Spotlight on the 2025–2026 Class as They Embark on Their Year-In-Israel

Each summer, 91�첥 welcomes its incoming students to the Year-In-Israel program, marking the beginning of their journey toward rabbinic or cantorial ordination. This year’s cohort reflects the dynamic evolution of what Jewish leadership can look like—one that blends rootedness with reinvention, tradition with transformation.

These students come from across North America, bringing life experiences shaped in places as varied as Tyler, Texas; Oakville, Ontario; and San Francisco, CA. Some come straight from Jewish communal roles; others arrive after successful careers in a variety of fields. Many bring lived experience of disability, neurodivergence, or queerness that is essential to how they imagine sacred leadership.

While their stories differ in specifics, these students share a fierce commitment to Jewish life and to building a bold and inclusive Jewish future. Each of their paths is an example of how Reform Jewish leadership is being shaped by those who bring their whole lives to their studies and work.

They are arriving in Jerusalem at a moment of urgency—when Israel’s future feels especially fragile, and when the Jewish world is asking hard questions about identity, purpose, and connection to the rest of the world. Some have always envisioned this eventual destination; others describe their decision as more recent, drawn by the complexity of the moment and a desire to engage deeply with Israel and the realities of being diaspora Jews in a moment of rising antisemitism.

As they begin their immersion in text study, Hebrew language, and the rhythms of Israeli life, they bring with them the passion, humility, and curiosity that will shape them into the leaders our communities—and our world—need.

To learn more about 91�첥’s Year-In-Israel program, visit Year-In-Israel – HUC.

Meet the 2025-26 Year-In-Israel Students

Jay Ascher

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Maplewood, NJ
Hometown Congregation: Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel

Jay Ascher earned his B.A. in Film and Media Studies and Theater from Lafayette College. He began his Jewish professional journey as a Technical and Educational Programming Intern at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, NJ. Later, he bacame the Director of Youth Engagement at Temple Israel in Omaha, NE. Most recently, he worked as a Youth Educator at Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, NJ. Jay was a Nosher Food Fellow in early 2025. He enjoys exercising, cooking, cheering for the Yankees, and video storytelling. His work can be found at jayascher.com.

Daveed Ben-Arie

Cantorial Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Bal Harbour, FL
Hometown Congregation: The Shul of Bal Harbour

Daveed Ben-Arie is a NYC-based artist who finds spiritual and artistic resonance through liturgy, theatre, and music. He holds a B.A. in Theatre from Rutgers University and has composed for productions including the Carbonell-nominated Broken Snow, as well as Driving Miss Daisy, Lysistrata, and The Diary of Anne Frank. Daveed has led services at The Shul of Bal Harbour, Young Israel of Bal Harbour, and Chabad Houses at Rutgers and NYU. He also produced Silhouettes JB Podcast, exploring the musical Jersey Boys with over 50 guests from the original creative and production team.

Benjamin Brodkey

Cantorial Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Hometown Congregation: Beth El Synagogue

Benjamin Brodkey is a Jewish educator and musician with over a decade of experience across the Midwest. He holds a B.A. in Music from Drake University. Most recently, he served as Assistant Director of Education and Programming at the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines. In his previous roles, Benjamin worked in multiple capacities at Jewish camps, religious schools, and Jewish Federations across the Midwest. He is a Light Lab T’fillah Teaching Fellow, a NewCAJE Emerging Education Professional, and holds the Gedola Certificate in Early Childhood Jewish Music Education from Tkiya Music. He has served on the faculty of the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Cornerstone Fellowship. Benjamin also co-chaired the Jewish Federations of North America’s Changemakers Federation Professionals Network and is a founding board member of the Simma and Michael Stein Des Moines Jewish Film Series.

Miranda DiPaolo

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Hometown Congregation: Temple Beth El

Miranda DiPaolo earned her B.A. in Media & Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was active with both Hillel and Chabad. She interned at NoCamels Tech & Innovation News in Herzliya and worked as a freelance writer and editor in Brooklyn before entering 91�첥. Miranda has served in multiple roles at Central Synagogue in NYC, including Interim B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator and Youth and Family Administrator. She is a fellow in 91�첥’s Jewish Ideas Fellowship and a former student in its Great Jewish Bookshelf course. She loves reading and writing, with deep interests in history, fashion, and food. A passionate nature lover, she has visited 14 national parks—and hopes to visit many more.

