2020 BRONFMAN FELLOW INTRODUCTIONS Max Bamberger three years, and the past two summers I have Berkeley, CA interned for BimBam (formerly G-dcast), in Jewish Community High Oakland, and for Koolulam, in Tel Aviv. I love School learning Arabic, Hebrew, Literature, Math, and History. I am very interested in the stories we Fast Facts tell as cultures and if any story, character, or Co-Editor of his school’s idea is "new" as opposed to remixed or literary magazine, The Howl. repackaged. I like to think about and write Has played leading roles in three of his about adaptation, archetypes, hidden magic, school’s musical productions. changing maps, Jewish symbolism, and Served as the first-ever intern for language. I also strongly believe in music's Koolulam (based in Tel Aviv), a social- unique and tremendous ability to bring people musical initiative aimed at together. strengthening the fabric of society through mass-singing events and online ***** videos. Ava Berkwits Chicago, IL Hi! My name is Max Bamberger, I live in Walter Payton College Prep Berkeley, California, and I'm ecstatic to be a Bronfman fellow this year. When I'm not self- Fast Facts quarantined at home with my four younger Part of Payton’s treble- siblings, I spend my time learning at the Jewish voice acapella group, its musical theater Community High School in San Francisco, rock program, and its concert choir. climbing, acting and singing in the JCHS theater, Organizer with Illinois Youth Climate and playing ultimate frisbee in the park. Some Strike, a youth-led organization activities I AM able to engage in despite the intended to bring awareness and action current situation of immobility include writing, to the climate crisis. playing guitar, organizing the school newspaper Explored her Feminist and Jewish and school literary magazine, attempting to identities as a Rising Voices Fellow. teach my siblings all four parts of "The Longest Time" (which is, coincidentally, how long it has Hi everyone! My name is Ava Berkwits and I’m a been since I set foot in the outside world), junior at Walter Payton College Prep, a public playing an unhealthy amount of Word Hunt on high school in Chicago, Illinois. I love musical iMessage, and gazing longingly through the theater and singing (one of my favorite Jewish windowpane at the glimmering, beckoning San traditions is the Tisch, where everyone sings Francisco skyline in the distance. I attended together), and enjoy painting in my free time Oakland Hebrew Day School for elementary (current project: coronavirus-break art journal). school and the Yeshiva Tichonit Zichron Yaakov I’m really interested in politics, pursuing equity, in Israel for 7th and 8th grades. On Shabbats, and intersectional feminism, and I enjoy my family and I go to Congregation Beth Israel, thinking critically about the issues facing Berkeley's modern Orthodox synagogue. I went America and the greater international to Kayitz BaKibbutz Shluchot summer camp for community. I also love watching a good Netflix 1 2020 BRONFMAN FELLOW INTRODUCTIONS stand-up comedy special, taking Buzzfeed Tal Bresler quizzes, and playing with my dog Suki. I truly Silver Spring, MD believe that discourse and respectful Melvin J. Berman Hebrew disagreement are some of the most important Academy catalysts for social change, and am incredibly excited for all of the discussions we will be Fast Facts having in the coming year! Head of her school’s Israel Action Committee. ***** Served on the 2020 Junior Board of Learn To Be, a national online tutoring Joshua Bock organization that works with Scarsdale, NY underserved students, as well as Scarsdale High School brought LTB into her school and tutors through it. Fast Facts Acts as a davening prayer leader for Captain of his school’s first and second graders. varsity hockey team. Volunteers as a coach for the New York Hey, I'm Tal Bresler. I'm from Silver Spring, Raptors Special Hockey Team, which Maryland and I go to the Berman Hebrew allows children and adults with Academy. I'm thrilled to be a part of this developmental disabilities to fellowship and get to know everyone! I'm not experience the game of hockey. great at introductions, but hopefully, this will Satire writer for his school’s magazine, give you a bit of insight into who I am. I enjoy Maroon. painting (watercolor and oil), reading (almost anything), helping other people (I tutor online), Israel activism, and hanging out with my friends My name is Josh Bock, and I am a junior at and family (especially my adorable nieces and Scarsdale High School in Westchester, New nephews). I'm interested in going into York. I am also a member of Westchester neuropsychology, therapy or research. Beyond Reform Temple. I love to play hockey and I such intellectual pursuits, I like playing guitar come from a family of enthusiastic New York (I'm just starting to learn) and watching the Rangers fans. I also love comedy, having seen Office. For me, Judaism is a pillar of my identity. 