Learn more about BGI and the Fellows
Fellows' Community Outreach Projects Highlights
2010-11 Our Passover by Avraham Eli Tukachinsky '11
2010-11 Faces of Babi Yar in Felix Lembersky's Art Presence and Absence
2010-11 BGI Fellows create and publish a unique scrapbook "Individual Lives, Common Story"
2009-10 Painting the Face of Russian Jewry: The Art and Journey of Marc Klionsky
Incoming Cohort
Meir Alelov '15
Meir was born in Holon, Israel. His family emigrated from Russia to Israel, and in 2001 when Meir was eight his family came to the States. Meir graduated from the Newark Academy in Livingston, NJ where he was active in Chess, Improvisation and Red Cross clubs. In addition, he was a captain of the swim team and a President of Friendship Circle, an organization that helps children with special needs. Meir plans to pursue a major in Neuroscience.
Allan Volf '15
Allan was born in Ridgewood, NJ, five years after his parent emigrated from Odessa, Ukraine. When Allan was four years old his family relocated to San Diego, CA. Allan graduated from Torry Pines High School, in San Diego, CA. Allan played piano for more than eight years and while in high school volunteered at a food bank. Allan’s interests include math and physics and he plans to major in economics.
Julia Zaltsman '15
Julia was born and raised in Marblehead, MA. Her parents emigrated from Chelyabinsk, Russia. Julia graduated from Marblehead High School, where she was a member of the varsity tennis team and the National Honors Society. She served as the treasurer of the Free the Children club, focused on fundraising for children education in third world countries. She also volunteered as a math tutor at the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless and My Brother's Table. Julia is interested in both sciences and humanities, and she is strongly considering pursuing a neuroscience major.
Liz Zharovsky '15
Liz was born in Skokie, Illinois. Her parents emigrated from Kiev, Ukraine and spent six months in Italy before moving to Glenbrook, Illinois. Liz graduated from Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, IL. She worked as a tutor at her high school’s supplemental education center and volunteered at a local hospital. Liz served as the Vice President of Programming in the National Conference of Synagogue Youth. She plans to major in Neuroscience with a possible double major in Psychology and a minor in Russian Studies. Her goal is to go to a medical school upon her graduation from Brandeis and become a neurologist.
Graduate Hornstein Fellow
Ira Krakhman '13 (MA/MA)
Ira KrakhmanIra left balmy California where, for the past four years, she had been building a home in the Jewish community of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Her most recent role was as coordinator for a fundraising and development team at the Jewish Agency for Israel. Previously, she partnered with the Jewish Agency emissary to the Bay Area Russian Jews, laying foundations for communal engagement and stewardship among her Russian Jewish peers – a charismatic community known as Mishmash. For the past two years, as both professional and volunteer, she has taken great interest in the program's strategic development. Ira's vision is to see the Bay Area Russian Jewish community raise its unique presence through grass-roots innovation and creative engagement of local resources, including local funding sources.
Ira's Jewish quest began when she woke up one morning and found herself in Jerusalem where she spent 2006-2007 learning and volunteering. Formerly an English teacher, Ira holds a BA in English from Skidmore College and an MEd from Arcadia University. She immigrated from Odessa, Ukraine in 1990.