Get to know the recipients of this year’s 18 Under 18 award!
Alana Slade is a senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School. She spends most of her evenings in Ballet, Contemporary, and jazz classes at the Academy of Movement and Music along with dancing in the Senior Company and as a Professional Performance Apprentice with the Momenta Dance Company. She is the co-president of her school’s Jewish Student Connection, a match partner in Best Buddies, a Huskie Student Ambassador, and a member of the Spanish club. She was also a founding member of the Shawn Gilley BBYO chapter. During the Fall of ‘23, Alana studied abroad at Heller High School in Israel through AMHSI. There she participated in the Teen Israel Organizing Fellowship where she organized a fundraising dance class along with an event surrounding life in Tel Aviv for young families. She was also a 2024 Seed 613 fellow where she worked with her peers to organize and present the scaffolding for a non-profit organization working to prevent gun violence through education. Alana enjoys public speaking and uses it to spread awareness about the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. She belongs to the West Suburban Temple Har Zion congregation and enjoys being a Madrichah for their Hebrew School. On the weekends, she loves to babysit and spend time with family and friends.
Ariel Oberfeld is a senior at Deerfield High School and a passionate leader dedicated to Jewish community engagement. In Summer 2024, Ariel was the Volunteer Sports Coordinator at Camp Ramah Yachad in Ukraine where he designed and led an athletic program for Jewish children from across the country, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment despite language barriers and cultural differences. Drawing on his years as a camper at Camp Chi in Wisconsin, Ariel brought his love of Jewish camp traditions to create meaningful experiences for children in a war-torn region. Beyond camp, Ariel actively amplifies youth voices through his involvement with JUF Voices 101 and the Alumni Boards, as well as his role as a Student-to-Student Ambassador, promoting dialogue and understanding among diverse communities. He is also a proud member of All Star Abilities and the DHS Wrestling Team. In his free time, Ariel enjoys working out, cooking, and exploring nature.
Bella Brown (she/her) is a senior at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School. She is the Vice President of her school's Jewish Student Connection Club, a member of jGirls+ Vocal Point, and an alumna of Moving Traditions Kumi. Bella is also the Co-Founder (with her sister) and President of Living Outside, a nonprofit organization destigmatizing homelessness through the direct distribution of care bags. In her free time, Bella is a competitive dancer, and she loves binging a good show with friends.
Ben is a senior at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, where he is President of the Student Council Cultural Union, Co-Captain of the Varsity Cross-Country and Track Teams, a peer leader, and a member of the Jewish Student Association. Ben also founded and currently leads Kids Allergy Network, an online and in-person global initiative that supports kids with food allergies. Ben is a nationally ranked épée fencer who has medaled at national, regional, and local tournaments. He has brought fencing to underserved communities through Youth Fencing Chicago, a nonprofit he co-founded and helps lead. For the past three years, Ben has worked as a Madrich at Chicago Sinai Congregation. Ben also is a Yale Entrepreneurial Society High School Fellow and Student Ambassador, and he has worked as a research intern at the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago.
Elan is a junior at Deerfield High School. Currently he serves as the Regional Shaliach of GMR BBYO and the BBYO International Stand-Up Cause coordinator. Additionally, he is involved as a Madrich in the NSS Beth EL Religious School and a member of the Deerfield High School Israel Club.
Ella is a Junior at Francis W. Parker School and alum of Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School. She is deeply involved in student leadership and extracurricular activities, serving as a Senate Head of Student Government and the Director of Programming for the Jewish Student Connection. Additionally, she is an athlete, playing field hockey (JV Captain) and Varsity Softball. Beyond school, Ella is an active member of the Voices Alumni Board and TOV Tutoring, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement. She has also participated in the StandWithUs Leadership Council and the Illinois Holocaust Museum Teen Board.
