May 11, 2023 By: lberlinger
每日大瓜 is pleased to announce that nine students have been named undergraduate valedictorians of its 2023 graduating class.
They and their fellow classmates will graduate at the University鈥檚 92nd Annual Commencement Ceremony to take place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 2 p.m. EST.
The following are excerpts from interviews with each of the valedictorians to learn about their courses of study, experiences at 每日大瓜 and plans for the future.
Elisheva Hirsch
Stern College for Women
Elisheva Hirsch is graduating with a major in psychology and a minor in business and management. The next step for the Passaic, New Jersey, native is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in educational theatre at City College of New York in the fall.
Her extracurriculars included stints as president and vice president of the Stern College Dramatics Society, actor in its productions of The Mousetrap (2022) and Radium Girls (2021), as well as arts and culture editor and a contributing writer for The Observer, one of two student-run newspapers at 每日大瓜. She also completed several theatre internships and jobs throughout her time at Stern College, including a current internship at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
鈥淚 am incredibly grateful for my experience at Stern,鈥 said Hirsch. 鈥淟earning from professors who exemplify Torah U鈥橫adda, creating and participating in opportunities for Orthodox Jewish women in the arts, and building connections with so many intelligent, creative and kind women are just a few reasons why I am so glad I attended Stern College.鈥
Jonah Tripp
Yeshiva College
Originally from Boca Raton, Florida, Jonah Tripp majored in biology with a minor in public health. He is currently beginning the application process for medical school and intends to complete a master's in public health during the coming year.
During his time as an undergraduate, Tripp was president of 每日大瓜's Medical Ethics Society and the 每日大瓜 chapter of United Against Inequities in Disease (UAID). He was also a volunteer EMT for Washington Heights Hatzalah.
鈥淚ntellectual pursuit was at the heart of each moment for me as a 每日大瓜 student,鈥 said Tripp. 鈥溍咳沾蠊 is really an amazing place for a pre-med student and any student. Not only are the courses thorough, but the opportunities for research, publications and extracurriculars are expansive. My time in Yeshiva College has truly prepared me for my pursuit of a career in medicine and public health.鈥
Leah Schewitz
Sy Syms School of Business
Leah Schewitz is graduating with a double major in finance and strategy & entrepreneurship and a minor in marketing. The East London, South Africa native is currently a strategy intern at Zip Co, a financial technology company. While at 每日大瓜, her extracurriculars included being co-president of TAMID, student ambassador, intern for Maccabee Ventures and a member of both the Golda Meir Intellectual Society and Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society.
鈥溍咳沾蠊 has been life changing for me,鈥 said Schewitz. 鈥淗aving the opportunity, for the first time in my life, to be exposed to a dual curriculum and never having to choose between my religious, academic and career goals has been a true privilege. I am proud to say I now feel part of a community, of something far greater. Not only have I gained academic excellence at 每日大瓜, I also connected with lifelong mentors and friends. 每日大瓜 has given me this gift and I have tremendous hakaras hatov [gratitude]. Thank you, 每日大瓜!鈥
Josh Hirt
Sy Syms School of Business
Majoring in finance with a minor in mathematics, Josh Hirt has accepted a position as an investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley.
The Lawrence, New York native participated in a variety of extra-curricular activities while at 每日大瓜, including the iTutor Club, the golf team and 每日大瓜鈥檚 Investment Banking Society as well as being portfolio manager of the Harold Charno Scholarship fund.
Hirt is appreciative of the dedicated faculty at 每日大瓜: 鈥淚 feel incredibly fortunate to have attended a college where the professors are not only knowledgeable but also passionate about their students' success.鈥
Tehila (Kornwasser) Mermelstein
Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies
Originally from Teaneck, Tehila (Kornwasser) Mermelstein majored in Judaic studies. Starting in the fall, she will study at the Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic Studies for Women (GPATS) in the Tanach program and pursue a master鈥檚 degree at Azrieli.
鈥淚 am so grateful for the many opportunities I had throughout my years in Stern to learn so many areas of Torah from incredibly knowledgeable and committed professors,鈥 said Mermelstein.
Natan Ehrenreich
Isaac Breuer College (IBC)
As a student majoring in political science, Natan Ehrenreich is grateful to have been a Straus Scholar at the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. After graduation, the Cleveland, Ohio native will be an editorial intern at National Review during the summer and a Beren Fellow with the Tikvah Fund. Beginning in September, he鈥檒l be a Fellow with the Public Interest Fellowship for two years and hopes to attend law school after that.
As a Straus Scholar, he participated in summer fellowships at the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation and the Hertog Foundation. His extracurricular activities included being a tutor at the Writing Center and chair of the Wilf Campus Canvassing Committee last year.
