Sephardic Scholars Program
Applications for this year's 2025 Sephardic Scholars Program are now open. Our future rests with the youth of our communities. To support the next generation and recognize the educational achievements of our youngest members, the Brotherhood established its Sephardic Scholarship Program to help them excel academically and ensure money will never be an obstacle to advancing an education. Each year, the Brotherhood's Scholarship Committee awards financial scholarships to High School, College, and Graduate Students around the country. These funds provide for students' tuition support and help ensure their academic success. Generations of members have been supported through these scholarships, many of whom have returned to endow specific awards within the Sephardic Scholars Program.
Applications for 2025 scholarships are now open. All applications must be received by March 17, 2025 and are only eligible for Brotherhood Full Members and their families. All applications must be emailed to Scholarship@SephardicBrotherhood.com
Past Sephardic Scholarship Recipients
2024 National Sephardic Scholars
Lily Henley
Graduate Recipient
Lily is a professional musician and is pursuing a PhD in ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University. From a young age Lily was immersed in both Ladino music and Hebrew liturgical songs with Sephardic melodies. Lily has studied Ladino and continues to do so in pursuit of fluency. As a musician, Lily has dedicated her time to learning music traditions, creating new music in Ladino and educating others through music about Sephardic culture. Lily hopes to release a new album in 2025 with new Ladino music as well as songs in English about Sephardic history, heritage, and traditions. Lily is receiving the Lucille B. Sarfitty Memorial Scholarship
Ariella Niego-Levy
Graduate Recipient
Ariella is a first-year graduate student working on becoming a Doctor of Occupational Therapy at Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine. Ariella is the Vice President and soon-to-be President of Washington University Student Occupational Therapy Association. Ariella is also a student liaison for jGrads – a Jewish grad student group in St. Louis in Occupational Therapy. She is committed to honoring the memory of her grandfather Sol Niego, a past Scholarship Committee co-Chair, by keeping Sephardic traditions alive. Ariella is receiving the Yom Tov Crespi Memorial Scholarship Award.
Jared Behar
Undergraduate Recipient
Jared is completing his junior year at Virginia Tech where he is majoring in Finance with a minor in International Business. Jared is on the Dean’s List and is part of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He is a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. This spring Jared participated in the Virginia Tech Student Study Abroad program where he studied at the Czech Technical University in Prague, and last summer, he worked as a summer intern at O’Dowd Wealth Management. Jared is receiving the Joseph & Maurice Sasson Memorial Scholarship Award and the Sarina & Leo Saady Scholarship Award.
Morgan Behar
Undergraduate Recipient
Morgan is a senior at Randolph High School and is team captain of both the Varsity Cross Country team and the Varsity Winter Track team.. In addition, Morgan plays on the Varsity Lacrosse team and Elite Club Lacrosse, and she is an assistant Youth Lacrosse Coach where she coaches Kindergarteners and First graders. Morgan is a member of the Key Club, the Future Business Leaders of America, and BBYO. Morgan is receiving the Allegra & Joseph Nathan Scholarship Award and the Rabbi Myron and Sarah Rakowitz Scholarship Award established by the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie.
Carmen Boyan
Undergraduate Recipient
Carmen is a Freshman at Stanford University where she is studying Biology.This past summer Carmen was a Data Science Intern at Brown University, and she worked in a lab that developed an interpretable machine learning model that determines with 93% accuracy whether a bacterium is resistant or susceptible to an antibiotic based on its sequenced genome. Carmen plays the piano, violin, and taught herself to play the ukulele. In addition, Carmen speaks both Japanese and Spanish. Carmen’s Sephardic ancestry and culture have helped guide her personal and professional development. She received the Morris and Reina Raphael Memorial Scholarship.
Ella Boyan
Undergraduate Recipient
Ella is a Sophomore at the University of Chicago where she is studying History with a minor in Architectural studies. In order to further explore her Sephardic roots, Ella took an intensive beginner Ladino class. Ella is a violist in the University Chamber Orchestra, and she works at the Renaissance Society Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Ella is the recipient of the Sabatay Isaac Abrams & Mary S. Abrams-Cohen Memorial Scholarship.
Benjamin Busch
Undergraduate Recipient
Benjamin is completing his sophomore year at Brandeis University where he is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Computer Science and Economics. During his first semester, Benjamin participated in a study abroad program where he studied in London. Benjamin enjoys traveling, photography, and archery. Benjamin is receiving the Gabriel & Beatrice Auslander Senor Scholarship Fund and the Joseph & Mathilda Saporta Memorial Scholarship Award.
