds a JD from UCLA School of Law and practiced real estate law in Los Angeles. Aryeh Roberts Research Scholar '25Aryeh Roberts is the Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, CT. He studied philosophy at the University of Maryland, where he also served as President of the Orthodox community. Batsheva Leah Weinstein Research Scholar '25Batsheva Leah Weinstein is a Judaic studies teacher at Yeshivah of Flatbush High School. She earned a masters degree from GPATS and is working towards her masters from Azrieli Graduate School. She earned her BA in linguistics from Princeton University. Julian Schmidt Impact Scholar '25Julian Schmidt is a devoted Holocaust scholar and advocate, newly completed a Master’s degree program at Yeshiva University’s Emil and Jenny Fish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. As a 2024–2025 Impact Scholar with the Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center, he is dedicated to advancing Jewish history, memory, and education to help counter antisemitism. Tomas Greenberg Impact Scholar '25Tomas Greenberg is an incoming fourth-year student in the Adult Clinical Psychology PsyD Program at Ferkauf. He received his B.A. from Cornell University, double majoring in Psychology and Spanish with a minor in Inequality Studies. After graduating, Tomas worked as a bilingual interventionist for two years with The New York Foundling, using Functional Family Therapy (FFT) to manage a caseload of ten families. His doctoral thesis focuses on the utility of psychedelic-assisted therapy in reducing death anxiety among terminally ill patients while incorporating indigenous perspectives for holistic healing. Gaalia Strupinsky Impact Scholar '25Gaalia Strupinsky is a Clinical Health Psychology PhD student at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology with an interest in working with emerging adult immigrant populations. Currently she is conducting research centered around depression, anxiety and chronic pain management. She has previously been involved in PTSD research, and is trilingual, speaking English, Hebrew, and Russian fluently. Nikil Deekonda Impact Scholar '25Nikil Deekonda is a Machine Learning Engineer at Temple Allen Industries focused on developing perception models for robotics, with prior industry experience as an AI Engineer at Lumamind LLC and a Software Development Engineer at LTIMindtree. He received his M.S. in Artificial Intelligence from the Katz School of Health and Science at Yeshiva University, where he built a strong foundation in machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing that continues to drive my work in industry. His interests lie in robotic perception, foundation models, and deploying scalable AI systems that deliver measurable real-world impact. Oyindamola Jemilawon Impact Scholar '25Oyindamola Jemilawon earned her Master’s of Social Work and is currently a PhD student at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. She provides mental health resources to families within the child welfare system. Niv Dahan Impact Scholar '25Niv Dahan is a MBA candidate at Syms School of Business and an experienced operations and project management leader with 10+ years of driving operational excellence, fostering collaboration, and implementing innovative solutions. He previously served as the National Director of the EDGE network of the Israeli American Council. Ezra Littlewood Impact Scholar '25Ezra Littlewood is a former student at Cardozo School of Law. He has worked at the Bet Tzedek Civil Litigation Clinic to advocate for the rights of services for children with developmental disabilities. Tamar Koslowe Research Scholar '24Tamar Yastrab Koslowe graduated from GPATS and in Nishmat's Yoatzot Halacha Fellows Program. She earned a BS in computer science from Stern College and worked on a risk management team at JP Morgan. She is currently teaches Talmud at SAR High School. Tzvi Benoff Research Scholar '24Rabbi Tzvi Benoff, originally from Bergenfield, New Jersey, is a member of the Wexner Kollel Elyon at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), simultaneously pursuing Yadin Yadin Semicha in the Rabbi Norman Lamm Kollel L’horaa. He graduated from Yeshiva College with a Bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Economics and History, before which he studied for two years in Israel at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh. He holds an MA in International Political Economy from Fordham University. Rabbi Benoff is a Wexner Graduate Fellow and was awarded the UJA Graduate Fellowship as well. Rabbi Benoff previously served as Rabbinic Intern in Beth Shalom of Lawrence and Lincoln Square Synagogue, as a Kollel Fellow at the Frisch High School and is currently serving as Rabbinic Associate at Congregation Etz Chaim in Kew Gardens Hills. Asher Willner Research Scholar '24Asher Willner is a former student in RIETS and serves as Rabbinic Intern at the Young Israel of the West Side. He earned a BS in computer science from Columbia University, where he taught a weekly Talmud class. Alissa Zeffren Research Scholar '24Alissa Zeffren has been an educator for over 15 years. She currently teaches Tanach and Jewish history at Ida Crown Jewish Academy, where she also runs Student Activities and is the Director of Student to Student Chicago–a program that empowers Jewish teens to combat antisemitism through classroom-based presentations about the Jewish people and Judaism. Alissa is a ’23-’24 Sacks Research Scholars Fellow through The Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and is working on her dissertation as a doctoral student at Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School for Jewish Education and Administration. Alissa completed