PANIM Alumni Go to College

Want to be added? Message me your college choice and year of graduation!
Want to get in contact with future classmates? Send me an email and I will set up the introduction!

Alphabetical by Last Name

Aaron Baskin, UC Berkeley, 2013
Rachel Belsky, University of Michigan, 2013
David Bierer, University of North Carolina, 2011
Shlomo Bolts, Columbia, 2010
Jessica Brezel, Emory, 2013
Marissa Cooper, Ohio State University, 2013
Alexi Dagan, George Washington University, 2012
Avi Fainchtein, Cornell University, 2012
Ariella Faitelson, George Washington University, 2013
Sara Fredman, New York University, 2012
Susannah Glick, George Washington University, 2013
Jessica Gold, Oberlin, 2012
Melissa Goldberg, Washington University in St. Louis, 2011
David Goldman, University of Florida, 2011
David Goldsmith, University of Oklahoma, 2012
Rachel Greenspan, Cornell University, 2012
Allison Gross, Indiana University, 2013
Mandy Gross, Ohio State University, 2012
Michael Gross, Pittsburgh, 2012
Miriam Gutman, Tufts University, 2012
Daniel Hewitt, Muhlenberg College, 2012
Jordan Heyman, Tufts University, 2012
Zak Hilert, George Mason, 2011
Rachel Hodes, Rutgers University, 2011
Samantha Hordes, American University, 2012
Maxie Kallish, Clark University, 2011
Marc Karlinsky, University of Maryland, 2012
Heather Kaufman, Muhlenberg College, 2012
Juliana Klein, Boston University, 2012
Susan Landau, Brandeis University, 2010
Max Lazar, William & Mary, 2012
Rachel Levenson, Wesleyan, 2012
Alexa Levine, UCSC, 2011
Cara Levinson, University of Wisconsin, 2013
Daniel Marks, Vanderbilt , 2013
Gabby Matuzsan, Johns Hopkins University, 2012
Zachary Matuzsan, Johns Hopkins University, 2012
Dani McCormick, University of Maryland, 2012
Andi Mucasey, Brandeis University, 2013
Naomi Nason, Northwestern, 2013
Mia Neustein, Barnard College, 2011
Aviva Novick, Nishmat in Jerusalem, NYU, 2014
Rachel Pankiw, Indiana University, 2011
Rebecca Powell, UC Berkeley, 2013
Jacob Prosnit, Trinity, 2012
Ana Rader, Dickenson, 2012
Amelie Raz, Bryn Mawr, 2011
Mandy Rothstein, Arizona, 2012
Dani Safran, University of Maryland, 2012
Steven Sasmor, Brandeis University, 2010
Justin Schaffer, UNF, 2011
Cassie Scheinman, George Washington University, 2013
Dana Schneider, University of Michigan, 2013
Eryca Sender, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2012
Jake Shuster, University of Pennsylvania, 2013
Teddi Silverberg, Ithaca College, 2013
Rebecca Spiewak, Tufts University, 2013
Daniel Warshauer, Albion College, 2013
Andrew Warshauer, Washington University in St. Louis, 2011
Jonathan Weinberg, Cornell University, 2013
Lauren Weinberger, Duke University, 2011
Uri Weiss, Hartford, 2012
Marley Zeno, Oberlin, 2011

