Meet the Leadership Scholars of Cohort II

Cohort II
 

Rachel Amar

Rachel Amar, from Hollywood, Florida, is a graduate of Katz Yeshiva High School. Throughout her fulfilling years there, she was the Captain of the Varsity Soccer Team, Leader of her Robotics Team, and the Head of the Girls Who Code Club. She was awarded the Most Valuable Player in soccer and KYHS’s ‘Storm Award’ for her excellence in sportsmanship and leadership. She also contributed to her community, as she was the Rosh of Bnei Akiva in Hollywood. As an aspiring physician, Rachel shadowed various physicians in both Florida and Israel, at different teaching hospitals. Rachel has a love for nature, as she is passionate about hiking and camping. She enjoys reading and writing and is always open for a challenge. Rachel is currently learning at the SKA Beit Midrash for Women – Migdal Oz. 
 

Bat-Tzion Atik

Bat-Tzion Atik is from Queens, New York. Bat-Tzion attended Yeshiva University High School for Girls where she was captain of the Model UN team, NCSY JUMP, as well as ran the school Tehillim initiative. Outside of school, Bat-Tzion was involved in NCSY on both a local level and a national level, serving as Queens NCSY chapter president and New York NCSY National Board representative. She is currently studying at MMY Seminary. Bat-Tzion is passionate and excited about gaining as much as she can from the Leadership Scholars program and using it to better the Jewish world. She cannot wait to join the Yeshiva University Family this coming Fall.

Avi Dadon

Avi Dadon was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and graduated as Salutatorian from Valley Torah High School. Throughout his impactful tenure at VTHS, Avi created the Study- Lecture program for students in need of academic help. Avi also initiated the Big Brother program, creating a warm environment for incoming freshman through Senior- Freshman activities and overnights. Not only did Avi play a fundamental role in the growth and support of others at school, but Avi was a vital component in the spread of chessed within his community. As Chabad of Tarzana’s Youth’s Leader recipient, Avi paved the path for the children of his community to grow spiritually by organizing activities and incentive programs every week.

Avi has also participated in a food packing service for four years. Every Erev Shabbos and throughout holidays, Avi would work with fellow volunteers gathering food packages for Jewish families in need. As a result of his commitment to the ones in need, Avi was awarded with the Sha-I-L-I President's Award. Inspired by his seven-year sneaker collecting and reselling hobbies, Avi decided to start his own nonprofit organization called SoleGivers. During his Junior and Senior years, Avi gathered hundreds of pairs of shoes to assist poor Jewish families and homeless individuals in the Valley and greater Los Angeles area, making a difference one sole at a time.

Rockie Frankenthal

Rockie Frankenthal grew up in Chicago, Illinois. During the pandemic, Rockie realized that girls in her community lacked work opportunities, needed to get out of their homes, and also needed to grow their work experience. Seeing this need and the fact that mostly boys were employed by event planners and caterers, she embarked to create a business that provided female staff to help at events and smachot. There were many smaller events due to the pandemic that benefited from hands on assistance from her staff. After successfully establishing and growing this business, and prior to leaving Chicago for a year abroad, Rockie chose a successor to continue running the family operations of the business while continuing to serve and direct at an advisory level. 

Rockie gained her leadership and people skills throughout her high school years. She held leadership positions at many organizations and led programs inside and outside of school. She was the lead of her high school student council, led a drama team, and in her senior year was the yearbook editor. From elementary school through high school she was involved with people and organizations that help individuals with special needs including the Lev Respite program, Chicagoland Yachad, and Camp Hasc. At Yachad she rose to be a board member for 3 years where she helped with programming, fundraising, and with growing the membership. Rockie looks forward to building and running businesses while continuing to contribute to her community.

Sierra Goodman

Sierra Goodman is originally from Toronto, Canada, and graduated from Tanenbaum CHAT. She was chair of the Mental Health Awareness and Israeli engagement committees and was a Madricha on her school's Shabbatonim. Sierra was a peer tutor and played on the varsity ice hockey and softball teams. Sierra completed the Hasbara Israel fellowship program, where she developed a passion for Israel advocacy. Sierra then attended Midreshet Torah V'Avodah, where she further developed a love for in-depth Torah study, including Gemara and Jewish Philosophy. She volunteered at Shalva weekly and taught English to students in a developmental town in Israel. In her free time, Sierra enjoys playing sports, traveling, and learning Daf Yomi in her free time. Sierra is a biology major hoping to pursue a career in the medical field. 

