Fair Lawn, NJ
Ramah Day Camp in Nyack
University of Maryland

Ben is from Fair Lawn, NJ, and a junior in Maryland with a double major in Finance and Operations Management and Business Analytics. Before Maryland, he spent a year at Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi in Jerusalem. On campus, he was the gabbai for the Orthodox Jewish community and is currently the vice president of Kedma, the Modern Orthodox student organization on campus. Outside of the Jewish community on campus, Ben has worked for the men’s soccer team and currently is a data intern for a sports betting arbitrage firm. This past summer, he worked for First Manhattan as an equity research intern. The previous 3 summers, he was a Sgan Rosh Edah at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack.

Los Angeles, CA
Stanford University

Winter Springs, FL
University of Central Florida

Daniel is a junior at the University of Central Florida where he studies Event Management with minors in Jewish Studies and Business. On campus, Daniel serves on the student board of Hillel. In addition, he has participated in numerous learning opportunities from Jewish organizations including Hillel and Yehudi. In the community, Daniel also serves as a student representative to JCRC. Daniel is excited to begin with the Nachshon Fellowship, hoping to build connections and learn how to better grow strong Jewish

Evanston, IL
URJ OSRUI
University of Pittsburgh

Originally from Evanston, IL, Daryn Kaplan is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Religious Studies and Urban Studies, with certificates in Jewish Studies and Sustainability. During the school year, Daryn spends time leading services and programs at Pitt Hillel and works as a youth group advisor, b'nai mitzvah tutor, and music teacher at Beth Shalom and Rodef Shalom in Pittsburgh. In her free time, she loves playing instruments, rollerblading, doing arts and crafts, and spending time outdoors. She is looking forward to another summer on staff at OSRUI in Oconomowoc, WI.

Chicago, IL
Columbia College Chicago

Emma Jacobson is a student, performer, and creative collaborator from Kansas City. She is currently a student at Columbia College Chicago, earning a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance and a Minor in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She finds tremendous joy in crafting empowered opportunities for communal song, tefillah, community building, theatrical storytelling, and interfaith/interreligious dialogue in the greater Kansas City and Chicago areas. She serves as a musician and creative collaborator at Mishkan Chicago and a Shlichat Tzibbur at Congregation Beth Shalom in Kansas City. She has served as President of Columbia College Chicago, Education and Programs intern at JCRB|AJC, N'siah of Kansas City Council BBYO, a religious school teacher at Anshe Emet, a tutor for Judaic Studies, and more.

Pittsburgh, PA
URJ OSRUI
University of Pittsburgh

Hannah is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Philosophy and Religious Studies. She works at several synagogues and religious schools and is passionate about Jewish youth education. Hannah loves leading services at Hillel and local synagogues during the school year, and at OSRUI over the summer. She is excited to learn with a cohort of Jewish leaders from unique backgrounds to strengthen her own Jewish identity and leadership.

Closter, NJ
URJ Camp Harlam
University of Pittsburgh

Jacob Shinder is from northern NJ and is in his third year at the University of Pittsburgh. He is double majoring in religious studies and vocal music performance while also pursuing a certificate in jewish studies. He loves playing trumpet in the Pitt marching band and singing in the glee club. Jacob’s songleading career began when he served as Religious and Cultural VP for NFTY-GER (‘20-‘22). He’s continued leading services through music for URJ Camp Harlam, Rodef Shalom Congregation, and his school’s Hillel. In his spare time he loves seeing shows, going to movies, and rooting for most of the Pittsburgh sports teams. This year he is serving as president for the Healing Harmonies club, a group of dedicated musicians that perform for local assisted living homes.

San Pedro, CA
URJ Camp Newman
University of California, San Diego

Stamford, CT
Ramah in the Rockies
Tufts University

Jordana Raich is a Senior at Tufts University studying Cognitive and Brain Science. On campus, she is involved in social and religious programming at Tufts Hillel. She has spent the last three years working at Camp Ramah of the Rockies which combines her interest in Jewish education and the outdoors. Over the past two years, she has been a Rosh Edah and enjoys watching the campers and staff grow throughout the summer. She is grateful for all of her previous Jewish experiences that led her to the Nachshon Project and is excited for the opportunity to spend the semester learning and building connections with passionate Jewish leaders.

Spring Valley, NY
University of Pennsylvania

Marc Fishkind, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, is completing his studies with a major in Cognitive Science and dual minors in Data Science and Consumer Psychology. Originally from Wesley Hills, New York, Marc spent a transformative year at Yeshivat Har Etzion in the Gush, where he cultivated a passion for fostering Jewish connection and learning. As Gabbai and Torah Education Chair, Marc has been instrumental in organizing shiurim and creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage with their Judaism regardless of background. His dedication extends beyond campus, demonstrated by his impactful work with Yachad, including two summers supporting individuals with special needs at Morasha Yachad and a summer in Israel with Yad B'Yad. He is excited to enroll in RIETS this coming Elul, taking the lessons he learned from the Nachshon Project to learn from and interact with as many future Jewish leaders as possible.