Shira Dubin

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: New York, NY
Hometown Congregation: East End Temple

A seasoned Jewish educator and social justice advocate, Shira Dubin most recently taught Hebrew and Judaics at East End Temple in NYC, where she designed and implemented an integrated curriculum combining torah, tefillah, Jewish history, tikkun olam, and Hebrew language instruction. Shira grew up in a family of later-in-life clergy and spent two formative years in Israel as a preteen while her parents studied at 91�첥. She lives in Jerusalem with her fiancée, Becca (a Jewish Educator Fellow at Pardes), and their two dogs, Gali and Ajax. In her free time, Shira enjoys water aerobics and time outdoors.

Kayla Gitlin

Cantorial Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Westport, CT
Hometown Congregation: Temple Shalom of Norwalk

Kayla Gitlin is a classically trained mezzo-soprano and educator with a passion for Jewish music, justice, and storytelling. She earned dual B.A. degrees in Political Science and General Music (Voice) from the University of Connecticut. Kayla shifted to Jewish communal life in 2020, serving as a CLASP Fellow at Westchester Reform Temple and URJ Crane Lake Camp, then joining the Avodah Jewish Service Corps in New Orleans. She later worked at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience. She participates in Hava Nashira and Songleader Bootcamp, and is a frequent songleader and cantorial soloist in camps and congregations in New England and the South. She is deeply active in New Orleans’ Jewish community, including through Chavurat Orleans, JNOLA, and Moishe Pod New Orleans. She is a big fan of fantasy and Star Wars and enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Lucy Greenbaum

Cantorial Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Hometown Congregation: Temple Chai

Lucy Greenbaum is a Jewish music leader, composer, and educator with over 15 years of experience as a songleader in synagogues, camps, youth retreats, and schools nationwide. She currently serves as Director of Music Engagement at Congregation Shaare Emeth in St. Louis, MO, where she designs worship and musical programming for all ages. Her leadership has helped expand the role of music within the congregation, blending tradition with innovation to create accessible and heartfelt Jewish experiences. A published composer, she released her debut EP in 2017, and her compositions have been featured in several Transcontinental Music Publishing songbooks.

Molly Handelman

Cantorial Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Highland Park, IL
Hometown Congregation: North Shore Congregation Israel

Molly Handelman is a classically trained vocalist and Jewish educator from the Chicago suburbs. She earned dual B.A. degrees in Vocal Performance and Jewish Studies from the University of Kansas, where she was a University Scholar and member of the Chamber Choir. Molly has led services and taught music at North Shore Congregation Israel, served as a songleader at B’nai B’rith Beber Camp and the Z Frank Apachi JCC Day Camp, and most recently worked as a facilitator for Better Together: A Jewish KC Conversation Project, launched in response to rising antisemitism after October 7. She also coordinated youth programming and led Torah study in her local Jewish community. She plays piano and guitar and is drawn to the spiritual and academic richness of Jewish life. Molly is a proud neurodivergent individual, a CrossFit enthusiast, and enjoys cooking, philosophy, and studying synesthesia and neurodiversity.

Zachary Harper

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Hometown Congregation: Solel Congregation, Mississauga, Ontario

Zachary Harper brings nearly two decades of experience in journalism and media, having worked in Rwanda, at Yahoo!, and with Canada’s largest magazine publisher. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa. At Solel Congregation, ON, Zach has led services, chanted Torah, and taught Hebrew school students in Kitah Alef-Bet and B’nai Mitzvah classes. He currently serves as the second Vice President of the congregation’s board. A lifelong musician, he plays piano and guitar and is a passionate listener across genres. He’s a voracious reader, a dedicated cyclist, and enjoys swimming and sailing.