the Orthodox Union Women’s Initiative 2024 COLI Chicago inaugural cohort. She lives in Skokie with her husband and four children. Neti Penstein Research Scholar '24Neti Penstein teaches Gemara, Halacha and Jewish Philosophy at Stern College for Women, where she studies in GPATS while pursuing a doctorate in Jewish philosophy at the Bernard Revel Graduate School. An honors graduate of Princeton University and the recipient of numerous academic awards and honors, Neti holds master’s degrees in Talmud, Jewish Law and Jewish Philosophy, and previously studied at the Migdal Oz Beit Midrash for Women. Annie Squicciarini Impact Scholar '24Annie Short Squicciarini was a Sacks Impact Scholar during the 2023/2024 academic year, and graduated with an MA in 2025 from the Emil A. and Jenny Fish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.Annie continues to stay involved with the Fish Center. Her area of focus is teaching the Holocaust to non-Jewish audiences. She is working within her Diocese to help enrich Holocaust education curricula in Catholic Schools. Eitan Kastner Impact Scholar '24Eitan Kastner is a passionate and driven Modern Orthodox Jew from New York, currently pursuing an MBA, semikha, and an MA in Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University. With a deep commitment to Jewish education and Zionism, Eitan balances his academic pursuits with hands-on experience in consulting and finance. Megan Priaulx Impact Scholar '24Megan Priaulx is currently a Law Clerk at Pelloux Law. She graduated from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, in 2024 and a Bachelor's of Science in General Social Sciences with a minor in Legal Studies in 2020 from the University of Oregon. She is primarily interested in criminal defense and post-conviction/wrongful conviction work. Shira Levy Impact Scholar '24Shira Levy is a fourth year Clinical Psychology doctoral student at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. She earned her M.A. in Psychology at Ferkauf, and her B.A. in Neuroscience at Yeshiva University’s Stern College. Shira’s clinical training includes psychodynamic and CBT modalities, specializing in anxiety disorders and women’s mental health, across the spectrum of acuity. Her research interests focus on the intersection of identity, self-expression, and mental health, with an emphasis on how self-silencing and fostering authenticity impact psychological well-being. Outside of her clinical and academic pursuits, Shira enjoys baking, crossword puzzles, and live music. Manish Kumar Thota Impact Scholar '24Manish Kumar Thota graduated from the Katz School for Health and Sciences with a Masters in Artificial intelligence in 2024. He currently works as a generative AI scientist at S&P. Michelle Borde Impact Scholar '24Michelle earned an MBA from the Sy Syms School of Business in 2024. She is currently employed as a Benefits Manager at Forvis Mazars USA where she ensures employees receive competitive and cost-effective health, retirement and wellness benefits. Michelle's extensive experience in data analysis and cost management assists companies enhance their benefit offerings while maintaining financial sustainability. With 15 years of experience in the field, Michelle plans to become a Director of Benefits. Sharon Turnage Impact Scholar '24Sharon holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Biology, Premed from York College, an MSW from Fordham University, and am a 3rd year PhD Candidate at Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work. As a Lord Rabbi Sacks Impact Scholar, she developed a theoretical framework guiding provider education and training on perinatal loss, grief, and effective engagement with this patient population to support positive grief outcomes. She also creates psychoeducational resources addressing perinatal loss and prolonged grief reactions. Paul Kutner Sacks Scholar '23Paul Kutner was a 2022-23 Sacks Scholar for Ethics and Entrepreneurship representing the Emil A. and Jenny Fish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. His project was on Holocaust distortion for which he created the podcast "Distorted: The Uncoordinated Campaign Against Holocaust History and Memory" available for free on Spotify, and wrote a paper entitled, "Objective Truth in Education: Combatting Holocaust Distortion Both Globally and Locally." Currently, the paper is under revision for publication. After teaching French for seventeen years during which time he interviewed a number of French-speaking Holocaust survivors and their rescuers, Paul is now pursuing a Ph.D. in history at American University in Washington, DC. His dissertation examines the role of Holocaust-era rescue of Jews in the postwar reconciliation of French Protestants and Catholics. Paul also teaches Jewish history part-time at the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, Maryland. He is the proud husband of Dr. Melissa Bailey Kutner, who teaches archaeology and Latin at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Together they have two sons, Michael and Lionel. Daniela Weiss Sacks Scholar '23Dr. Daniela Weiss is an IAPST certified sex therapist who made aliya in 2025. She graduated from Wurzweiler with an MSW (2021) and PhD (2026), and from Widener University with an M.Ed in Human Sexuality (2022). She is a licensed social worker in New York, New Jersey, and Israel. She specializes in working with people who have trauma histories, people with neurodivergence, people from religious backgrounds, and the LGBTQ+ community. Alvin McLaughlin Sacks Scholar '23Alvin McLaughlin holds a Master's in Social Work from Wurzweiler and Master of Divinity from Alliance University. He currently serves as a staff clinician and group therapist