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Louis Dassa
Undergraduate Recipient
Louis is completing his sophomore year at Penn State where he is majoring in Finance and minoring in International Business. Louis is a member of the Penn State Investment Association, and he is a member of the Penn State Finance Society. Louis’ father taught him about Sephardic traditions and their ancestry, and was actually a Brotherhood scholarship recipient when he was a student. Louis can proudly follow in his father’s footsteps as he is receiving the Greek Memorial Scholarship Award and the Bension Grotas Scholarship Award.
Ariela Geron
Undergraduate Recipient
Ariela is a high school senior at North Shore Hebrew Academy and she will attend NYU in the Fall. Ariela is a member of the English, Social Studies, Math, Spanish and Hebrew subject honor societies. She is also a member of her school’s creative writing club. Ariela performs at her school’s annual Poet’s Café, and last summer she was a participant in the Broadway Artist Alliance and a member of the Woodmere Music Studios Music Theory Program. Ariela also composes original piano music. Ariela is receiving the Daisy & Edward Besso Memorial Scholarship Award and the Brotherhood Scholarship Foundation Award.
Leo Josse
Undergraduate Recipient
Leo is a senior at Edward R Murrow High School and he will attend Emerson College in the Fall. Leo studied Spanish throughout high school and hopes to learn Ladino honor of his grandfather Marvin Pilo and his Sephardic heritage. Leo plans on studying film in college and hopes to inspire future generations about their Sephardic heritage through film. Leo is receiving the Esther Roza Memorial Scholarship Award and the Allegra & Leon Saady Memorial Scholarship Award.
Alex Kaplan
Undergraduate Recipient
Alex is a Junior at Wesleyan University where he is double majoring in American Government and Computer Science with a minor is Games & Interactive Media Design. Alex has a passion for music and is a member of two of Wesleyan’s acapella groups, one of which was recently featured in a New York times article.. Alex is an active member of the Jewish community; he participates in events with both the Wesleyan Bayit as well as the Wesleyan Chabad. Alex is receiving the Solomon Mossafia Memorial Scholarship Award and the Beth El Congregation Scholarship.
Justin Kaufman
Undergraduate Recipient
Justin is completing his junior year at Emory University where he is majoring in Finance. He is an analyst on Emory’s Algory Capital Club in which he developed a model to determine the intrinsic value of individual equities. He is an active participant in the Maimonides Jewish program, the Olami Program and the Jewish Business Club. He is committed to the preservation and education of Jewish traditions, customs, and culture both on his college campus in Atlanta. Justin is receiving the Jack and Dora Ezratty Memorial Scholarship Award in memory of Vivian and Yale Ezratty and the Saadi Gerassi Memorial Scholarship Award.
Sophia Kaufman
Undergraduate Recipient
Sophia is completing her sophomore year at Emory University where she is a Biology major. Sophia is a member of the Sigma Delta Tau Sorority which organizes events and community service projects to bond with and empower Jewish women. She is also the events committee leader for the Association for Women in Science. Sophia is a member of the American Medical Student association, the Pre-Dental Society, and the Anthropology Club. She is also an active participant in the Maimonides Jewish Program. Sophia is receiving the Elliot and Marlene Israel Scholarship Award and the Harry Cohen Memorial Scholarship Award.
Sef Matarasso
Undergraduate Recipient
Ryder is a senior at Long Beach High School. He is the Vice President for Treasury of the National Honor Society and has organized and participated in numerous community service projects including cleaning local beaches. He is a member of the Varsity Swim team and is an All-County Scholar Athlete. Notably, Ryder was a video journalist and co-producer of a documentary “Names, Not Numbers” that chronicles the story of Holocaust survivors. Ryder is from Long Beach, New York, he is receiving the Yom Tov Crespi Memorial Scholarship.
Jared Mahler
Undergraduate Recipient
Jared is a Freshman at the University of Texas in Austin where he is studying Finance and Accounting. Jared serves as an investment analyst for the University Finance Association and he is the Corporate Development Specialist for the Texas Rocket Engineering Lab. He is also a member of the education team for TAMID, which works on expanding the financial experience by analyzing the Israeli startup ecosystem. Jared is receiving the Jack & Sylvia Amar Memorial Scholarship Fund and Nissim Behar Memorial Scholarship Award.