Katie Heinzer

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Dayton, OH
Hometown Congregation:

Katie Heinzer earned her B.A. in Slavic Languages and Literature from Princeton University. While at Princeton, she co-led Disability Shabbat, an annual service focused on access and inclusion, and served as a peer educator for the “Judaism through a Queer Lens” fellowship. Before beginning rabbinical school, she was Engagement and Family Education Director at Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, MD. Katie is a 2025–2026 Fellow in 91�첥’s Jewish Ideas Fellowship. She has hosted OneTable Shabbat dinners and volunteers as a Russian-English translator. She enjoys museums, board games, nature walks, watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, and a wide array of joyful crafts.

Elizabeth Hinds

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Fairfield, CT
Hometown Congregation: Temple Sinai of Stamford, Stamford, CT

Born and raised in Connecticut, Elizabeth Hinds has been legally blind since birth and learned early on how to adapt to the world with limited vision. She graduated early from high school early to care for her infant brother after her mother’s death and later earned a B.A. in English Literature with a concentration in early American literature. Her Jewish journey began during college and deepened through her role as Volunteer Services & Programs Coordinator at The Elayne & James Schoke Jewish Family Service of Fairfield County, where she led community education, organized holiday projects, supported daily volunteer engagement, and helped launch Connecticut’s only kosher mobile food pantry. At Temple Sinai, she has led Kabbalat Shabbat services, facilitated Tanakh study groups, mentored B’nai Mitzvah students, and served as a Beit Din member for those on the path to conversion. She is also a writer, poet, crocheter, musician, and budding visual artist.

Arielle Kaplan

Cantorial Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Manchester, NH
Hometown Congregation: Temple Adath Yeshurun

Arielle Kaplan is a New England-based theatre artist and Jewish educator with deep roots in her Manchester, NH, congregation. She earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Brandeis University and went on to a 15-year career in musical theatre. She originated the title role in Miriam, co-written by her father Alan D. Kaplan, Tom Anastasi, and Debbie Friedman ��”l. Arielle has served as a cantorial soloist at BJEP, Temple Adath Yeshurun, and Codman Community Farm’s High Holiday services, and most recently worked as the Mikveh Manager at Mayyim Hayyim in Newton, MA. She has taught Hebrew and music in multiple settings and brings to her cantorial studies a love of sacred ritual, performance, and education. Arielle is an award-winning costumer, sewist, Dungeons & Dragons player, and creator of the Jewish history video series Spite! (and History), which reaches over 35,000 viewers. She can often be found trooping as Princess Leia with the Rebel Legion, a charity costuming troop.

Lila Katz

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Tyler, TX
Hometown Congregation: Congregation Beth El

Lila “Aleph” Katz is a writer and Jewish leader from Texas with a deep commitment to storytelling and community. A proud Longhorn, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin as a Dean’s Distinguished Graduate with Highest Honors, where she earned a specialized degree in Jewish Studies and Humanities Honors with a concentration in Jewish storytelling in the arts. At UT Austin, Lila served as co-president of the Jewish Studies Association, sat on the board of Texas Hillel, and was president of Challah for Hunger. She is active with Shalom Austin, Jewish Family Service, and the Texas Jewish Historical Society. A Changemakers Fellow and Masa ambassador, she’s dedicated to fusing Jewish tradition with creative expression.

Ira Kennard-Sheldon

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown Congregations: Temple Beth Shalom (New Albany) and Temple Israel (Bexley)

Ira Kennard-Sheldon earned their B.A. in English with a specialization in Folklore Studies from The Ohio State University. While at OSU, they were an active member of Hillel’s B’nei Keshet LGBTQ group and taught religious school at Temple Israel in Bexley. Ira later served as Youth and Family Activities Coordinator and then Interim Education Director at Temple Israel, while also serving as Youth Advisor at Temple Beth Shalom. Outside of congregational work, Ira volunteered with 4 Paws for Ability, raising and handling service dogs for children and veterans. They enjoy fantasy novels, jazz and prog-rock, and exploring state and national parks.

