The Sephardic Jewish
Brotherhood of America
La Ermandad Sefaradi

Sephardic Scholars Program

Applications for this year's 2022 Sephardic Scholars Program are now closed. 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 2022 scholarships are now open. All applications must be received by March 21, 2022 and are only eligible for Brotherhood Full Members and their families. All applications must be emailed to Scholarship@SephardicBrotherhood.com

2022 National Sephardic Scholars

Undergraduate Recipient

Alex is a Freshman at Wesleyan University. He has a passion for music and is a member of two of Wesleyan’s acapella groups: The Wesleyan Spirits and Triple Major, the latter of which competes at the International Championship of Competition acapella. In high school, he was involved in his school’s theatrical productions and their acapella group, and was recognized for his academic success as an AP Scholar and National Merit scholar. Alex is from Westfield, NJ, and received the Yom Tov Crespi Memorial Scholarship Award.

Brian is a junior at Northeastern University majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Sustainable Energy Systems and economics. Last fall he participated in Northeastern's Co-op program, where he worked on the project management team replacing the Henderson Bridge in Providence, RI. This coming fall he will work for a start-up that converts steam from manufacturing facilities into drinkable water. Brian is from Westfield, NJ, and received the Morris and Rena Raphael Memorial Scholarship Award.

Elisabeth Palmer

Elisabeth is a sophomore at the University of Michigan where she is double majoring in linguistics and Spanish. She is an active leader in the University of Michigan Hillel. Elisabeth also serves as Vice President of Housing in her sorority Delta Phi Epsilon. Last summer she served as the assistant set designer for the Port Washington Summer Show with local high school students. Elisabeth is from Port Washington, NY and is receiving the Lucille B. Sarfitty Memorial Scholarship. 

Elyssa Warner

Undergraduate Recipient

Elyssa is in her final year at Temple University Tyler School of Art where she is studying glass art and painting, and minoring in entrepreneurial studies. Elyssa is an accomplished artist specializing in painting, drawing, and glass blowing, and she has received numerous awards for her talent and creativity. Elyssa lives in West Caldwell, NJ and received the Lena & Henry J. Perahia Scholarship, the Joseph & Maurice Sasson Memorial Scholarship, and the Smart Foundation Award.

Emily Strum

Emily is a sophomore at SUNY New Paltz majoring in digital media production and minoring in music recording. She is the head marketing coordinator for Hawk Studios which is the production club at SUNY New Paltz. She is also a member of her school’s auto club and is a committee planner on the Hall Government Board. Emily is from Wantagh, NY and received the Jack and Dora Ezratty Memorial Scholarship Award in memory of Vivian and Yale Ezratty, the Greek Memorial Scholarship Award, and the Esther Roza Memorial Award. 

Hana Pitchon

High School Recipient

Hana is a junior at Scarsdale High school. She has been a member of student government for more than 5 years, she is a member of her school’s drama club, and she’s co-captain of the ski team. Hana was also elected to be Vice President of the Innocence Club which raises awareness of injustice in the criminal justice system, and she is a member of the Signifier honor society. Hana lives in Scarsdale and received a High School Junior scholarship award

Isabel Frei

High School Recipient

Isabel is a junior at the High School of American Studies at Lehman College. She has been very active in her high school career, including by participating in the newspaper club, community service club, cross country, and softball teams. She is also a member of local chapters of Greenpeace and High School Democrats of America. She even founded her own business Tutor Fairy right here in Forest Hills. Isabel lives in Forest Hills and received a High School Junior scholarship award.

Undergraduate Recipient

Jared is a freshman at Virginia Tech studying Economics with a concentration in business. In high school Jared was on the Lacrosse team and the honor roll, and during COVID, he volunteered with Jersey Cares to help deliver food to elderly people who couldn’t leave their homes. He also served as an executive board member of the Bnai Brith Youth Organization. Jared is from Randolph, NJ and received the Allegra & Joseph Nathan Scholarship, the Dora & Isaac Saltiel Memorial Scholarship, and the Jason Soury Memorial Fund Award. 

Jared Mahler

High School Recipient

Jared is a high school junior at Syosset High School. Among his many awards and extracurricular activities, Jared is a member of his school’s basketball team and tennis team, as well as the Spanish Club and Business Honor Society. In April Jared was selected to participate in the 2022 DECA leadership conference in Atlanta. Jared lives in Woodbury, NY and is receiving a High School Junior scholarship award.

Jonathan Nahmias

Undergraduate Recipient

Jonathan is a Junior at James Madison University majoring in accounting. Jonathan is a member of his school’s ultimate frisbee team, he has served as Treasurer of his fraternity AEPi, and he has tutored peers in financial accounting for the past 2 years. Jonathan was also named a finalist in the Deloitte audit innovation campus challenge. Jonathan is from Sandy Hook, CT and received the Saadi Gerassi Memorial Scholarship, the Allegra & Leon Saady Memorial Scholarship, and the Joseph & Mathilda Saporta Memorial Award.

