Press Release: New Scholars.

The Yoni Jesner Foundation is delighted to announce our Yoni Jesner Scholars for 2019-20: Nadia Goldman and Zahava Hill.

The Yoni Jesner Scholarship panel were extremely impressed with Nadia’s passionate commitment to her community as well as her intellectual approach to problem solving. When encountering the rising homelessness in Manchester, Nadia (an aspiring lawyer), turned to the law to see what rights homeless people had. Shocked to discover the limits of their protection, Nadia decided that ‘the issue needed a practical response and I created a glove drive for the homeless across Greater Manchester and educated primary school children on the significance of the “Homeless Catastrophe.’ Nadia’s compassion, intellect and engaging personality made our decision to appoint her as one of this year’s scholars very easy.

Zahava is an incredibly thoughtful individual who likes to grapple with and challenge modern dilemmas. We were impressed with her personal journey, her questioning mind and her commitment to both Modern Orthodoxy and Zionism. Her conduct during her interview with the YJ Scholarship panel really engaged us all and we could have carried on talking to her, hearing Zahava’s thoughts and ideas for much longer than the allocated time! Both candidates demonstrated a special kind of activism within their communities and evidence of excellence. Like Yoni, Nadia and Zahava combine a love of humanity, a passion for Judaism and commitment to Israel with an open-minded and tolerant outlook. We wish them both all the success for their coming year in Israel.

Nadia Goldman

My name is Nadia Goldman and I am truly humbled to receive the Yoni Jesner scholarship 2019-2020.

I am currently studying History, English Literature, Philosophy and Ethics at Yavneh High School Manchester, and I am so excited to spend the coming year in Midreshet Harova through Torani in Yerushalayim. Upon my return from Midreshet, I plan to study Law at the University of Birmingham which is largely driven by my intellectual excitement and equally important in my motivation, is my deep personal commitment to help the vulnerable in society. This year I investigated the laws which protect the Homeless during the severe winter weather and after discovering the lack of protective legislations, I realised the issue needed a practical response and created a glove drive for the Homeless across Greater Manchester and educated primary school children on the significance of the “Homeless Catastrophe.” I have always been involved in Bnei Akiva, which has made me feel a deep connection with Yoni sharing the same ideologies. Recently I took on a new project to ensure the continuity of Bnei Akiva in Manchester, an opportunity that allows me to keep giving back to the movement living by Yoni’s principal to “always give.”

Spending a gap year in Yerushalayim will ignite a deep connection with our country allowing me to feel the very pulse of how Israel exists and I look forward to the voluntary work I can do whilst I’m away. Having the ability to live where our ancestors did rather than merely a place to visit and appreciate Israeli culture on an everyday basis is a privilege and I am thankful to be able to live there for the year. After spending a year in Israel, I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm for Judaism and Israel to the wider community.

There is no doubt in my mind that Yoni Jesner possessed an unrivalled sense of altruism, something that I aspire to replicate in my own inter-personal relations. His diligent, selfless, and compassionate nature during his short time with us, motivates me to adopt similar characteristics within my own being.

I feel truly honoured and fortunate to have the opportunity to continue Yoni’s legacy and I am hugely grateful to the Yoni Jesner foundation who enabled me to have this opportunity.

Rabbi Benjy Rickman, King David High School

Her love for humanity is shared in equal measure with a desire to learn more; Nadia’s natural intellect and inquisitive nature has made her an extraordinary individual both in the classroom and the community. Her generosity is made evident by the extensive volunteering such as her work in Soup Kitchens, packaging food for Gift, visiting people in hospital on Shabbat, and visiting the elderly. Her mentality is “makes a difference” the compassion she shows for others, along with her commitment and attitude, allows her to consistently deliver excellence.

Zahava Hill

I currently attend Hasmonean where I study English Literature, Media Studies, and Politics. Next year I am planning to attend Midreshet Harova on the Bnei Akiva Torani Programme. This will, Be’ezrat Hashem, be followed by completing my national service in Israel, and then making aliyah. I then would ideally like to become a tour guide for Poland trips and Israel tours, enabling me to share my love of Israel and passion for chinuch [education].

During my time in Hasmonean I have been involved with various initiatives centred around topics such as mental health, Israel and feminism. The social action work I have been involved with has included fundraising and raising awareness for the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People). This charity is close to my heart as they aim to support visually impaired people such as myself.

My passions include photography, writing, and film-making. Over the past few years I have developed a small photography business which has enabled me to work with some great charities such as JAMI, JNetics, and PaJes.

Being granted this incredible scholarship means so much to me as learning in the zechut of Yoni, someone who held such meaningful and powerful values, is a constant reminder of why our culture and land is so important to us.

Similarly to Yoni, I too am the youngest sibling in my family, am passionate about Israel and Judaism as well as love being involved with hadracha and youth groups. However, the level of warmth, thoughtfulness and humility displayed by Yoni are traits that not only inspire me but make me so incredibly thankful to have been awarded this amazing scholarship and opportunity in the zechut of Yoni.

Rafi Cohen, Bnei Akiva

I first got to know her as her Madrich on Bnei Akiva Machane and recently had the incredible experience of seeing her in the role of a Madricha, an experience which gave me a huge amount of Nachat! In the intervening years her character and outlook have solidified into a passionate, idealistic, self-motivated, no-nonsense attitude. She is an incredible Madricha, going above and beyond in every area, dedicating time and effort to the Chanichim, covering for others when they were overwhelmed. She has always faced any challenges thrown her way without a word of complaint and with her head held high.

The Yoni Jesner Foundation is delighted to announce our Yoni Jesner Scholars for 2018-2019: Tsipporah Lax and Avishai Marcus.  Together, they represent key aspects of both Yoni’s personality and the criteria for the Yoni Jesner Scholars.