Alphabetical by School Name
Albion College, Daniel Warshauer, 2013
American University, Samantha Hordes, 2012
Arizona, Mandy Rothstein, 2012
Barnard College, Mia Neustein, 2011
Boston University, Juliana Klein, 2012
Brandeis University, Susan Landau, 2010
Brandeis University, Andi Mucasey, 2013
Brandeis University, Steven Sasmor, 2010
Bryn Mawr, Amelie Raz, 2011
Clark University, Maxie Kallish, 2011
Columbia, Shlomo Bolts, 2010
Cornell University, Avi Fainchtein, 2012
Cornell University, Rachel Greenspan, 2012
Cornell University, Jonathan Weinberg, 2013
Dickenson, Ana Rader, 2012
Duke University, Lauren Weinberger, 2011
Emory, Jessica Brezel, 2013
George Mason, Zak Hilert, 2011
George Washington University, Ariella Faitelson, 2013
George Washington University, Alexi Dagan, 2012
George Washington University, Susannah Glick, 2013
George Washington University, Cassie Scheinman, 2013
Hartford, Uri Weiss, 2012
Indiana University, Allison Gross, 2013
Indiana University, Rachel Pankiw, 2011
Ithaca College, Teddi Silverberg, 2013
Johns Hopkins University, Gabby Matuzsan, 2012
Johns Hopkins University, Zachary Matuzsan, 2012
Muhlenberg College, Daniel Hewitt, 2012
Muhlenberg College, Heather Kaufman, 2012
New York University, Sara Fredman, 2012
Nishmat in Jerusalem, NYU, Aviva Novick, 2014
Northwestern, Naomi Nason, 2013
Oberlin, Jessica Gold, 2012
Oberlin, Marley Zeno, 2011
Ohio State University, Marissa Cooper, 2013
Ohio State University, Mandy Gross, 2012
Pittsburgh, Michael Gross, 2012
Rutgers University, Rachel Hodes, 2011
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Eryca Sender, 2012
Trinity, Jacob Prosnit, 2012
Tufts University, Miriam Gutman, 2012
Tufts University, Jordan Heyman, 2012
Tufts University, Rebecca Spiewak, 2013
UC Berkeley, Aaron Baskin, 2013
UC Berkeley, Rebecca Powell, 2013
UCSC, Alexa Levine, 2011
UNF, Justin Schaffer, 2011
University of Florida, David Goldman, 2011
University of Maryland, Marc Karlinsky, 2012
University of Maryland, Dani McCormick, 2012
University of Maryland, Dani Safran, 2012
University of Michigan, Rachel Belsky, 2013
University of Michigan, Dana Schneider, 2013
University of North Carolina, David Bierer, 2011
University of Oklahoma, David Goldsmith, 2012
University of Pennsylvania, Jake Shuster, 2013
University of Wisconsin, Cara Levinson, 2013
Vanderbilt , Daniel Marks, 2013
Washington University in St. Louis, Melissa Goldberg, 2011
Washington University in St. Louis, Andrew Warshauer, 2011
Wesleyan, Rachel Levenson, 2012
William & Mary, Max Lazar, 2012

Head to the Debate Watch Party in your city on Tuesday, October 7th!

On October 7, 2008 millions of viewers will tune into the second U.S. Presidential Debate.

Where will you be? Join us as we come together 1,000-strong across the nation to hear Democracy roar on the big screen. Set your intentions for how you’ll put your values into action in the New Year.

Boston, 7:30pm, Tommy Doyle’s
Los Angeles, 6pm, Mama’s Hot Tamales
New York, 7pm, Galapagos Art Space
San Francisco, 6pm, Jillian’s at the Metreon
Washington, D.C., 7pm, The Red Derby

Events will include a combination of speakers, election trivia, local social justice opportunities, voter registration tables, and more! For more information and to register, visit us at www.debatewatch2008.blogspot.com.


Hosted by the AJWS-AVODAH Partnership and our regional partners:

Boston: Gesher City, Moishe/Kavod House, Jewish Alliance for Law & Social Action. LA: Progressive Jewish Alliance. NY: BYFI - Bronfman Youth Fellowships, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice. SF: Progressive Jewish Alliance, The Hub at JCCSF, Congregation Emanuel Young Adult Community. D.C.: Moishe House DC & SS, Jews United for Justice

Co-sponsored by: National: Hazon, JDub Records, Jewish Funds for Justice, Panim, Professional Leaders Project. Boston: Charles River Beit Midrash, Harvard & MIT Hillel, Hebrew College, Jewish Organizing Initiative, Keshet, Workman’s Circle. DC: EntryPointDC Gesher City, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Young Leaders. LA: IKAR, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Young Leaders, Temple Israel of Hollywood Chailights, Jewish World Watch, New Leaders Project, and 30 Years After. NY: Brooklyn Jews, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Young Leaders, New Israel Fund’s New Generations, Uri L'Tzedek, Village GAP: Jewish Grads And young Professionals at NYU. SF: LGBT Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation.