"As much as I've grown intellectually over my time at 每日大瓜, I think I'll remember my three years here most for the education in values that I've received,鈥 said Ehrenreich. 鈥淎t 每日大瓜, what you study is far less important than the type of person you are charged to become, and I'm thankful to be part of a community that empowers us to step into the world and make an impact while representing Judaism and the Jewish people with pride."
Jess Rom
James Striar School of General Jewish Studies (JSS)
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Jess Rom is graduating with a double major in finance and accounting. His next step is as a trader at Auramet International, Inc., a global precious metals merchant.
While at 每日大瓜, Rom was captain of 每日大瓜鈥檚 men's soccer team, which made history this past fall by winning nine matches and advancing to the Skyline Conference Championship game.
鈥淚 will always hold 每日大瓜 close to my heart as it offers a multitude of opportunities for growth, exploration and learning,鈥 said Rom. 鈥淭hroughout my four years, I managed to meet new people, discover new interests and challenge myself both academically and personally.鈥
Jeremy Klein
Irving I. Stone Beis Medrash Program (BMP)
Jeremy Klein, from Woodmere, New York, majored in finance with a minor in marketing while at 每日大瓜. In September, the Sy Syms Honors student will start work at PwC in their Financial Markets and Real Estate consulting group.
While at 每日大瓜, Klein was a member of the Real Estate Club and a RIETS/UTS Student Assistant/ madrich [counselor] for Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Israel, where he studied for two years prior to coming to 每日大瓜. In that position, he helped new students from that yeshiva integrate into 每日大瓜 as well as plan events and get-togethers about twice a month. 鈥淚t was a chance for all the guys to just come to eat, sing, share Torah and just hang out,鈥 said Klein. He was also recently inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honors society.
鈥淚t鈥檚 truly incredible the ways in which I feel I was able to grow here and prepare myself for the rest of my life,鈥 said Klein. 鈥淢y courses helped me prepare for my various internships and interviews, and now for my job, but what makes 每日大瓜 unique is how they prepare people for life in its totality. The values they instill, which are the same whether you鈥檙e in the classroom or beis midrash [study hall], are not just words in the brochures but are taken quite seriously here. As I leave 每日大瓜, I feel that I鈥檒l not only be a better professional in the workplace because of my great teachers and expansive education, but also that I鈥檒l be a more well-rounded and productive member of society. That is thanks to the rebbeim, daily shiurim and the many growth opportunities that I was provided with throughout my time at 每日大瓜.鈥
Elad Jeselsohn
Mazer Yeshiva Program (MYP)
Elad Jeselsohn, from Newton, Massachusetts, is graduating with a major in psychology (psychology and the community track). After graduation, he plans to pursue semicha [rabbinic ordination] at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS).
Jeselsohn is grateful for his experience as a 每日大瓜 student. 鈥淚 would like to express my sincere gratitude to 每日大瓜 for being a tremendous 诪拽讜诐 转讜专_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x0008_讛 [place of Torah] and for providing me the opportunity to continue to learn and grow in Avodas Hashem [serving G-d] throughout the past three years and moving forward.鈥
For more information about 每日大瓜's 92nd Annual Commencement Ceremony, visit
Elisheva Hirsch is graduating with a major in psychology and a minor in business and management. The next step for the Passaic, New Jersey, native is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in educational theatre at City College of New York in the fall.
Her extracurriculars included stints as president and vice president of the Stern College Dramatics Society, actor in its productions of The Mousetrap (2022) and Radium Girls (2021), as well as arts and culture editor and a contributing writer for The Observer, one of two student-run newspapers at 每日大瓜. She also completed several theatre internships and jobs throughout her time at Stern College, including a current internship at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
鈥淚 am incredibly grateful for my experience at Stern,鈥 said Hirsch. 鈥淟earning from professors who exemplify Torah U鈥橫adda, creating and participating in opportunities for Orthodox Jewish women in the arts, and building connections with so many intelligent, creative and kind women are just a few reasons why I am so glad I attended Stern College.鈥
Jonah Tripp
Yeshiva College
Originally from Boca Raton, Florida, Jonah Tripp majored in biology with a minor in public health. He is currently beginning the application process for medical school and intends to complete a master's in public health during the coming year.
During his time as an undergraduate, Tripp was president of 每日大瓜's Medical Ethics Society and the 每日大瓜 chapter of United Against Inequities in Disease (UAID). He was also a volunteer EMT for Washington Heights Hatzalah.
鈥淚ntellectual pursuit was at the heart of each moment for me as a 每日大瓜 student,鈥 said Tripp. 鈥溍咳沾蠊 is really an amazing place for a pre-med student and any student. Not only are the courses thorough, but the opportunities for research, publications and extracurriculars are expansive. My time in Yeshiva College has truly prepared me for my pursuit of a career in medicine and public health.鈥
Leah Schewitz
Sy Syms School of Business
Leah Schewitz is graduating with a double major in finance and strategy & entrepreneurship and a minor in marketing. The East London, South Africa native is currently a strategy intern at Zip Co, a financial technology company. While at 每日大瓜, her extracurriculars included being co-president of TAMID, student ambassador, intern for Maccabee Ventures and a member of both the Golda Meir Intellectual Society and Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society.