Boaz Kahn

Boaz Kahn grew up in Riverdale, New York, and graduated from SAR High School in 2021. While there, he was the leader of the Investment Club, captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team, and involved in the SAR Food Pantry. He also competed on the SAR Hockey and Softball teams.

Boaz is currently completing his Shanna Bet at Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusalem, where he manages the Orayta Food Bank and serves as an ambassador for the Bnei Akiva/Kedma Marathon team. During the summers, Boaz has worked as a counselor at Camp Moshava IO and interned at Parkview Animal Hospital. 

Dani Minkove

Dani Minkove grew up in New Rochelle, New York. A graduate of Yeshivat Frisch, Dani is currently spending his second year learning at Yeshivat Hakotel. 

While at Frisch, Dani played leadership roles in Kahal, Frisch’s student-led tzedakah organization, Cougars for Israel, Model Congress, and Shiriyah. Dani also founded the New Rochelle branch of Bnei Akiva. At Yeshivat Hakotel, Dani has been part of the Bergman Family Leadership Program and currently plays a leadership role in Students of Jerusalem.  

Dani spent his formative childhood summers at Camp Moshava IO and is now proud to serve as a madrich.

Eli Novick

Eli Novick was born and raised in West Orange, New Jersey where he spent thirteen years learning at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy/Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School. There, he was encouraged by friends, parents, and teachers to get involved in extracurricular activities (both in and out of school) and pursue leadership roles, such as becoming co-Editor-in-chief of the international “Kol HaNearim” newsletter, co-President of his school's Jewish Life Committee, Captain of the Mock Trial and Torah Bowl teams, board member for NJ NCSY, and more.

After graduating, Eli flew over to Eretz Yisrael, where he was blessed with the opportunity to study for two years at Yeshivat Har Etzion. His Rabbeim taught him that everything one gains in the realms of Talmud Torah and Avodas Hashem needs to be shared with the greater world, in addition to helping one’s personal growth. Eli has done his best to live this ideal in yeshiva by supplementing his learning with various odd jobs, such as helping run a weekly “Cholent & Chizzuk” program, which allows students to hear words of Torah from their peers while eating great food. He has also made an effort to balance his past couple of summers, spending some learning at Morasha Kollel and others working for Yachad at Camp Lavi.

But Eli makes sure to take time for himself as well. He enjoys learning and teaching Torah, running, reading, writing, singing, spending time with friends and family, and going for long walks. And thank God, Eli has had many struggles and challenges along the way, specifically during the coronavirus pandemic, that have helped shape him into the person he is today. But don’t worry, he still has plenty of room to grow :-)
 

Zehava Shatzkes

Zehava Shatzkes lives in Teaneck, New Jersey and went to Yeshivat Frisch. Zehava is the oldest of five and loves spending time with her family. Zehava has held many leadership positions including, but not limited to, captain of the debate team, president of the Frisch Yachad and Friendship circle clubs, and yearbook photographer. While there are many leadership roles Zehava is proud of, her biggest joy comes from doing chesed. Zehava loves to lend a hand to those in need and loves to be the reason people smile. 

 

Ari Smith

Ari Smith grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended Cincinnati Hebrew Day School. He then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated from Fuchs Mizrachi School in 2021. He was awarded the Matmid Award and the Yeshiva University Torah U’Maada Award. He played for the baseball team, was a Bnei Akiva counselor, and was a student ambassador. He served as vice president on the NCSY Central East Regional Board and was the co-president of Junior NCSY in his hometown. He participated in the Jewish Community Federation Saltzman Youth Panel, Model UN, and Friendship Circle. During his Summers, Ari worked at Camp Stone, Camp Impact, Camp Aspire and is looking forward to spending this Summer on NCSY TJJ in Israel. He is completing his second year of Yeshivat Shaalvim, and is looking forward to continuing his studies at Yeshiva College this Fall.