at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. He is also a banker at Valley Bank. Andrea Cassagnes-Maxi Sacks Scholar '23Dr. Andrea Cassagnes-Maxi is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist located in New York. She holds a PhD and specializes in perinatal mental health, maternal well-being, and addiction. Dr. Cassagnes-Maxi provides individual therapy as well as family counseling. In addition to her private practice, she is actively engaged in higher education, academic research, and community advocacy. She teaches a course on Social Work Practice with Addictions I at Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work and collaborates with professional networks to advocate for enhanced clinical training, visibility, and funding for maternal mental health initiatives. Bracha Teigman Sacks Scholar '23Bracha Teigman holds a Master’s of Science Taxation. She graduated from the Sy Syms School of Business with a BS in Accounting, earning the Henry Brout Award for Superior Scholarship in Accounting. She served as president of the Accounting Society at YU and as Project Manager and Director of Operations for the executive board of Tamid X YU, a student-led organization that fosters the next generation of business leaders through professional experiences. She works as a Multistate Tax Consultant at Deloitte. Hillel Broder Sacks Scholar '23Hillel Broder serves as Head of School at the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy located in Rockville, MD. He previously served as Principal of DRS Yeshiva High School for Boys of the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, and he has taught at SAR High School, Yeshiva University High School for Boys, and Fordham University. He holds an MA, MPhil, and PhD in English from the CUNY Graduate Center and Semicha from Rabbi Ari Enkin. In 2023-2024, he was a Sacks-Herenstein Fellow. He recently completed a second MA in Jewish Philosophy in at Yeshiva University. He is the author of two books of poetry, and has published in various academic and popular venues. Jillian Rossi Sacks Scholar '23Jillian Rossi earned a Master’s in Speech Language Pathology in the Katz School of Health and Science. With a musical theater background, Jillian graduated from The Boston Conservatory of Music, moved to New York City and has since performed around the globe from Broadway National Tours to Radio City Music Hall and numerous regional theaters. Jillian became interested in pursuing a degree in Speech Language Pathology when she saw a strong need for vocal rehabilitation and vocal health education within the entertainment industry. Within her time at YU, she has become increasingly interested in the role of the SLP in childhood language development in addition to voice disorders. Jillian is passionate about advocating for effective and independent communication amongst all populations as a means to cultivate dignity and identity through empowering one's own unique voice. Rebecca Kreiser Sacks Scholar '23Rebecca Kreiser graduated from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She was a summer associate at K&L Gates and interned for Judge Matthew H. Solomson at the US Court of Federal Claims during the summer of 2021. Rebecca has also externed at Community Health Advocates through the Health Care Reform Field Clinic at Cardozo. Before attending law school, she studied English and Secondary Education at Brooklyn College as a Macaulay Scholar. Jordan Soffer Sacks Scholar '23Rabbi Jordan David Soffer is the Head of School at Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy, and the Rabbinic Advisor for Prizmah's Day School Leadership Training Institute. Rabbi Soffer has semicha from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and a master's degree in education from Azrieli, where he is currently pursuing an EdD. Rabbi Soffer was an inaugural Sacks-Herenstein fellow. Talya Gordon Sacks Scholar '23Talya Gordon is a doctoral candidate in Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, and currently works as a therapist extern at both the Upper West Side Therapy Group and CCNY City College Counseling Center, providing individual psychotherapy to young adults. Her research projects have focused on providing psychological services to underserved populations. For her Master's research project, she examined the role that social support plays in mitigating stress levels amongst individuals with cardiovascular risk factors participating in a cooking intervention in a food desert. Talya pursued a B.S. in Psychology and Biobehavioral Health at the University of Maryland, where her research focused on psychosocial interventions for African American breast cancer survivors. Daniel Gottesman Sacks Scholar '23Daniel Gottesman is a RIETS student and a Master’s student in Azrieli Graduate School. He served in the Givati Brigade of the IDF before earning a BA in Jewish History from Yeshiva College. He currently serves as Rabbinic Intern at Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan. Marc Eichenbaum Sacks Scholar '23Marc Eichenbaum graduated from Ferkauf's School-Clinical PsyD. program in 2025. Marc received his BA in psychology from YU and his rabbinic ordination from RIETS. He has previously taught Judaic Studies at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls, and served as the rabbinic researcher for the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, and as the rabbinic intern for the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst. Marc was a UJA Graduate fellow as well as a Lefell Israel fellow. He has authored several essays exploring the intersection between psychology and religion. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Achieve Behavioral Health.