Emerson is a junior at Evanston Township High School. She is a Youth Liaison for the JCUA Immigration Committee and a member of JCUA Or Tzedek. Previously she participated in the Research Training Internship as part of Cohort 9. Emerson is also a Madricha in Beth Emet the Free Synagogue’s Religious School and an Executive Board Member in Synagogue Youth Group. At school, she is involved in the ETHS Theater Department.
Gus is a junior at Lane Tech High school and a member of Temple Sholom in Chicago. Gus is passionate about the reform Jewish movement, serving as a member of the NFTY Chicago Area Region board for the past two years and is a ten-year camper at URJ OSRUI. In addition, Gus has been a part of Peer Ambassadors, Diller Chicago, serves as his temple youth group’s recruitment chair, and is currently on the Voices 101 board. Beyond the Jewish community, Gus is the three-year class president of his high school class and member of the cross country and track teams.
Hadar is a senior at Ida Crown Jewish Academy. At school, she is the Founder and Captain of the Ida Crown Debate Team, a Keshet Peer Buddies Board Member, Ida Crown Israel Advocacy Club Co-President and part of the Ida Crown Student Activities Board. Beyond school, Hadar is a StandWithUS Kenneth Leventhal High School Intern, Hartman Teen Fellow and a leader of the Kehilat Chovevei Tzion Synagogue Youth Group.
As a senior at Jones College Prep, Talia Berkwits (she/her) is Vice President of her school’s Jewish Student Connection club and American Sign Language club, a Model UN captain, and an untalented and unknowledgeable member of the golf team (yet enthusiast nonetheless). Outside of school she is a long-time sporadic pianist, and a returning Hartman Teen Fellow, an Einayich Yonim Fellow, a Student-to-Student presenter, and an avid babysitter. Some of the many things that bring her joy are strawberry lemonade, walking to the beach, traveling, good music, and chocolate peanut butter anything.
Jordan Dakoff (he/him/his) is a senior at Deerfield High School (DHS) and alum of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI) Spring Semester ‘23. Jordan is an accomplished Israel and Jewish community activist. He is currently a StandWithUs Kenneth Leventhal High School Intern, a speaker in the “Student to Student” program presenting about Judaism in non-Jewish public and private school classrooms throughout Chicagoland, a Hebrew Teacher at his synagogue, Congregation BJBE, an AMHSI Student Ambassador, a 2024 and 2025 DHS Genocide Commemoration Day Committee Member, and a Member of DHS Israel Club and Hebrew Honor Society. Notably, Jordan was also a Jewish National Fund (JNF) Sababa Fellow his junior year, held several JNF BakeAgainstHate Community Bake Sales in 2024. In December, Jordan was a speaker at the JNF Annual Community Breakfast. Outside of school and advocacy initiatives, Jordan loves exploring the outdoors on backpacking and hiking trips throughout the Western U.S., but his favorite hiking trip was the 3-day Yam L’ Yam hike in Israel from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.
Josh is a senior at Glenbrook North High School and a member of Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation in Northfield where he has been a Madrich, or classroom assistant, helping support students in the School of Jewish Studies for the past 5 years. Last year, Josh participated in AJC's Leaders for Tomorrow program and had the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C., to speak with his local congressman and senators on the rise of antisemitism. For the past five years, Josh has attended Camp Ben Frankel in Southern Illinois. From his local synagogue community to advocacy in DC, to camp in rural Illinois, all of these experiences and more have helped him connect more closely with my Jewish identity and being part of the Jewish community. In his free time, Josh enjoys spending time with his family and dog, as well as hanging out with friends. Josh is excited and honored to be part of the 2025 Honoree pool.
Julia Barker is a senior at Glenbrook North High School and belongs to Moriah Congregation. She is very passionate about her Persian Culture and loves strengthening her Jewish community. Her summers spent at Beber camp in Wisconsin taught her the importance of Jewish leadership which she furthered as a Kenneth Leventhal StandWithUs intern by running programs in her community to educate others on combating Antisemitism. As the President of her school's Israeli Culture club, she works to create a loving Jewish kehila at Glenbrook North. At her synagogue, Julia leads by example by reading torah frequently and leading kids' services. She is so proud and grateful to be part of such a rich community!
