The 2020-21 Jewish Teen Initiative Peer Leadership Fellows form a diverse group of leaders, representing communities, synagogues, camps and organizations throughout the Greater Boston area. They each have unique Jewish journeys with varied backgrounds and will be working to help create a more connected and inclusive community for their peers. Meet the Fellows and learn more about their stories below!

The 2020-21 Jewish Teen Initiative Peer Leadership Fellows (Courtesy image)
The 2020-21 Jewish Teen Initiative Peer Leadership Fellows (Courtesy image)

Grace Altman

Grace Altman (Courtesy photo)
Grace Altman (Courtesy photo)

Grace Altman is a Junior at Needham High School. In her free time, she enjoys doing arts and crafts and hiking with her dog. She is a member of Temple Beth Shalom in Needham and a Heller High alumni. She enjoys spending time after school at her temple helping in the Hebrew school.

Sophie Backer

Sophie Backer (Courtesy photo)
Sophie Backer (Courtesy photo)

Sophie Backer* is a junior at Weston High School who is involved with Stand With Us and enjoys playing lacrosse and hanging with friends. Sophie is a member of Congregation Or Atid in Wayland and Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley and spent the Spring 2020 semester abroad with Alexander Muss High School in Israel.

Lily Cantor

Lily Cantor (Courtesy photo)
Lily Cantor (Courtesy photo)

Lily Cantor goes to Gann Academy, where she is a co-founder of the conspiracy club and writes for the school newspaper. Lily loves to play soccer, lacrosse and hang out with friends. She has been a member of the Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston (JTFGB) for the past two years and spent her summers at Camp Tevya.

Elianna Cohen

Elianna Cohen (Courtesy photo)
Elianna Cohen (Courtesy photo)

Elianna Cohen is a junior at Wakefield Memorial High School, where she runs cross-country and track and is on the student council. She dances at two different dance studios and enjoys surfing, hiking, skiing and spending time with family and friends. Elianna is a member of Temple Tiferet Shalom in Peabody and BBYO and spends her summers at Camp Tevya. She loves making new friends and traveling to all different places.

Judy Dicker

Judy Dicker (Courtesy photo)
Judy Dicker (Courtesy photo)

Judy Dicker* is a junior at Swampscott High School, where she is on the swim team and is involved in ADL, I Am That Girl and Amnesty International clubs. Judy loves to ski, play piano, go to the beach and listen to music. She is a member of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and BBYO. Judy loves to travel and spent five weeks volunteering in Vietnam.

Lauren Donovan

Lauren Donovan (Courtesy photo)
Lauren Donovan (Courtesy photo)

Lauren Donovan is a senior at Marblehead High School, where she is involved with Team Harmony and enjoys playing softball. Lauren is a member of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and loves traveling and spending time with her friends and family.

Molly Claire Dormer

Molly Claire Dormer (Courtesy photo)
Molly Claire Dormer (Courtesy photo)

Molly Claire Dormer is a junior at Marblehead High School, where she is a member of the DECA and Best Buddies clubs and runs on the cross-country and track teams. Molly Claire is a member of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead, is a madrichah (teaching assistant) and likes to travel.

Rachel Fredman

Rachel Fredman (Courtesy photo)
Rachel Fredman (Courtesy photo)

Rachel Fredman* is a senior at Westborough High School, where she is president of the Best Buddies club and executive producer of her school paper. Rachel also enjoys leading her field hockey team as captain and participating in Special Olympics sports. She is a member of Temple Beth Tikvah, serves on her BBYO chapter board and is a part of the Camp Young Judaea community. Rachel is passionate about history and social justice and strives to make our world a more inclusive place.

Carly Lakind

Carly LaKind (Courtesy photo)
Carly LaKind (Courtesy photo)

Carly Lakind is a sophomore at Swampscott High School. She is involved with DECA and NEFC (club soccer). Carly is a member of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and spends her summers at Camp Tevya. She loves playing soccer, hanging with her friends and family and watching sunsets with friends.

Nora Mabuchi

Nora Mabuchi (Courtesy photo)
Nora Mabuchi (Courtesy photo)

Nora Mabuchi is a junior at Gann Academy, where she serves as a Gannbassador and is involved in the Gann dance company. She enjoys going to the beach, baking and spending time with family and friends. Nora is a member of Temple Emunah in Lexington, where she aids in their religious school as well as their preschool summer camp. Nora loves music and making new friends.