Chloe Koren

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Hometown Congregation: Congregation Albert, Albuquerque, NM

Chloe Koren holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois–Chicago and a B.A. in Philosophy from Wofford College. Prior to entering 91�첥, she worked as an ICU nurse and later as an RN coordinator for pulmonary clinics and programs across New Mexico. She served on the board at Congregation Albert and was a 2023–2024 Jewish Ideas Fellow. Now a Weitzman-JDC Fellow, Chloe is committed to congregational leadership and bridging the gap between Israeli and diaspora Jewish cultures, and making Jewish process theology accessible to broader audiences. Chloe is an avid home chef and recipe developer, hiker, RPG player, world traveler, and motorcycle enthusiast.

Madeleine LeBeau

Cantorial Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Northern Virginia
Hometown Congregation: Temple Rodef Shalom

Madeleine LeBeau is a classically trained vocalist, chaplain, and Jewish educator. She graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a major in History and minors in Judaic Studies, Vocal Performance, Music Theater, and Theater. Her award-winning thesis, Hymns and Hers, explored the contributions of women to American Reform hymnody. Madeleine served as a Clergy Intern at Temple Emanu-El in New York City and was previously a cantorial soloist at Har Sinai Temple, Temple Micah, and Temple Rodef Shalom. At Princeton, she led services at the Center for Jewish Life, directed the a cappella group Koleinu, and taught liturgy and Torah. She also completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Princeton-Penn Medical Center and has worked as a B’nai Mitzvah tutor for five years. Visit for more.

Mason Marks

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Mesilla, NM
Hometown Congregation: Temple Solel, Paradise Valley, AZ

Mason Marks earned his B.A. in Business Marketing from New Mexico State University and an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. At Temple Solel in Paradise Valley, AZ, he advanced from Engagement Specialist to Director of Programs. He has taught at Raker Religious School and Hebrew High of Scottsdale, served as a Moishe House Phoenix resident, and is a fellow in both the Weitzman-JDC Fellowship and the inaugural cohort of the Elie Wiesel Social Action Fellowship. Mason explores Jewish spirituality through the Jewish Studio Process and hitbodedut—and even makes Torah cartoons on YouTube. He also enjoys reading, exercising, and playing video games with friends.

Jacob “Jake” Miller

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Hometown Congregation: Temple Beth-El

Jake Miller was born and raised in San Antonio, where he was deeply involved in Temple Beth-El throughout his childhood. He held leadership roles in NFTY, taught in the Sunday school program, and remained active in Jewish life through college. At Emory University, Jake earned a B.A. in Jewish Studies with a minor in Hebrew, co-led Reform services at Hillel, and worked with Jewish Kids Groups across Atlanta. He has since served in Jewish educational and administrative roles in Dallas and Austin, including as clergy assistant at Temple Beth Shalom. Jake also enjoys woodworking, crocheting, and improv comedy.

Joshua Mostyn

Cantorial Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: West Bloomfield, MI
Hometown Congregation: Temple Shir Shalom

Joshua Mostyn is a vocalist, educator, and member of the LGBTQ+ community, dedicated to deepening the intersection between Judaism and queer identity. He earned a B.M. in Vocal Performance with a minor in Jewish Studies from Michigan State University. A lifelong member of Temple Shir Shalom, Joshua credits Cantor Penny Steyer as a formative mentor. He served as a teaching assistant there for six years and more recently taught fifth- and sixth-grade Hebrew to B’nai Mitzvah students at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in East Lansing. In 2024, he returned to Temple Shir Shalom as Cantorial Intern. Joshua also participated in a Torah study fellowship through the Jewish Resource Center and grew his Jewish leadership through camp and synagogue roles. In his spare time, Joshua loves cooking, working out, singing and listening to classical music, and hanging out with his friends.

Jack Rosenberg

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD
Hometown Congregation: Shaare Torah

Jack Rosenberg holds a B.S. in Architecture and a B.A. in the History of Art from the University of Michigan. They taught Hebrew and a theatre elective at Shaare Torah, from 2015–2020 and later designed and taught “Sacred Spaces: Introduction to Jewish Architecture” at Temple Micah where they also taught multiple grade levels. Jack is a Weitzman-JDC Fellow. Jack explores humanity through architecture, art history, theatre direction, and writing. An award-winning theatre director, he is passionate about storytelling and narrative. Their portfolio can be viewed at .