Ryder Moss
Undergraduate Recipient
Ryder is a Freshman at Boston University where he is studying Film and Television. Ryder has worked on broadcasts of NFL Thursday Night Football through Amazon Prime Video and as a production assistant for Fox Sports NCAA Basketball. He is also a writer, audio engineer for a weekly professional sports news show on BUTV10. Ryder is an active member of Boston University’s Jewish community. Ryder is receiving the Sam & Sophie Alcheh, David & Rae Alcheh Memorial Scholarship Award, and the Henry & Allegra Algava Scholarship in Memory of Theresa B. Shaw.
Louis Nahon
Undergraduate Recipient
Louis is a Freshman at the University of Chicago where he is studying Economics. Louis participates in Club Frisbee and is a UChicago intramural referee, and he is a member of the Jewish student union. Louis has been playing soccer and the piano since he was 6 years old. Louis speaks fluent French and is studying to become fluent in Spanish as well. Louis is receiving the Acher & Mathilda Covo Sion Memorial Scholarship Award and the Smart Foundation Award.
Raphael Nahon
Undergraduate Recipient
Raphael is completing his freshman year at the University of Chicago where he is a Political Science major. Last summer he worked as a camp counselor at JCC Camp Settoga in Pomona, New York. Raphael has met and connected with other Sephardim during his travels to many countries including Spain, France, Ireland, and Israel which provided him with new perspectives on Sephardic traditions. Raphael is receiving the Victor Matatia Memorial Scholarship Award and the David & Rebecca Mayorkas Memorial Scholarship Award.
Scott Nahoum
Undergraduate Recipient
Scott is completing his sophomore year at Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he is majoring in Management Engineering with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Entrepreneurship. Scott is a part of the WPI Swim team Division 3. Scott operates his own business by promoting and selling custom electric go carts, and he also owns and operates Look” apparel in which he designs artwork and creates streetwear apparel. Scott is receiving the Oro and Joseph Halegua Memorial Scholarship Award.
Hana Pitchon
Undergraduate Recipient
Hana is a Freshman at Colgate University where she is studying Economics and Political Science. Hana is a member of the Colgate Alpine Ski Team. In addition, she is an active member of the Colgate Jewish Union. In honor of her grandfather who shared his knowledge and Sephardic traditions, Hana is committed to sharing her Sephardic background with her peers and community. Hana is receiving the Flaminio & Ida Corcos Scholarship Award and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Downtown Sisterhood Scholarship Award.
David Saporta
Undergraduate Recipient
David is a senior at High Tech High School and he will attend Stevens Institute of Technology in the Fall. He was accepted into the prestigious Pinnacle Scholars Program at Stevens Institute of Technology. David hopes to continue to give back to his community by helping to create ways for technology to help others.. He has a passion for improving the community and bringing technology to the underprivileged. David is receiving the Jack & Esther Eskenazi Memorial Scholarship Award and the Moise & Eli Bensignor Memorial Scholarship Award.
Rachel Sharon
Undergraduate Recipient
Rachel is completing her sophomore year at Bentley University where she is majoring in Business Management and minoring in Public Relations. Rachel is a member of Collegiate DECA. She is also a member of the Women’s Leadership Program. Rachel is a member of Bentley’s photography club and Bentley’s fitness club. Rachel is receiving the Henry J. Perahia & Joseph Soury Scholarship Award and the Dora & Isaac Saltiel Memorial Scholarship Award.
Celia Shimshi
Undergraduate Recipient
Celia graduated from Charles Smith Jewish Day School in February. Celia was a member and co-director of her school’s literary magazine club, and she has been a part of her school’s instrumental ensemble since the fourth grade. Celia enjoys making music and plays both the cello and drums. Celia enjoys horseback riding and volunteers at a therapeutic riding center. Celia is receiving the Paul and Selma Shimshi Memorial Scholarship Award and the Lena & Henry J. Perahia Scholarship Award.
Rina Shimshi
Undergraduate Recipient
Rina is a high school senior at Charles Smith Jewish Day School. Rina enjoys horseback riding and works part time at Wheaton Park Stables where she helps take care of the horses. Rina is receiving the David & Rachel Shimshi Memorial Scholarship Award and the Joseph Saltiel Memorial Scholarship Award of the Bronx Social Club.
Elyssa Warner
Undergraduate Recipient
Elyssa graduated from Temple University and is now enrolled in the Scientific Glass Technology program at Salem Community College. Elyssa is an accomplished artist specializing in painting, drawing, and glass blowing, and she has received numerous awards for her talent and creativity. Elyssa is receiving the Sam & Jack Benrube Memorial Scholarship Award.