AJWS and AVODAH are tax-exempt organizations under the Internal Revenue Code and as such they do not engage in propaganda, influence legislation, or participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. This is a non-political, and thus non-partisan, event that promotes AJWS and AVODAH's mission of advancing social justice.

Thanks from JAM Parents

Dear Pamela,

Our sincerest Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to you and to everyone associated with the Summer JAM program! Ben had an extraordinary experience in every way, this was without question the most well run, well thought out and most valuable program of any kind that any of our three kids (Ben is the youngest) have participated in. Your professionalism and that of your colleagues has shined through in every aspect of the planning and execution of Summer Jam. It's amazing for us to see the personal growth that's taken place in only 4 short weeks, Ben seems to have been touched by every experience, place, conversation and person he was exposed to. You, Shmuly, Rabbi Sid and each and every one of the mentors, speakers, and other people he met have had a profound impact on him. Ben has always had a heart and soul of gold, but now his vision much more clear as he understands that everyday brings real opportunities to intertwine his Jewish identity and commitment to improving the lives of others.

Please forward this email and pass our sincere thanks and congratulations on to everyone associated with Summer JAM, we are truly grateful for your efforts and will always appreciate the difference you have made in Ben's life.

This Labor Day weekend we'll be celebrating again at the Pearlstone Center when another of Ben's cousins gets married in Baltimore, what a terrific facility that is! He will certainly join you there October 24th - 26th or any other weekend that turns out to be best for the group.We hope you are enjoying some well deserved R&R and look forward to Ben's continued involvement with his new friends at Panim.
With warmest regards,
Eileen and Bob

PS: Thank you for the Summer JAM blog site....it was a parent's dream come true and a chance for us to enjoy the program almost as much as Ben did!

Reunion!

Dear PANIM Summer Program Participant,

As the new PANIM Alumni Coordinator, I am looking forward to being in touch with you throughout the year. Please be in touch if you have any ideas about what you would like to see happen!

We are completing another fantastic summer of PANIM programs. This fall we are going to be trying something new…a reunion for all high school aged summer program alumni!

The reunion is tentatively scheduled for October 24-26, 2008 at Pearlstone Retreat and Conference Center in Reisterstown, MD. We want as many of you to attend as possible! Please reply to alumni@panim.org with one of the following statements:

__ I am so excited about the PANIM Summer Program Reunion on October 24-26, 2008 at Pearlstone Retreat and Conference Center in Reisterstown, MD. Send me an application right away!

__ I am so excited about a PANIM Summer Program Reunion, but I know that I am unable to make October 24-26. These are weekends that work better for me: ________________________________________________________________________________________________

__ I am not interested in a PANIM Summer Program Reunion, but I am interested in other ways of being a PANIM alum.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks,
Pamela
PANIM Alumni Coordinator/Summer JAM Assistant Director

And the final count is...

It’s been over a week since Summer JAM ended. But the PANIM office keeps on rockin’. There is lots of excitement here because we just counted all the tzedakah money that the Ba’Olam committee raised during the summer for the Save Darfur Coalition. After several fundraisers, including four weeks of Shabbat-o-grams (notes written to fellow participants on Shabbat), as well as an amazing Jukebox JAM diner, the Summer JAM community raised...$303!!!! I am incredibly elated with the amount of money we raised, but even more so, how much time and effort many students spent raising awareness around this cause. The genocide of Darfurians, as the participants learned this summer, is at the top of the social justice agenda. I hope that the students became even more engaged and will take further action to help make "Never Again" a reality in their home communities for Darfur and genocides around the world.