Sarah Marmor

Sarah Marmor (Courtesy photo)
Sarah Marmor (Courtesy photo)

Sarah Marmor is a sophomore at the Advanced Math and Science Academy (AMSA) in Marlborough. She has been involved in her school’s ice hockey team for the last three years and enjoys spending time with her friends and family. Sarah is a member of Beth Tikvah synagogue in Westborough, where she volunteers at the Hebrew school, and she spends her summers at Camp Young Judaea. Sarah is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.

Jess Miller

Jessica Miller (Courtesy photo)
Jessica Miller (Courtesy photo)

Jess Miller is a senior at Mansfield High School, where she throws shot-put and discus for her winter and spring track and field team. She enjoys coding and programming, dancing and becoming more connected with her Jewish identity. Jess is a member of Temple Chayai Shalom in Easton and went to Camp Jori for several years. She is also on the regional board of NFTY-NE. She has been a partner in Special Olympics soccer since seventh grade.

Lucy New

Lucy New (Courtesy photo)
Lucy New (Courtesy photo)

Lucy New* is a junior at Marblehead High School, where she plays on the tennis team and serves on the student council. Lucy is a member of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and spends her summers at Camp Tel Noar. She loves spending time with her dog, Chloe.

Samantha Oberlander

Samantha Oberlander (Courtesy photo)
Samantha Oberlander (Courtesy photo)

Samantha Oberlander* is a senior at Marblehead High School. She is a member of Team Harmony and plays volleyball. Samantha is a member and madricha (teaching assistant) at Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and enjoys traveling and hanging out with friends.

Jayla Odorczuk

Jayla Odorczuk (Courtesy photo)
Jayla Odorczuk (Courtesy photo)

Jayla Odorczuk is a senior at the Middlebridge School in Narragansett, Rhode Island. She is a member of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead and a former camper at Camp Micah in Bridgton, Maine, where she hopes to be a counselor next summer. Jayla is also a former competitive freestyle skier at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire, and now works as a ski coach in the winter teaching kids of all ages. Jayla runs her own business, Rainbow Slimes, selling slime online and at conventions.

Annie Overbaugh

Annie Overbaugh (Courtesy photo)
Annie Overbaugh (Courtesy photo)

Annie Overbaugh* is a junior at Swampscott High School. She is a part of the Student Council and enjoys painting, photography, music and hanging out with friends. She is a member of Temple Emanu-El and BBYO, and is a counselor at the JCC’s KinderCamp.

Jenna Tabenkin

Jenna Tabenkin (Courtesy photo)
Jenna Tabenkin (Courtesy photo)

Jenna Tabenkin* is a junior at Georgetown Middle/High School. She is involved with ADL and plays volleyball and dances. Jenna is a member of Congregation Achavas Achim in Newburyport. When not in school or active in sports, she loves to bake and connect with people.

Sofia Vatnik

Sofia Vatnik (Courtesy photo)
Sofia Vatnik (Courtesy photo)

Sofia Vatnik* is a junior at Marblehead High School, where she is a member of the Jewish Student Union, dances on the school dance team and serves on the student leadership council. She enjoys cooking healthy meals and likes to work out. Sofia is a member of the Camp Tevya community and is involved in the Robert Lappin Foundation. Sofia is excited to be serving as a Peer Inclusion Fellow for the second year.

Benjy Wolf-Wagner

Benjy Wolf-Wagner (Courtesy photo)
Benjy Wolf-Wagner (Courtesy photo)

Benjy Wolf-Wagner is a junior at Framingham High School, where he plays soccer and runs track during the winter and spring. He is a member of Temple Beth Am in Framingham and attended the Religious Action Center’s L’Taken Social Justice Seminar with JTI Boston last winter. Benjy enjoys traveling and has a list of destinations he would like to visit.

Haley Zunick

Haley Zunick (Courtesy photo)
Haley Zunick (Courtesy photo)

Haley Zunick* is a junior at Marblehead High School, where she is involved in Team Harmony, student council and the cheerleading team. She also enjoys her summers at Camp Tel Noar. Haley is excited to continue her work as a JTI Peer Leadership Fellow.

*Denotes Senior Fellows.

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