30 Rock and all of John Mulaney’s specials My understanding of Judaism is constantly several times over. Like Tina Fey and John changing, but the basic aspects and practices Mulaney, I am also a fan of musical theater act as constants that I can rely on. For this despite my lack of talent in both music and fellowship, I'm most interested in being theater. My family covers a wide range on the challenged. I want to dissect the paradoxes spectrum of Jewish observance, and I am on the intrinsic in Judaism. I want to explore a view reform end of that spectrum. However, my that I hadn't even thought to consider. I want to sister came back from her Bronfman summer talk about everything I've taken for granted my with a new understanding of her religious whole life. I want to learn. These are some of observance, so it seems that between now and the questions I want to unpack over the August, nothing is off the table for me. summer: Where am I my drawing my values from? What does it honestly mean to be a ***** servant of G-d? How has Judaism shifted over time and how does it continue to change? I say I'm Modern Orthodox, is that paradox? Isn't existence simply reconciliation to living with 2 2020 BRONFMAN FELLOW INTRODUCTIONS paradoxes and uncertainty? Why Judaism when Member of the award-winning GHS other religions have similar moral systems? I Marching Band and Jazz Band. have a million more questions and I'm sure so Advocate for military families many more will come up over the summer. nationally. ***** Hi, my name is Connor Cairns and I am 16 and live in Glassboro, New Jersey. My claim to fame Laila Brustin is that I was born in an Olive Garden bathroom Nashville, TN on 9/11 (not 2001, but 2003.) I’m the second Nashville School of the Arts youngest of four kids and there is never a quiet or dull moment in the house. I love all things Fast Facts music (I can play an assortment of different Active leader in the instruments and belong to every band and pluralistic LGBTQ+ Jewish musical ensemble that exists locally.) Music is a youth program, Keshet. big part of my life, so when I first moved to this Volunteers at the Tennessee Holocaust town, the first thing I did was find out who to Commission. talk to about the school district’s music Fosters animals for the Nashville programs. It helped me feel at home here from Humane Association. the very beginning and has been how I’ve met some of my closest friends. I enjoy gaming, Hi y’all, my name is Laila! I am so excited to be tennis, football, martial arts, cooking, and participating in this fellowship and to get to making my mom want to vomit as I navigate life know everyone. I live in Nashville, TN and at this as a newly permitted driver. Before all this point had attended a public arts magnet school COVID stuff, I was really into archery. I really and worked part time at a movie theatre. like having well-reasoned debates and Hopefully these will both resume shortly! For discussion about the “heavier” stuff in life - now I’m spending my time reading, religion, the meaning of life, and whether embroidering, training the new foster dog, and pineapple belongs on pizza (it does not and you playing the drums. Before moving to Nashville I can debate me if you think otherwise.) lived in Austin, TX where I was both homeschooled and home-shuled. Most of my ***** current Jewish activities revolve around the LGBTQ+ Jewish organization Keshet, and when Devorah Feder I’m visiting family in Los Angeles, participating Sharon, MA in Holiday and Shabbat programs at IKAR, a Maimonides School pluralistic Jewish community. Fast Facts ***** Senior Editor of her school’s literary magazine. Connor Cairns Founder and captain of her school’s Glassboro, NJ Moot Beit Din team. Glassboro High School Spearheaded a women’s davening prayer group at her school. Fast Facts Member of his high I attend Maimonides School, an Orthodox day school tennis team. school with a dual curriculum. If I am not attending, commuting to, or doing homework for school, you can find me at a club meeting or 3 2020 BRONFMAN FELLOW INTRODUCTIONS sports practice. I devote much of my time to the State of Israel. I am also fascinated by playing on the Maimonides varsity basketball complex discussions on philosophical ideas and varsity tennis teams.