To speak to one of these recent Fellows, please fill out this form.
Elke Bentley ’22
High School: Maimonides School
Background: I’m from a primarily liberal Modern Orthodox background. Last year I attended Yeshivat Drisha in Israel, and am currently at Harvard.
Relationship to Judaism in high school: Community; Learning; Connection.
Favorite high school hobbies/interests: Playing musical instruments/making music; learning languages; reading.
Most interesting class you’ve taken in high school or college so far: Foundations of Philosophy.
One reason you think someone should apply to Bronfman: To broaden their understanding of what it means to be a part of the Jewish community.
What aspects of Bronfman you’d especially like to talk to prospective applicants about: I’d love to talk about any aspect of Bronfman with prospective applicants!
Ilan Brusso ’22
High School: The Leffell School
Background: Hi! I’m Ilan Brusso (he/him), a Conservative Jew from New York who is very much a product of Jewish day school and Jewish sleepaway camp, although one of my favorite parts of Bronfman was meeting other Jews who weren’t. To me, Judaism means many things. It is connection to family and community, and an intellectual heritage that calls upon all of us to maintain ageless, at times inconvenient, values and morals regardless of the era we find ourselves in. Also Matzo Balls.
Relationship to Judaism in high school: Strong, occasionally transactional, familial
Favorite high school hobbies/interests: Mock Trial. Volunteering with special needs/neurodivergent populations. Student Government.
Most interesting class you’ve taken in college so far: Witches and Vixens: Nasty Women in Ancient Greece and Rome.
One reason you think someone should apply to Bronfman: To meet the literal best people in the world and in a space that is long and contained enough that you can convince them to be your friend 🙂
What aspects of Bronfman you’d especially like to talk to prospective applicants about: Any and all! How Bronfman compares to Jewish camps, how to have fun during the summer and how to write an application that best reflects your individual strengths!
Adam Buchsbaum ’22
High School: Xavier Academy in Houston, TX
Background: I am a non-observant Jew, but I am very connected with Jewish cultures and values. I am a cisgender straight man from Texas with liberal political views.
3 words or phrases that describe your relationship to Judaism when you were in high school: Cultural Jew, reformed
1-3 of your favorite high school hobbies/interests or activities: Tennis, Piano Teacher, Holocaust Museum of Houston Engines of Change program.
Title of the most interesting class you’ve taken in college thus far (or your favorite class in high school): The Yale Directed Studies program or Art and Architecture of the Sacred.
One reason you think someone should apply to Bronfman: Being surrounded by such intellectually vibrant individuals is the most fulfilling experience you can have. I have learnt more from my Bronfman peers during 1am conversations than an entire semester of a college course.
What aspects of Bronfman you’d especially like to talk to prospective applicants about:
I am happy to speak about any aspect, but I am very interested in talking about how it feels to come into the program from a far less intense background where I did not learn to speak Hebrew and had significantly less Jewish education.
Katje Bulthuis ’21
High School: Logan High School, Utah
Background: I grew up in rural Utah and converted to Judaism in high-school. I am currently a student at Brandeis University and identify most strongly as Masorti in my religious practice.
Title of most interesting class taken in college so far: The Fundamentals of Acting – I’m somewhat biased as a theater major, but I think of acting as a worldview. This course was a deep dive into the theories and practices behind acting for the stage, and I find myself still drawing on my experiences in the course on- and offstage.
One reason someone should apply to Bronfman: My fellowship experience shaped the way I understand my Judaism. The pluralistic nature of the fellowship allows fellows to explore new practices, ideas, and ways of thinking with similarly deep-thinking, curious peers.
Aspects of Bronfman you’d especially like to talk about: I am available to speak to fellows who come from what may feel like unconventional backgrounds, including rural hometowns and interfaith families.
Sofia Isaias-Day ’22
High School: Corvallis High School, in Corvallis, Oregon
Background: Religiously I mostly find myself in between the Conservative and Modern Orthodox movements. I grew up in a very liberal and small Jewish community in Corvallis, Oregon. My father is from Mexico and I consider myself a Latina Jew.
Relationship to Judaism in high school: Curious, wanting to explore, and excited
Favorite high school hobbies/interests: Ceramics, tennis, and writing
Title of most interesting class taken in college so far (or favorite class in high school): Abnormal Psychology
One reason someone should apply to Bronfman: Applying to Bronfman was one of the smartest decisions I made in high school. Bronfman opened me up to Judaism in a whole new way and set me on a different trajectory intellectually.
Aspects of Bronfman you’d especially like to talk about: Coming from a small town Jewish experience to Bronfman and how that opened me up to so many possibilities and experiences.
Ilan Weiner ’22
Where you attended high school: SAR High School
Background: Hi, my name is Ilan Weiner and I am a first-year at the University of Chicago. I spent last year taking a gap year studying in a Yeshiva in the old city of Jerusalem before beginning college. I grew up in a modern orthodox family and attended a modern orthodox day school my entire life.
Relationship to Judaism in high school: Rigorous study of Jewish text. Observance and rituals connected me to my community. Spending time in Israel and Zionism are very important to me
Favorite high school hobbies/interests or activities: Model UN. Behavioral Economics Club. Fantasy football
Title of the most interesting class taken in college or high school: I love my Morning Seder (Talmud learning) in Yeshiva.
One reason you think someone should apply to Bronfman: For the right kid, having deep discussions with Jewish people from all different backgrounds and perspectives is actually super fun.
What aspects of Bronfman you’d especially like to talk to prospective applicants about: What it’s like to be shomer Shabbat. What it’s like coming from the modern Orthodox community. What kind of topics and texts you will learn
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