The Yoni Jesner Scholarship panel were extremely impressed with Tsipporah’s deep commitment to learning and her community, her ability to push herself out of her comfort zone to enhance her voluntary commitments as well as her great strength of character, compsure and thoughtful nature.  She is an inspiring role model for others, particularly as she is a naturally shy personality.

Avishai’s works across a wide spectrum of the Jewish community through his work with Maccabi Football showing a true commitment to the UK Jewish community as well as a tolerant and inclusive approach. He is dedicated to Modern Orthodoxy and is engaging, confident and thoughtful.

Both candidates demonstrated a special kind of activism within their communities and evidence of excellence. Like Yoni, Tsipporah and Avishai combine a love of humanity, a passion for Judaism and commitment to Israel with an open-minded and tolerant outlook. We wish them both all the success for their coming year in Israel.

Under One Roof - Yoni’s Global Sukkah.

This year, Under One Roof – Yoni’s Global Sukkah was inspired by one of Yoni’s quotes: ‘Every human being is beautiful.’ We developed activities and resources that participants could use in their homes, schools and synagogues.

We were delighted that so many people around the world joined us to take part in the third year of Under One Roof. People gathered in sukkahs, schools, synagogues and homes spending time remembering Yoni and thinking about what ‘Every Human Being is Beautiful’ means to them.

Two primary schools, Moriah Jewish Day School and Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School took part and encouraged their pupils to think about their inner beauty, have a look at the beautiful displays the schools created.

As well as lots of events in the UK, Marsha Gladstone, Yoni’s mum, joined friends in Tel Aviv for a memorable evening celebrating Yoni. Alex Waiman, the event organiser said: ‘It fills me with such warmth to have this opportunity to talk about Yoni and tell stories of him and have him return to our lives, it only for the briefest moment. Yoni lives on in all our lives. He touched us all so profoundly and I consider myself lucky to call him my friend.’

Thank you to all of those who took part.

Community Organisations Join Chief Rabbi To Congratulate Yoni Jesner Award Recipients

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis stood before a packed auditorium and told the crowd how humbled he was by the thousands of hours of good deeds collectively achieved by every winner of the Yoni Jesner Awards 2017; the acts of kindness award for 11-13 year olds, powered through JLGB’s evolve initiative.

Chief Rabbi Mirvis said:

“Being kind and volunteering is just not a policy to have in life but rather something that genuinely flows from your hearts and that is why the Yoni Jesner Awards are so precious within our community. It was so moving for me to hear Marsha Gladstone’s address to see members of the Jesner family here this evening, and to recognize the connection with JLGB.”

Since the launch of the Yoni Jesner Awards in 2014, over 2000 young people have contributed a phenomenal 25,000 hours of volunteering for charities and good causes across the UK, with 17 schools and youth groups taking part nationally.

Powered by JLGB, in partnership with the Yoni Jesner Foundation, the award honours the memory of Yoni Jesner, a passionate volunteer from Glasgow who was tragically killed in a bus bomb in Tel Aviv in 2002, at just 19 years of age. This October marks 15 years since Yoni’s death, so it is especially poignant that Yoni’s twin nieces, Chloe and Leora Jesner, the first in the next generation of Jesners, participated in the award this year. Following in their uncle’s footsteps both girls went the extra mile completing not only the 20 hour award but also the 50 hour plus award.

Chloe and Leora are among the hundreds of young people who have completed the Yoni Jesner award and other national achievement awards through evolve, JLGB’s youth volunteering and skills initiative. The evolve digital platform allows young people to search for youth friendly volunteering opportunities in their local area that matches their skills and interests, in addition to tracking their achievements all in one place. As young people progress through the school years they can record their volunteering experiences on evolve and complete other nationally recognised awards and accreditations,including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, vInspired awards and Open College Network accreditations.

To mark the 15^th anniversary new branding was unveiled to represent the Yoni Jesner Award and its new digital and interactive look. The simple but extremely recognisable re-appropriated peace sign uses the 2 raised fingers to symbolise the achievement of 20 hours while subtly incorporating a Y and J to encourage participation and create a vibrant, modern and youthful aesthetic.

Marsha Gladstone, the mother of Yoni, who set up the Yoni Jesner Foundation, said:

“You are giving your own time, and you’re giving with your heart, and those hours of time and that caring from the heart are more precious than anything. That is why I am so proud of you, and so proud to associate Yoni’s name with this project, because this way of giving is truly what Yoni was all about. It’s a particularly special and meaningful year for us as a family, with Leora and Chloe being the very first of my grandchildren to do the Yoni Jesner Award. This year is also extra special because we are introducing our new Yoni Jesner Foundation branding, it’s amazing how such a simple logo can convey so much.”

Neil Martin OBE, JLGB Chief Executive said:

“I think these inspirational young people who have achieved the award show our entire community the power of Yoni’s values and that our future is very much safe in their hands. We look forward to supporting them on to the next step in their evolve journey by taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. We are truly grateful to the Yoni Jesner Foundation for their partnership, which keeps the memory of Yoni Jesner alive and inspires thousands of young people to do more and give more.”

During the evening, Sam Clifford, Director of the Yoni Jesner Foundation, announced this year’s Yoni Jesner Scholar as Rachel Cooklin. The award will enable the 18-year-old head girl from Yavneh College in Borehamwood to spend a year in Israel, before heading to Birmingham University to study history.

Next year’s Yoni Jesner Awards will launch after Sukkot. If you or your child is in school years 7 or 8, now is a great time to sign up at www.jlgb.org/yonijesner