Hayley Asai is a junior at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She is a member of her high school’s mock trial team (which just had an undefeated season). She is part of the International Thespian Society and an avid theater lover, performer and critic; as an enthusiastic member of Cappies, she was nominated for the Andy Mays Rising Critic Award. Hayley enjoys being involved in Judaism through her synagogue, where she is the Religious and Cultural Vice President of the student board. In her spare time, she loves to read, draw, run and hang out with friends.

Talia Bloom is a senior at Needham High School in Needham, Massachusetts. She is the co-founder of a feminist publication called the NewspapHER at her school, the president of an activism-based theater company, and co-chair of Own Your Peace, a mental health advocacy organization. She loves dancing at a classical ballet school, competing at speech and debate tournaments, and singing with her acappella group. Talia enjoys leading services and events at her synagogue and in NFTY NE, and spends her summers as a counselor at Camp Young Judaea. In her free time, she loves bullet journaling, watching Disney movies, and blasting Taylor Swift.

Phoebe Braun is a senior at Georgetown Day School in Washington DC, where she is a student organizer for the annual Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent, coxswain for the Men’s and Women’s varsity crew teams, and co-founder and leader of Interfaith, a discussion-based club focused on exploring the intersections between religion and identity. She is also a member of her school’s peer leadership program and student mental health collaborative, where she advocates for student mentorship, health, and well-being. In her free time, you can find Phoebe reading at the nearest Barnes and Noble or discovering a new local coffee shop.

Mira Eras is a senior at Teaneck High School in Teaneck, New Jersey. At school, she is a member of the medical club, an officer of the HEAL girls mentoring organization, and a participant in the theater program. Outside of school, Mira is an intern with the Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee and spends her summers at Camp Yavneh, her home away from home. In her free time, Mira can be found reading, writing, and watching her favorite shows.

Maddie Feldman is a senior at Georgetown Day School in DC, where she leads a current events discussion group called Student Voices, organizes the Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent, fields for the softball team, participates in the rock climbing team, and avidly engages in Jewish and non-male affinity groups. Co-founder of the Voter Mobilization Initiative, she trains students nationwide to lobby on voting rights and expanded election protections. When she’s not registering voters, you can find Maddie visiting the monuments, catching a sunset, reciting Spanish songs, or completing the New York Times Daily Crossword.

Georgia Fried is a senior at Columbus Alternative High School, where she sings in the competition choir, writes for the literary magazine, and is a national thespian. Outside of school, she leads the Ohio chapter of Habonim Dror North America and works as a peer educator for Planned Parenthood. Georgia is passionate about feminism, social justice, and racial justice. In her free time, she enjoys participating in theater at her school, listening to music, and playing with her cats.

Ellie Friedman is a sophomore at Vestal High School in Vestal, New York. Ellie is president and founder of her high school debate team and participates in policy debate, public forum, and extemporaneous speaking. In addition, Ellie is a member of her school’s mock trial, cross-country, and track and field teams. Ellie spent four summers at Camp Ramah in the Poconos, and spent this past summer at Camp Ramah in the Rockies. Ellie plays piano, enjoys tennis, and loves skiing through long winters.

Abigail Gilman is a senior at Steubenville High School in Steubenville, Ohio. She is the founder and president of her school's High School Democrats of America chapter, and participates in mock trial and the tennis team. She is also involved in the arts at her school, including drama club (for which she is vice president), choir, and orchestra. ​Outside of school, she serves on the Ohio Attorney General's Teen Ambassador Board and has interned with several advocacy organizations that match her passion for progressive, forward-thinking policies, including IGNITE National and Women's Campaign Fund. In her free time, Abigail likes hiking, reading, and writing music.

Sarah Gorbatov is a senior at The Idea School, a project-based yeshiva in Tenafly, New Jersey. One of her greatest passions is dissecting the intersections of Judaism and feminism, climate activism, and social justice. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of her school’s publication, the Ideals, a staff writer at Fresh Ink for Teens, a coordinator at Kol Ha’Nearim, a Fein Fellow, a new member of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement National Leadership Board, a Barnard Leadership in Action alumna, and a participant in the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance. When winding down, she spends time with family, hikes, swims, and reads.

