The Sephardic Jewish
Brotherhood of America
La Ermandad Sefaradi

Sephardic Scholars Program

Applications for this year's Sephardic Scholars Program are 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 2021 scholarships are now closed. All applications must be received by March 19, 2021 and are only eligible for Brotherhood Members and their families. All applications must be emailed to Scholarship@SephardicBrotherhood.com

2021 National Sephardic Scholars

Alex Kaplan

High School Recipient

Alex is a High School senior at the Pingry School. He is involved in his school’s theatrical productions and an acapella singing group, and has recognized for his academic success included an AP Scholar and National Merit scholar. Alex is receiving the Jack & Sylvia Amar Memorial Scholarship, the Harry Cohen Memorial Scholarship, the Jack & Esther Eskenazi Memorial Scholarship, and the David & Rachel Shimshi Memorial Scholarship Award.

Brian Kaplan

Undergraduate Recipient

Brian is a sophomore at Northeastern where his is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Sustainable Energy Systems and economics. He is a member of a school club where students design and build a small off-road vehicle to compete in events run by the Society of Automotive Engineers. He is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Brian is receiving the Yom Tov Crespi Memorial Scholarship Award.

Benjamin Nakagawa

Undergraduate Recipient

After completing his undergraduate degree at Liberty University with a degree in aviation, Benjamin has decided to attend medical school and pursue a career in medicine. Benjamin is a certified EMT and worked over the past year during the height of the pandemic to serve his community and help cover staff shortages. Benjamin is receiving the Victor Matatia Memorial Scholarship, the David & Rebecca Mayorkas Memorial Scholarship, the Solomon Mossafia Memorial Scholarship, and the Elliot and Marlene Israel Scholarship Award.

Caryl Behmoiras 

Graduate Recipient 

Caryl is in her second year in Graduate School at Yale School of Nursing studying Psychiatric Mental Health. During her studies Caryl has been on the front lines treating patients during the pandemic, including administering the COVID vaccine, and conducting clinical research in the Department of Cardiology. Carol is receiving the Lucille B. Sarfitty Memorial Scholarship Award.

Elisabeth Palmer

Undergraduate Recipient

Elisabeth is a freshman at University of Michigan. She has participated in numerous community service projects, including through her sorority, and was involved in theater throughout her high school career. She is receiving the Jack and Dora Ezratty Memorial Scholarship in memory of Vivian and Yale Ezratty, the Greek Memorial Scholarship, and the Esther Roza Memorial Scholarship Award.

Elyssa Warner

Undergraduate Recipient

Elyssa is a Junior at Temple University Tyler School of Art where she is studying glass art and painting, and minoring entrepreneurial studies. Elyssa is an accomplished artist and has received numerous awards for her talent and creativity. Elyssa is receiving the Ladies Auxiliary of the Downtown Sisterhood Scholarship Award, the Lena & Henry J. Perahia Scholarship, the Joseph Saltiel Memorial Scholarship Award of the Bronx Social Club, and the Smart Foundation Award.

Emily Sturm

Undergraduate Recipient

Emily is a freshman at SUNY New Paltz where she is studying Digital Media production and music recording. Among her honors, she has received awards for excellence in digital design and drawing. Emily is receiving the Flaminio & Ida Corcos Scholarship, the Acher & Mathilda Covo Sion Memorial Scholarship, and the Saadi Gerassi Memorial Scholarship Award.

Jared Behar

High School Recipient

Jared is a high school senior at Randolph High School in New Jersey. In the Fall he will attend Virginia Tech. He is a member of the B’nai Brith Youth Organization, his high school Lacrosse team, and on the honor roll. Jared is receiving the Allegra & Joseph Nathan Scholarship, the Allegra & Leon Saady Memorial Scholarship, the Dora & Isaac Saltiel Memorial Scholarship, and the Jason Soury Memorial Fund Award.

Joely Pasetsky

Undergraduate Recipient

Joely is a Junior at FIT majoring in Fashion Business Management and minoring in English and History of Art. Over the past year Joely has been working in operations at a design and marketing firm, and she was Valedictorian of the Associate Class of FIT in 2020. Joely is receiving the Sabatay Isaac Abrams & Mary S. Abrams-Cohen Memorial Scholarship Award.

Justin Kaufman

Graduate Recipient 

Justin is a High School senior at Baruch College Campus High School in New York, where he is graduating as Valedictorian. In the Fall he will start college at Emory University. Justin has participated in multiple engineering programs and is passionate about developing solutions to ecological problems. He is receiving the Nissim Behar Memorial Scholarship, Sam & Jack Benrube Memorial Scholarship, Moise & Eli Bensignor Memorial Scholarship, and Joseph & Mathilda Saporta Memorial Scholarship Award.

Penn Gottfried

Graduate Recipient

Penn is in his second year in graduate school at Hunter College where he is studying for a Masters in Elementary Education. On top of his studies, Penn works full time at a nonprofit youth organization in New York as the Director of Youth Programming, and is an Assistant Wrestling coach for Hunter’s Division 3 wrestling team. Penn is receiving the Morris and Rena Raphael Memorial Scholarship Award.

Rachel Moss

Undergraduate Recipient

Rachel is a junior at Cornell University where she is studying Human Biology, Health, and Society and minoring in Human Development. Among her many activities and word experience, Rachel is a research assistant in a nutritional science lab, and she is a psychology teaching assistant. Rachel is receiving the Sam and Sophie Alcheh Memorial Scholarship, the Bension Grotas Scholarship, the Daisy & Edward Besso Memorial Scholarship, and the Joseph & Maurice Sasson Memorial Scholarship Award.

Rachel Sharon

High School Recipient

Rachel is a High school Junior at Freehold High School. She is an active member of the B’nai Brith Youth Organization and the Girl Scouts, where she has received multiple awards. She is a recipient of a High School Junior scholarship award.

Samuel Leifer

Undergraduate Recipient

Sam is in his second year with junior standing at SUNY Buffalo where he is majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Sociology. He is a member of Buffalo’s society for Human Resource management, and his team finished in first place in a graduate competition. Sam is receiving the Henry J. Perahia & Joseph Soury Scholarship and the Rabbi Myron and Sarah Rakowitz Scholarship Award established by the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie.

Sarah Nathan

Undergraduate Recipient

Sarah is a sophomore at Knox College where she is majoring in Anthropology and sociology and minoring in Spanish and environmental studies. She was an NCAA swimmer in the 2019-20 season and has been on the Dean’s List every semester she’s been at Knox College. Sarah is receiving the Henry & Allegra Algava Scholarship in Memory of Theresa B. Shaw, the Beth El Congregation Scholarship Award, the Brotherhood Scholarship Foundation Award, and the Gabriel & Beatrice Auslander Senor Scholarship Fund Award.

Sophia Kaufman

High School Recipient

High school Junior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Manhattan. She is involved in numerous extracurricular activities, is a Member of the National Honor Society, and is proud of her Sephardic heritage, which was instilled in her by her grandfather Elliot Israel who unfortunately passed away recently. Sophia is receiving a High School Junior scholarship award.

Tres Cohen-Zolottev

Undergraduate Recipient

Tres is a sophomore at Stony Brook 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 is receiving 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 or call our office. 

Ladies Auxiliary of the Downtown Sisterhood Scholarship Award

Sabatay Isaac Abrams & Mary S. Abrams-Cohen Memorial Scholarship

Sam and Sophie 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

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

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

Gabriel & Beatrice Auslander Senor Scholarship Fund

David & Rachel Shimshi Memorial Scholarship Award

Smart Foundation Award

Jason Soury Memorial Fund Award