Maharat’s 14th Annual Semikha Ceremony
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
25 Sivan 5786
5:30 pm EDT Reception, 7:00 pm EDT Ceremony
Bronx, NY
Meet Our 2026 Semikha Students
Karolyn Benger
Karolyn Benger
Karolyn Benger was the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council in Phoenix and served as the Executive Director of the Jewish Interest Free Loan in Atlanta. She is a graduate of Emory University with a degree in Political Science and a specialization in the Middle East where she studied Arab and Islamist opposition groups in Egypt. Karolyn has taught at Emory University, Georgia Tech, and Emerson College. Her love of Judaism, combined with her love of teaching and social justice, led her to join Maharat. You can find her writings in the Arizona Republic, eJewishPhilanthropy, Blue Avocado, The Times of Israel, and Bina. Karolyn is a board member of the Arizona Interfaith Movement, serving as the Vice President of Education. She also serves on the Jewish Advisory Board for the Phoenix Police Department, was a member of the Valley Interfaith Project’s 3rd Monseigneur Ryle Public Policy Faith Leader Institute, and a mentor in the Women’s Leadership Institute.
Writings
Chana Borow
Chana Borow
Chana Borow has a master’s in Jewish Education and a BA in History, and she currently serves as a Pulpit Intern at Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel in Chicago and Program Assistant at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. Her experience includes teaching Middle School and High School Tanakh, Talmud and Jewish history at multiple institutions including the Abraham Joshua Heschel School. Chana specializes in making traditional Jewish texts accessible while fostering inclusive community spaces.
Writings
Ilana Gimpelevich
Ilana Gimpelevich
Ilana Gimpelevich is a lifelong learner and educator, always open to new fields of knowledge. Originally from Kishinev, Moldova, she holds a BA in Biochemistry (YU) and a Masters in Structural Biology (NYU). She is a founding member of New Toco Shul in Atlanta, GA, where she chaired the Childcare Committee. Ilana homeschooled her children and was an invited speaker at Torah Home Educators’ Conference. Additionally, she organized local Jewish homeschoolers while actively participating at the Atlanta Homeschool Cooperative. While living in Richmond, Ilana was involved in adult programming at Kenesseth Beth Israel. She started an innovative multigenerational program, Oreg, which combines her two passions of hands-on craftsmanship with Torah learning. She is a blogger and a writer, having published at Hevria and Nshei magazines. Ilana teaches a variety of community classes on Jewish topics, and her hobbies include reading, baking, sewing, quilting, knitting and crocheting, and painting.
Writings
Shoshana Jakobovits
Shoshana Jakobovits
Shoshana loves texts, people and where the two meet. After studying at Ein haNatziv, Hadar and the Center for Modern Torah Leadership, she has come to Yeshivat Maharat to deepen her study of halacha.
Shoshana lives in Zurich, Switzerland with her spouse and their two children. She serves the Jews of her native Switzerland by teaching in adult education settings, high school students in an after-school program as well as tutoring b’not-mitzvah to lein Megilah and Torah.
Shoshana holds a bachelor’s in Physics from EPFL and a master’s in Computational Science & Engineering from ETH Zurich and when she’s not in the Beit Midrash, she works as a software engineer for Google DeepMind.
Writings
Sarah Pincus
Sarah Pincus
When she’s not in the beit midrash, Sarah Pincus is the clergy fellow at Bnai David-Judea Congregation in Los Angeles, rabbinic intern for Columbia graduate students through Columbia/Barnard Hillel, and supports women in the final steps of their conversion process. She previously served as the congregational intern at Congregation Orach Chaim on the Upper East Side and worked with high school and college students through the Shalom Hartman Institute. Before attending Maharat, she taught and held administrative positions in a variety of educational settings including Camp Stone, Friendship Circle, the Genesis Program at Brandeis University, the Drisha Institute, and the Maimonides School. Sarah also spent a few years working doing community organizing and political advocacy. Sarah studied at Midreshet Lindenbaum after high school, Sarah attended Binghamton University where she earned a BA in Politics, Philosophy & Law, and a master’s in Public Administration. Sarah completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education through New York Presbyterian Hospital. Sarah lives on the Upper West Side and can be found scouting out cute coffee shops and exploring different neighborhoods in the city.
Writings
Chanchkie Slavin
Chanchkie Slavin
Chanchkie Slavin is a passionate teacher and lifelong learner and part of the spiritual leadership team in Chabad Malvern. She spends her days working to foster a sense of community and Jewish pride in the younger generation and their families through her role as Director of the Early Learning Centre, teacher, and pastoral guide. She takes inspiration from the Torah, Jewish mysticism, rituals, customs, and songs that were such a vital part of her Chasidic upbringing and is committed to incorporating these into modern day life. She is a deeply spiritual person, who strongly believes that education and learning are the most powerful key to growth, self-actualisation, and to affecting change in society at large.
Writings
Ariel Wolgel
Ariel Wolgel
As an educator, artist, and spiritual seeker, Ariel Wogel is passionate about exploring the Torah’s wisdom on the complexity of human experience. Having learned and worked in diverse Jewish communities, Ariel centers all of her experiences around a deep pursuit of meaningful connection. She completed a certificate program through the Shay Center for Moral Injury & Soul Repair. For her capstone project, Ariel developed a Healing Toolkit to guide Rabbis in supporting those seeking care from moral injury. Ariel received her MA in Jewish Education from Hebrew College and is a graduate of the Pardes Educators Program, where she developed her interest in the intersection of learning and creative expression. Ariel taught Jewish studies at the Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit, guided new teachers in reflective teaching practices as a mentor for the Pardes Jewish Studies Teacher training program, and has facilitated personalized learning programs for Bat Mitzvah students. As Hasidah’s Resource and Support Coordinator, Ariel developed programs for Jewish people experiencing infertility, focusing on how Judaism can nurture those navigating the struggles of growing their family. As an Atiq Maker Kollel fellow, Ariel created an inquiry-based art installation. Ariel currently serves as the Youth Director for Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob and Kol Sasson congregations in Skokie, IL. Having revived the youth program, she now provides multiple pathways for the community to connect meaningfully to Torah and Jewish life as Skokie Valley’s Director of Experiential Learning and Rabbinic Intern.
Writings
Recognizing Ann & Jeremy Pava
Jeremy Pava, Chairman of Micah Philanthropies, is a businessman, communal leader, and philanthropist. Ann Pava, President of Micah Philanthropies, is an activist, philanthropist, and thought leader. Together, their philanthropy has focused on supporting organizations and programs which make the timeless teachings and practices of traditional Judaism more relevant, accessible, and meaningful.