Lorelai Lindon is a senior at Deerfield High School. She loves being active in her Jewish community, as she feels that is where she is the most authentic. Lorelai is the International USY Social Action Tikkun Olam Vice President, Chicago USY communications general board member, NSS Beth El BEANS President, Hartman Teen Fellow, Student to Student Presenter, and Senior Peer Ambassador. She has attended Camp Ramah Wisconsin for the past 8 years, and last summer participated in Ramah Seminar -further deepening her connection to Israel. Outside of the Jewish community, she is a member of her school's varsity swim team, captain of her school's varsity water polo team, and plays the Bass Clarinet for her schools Wind Ensemble. Lorelai also works for her local park district lifeguarding and swim instructing. if she is not in the pool or at a Jewish community event you can find her listening to music and reading a good book.
As a junior at Glenbrook South High School, Maia Weissman stands out as an accomplished and dedicated student, actively engaged in her community and various leadership roles. Currently, she serves as a Madricha at the Beth Hillel B’nai Emunah (BHBE) Religious School, where she has significantly contributed to the spiritual growth of her peers. Her commitment to community service has earned her the prestigious title of BHBE Youth of the Year for 2023-2024. Maia is also a JCC Seed613 Fellow, Springboard Peer Ambassador, and plays an essential role on the JCC Teen Mental Health Committee. Maia's dedication to mental health extends further as she serves as a Mental Health Advisor for the Teen Talk App, offering guidance and support to teens facing various challenges. Her diverse activities highlight her commitment to leadership, mental health advocacy, and community service. Because of her extensive volunteer service she was honored with a 2024 President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). In addition, Maia co-hosts a program on the GBS Radio Station and serves as the Features Editor for the Oracle, the GBS Student Newspaper, showcasing her writing talents. Maia is deeply involved in the arts as an Orchestra Lab Aide, guiding younger musicians in their development. She plays the flute in both the Glenbrook South Marching Band and Symphonic Band, as well as the bass in the Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band, and in the jazz combo accompaniment for Scat That, an acapella group.
Maya is a senior at Stevenson High School. There she is involved as the Co-President of Stevenson Girls Who Lift, the Student Media Team Photographer, and the Founder and President of Stevenson’s Intermural Horseback Riding Club. Outside of school, Maya is a participant in the JUF Voices and JCC The Jewish Lens Programs. She also serves as an Earth Echo International Marine Plastics Ambassador and Water Challenge Ambassador. Maya also started her own photography business called Golden Hour Photography.
Orli Josefson is a Senior at Jones College Prep. In school she serves as the President of the Jewish Student Connection Club, a member of Varsity Softball, and a member of RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) Club. Outside of school, she serves as the Regional N'siah (President) of BBYO Great Midwest Region and has been involved in BBYO since 8th Grade. She was a Diller Teen Fellow last year and attended Alexander Muss High School in Israel her sophomore year. Next year she plans on attending the Kivunim Institute in Jerusalem.
Sasha is a junior at Oak Park River Forest High School. She is a passionate musician who was concertmaster of OPRF Concert Orchestra her freshman year and has since has been a member of OPRF Symphony orchestra (violin), is a classical concert pianist who performs locally, is in the Honors A Capella Choir and plays violin in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Sasha belongs to Temple Har Zion and is a Music Educator for the religious school as well as a member of the davening team. She also is her BBYO Chapter VP of Jewish Enrichment, a member of the 2025 Maccabi Games Girls Track and Field Team and spent 8 summers at OSRUI. In school, Sasha is involved in the Student Equity and Belonging Council, the school Symphony and Jewish Student Connection.
Check Out Last Year's Recognition Book!