Daniel Weiss
Undergraduate Recipient
Daniel is completing his sophomore year at Binghamton University where he is majoring in Business Administration. He is the CEO of the education group of Tamid at Binghamton which connects college students with Israeli startups. He was a finalist in the Future FinTech Fraud Case Competition and the TechX Competition. In addition, Daniel is an avid runner and has participated in multiple 5k races to raise money for charities. Daniel is receiving the Daniel & Lily Zaraya Memorial Scholarship Award and the Rabbi Asher Murciano Memorial Scholarship Award.
Arielle Pitchon
High School Recipient
Arielle is a high school junior at Scarsdale High School. Arielle is the President of Help to Heal which is an eating disorder awareness club. In addition, she is a member of her school’s Business club. Arielle has also served as secretary for her student government for all three years of high school. In addition, she plays for the Varsity Volleyball team. Arielle is receiving the High School Junior Award.
Ilana Sharon
High School Recipient
Arielle is a high school junior at Scarsdale High School. Arielle is the President of Help to Heal which is an eating disorder awareness club. In addition, she is a member of her school’s Business club. Arielle has also served as secretary for her student government for all three years of high school. In addition, she plays for the Varsity Volleyball team. Arielle is receiving the High School Junior Award.
Oliver Wexler
High School Recipient
Oliver is a high school junior at Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School. Oliver is a member of the Achdut Honor Society. He is a volunteer peer tutor for AP History and Psychology, and he volunteers and assists children with developmental differences. Oliver’s hobby of creative writing has led him to author two science fiction short stories, and he is an avid boater and fisherman. Oliver is a part of the Lido Beach Synagogue and he is a member of the Eruv committee. Oliver is receiving the High School Junior Award.
We gratefully acknowledge those who have established scholarships to support future generations.
If you are interested in endowing a scholarship, please contact us at info@sephardicbrotherhood.com.
Ladies Auxiliary of the Downtown Sisterhood Scholarship Award
Sabatay Isaac Abrams & Mary S. Abrams-Cohen Memorial Scholarship
Sam and Sophie Alcheh, David and Rae Alcheh Memorial Scholarship Award
Henry & Allegra Algava Scholarship in Memory of Theresa B. Shaw
Jack & Sylvia Amar Memorial Scholarship Fund
Nissim Behar Memorial Scholarship Award
Sam & Jack Benrube Memorial Scholarship Award
Moise & Eli Bensignor Memorial Scholarship Award
Daisy & Edward Besso Memorial Scholarship Award
Beth El Congregation Scholarship Award
Brotherhood Scholarship Foundation Award
Harry Cohen Memorial Scholarship Award
Flaminio & Ida Corcos Scholarship Award
Acher & Mathilda Covo Sion Memorial Scholarship Award
Yomtov Crespi Memorial Scholarship
Jack & Esther Eskenazi Memorial Scholarship Award
Jack and Dora Ezratty Memorial Scholarship Award in memory of Vivian and Yale Ezratty
Saadi Gerassi Memorial Scholarship Award
Greek Memorial Scholarship Award
Bension Grotas Scholarship Award
Oro and Joseph Halegua Memorial Scholarship Award
Elliot and Marlene Israel Scholarship Award
Victor Matatia Memorial Scholarship Award
David & Rebecca Mayorkas Memorial Scholarship Award
Solomon Mossafia Memorial Scholarship Award
Allegra & Joseph Nathan Scholarship Award
Delicia & Abraham Nathan Memorial Scholarship Award
Henry J. Perahia & Joseph Soury Scholarship Award
Lena & Henry J. Perahia Scholarship Award
Rabbi Myron and Sarah Rakowitz Scholarship Award established by the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie
Lucille B. Sarfitty Memorial Scholarship Award
Morris & Reina Raphael Memorial Scholarship Award
Esther Roza Memorial Scholarship Award
Allegra & Leon Saady Memorial Scholarship Award
Sarina & Leo Saady Scholarship Award
Dora & Isaac Saltiel Memorial Scholarship Award
Joseph Saltiel Memorial Scholarship Award of the Bronx Social Club
Joseph & Mathilda Saporta Memorial Scholarship Award
Joseph & Maurice Sasson Memorial Scholarship Award
Paul and Selma Shimshi Memorial Scholarship Fund
Gabriel & Beatrice Auslander Senor Scholarship Fund
David & Rachel Shimshi Memorial Scholarship Award
Smart Foundation Award
Jason Soury Memorial Fund Award
Daniel & Lily Zaraya Memorial Scholarship Award