🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Emma Steinhause! Emma, a student at the University of Maryland, has shown exceptional leadership in addressing rising antisemitism, advocating for Jewish students, and fostering a climate of inclusivity. She played a key role in opposing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement on her campus, educating peers on its connections to antisemitism, and mobilizing support to ensure the voices of Jewish students were heard. From organizing the Israel Fest and vigils to hosting town halls and dialogues with other student groups, Emma’s leadership amid crisis and commitment to fostering empathy have made her a trusted and influential leader on campus.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Olivia Raykhman! Olivia, a senior at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, emerged as an advocate of the Jewish military community. She leads the Jewish Chapel club as its President, serves as the vice-chair of the Israel Leadership Network through Hillel International, is a captain for the Cyber Policy Team and the cadet leader of the Combating Terrorism Center. She was instrumental in organizing numerous events across the campus to foster support and awareness of the Jewish community. Notable events coordinated by Olivia include an October 7th remembrance vigil and an inter-service gathering of Jewish students.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Abby Mehr! Abby, a student at The Ohio State University, led her campus community in the aftermath of October 7th as Co-President of OSU Hillel. Abby actively addressed antisemitism by meeting with university administrators, reporting incidents, and developing resources to support Jewish students. She has organized community vigils, interfaith dinners, and solidarity events, and gives tours of Hillel to students in Comparative Religion classes. Despite facing significant antisemitism in her public role, Abby displayed courage in her commitment to community outreach, peer leadership, and advocacy.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Alon Liubovitch! Alon, a student at Wilcox High School in California, is the founder and first president of his school’s Jewish Student Union (JSU), where he organizes events to promote Jewish culture. When he faced antisemitic comments and threats, Alon advocated for his peers by collaborating with the school administration to provide support. Soon, he found himself speaking at city council meetings, participating in educational panels on antisemitism, and publishing articles to promote understanding. Alon’s leadership, advocacy, and resilience helped create a safer and more inclusive environment at his school.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Wesley Seidner! Wesley, a student at Oakton High School in Virginia, combats antisemitism by honoring Jewish pride and challenging biased systems. Despite an increase in threats and harassment after the October 7th attacks, Wesley proudly wore a yarmulke to school, revitalized the Jewish Students Association, and authored a book on Jewish baseball players. He used his voice to challenge curriculum inaccuracies and took legal action against the district for failing to protect Jewish students. Wesley’s bravery has inspired his peers, teachers, and elected officials, establishing him as a prominent advocate for the rights of Jewish students.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Traci Greenberg! Traci, an elementary school teacher from Connecticut, has gone above and beyond to combat antisemitism in her community. Following increased antisemitic incidents, she recognized the need to gather in person and online. Traci spearheaded initiatives such as the town’s first menorah lighting and a “We Will Dance Again” unity event. She also advocates and organizes to respond to antisemitic controversies and incidents in her town. With her husband, Rabbi Jason Greenberg, Traci performs in a Jewish puppet show that fosters understanding and joy among children and adults alike. Through her commitment to lifting her community and using her voice for change, Traci is a shining example of the positive impact one person can make.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Luc Bernard! Luc, Founder and Executive Director of Voices of the Forgotten, is a game creator and director dedicated to using gaming to educate and disrupt stereotypes. Recognizing that most people do not have access to a traditional Holocaust museum where they live, Luc believed that developing an interactive and educational experience about the Holocaust offered a creative and accessible way to reach a broader audience. “The Light in the Darkness,” which follows the journey of a French Jewish family during the Holocaust, has been completed by more than 1.5 million people globally. Luc also launched the “Anne Frank’s Young Voices” program, which allows students to create their own digital Holocaust museums and share stories from the Shoah. With this innovative approach, Luc hopes not only to combat antisemitism but to reduce hate and foster understanding.

RT @paleycenter: Congratulations to @LucBernard and his recognition as an honoree by @shinealight_on this year in the Game Designer categor…

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Aviva Schecterson! Aviva Schecterson has been a professional game designer in the games industry for almost 10 years and is a crucial advocate for Jewish game developers navigating the growing challenges of antisemitism in the gaming industry. In response to rising online hostility, she was instrumental in revitalizing a community platform that provides support, solidarity, and comfort to Jewish creators. Through her work with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Special Interest Group for Jewish Game Developers, Aviva has provided guidance, hosted educational events, and facilitated roundtable discussions offering actionable solutions and educational resources to address antisemitism in the industry. Her proactive leadership has helped foster a safer and more inclusive environment for Jewish professionals in gaming.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Daniel Campbell! Daniel, a middle school educator in Florida, is a compassionate leader in Holocaust and human rights education. Through storytelling, survivor testimonies, and interactive tools like the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum virtual tour, Daniel helps his students connect deeply with historical events. Compelled to address a significant rise in antisemitism in his community, Daniel’s classroom emphasizes open dialogue and cultural understanding and empowers students to combat hate. Recognized with the Outstanding Holocaust Educator Award from Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Holocaust and Human Rights, Daniel ensures that the lessons of the Holocaust inspire future generations to uphold empathy and tolerance.