Ayla Schwartz

Cantorial Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Frenchtown, NJ

Ayla Schwartz is a vocalist and educator with a strong foundation in Jewish music, spiritual leadership, and community-building. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Voice with a Music Business emphasis from Belmont University in Nashville, where she advocated for Jewish representation and support. She was the first Belmont student to present a lecture-recital of Jewish music, and her leadership helped lead to the hiring of Belmont’s first Jewish Student Faith Advisor. In the community, Ayla served as a cantorial intern and Sunday school teacher at The Temple in Nashville and interned at Congregation Micah. Ayla is committed to fostering inclusive Jewish communities rooted in music and expression. She currently serves on the NowGen JLC Board and has performed in High Holy Day choirs, community concerts, and senior outreach programs. Ayla enjoys cooking, hiking, embroidery, and spending time with her family and her dog.

Alexander Sklarz

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Mount Kisco, NY

Alexander Sklarz is a community builder and spiritual seeker, raised in the Reform Movement at congregations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. He earned both a B.A. in Political Science and an M.P.A. in Nonprofit Leadership from Clark University, where he led Hillel as President during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. His professional background spans government, education, and Jewish communal service. He has worked with students in grades 3-12, including serving as an assistant teacher at Temple Emunah Religious School in Lexington, MA, and developed programs across New England. A mikveh immersion at Mayyim Hayyim marked a spiritual milestone as he entered rabbinical school.

Tanner Smith

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030; Master of Hebrew Letters and M.A. in Jewish Non- Profit Management expected Spring 2028
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Hometown Congregation: Congregation Temple Israel

Tanner Smith’s Jewish education journey began in high school through the Eisendrath International Exchange on Kibbutz Tzuba. He later joined AmeriCorps NCCC, working with nonprofits on conservation and housing projects. Tanner earned a B.S. in Human Resource Management from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, UT. His diverse career path—from real estate and early childhood education to building supervisor at Temple Israel—has grounded his understanding of Jewish organizations and the communities they serve. He has been active in young adult engagement through roles at Next Dor, Hinenu, and Congregation Temple Israel, and has worked with JCC St. Louis, Central Reform Congregation, and Congregation Temple Israel in various capacities.

Estie Spike-Neaman

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2029
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Hometown Congregation: Congregation Emanu-El

Estie Spike-Neaman grew up in San Francisco, where she was inspired by Rabbi Sydney Mintz and Cantor Marsha Attie. She rediscovered her passion for Judaism as a songleader at URJ Camp Newman and went on to study intellectual history and Judaic studies at the University of Washington. Among many roles at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle, she worked as a Sunday school Hebrew teacher and taught prayer meaning to B’nei Mitzvah students, mentored younger teachers through music, and worked closely with Rabbi Danny Weiner, Rabbi Brett Weisman, and Rabbi Kate Speizer. Estie was a cantorial soloist for Bet Chaverim’s High Holidays, a Jewish Learning Fellowship participant at UW Hillel, and a musician at Camp Kesher. She enjoys cooking and working on paint-by-number projects in her spare time.

Michelle Teyvel

Rabbinic Ordination expected Spring 2030
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Hometown Congregation: Temple Israel, Minneapolis

The daughter of immigrants from Moldova in the former Soviet Union, Michelle Teyvel earned her B.M. in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University. There, she studied under Israeli pianist Yevgeny Yontov. She has served as a Torah chanter, B’nai Mitzvah instructor, and religious schoolteacher at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, MN. Michelle has also taught at Congregation Shomer Emunim in Sylvania, OH, and worked at URJ’s Six Points Creative Arts Academy as a counselor, accompanist, and musical theatre co-director. In 2025, she released Synesthesia Preludes, a collection of original piano pieces based on Jewish themes. Michelle’s interests include composing, dancing, knitting, and cooking.