“We’re living through a trauma that just won’t end—and it affects everyone.” I’m Oded Mazal, Amitei Bronfman 2011. I grew up in a religious family in Jerusalem; today I live in Tel Aviv with my husband, Amitai. I’m a social worker at Ichilov Hospital, working in both pediatric hemato-oncology and the newly opened LGBTQ+ clinic. Continue Reading »
“My long-term concern in the corporate world is subtle bias.” My name is Rena (Davis) Nickerson, Bronfman ‘92. I am an executive at a Fortune 50 food & beverage company, where I run a large division in the Canadian subsidiary. My husband and I have two grown kids who live in Manhattan, where I grew Continue Reading »
Yair Agmon (Amitei Bronfman ’04) lives in Tel Aviv and is originally from Jerusalem. He is a filmmaker, author, and newspaper columnist, and is married with three children. It was supposed to be a quick trip—a half-hour lecture at the ambassador’s residence, and a couple of days for fun. Three nights total. But then the war Continue Reading »
Zohar Shohat (Amitei Bronfman ’24) lives in Safed (Tzfat). She has just graduated from high school and is heading overseas for a year of service through the Jewish Agency. Like most high school seniors in Israel, my school was shut down due to the war with Iran, and my final week of high school was spent Continue Reading »
Sarah Abebe (Amitei Bronfman ’10) lives in Be’er Sheva. She studies law at Sapir College in the Negev and works as a legal assistant in the criminal division of Be’er Sheva Magistrate’s Court. Everything feels mad right now—time and routine are flipped around. It’s a strange sensation, like COVID meets war. The streets are empty. Anyone Continue Reading »
“One of the most painful issues to emerge in this war for Soviet Jewry in Israel is the burial of terror victims.” I’m Alex Rif, Amitei Bronfman 2003. Poet, social activist and cultural entrepreneur. I have three kids and a partner, Daniel. I was born in Ukraine and immigrated to Israel in 1990 as part Continue Reading »
“People always say we’re living through the most polarized moment in American politics—but this time, I think it’s true.” I’m David Adesnik. I was a Bronfman Fellow in ’94. I’m the VP of Research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies—a national security think tank—with an expertise in Iran’s global threat network and Middle East Continue Reading »
“Because I’m committed both to freedom of marriage and to change from within the halakha, my responsibility to offer solutions is greater. And I have faith in the halakha’s ability to offer solutions.” I’m Maor (Amitei Bronfman 2006). Originally from Ma’ale Adumim, I live in Tel Aviv with my partner Guy and our sons, Meishar Continue Reading »
“…I’d rather model what it looks like to live in a home that loves Judaism, loves learning, and loves each other. And trust that’s enough.” I’m Joe (Yossi) Fendel, and I was a Bronfman Fellow in 1990. I was born in Berkeley, California, and have lived here most of my life. I’m a mathematician by Continue Reading »
“I made a deliberate choice: for me, the front line of this war was with my students.” My name is Ariel Gino, Amitim 2001. I live in Jerusalem with my wife, Maya, and our five children. For the past six years, I’ve directed the evening boys’ program at Ma’ale High School, an alternative framework for Continue Reading »
Applications for the 2026 Bronfman Fellowship are open!To refer a teen, click here.
Deadline is December 2.