RT @esjeducation: The @ShineALight_On Antisemitism initiative announced the 19 winners of its 2024 Civic Courage Award. This award recogniz…

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Shana Dworken! Shana, a high school educator in New York City, is a steadfast champion against rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism in New York City Public Schools. Through her leadership in the NYCPS Alliance, a group of NYC public school teachers speaking out against antisemitism, Shana ensured that the community’s concerns affected real change. Her efforts ultimately helped shape the Department of Education’s “Meeting the Moment” plan. From speaking at the White House on a UJA panel about inclusive classrooms to organizing peer educators for a press conference on systemic antisemitism in schools to engaging directly with the Chancellor and his team, Shana’s voice and leadership make her a beacon of hope in challenging times.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Heidi Meyer! Heidi, a dedicated educator at Elmwood High School in rural Ohio, is an inspiring advocate for diversity, inclusion, and Holocaust education. Witnessing increased incidents of racism and cultural insensitivity in her school, she partnered with the Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo to organize staff training. She brought diverse community speakers to educate students. She has coordinated visits from Holocaust survivors, facilitated field trips to Holocaust museums, and arranged for students to learn about Judaism directly from local community leaders. Heidi’s unwavering commitment to combating ignorance with knowledge and fostering empathy exemplifies her passion for creating a more inclusive and compassionate school environment.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Dean Luis Inoa! As an associate dean at Vassar College, Dean Inoa has demonstrated exceptional dedication to combating antisemitism and fostering inclusion for Jewish and Zionist students. Recognizing that genuine support of Jewish students would require a more complex personal understanding, Dean Inoa pursued extensive professional development, attending the Brandeis University Presidential Initiative to Combat Antisemitism and workshops with the Academic Engagement Network. In Fall 2023, he took decisive action when hostage posters were ripped down and issued campus-wide statements condemning harassment and discrimination to address antisemitism and anti-Israel prejudice. His daily meetings with Jewish students led over twenty-five Jewish students at Vassar to thank him formally for his unwavering support and leadership. Dean Inoa’s moral clarity and allyship directly contributed to a safer, more welcoming environment at Vassar College.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Dr. Steven Roth! Dr. Roth, a tenured faculty member at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, has become a powerful force for combating antisemitism in higher education and the medical profession. Following the October 7th attacks, Dr. Roth took immediate action, working closely with UIC administrators to address the campus climate. He helped establish and served as the first faculty advisor of the Jewish Medical Students’ Association and undergraduate Jewish Student Union. Dr. Roth leads the Illinois chapter of the American Jewish Medical Association, where he is head of the Publications Committee, and produces extensive scholarship on antisemitism in the U.S. medical system. From supporting students to advocating for policy change to fighting antisemitism within academia, Dr. Roth’s leadership has advanced structural change that will empower Jewish students, faculty, and medical professionals for many years.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Dr. Devin Randolph! Dr. Randolph is a professor at the University of South Carolina, leader at the Anne Frank Center, and founding Director of Voorhees University’s Institute for Social and Environmental Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion. He is a driving force in combating antisemitism and fostering inclusivity at the university level. In collaboration with Rabbi Dr. Meir Muller, Dr. Randolph co-taught a transformative course examining antisemitism and anti-Black racism; their work exemplifies a powerful model of intergroup allyship, honoring Jewish and African American narratives to combat hate. Dr. Randolph’s innovative partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities helped revitalize Black-Jewish alliances. In the fall of 2024, he launched a groundbreaking course exploring the support of Black civil rights leaders for Zionism and the role of HBCUs in providing refuge to Jewish professors fleeing Nazi Germany. His pioneering and collaborative approach to education promotes empathy, inspires allyship, and leaves a lasting impact.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Rabbi Dr. Meir Muller! Rabbi Dr. Muller, Associate Dean of Democracy, Education, and Inclusivity at the University of South Carolina, is a trailblazing leader in combating antisemitism and fostering mutual understanding within academia. In collaboration with Dr. Devin Randolph, Rabbi Dr. Muller co-taught a ground-breaking course that explored the complex intersections between antisemitism and anti-Black racism. Together, they led workshops at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) focusing on Judaism, Black-Jewish alliances, and antisemitism. Whether hosting a program on kashrut and halal, Jewish and Islamic dietary laws, to initiate dialogue or working with the Jewish Faculty and Staff Council to address critical gaps in understanding Jewish identity and history, Rabbi Dr. Muller embodies a commitment to the transformative power of education through bridge building.

RT @JewishTweets: Feeling inspired learning about these students and educators who just received the @ShineALight_On Award for transforming…

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Dan Hadad! Dan is the founder of Queers Against Antisemitism (QAA), powered by A Wider Bridge, a vital initiative dedicated to addressing discrimination within LGBTQ+ spaces. Emerging as a response to rising antisemitism exacerbated by groups like “Queers for Palestine,” Dan’s innovative efforts have fostered a diverse and vibrant community that amplifies the voices of queer Jews and allies while advocating for solidarity and justice. His advocacy and community building are transforming the landscape of queer activism by ensuring visibility, representation, and unity for queer Jews.

🔦 Meet #ShineaLight Winner Lani Anpo! Lani is a self-identified Indijewnous advocate, educator, content creator, and artist. Her unique identity as a multi-tribal Native American Jew has made her a strong and respected voice for both Indigenous and Jewish communities in standing against antisemitism and hate. Through education, dialogue, and solidarity, Lani emphasizes the interconnected struggles of marginalized groups. Whether speaking on educational panels or using social media to spread awareness, she has played a key role in keeping the stories of Israeli women at the forefront of the conversation. She proudly supports the #IBelieveIsraeliWomen campaign and links the experiences of Indigenous and Israeli women to combating violence and oppression. Lani’s courageous efforts promote cultural resilience, fight bigotry, and bridge gaps between communities.