-Lani
JAM 2008 Mentor

A Whole New World

As sung by Jessica B and Nikki B during "The JAMies"

I can show you PANIM.
Shining, shimmering, AWESOME.
Tell me Shmuly now when
You last let us have free time?

I can open your eyes
Feed you cold cuts, and more cold cuts
Over, sideways, and under
On a magic metro ride

A whole new world
A new pluralistic community
No one to tell us no
Or how to pray
Or say we're only dreaming

A whole new city
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm at Hillel
It's crystal clear
That now I have a JAM-packed summer with you
Now I have a JAM-packed summer

Unbelievable classes
Indescribabke covenant groups
Soaring, tumbling, tikkun olam
Through an endless DC sky

A new new world
Don't you dare forget your binder
A hundred thousand lectures to hear
Hold your breath- someone has BO
I've come so far
I can't go back to New Jersey, California, or Ohio

The Staff is Talented!

As sung during "The JAMies" on 7/27/08 at 2:00 AM!

JAMers ’08 (to tune of American Pie)

A long, long time ago,
We can still remember,
How those cold cuts used to make you smile.
And we knew if you had the chance,
That you would make that Samuel dance,
And maybe you’d be happy for awhile.
But Toranut would make you quiver,
With every trash bag you’d deliver.
Spilled milk on the doorstep,
You couldn’t take one more step,
Said you cleaned up, but you lied,
Tiff went downstairs and looked inside,
Refrigerator smells like something died,
Oh well, I guess you tried.

So bye, bye, JAMers ’08,
Take the metro to the airport, hope your plane is not late.
Those good old days and all the meat that you ate,
Singin’ Summer JAM was really great!
Summer JAM 2008.

Getzel wrote the book on LOVE,
You’re not allowed on the floor above,
Cause Shmuly tells you so.
Chocolate milk may sound real good,
But do you -- really -- think you should?
Can you sneak back to your room real slow?
Well we saw her in the park with him,
And there’s a red-flagged couple in the gym,
Not supposed to be in twos,
We’ve got our eyes on you!
We have our own teenage lifeguard here,
So we’re all safe at JAM this year,
Departure time is drawing near,
It cannot be denied…

Bye, bye, JAMers ’08,
Take the metro to the airport, hope your plane is not late.
Those good old days and all the meat that you ate,
Singin’ Summer JAM was really great!
Summer JAM 2008.

So for four weeks you’ve been away from home,
Doing laundry on your own,
That’s not how it used to be.
When you shout to each other from your balcony,
The whole staff hears you so clearly,
As your voices echo through the street.
And while you’re out there looking down,
Pa-meh-la’s face turns to a frown,
You should have gone to bed,
But you stayed up all night instead.
And we biked to see DC landmarks,
We talked to God while in the park,
And you sang zmirot in the dark,
‘til we made you come inside…

Washington, DC in a summer swelter.
Your rooms looked like a fallout shelter
Clothes piled high and lots of snacks.
“Y’all Stink,” said Shmuly at a meal,
The experiences here were so surreal.
Four weeks -- they went by -- too fast.
Yoni filmed for PBS,
The scenes he’ll show we can only guess,
We all got up to dance,
Smooth Operator

We’re always singing,
Bye, bye, JAMers ’08,
Take the metro to the airport, hope your plane is not late.
Those good old days and all the meat that you ate,
Singin’ Summer JAM was really great!
Summer JAM 2008.

Jake was Obama, Nikki McCain,
Those GW ponchos for the rain,
Are you late for Hineini again?
The dance party was so exciting,
Complete with a unique candle-lighting,
Cause fire is Gavi’s special friend.

Oh, and as you watched poets on the stage
Your hands were clenched in fists of rage.
You all have thoughts to share,
So get the world to care.
The 5th floor partied every night,
We heard Scott laughing with delight
We watched Jake and Jeremy fight,
Who’s right? They can’t decide.

