Sapir Brand is a Sophomore intending to major in Molecular and Cell Biology on a Pre-Medical track. She is passionate about Jewish community and working with kids, which she has pursued as a Schultz Fellow at Hillel and as a volunteer mentor at a local elementary school with the Sage Mentorship Project. Sapir hopes to continue to learn more about Israel and explore diverse perspectives through this fellowship group. In her free time, she enjoys training in martial arts, reading, and running.
Orla Brigel is a Sophomore intending to major in Conservation and Resource Studies, focusing on psychology, public health and environmental science and pursuing a Hebrew minor. She co-leads the Rosh Chodesh Women's Cohort through Hillel, and works with Senator Shaya Keyvanfar's mental health office to equip students with accessible resources to improve their well-being. This summer Orla will be interning in the patient transportation department of Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel. Passionate about natural conservation and women's health, Orla is eager to research these...
Ariella moved from Cape Town, South Africa to the U.S. for college, where she is pursuing a double major in Data Science and Cognitive Science. She is passionate about the intersection of healthcare and technology, exploring how data-driven solutions can improve people’s lives. Ariella also has a deep love for outreach, especially working with children, and has volunteered at community food banks and orphanages in Cape Town. Whether mentoring, problem-solving, or finding new ways to make an impact, she is always looking for ways to bridge her interests in tech, health, and...
Asaf Elmaliah is a senior studying Economics at UC Berkeley through the BESAP program in collaboration with Reichman University. He is deeply engaged at the intersection of entrepreneurship and technology, having worked with both a fintech startup in Israel and a venture capital firm. In his studies, Asaf focuses on game theory and social mobility, and is passionate about understanding how innovation and policy shape opportunity.
Asaf is an active member of Berkeley Moishe House (Mem Global), where he helps foster a vibrant Jewish young adult...
Elad Herscovitch is a final year undergraduate from Israel pursuing a dual B.A. in Economics and Entrepreneurship at Reichman University and will spend the 2025–26 academic year at UC Berkeley through the BESAP exchange program. He is passionate about working in the high-tech industry and gaining hands-on experience at the intersection of technology and business. In Israel, Elad served in the IDF Paratroopers Brigade as a Senior Sergeant, led the Impact Club at Reichman University, worked as Operations & Integration Manager at Lynxight - an AI startup developing...
Aman is a senior majoring in MCB and Neuroscience and minoring in Israel studies. He’s long been passionate about Israel studies since engrossing himself with the work of esteemed historians such as Benny Morris and Avi Shlaim over the pandemic. At Cal, he’s been able to dive into his interest through clubs like SSI-Tikvah, where he helped out with new member education, recruitment, tabling, and project management. In his free time, he loves studying history, reading the classics of the ancient Mediterranean, watching Star Wars, playing tennis, and hiking in the redwoods...
Rotem is an honors student in Economics and Entrepreneurship at Reichman University and a visiting student at UC Berkeley. She previously served as Chair of the Debate Club at Reichman, leading discussions on global issues and public policy. Passionate about community leadership, she believes in bridging the gap between technology and real-world impact through creative, data-driven solutions. Beyond her studies, Rotem helps host programs through Moishe House Berkeley and enjoys hiking and exploring new cultures.
Joseph Karlan is a third-year student majoring in Computer Science. At Berkeley, he serves as President of the Jewish Student Union, where he works with community members to coordinate student efforts, address community needs, and advocate for the Jewish student population. He was also a member of the inaugural Berkeley Bridging Fellowship, where he deepened his appreciation for diverse perspectives on Israel. Professionally, Joseph has interned with technology companies in Israel and Silicon Valley, where he led full-stack cloud deployments, managed intern teams, and...
Elye Kehat is a third-year student majoring in Economics and Data Science. His academic interests include the intersection of religion and economics, along with economic history, monetary theory, and econometrics. He’s developed and taught two undergraduate courses at Berkeley (“DeCals”) on money, debt, and religion. This summer, as a Berkeley SURF Fellow, he will research and author a paper on the religious co-production of ‘usury’ and the role of commercial practices in demarcating Jewish, Christian, and Muslim identity in antiquity and the Middle Ages. Beyond his core studies at...
Anna Kerzhanovich is a second-year student intending to major in Economics and minor in Public Policy. During her internship at a law firm specializing in trusts and estates, Anna gained hands-on experience in legal research and saw firsthand how issues of inheritance and family legacy unfold. Anna became interested in how different legal systems, including Jewish inheritance law, grapple with questions of fairness and tradition. In her free time, Anna enjoys exploring Berkeley and the Bay Area, traveling the world, and trying new coffee shops.