Sofia Isaias-Day is a junior at Corvallis High School in Corvallis, Oregon. She is a proud member of B'nai Brith Youth Organization and is the co-founder and co-president of the Corvallis chapter. Sofia is interested in business and is an alumni of the BOSS seminar at Smeal College of Business at Penn State. She is also an intern for a small business in her home town. Sofia loves to play tennis, read books, spend time with friends, and do outdoor activities.  

Mallie Lifsitz is a junior at Jewish Community High School in San Francisco, California. She has participated in the Student Leadership and Diversity Conference, the White Privilege Conference, and the Village Project where she co-lead bookmaking and a sing-along for disadvantaged youth. As a member of the GSA club, she learns and helps educate others on LGBTQ topics. Mallie and her friend started a group called the Smile, which works to spread awareness on mental health and provide support. Mallie loves to paint, listen to music, sing, read, write, hang out with friends and family.

Amanda Xinhui Malnik is a senior at Oak Hall School in Gainesville, Florida, where she is the current president of the Alachua County March of Dimes Chain Reaction Youth Leadership Council. She is passionate about advocating for maternal and reproductive health. Amanda plays golf on her school's varsity golf team, participates in Model UN and Youth in Government, and is the media director for Oak Hall's Chinese club. At her shul, Amanda is an active service leader and Torah reader. In her free time, Amanda enjoys spending the day with her two dogs, Darcy and Brutus, and going to the beach.

Maddie Nowack is a senior at Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey. At school, she is a three season athlete, playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. She is an active member and peer facilitator of the Anti-Hate club and the co-head of athletics for student council. She attended Camp Havaya for twelve years, and was a counselor and life guard this past summer. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, playing sports, and traveling.

Amelia Posner-Hess is a senior at Carolina Friends School in Durham, North Carolina. She is a leader of her school’s Jewish Affinity Group, co-founder of her school’s chapter of March for Our Lives, and a member of her school’s Equity and Justice Committee. Amelia also runs the Instagram page @progressivejews and is a content creator intern for Diversify Our Narrative. Outside of school and activism, Amelia’s main passion is classical violin. Amelia finds joy in making music at synagogue and finding new Jewish music to learn and play with others.

Lilly Rochlin is a senior at Mount Hebron High School and is dually enrolled at Howard County Community College. She is on a drill team that performs with the school’s marching unit. Lilly is the N’siah (president) of her BBYO chapter, Hilah BBG #2551. Lilly just spent her eleventh summer at Camp Louise, as a counselor-in-training. She likes to do the New York Times crossword, read, and listen to music. Lilly is incredibly excited to participate in RVF, because social justice and Judaism are two of the most important things in her life; she cannot wait to get started!

Elle Rosenfeld is an eleventh grader at Phoenix Country Day School in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a long-time volunteer and teen board member at Friendship Circle Arizona. She is Vice President of the Jewish club at her school, where she works to create a safe space for Jews to make connections with one another and engage on polarizing Jewish issues. In her free time, she enjoys rowing competitively in a single on Tempe Junior Crew, listening to cheesy romance books on Audible, thrifting with friends, and going to the best place on earth: Coronado.

Ilah

Lucy Waldorf is a junior at Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts. She spends most of her time organizing for climate justice as the co-president of her school’s climate advocacy club, as a member of MA Youth for Climate Justice’s Actions and Mutual Aid team, and as a Jewish Youth Climate Movement leadership board member. Lucy is a Diller Teen Fellow and an active member of her temple youth group as well as NFTY NorthEast. In her free time, Lucy can be found drawing, reading, writing poetry and prose, analyzing films, or scouring local shops for new additions to her record collection.

 

2020-2021 Rising Voices Fellows

2019-2020 Rising Voices Fellows

2018-2019 Rising Voices Fellows

2017-2018 Rising Voices Fellows

2016-2017 Rising Voices Fellows

2015-2016 Rising Voices Fellows

2014-2015 Rising Voices Fellows

2013-2014 Rising Voices Fellows