We were singing,
Bye, bye, JAMers ’08,
Take the metro to the airport, hope your plane is not late.
Those good old days and all the meat that you ate,
Singin’ Summer JAM was really great!
Summer JAM 2008.

I met a girl whose name was Lani,
And her husband or brother, we called him Ari,
Oh well, doesn’t matter anyway.
You fought to go to the CVS store
Can’t believe we met only weeks before,
But you’ll think of us, every da-a-ay...

And in the streets: Shabbas Koidesh screamed,
Sam’s Group cried, and the A-Team cleaned.
Commitments were all spoken;
The Ping Pong balls were broken.
And the things that we’ll remember most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost (THE WHAT?)
You’ll catch the last plane for the coast
JAM was quite the ride…

And we were singing,
Bye, bye, JAMers ’08,
Take the metro to the airport, hope your plane is not late.
Those good old days and all the meat that you ate,
Singin’ Summer JAM was really great!
Summer JAM 2008.

Join our singing,
Bye, bye, JAMers ’08,
Take the metro to the airport, hope your plane is not late.
Those good old days and all the meat that you ate,
Singin’ Summer JAM was really great!
Summer JAM 2008.

Exciting Day on the Hill

Today was an awesome day Capitol Hill. My class, poverty, started out by meeting with Drew Colbert from the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. I had to leave early though because I had to cross over from the Dirksen Senate Building to the Cannon House Building. I had a meeting with my Congresswoman at 11 am; unfortunately, Congresswoman Giffords was running very late and I had to reschedule from 2 pm. I left Giffords office at around 11:45 and headed to lunch with a family friend that works on the Hill. We ate at a restaurant that was recently opened by Spike, a contestant on Top Chef.

After lunch, I hung around and just explored the Hill. As I was walking, I saw a big group of people swarming around someone, almost like there was a celebrity. Guess what?! That’s exactly what it was, a celebrity! Richard Simmons to be exact. He had been advocating for more physical and health education in schools in a Congressional Hearing earlier on in the day. After sitting around with some of my friends, I finally went upstairs to Giffords’ office. Upon my arrival, Giffords’ scheduler took me and another person who was visitng Giffords down to an area of the Capitol which you can only reach with a staff member. To be honest, it was pretty awesome; we got to ride the train as well! Giffords’ scheduler took us to the same floor as the voting is conducted, we waited a few minutes for Giffords and finally she arrived! We sat inside a nice lounge and schmoozed for about ten minutes. We then decided to walk outside to take a picture in front of the dome. On our way out, Giffords ran into Arizona Senator Kyl. After having a quick political conversation, Giffords introduced Kyl to us- it was pretty awesome.

Overall, today was a very exciting day. I felt so independent because I knew to navigate myself on the Hill. Being in the center of the Government is an awesome feeling!

-Ariella F, JAM '08
Tuscon, AZ

Dinner Out on the Town

As the summer comes to an end, our covenant group time is also reaching its end. To celebrate our successes we went out to dinner with our covenant groups. A taste of the different restaurants Washington has to offer ranging from Nooshi to Cheesecake Factory and from Café Asia to Eli’s Kosher Deli. The food was outstanding and the company even better as we all laughed to the good times we’ve had this summer.

-Jeremy G, JAM ‘08
Deerfield, IL

Special Ed

Special education is becoming a focal point of the American education system. People with disabilities are demonstrating that they have the determination and ability to succeed in normal classrooms. Meeting with the GW special education department showed me the challenges that special education kids face. Also by listening to a panel of special education students that consisted of a legally blind student, an Iraq war veteran who suffered a head injury that has caused him to suffer from short term memory loss, and our own Samuel Konig who also has a case of learning disabilities. By listening to all these men’s stories I was able to get a better understanding of their daily struggles they face and the support system that they need to succeed. Overall it was a fantastic program that is very interesting.

-Jeremy G, JAM '08
Deerfield, IL