Justin Kaufman

Justin is a freshman at Emory University where he is studying Business. He is a member of his school’s Algory Capital Club, which develops models to predict stock prices, the Emory Impact Investing Group, and the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He is an active participant in the Maimonides Jewish program in Atlanta, and has tutored students in multiple subjects.  Justin is from New York, NY, and received the Sabatay Isaac Abrams & Mary S. Abrams-Cohen Memorial Scholarship Award.

Maxime Munoz

High School Recipient

Maxime is a senior at Horace Greely high school and will attend SUNY Purchase in the fall. Maxime is active in her synagogue and participates in their teen youth group on community service projects and their event club. SMaxime lives in Mount Kisco, NY and received the Henry J. Perahia & Joseph Soury Scholarship, the Rabbi Myron and Sarah Rakowitz Scholarship Award established by the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie, and the David & Rachel Shimshi Memorial Scholarship Award.

Rachel Mahler

Undergraduate Recipient

Rachel is a junior at Washington University in St Louis where she is majoring in psychology and marketing. Rachel is a member of Psi Chi, the international honor society in Psychology. She is President and Marketing Director of Spoon University at Wash U, and played on the women’s varsity basketball team. Rachel is from Woodbury, NY and received the Jack & Sylvia Amar Memorial Scholarship, the Harry Cohen Memorial Scholarship, and the Jack & Esther Eskenazi Memorial Scholarship Award.

Rachel Sharon

High School Recipient

Rachel is a High school senior at Freehold High School, and she will attend Bentley University in the fall. She is an active board member of the B’nai Brith Youth Organization, and has received multiple awards as an 11 year member of the Girl Scouts. Rachel is from Freehold, NJ and received the Victor Matatia Memorial Scholarship, the David & Rebecca Mayorkas Memorial Scholarship, and the Solomon Mossafia Memorial Scholarship Award.

Samuel Leifer

Sam is in his third year with senior standing at SUNY Buffalo where he is majoring in Business Administration. Sam is the Director of Student Relations at Buffalo’s society for Human Resource management, and he is the Treasurer of Buffalo’s undergraduate consulting group. Sam is from Forest Hills, NY and received the Ladies Auxiliary of the Downtown Sisterhood Scholarship, the Joseph Saltiel Memorial Scholarship Award of the Bronx Social Club, and the Gabriel & Beatrice Auslander Senor Scholarship Fund Award. 

Sarah Nathan

Undergraduate Recipient

Sarah is a junior at Knox College where she is majoring in anthropology and sociology and minoring in Spanish and environmental studies. Sarah has served as an intern and volunteer at Knox Farm, she is a past NCAA swimmer, and she has been on the Dean’s List every semester since starting at Knox College. Sarah is from Madison, WI and received the Nissim Behar Memorial Scholarship, the Sam & Jack Benrube Memorial Scholarship, and the Moise & Eli Bensignor Memorial Scholarship Award.

Scott Nahoum

High School Recipient

Scott is a senior at West Windsor Plainsboro High School South in NJ. In the fall he will attend Worcester Poly Tech. Scott is an entrepreneur and started his own business Look Apparel to market his designs for streetwear apparel. Scott is also a founding member of the nonprofit Supplies for Success which provides school supplies to underprivileged children. Scott is from Princeton, NJ and received the Flaminio & Ida Corcos Scholarship, the Acher & Mathilda Covo Sion Memorial Scholarship, and the Elliot and Marlene Israel Award.

Sef Matarasso

High School Recipient

Sef is a High School senior at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, Florida. He has participated in numerous extracurricular activities, including the baseball team, golf team, and drone club. He is the President of his school’s DECA Chapter, and he has interned and volunteered at multiple businesses. Sef received the Henry & Allegra Algava Scholarship in Memory of Theresa B. Shaw, the Beth El Congregation Scholarship, and the Brotherhood Scholarship Foundation Award.

Sophia Kaufman

High School Recipient

Sophia is a senior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Manhattan, and she will attend Emory University in the fall. Since 2018 she has been a member of her school’s technology club and she is now the club co-leader. She is also a member of her school’s Club for Women’s empowerment, Spanish Club, Animal Welfare Club, and Science Club. Sophia is from New York, NY and is receiving the Sam and Sophie Alcheh Memorial Scholarship, the Bension Grotas Scholarship, and the Daisy & Edward Besso Memorial Scholarship Award.

Tres Cohen-Zolottov

Undergraduate Recipient

Tres is a sophomore at Santa Monica College where he is studying economics. He has been an active player on Multiple Competitive Travel Teams & Sports, including an instructor in Krav Maga martial arts. Tres lives in California, and received the Delicia and Abraham Nathan Memorial Scholarship 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.