Isabella Duarte

I am a recent University of Delaware graduate and a Portuguese American Jew. I received a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship with minors in Social Entrepreneurship and Jewish Studies with Language.I have loved Jewish learning since I was a kid. After years of scattered learning, seeking Jewish learning any way that I could, the Jewish Studies Program at UD provided me with everything I had been looking for. The fifteen credits required for the minor weren’t enough for me, I did everything I could to fit in twenty-five credits in Jewish Studies. The camaraderie I found in the Jewish Studies and Hebrew classes was great. I had wonderful experiences with my classmates as well as professors. Every time I walked into my Jewish Studies classes, taught by Eynat Gutman and Polly Zavadivker, we would immediately catch up. It was always evident to me that they truly cared about me not only as a student but as a person too. For every success and development in my Jewish career too, I couldn’t wait to tell them. Their unwavering support for me has been a blessing. The Jewish Studies minor provided me with a place to study and explore Jewish learning as much as I desired, which was a lot. I’m so thankful for the Jewish Studies Program and its impact will stay with me for my entire life, personally and professionally. Right after Rosh Hashanah in 2024, I started my dream job as a Community Engagement Specialist for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and it has been incredible. I have seen their impact and support through every shul, agency, and charity I’ve been involved with and now getting to be behind the scenes and contributing to that impact, I am so grateful. Judaism influences every part of our work and it has been beautiful. I get to have meetings at synagogues and Jewish museums, I get to do field days where I go from synagogue to synagogue, connecting with people. I get to walk around shuls, taking in the incredible history and devising all the ways I can help and support the features of Jewish community. When applying and interviewing to be a Community (Kehillah) Engagement Manager, I didn’t know which of the Kehillot and corridors had an open position. I have connections to most of the Jewish communities in the Greater Philadelphia area; however, I have the most in Old York Road (OYR), the place I’ve called home my whole life. Every shul that my extended family, friends, and I are members at, almost every agency and charity I’ve volunteered with and the places where I’ve made some of my most cherished Jewish memories growing up, are all in the OYR. It’s a beautiful full circle moment for me and I believe that Hashem helped me every step of the way, leading me here. 

Alexa Taus

I graduated in the spring of 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Jewish Studies with Language and Health and Wellness. The Jewish Studies minor had a major influence on me during my four years at UD. After living in Israel the year before my freshman year and being immersed and inspired by the unique culture, it was incredibly important to me that I stay connected to my Jewish roots in college. With such a large selection of history and cultural courses, I was able to engage in topics I could personally relate to, while also meeting fellow Jewish classmates who I could relate to on a deep level. I am so grateful for the way in which my involvement in the Jewish Studies minor helped me find my place in such a large university. In particular, with everything going on in the last year in Israel and with antisemitism on the rise on American college campuses, being a part of the Jewish Studies community provided a sense of safety and security for me during such a scary time in the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with Jewish professors and learn so much about the history of my own culture and religion, all of which was new to me after growing up in public schools. I am truly honored to have been selected for the Vivian Z. Klaff Memorial Award and hope to continue my Jewish Studies involvement post-grad.