鈥溍咳沾蠊 has been life changing for me,鈥 said Schewitz. 鈥淗aving the opportunity, for the first time in my life, to be exposed to a dual curriculum and never having to choose between my religious, academic and career goals has been a true privilege. I am proud to say I now feel part of a community, of something far greater. Not only have I gained academic excellence at 每日大瓜, I also connected with lifelong mentors and friends. 每日大瓜 has given me this gift and I have tremendous hakaras hatov [gratitude]. Thank you, 每日大瓜!鈥
Josh Hirt
Sy Syms School of Business
Majoring in finance with a minor in mathematics, Josh Hirt has accepted a position as an investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley.
The Lawrence, New York native participated in a variety of extra-curricular activities while at 每日大瓜, including the iTutor Club, the golf team and 每日大瓜鈥檚 Investment Banking Society as well as being portfolio manager of the Harold Charno Scholarship fund.
Hirt is appreciative of the dedicated faculty at 每日大瓜: 鈥淚 feel incredibly fortunate to have attended a college where the professors are not only knowledgeable but also passionate about their students' success.鈥
Tehila (Kornwasser) Mermelstein
Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies
Originally from Teaneck, Tehila (Kornwasser) Mermelstein majored in Judaic studies. Starting in the fall, she will study at the Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic Studies for Women (GPATS) in the Tanach program and pursue a master鈥檚 degree at Azrieli.
鈥淚 am so grateful for the many opportunities I had throughout my years in Stern to learn so many areas of Torah from incredibly knowledgeable and committed professors,鈥 said Mermelstein.
Natan Ehrenreich
Isaac Breuer College (IBC)
As a student majoring in political science, Natan Ehrenreich is grateful to have been a Straus Scholar at the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. After graduation, the Cleveland, Ohio native will be an editorial intern at National Review during the summer and a Beren Fellow with the Tikvah Fund. Beginning in September, he鈥檒l be a Fellow with the Public Interest Fellowship for two years and hopes to attend law school after that.
As a Straus Scholar, he participated in summer fellowships at the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation and the Hertog Foundation. His extracurricular activities included being a tutor at the Writing Center and chair of the Wilf Campus Canvassing Committee last year.
"As much as I've grown intellectually over my time at 每日大瓜, I think I'll remember my three years here most for the education in values that I've received,鈥 said Ehrenreich. 鈥淎t 每日大瓜, what you study is far less important than the type of person you are charged to become, and I'm thankful to be part of a community that empowers us to step into the world and make an impact while representing Judaism and the Jewish people with pride."
Jess Rom
James Striar School of General Jewish Studies (JSS)
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Jess Rom is graduating with a double major in finance and accounting. His next step is as a trader at Auramet International, Inc., a global precious metals merchant.
While at 每日大瓜, Rom was captain of 每日大瓜鈥檚 men's soccer team, which made history this past fall by winning nine matches and advancing to the Skyline Conference Championship game.
鈥淚 will always hold 每日大瓜 close to my heart as it offers a multitude of opportunities for growth, exploration and learning,鈥 said Rom. 鈥淭hroughout my four years, I managed to meet new people, discover new interests and challenge myself both academically and personally.鈥
Jeremy Klein
Irving I. Stone Beis Medrash Program (BMP)
Jeremy Klein, from Woodmere, New York, majored in finance with a minor in marketing while at 每日大瓜. In September, the Sy Syms Honors student will start work at PwC in their Financial Markets and Real Estate consulting group.
While at 每日大瓜, Klein was a member of the Real Estate Club and a RIETS/UTS Student Assistant/ madrich [counselor] for Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Israel, where he studied for two years prior to coming to 每日大瓜. In that position, he helped new students from that yeshiva integrate into 每日大瓜 as well as plan events and get-togethers about twice a month. 鈥淚t was a chance for all the guys to just come to eat, sing, share Torah and just hang out,鈥 said Klein. He was also recently inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honors society.
鈥淚t鈥檚 truly incredible the ways in which I feel I was able to grow here and prepare myself for the rest of my life,鈥 said Klein. 鈥淢y courses helped me prepare for my various internships and interviews, and now for my job, but what makes 每日大瓜 unique is how they prepare people for life in its totality. The values they instill, which are the same whether you鈥檙e in the classroom or beis midrash [study hall], are not just words in the brochures but are taken quite seriously here. As I leave 每日大瓜, I feel that I鈥檒l not only be a better professional in the workplace because of my great teachers and expansive education, but also that I鈥檒l be a more well-rounded and productive member of society. That is thanks to the rebbeim, daily shiurim and the many growth opportunities that I was provided with throughout my time at 每日大瓜.鈥
Elad Jeselsohn
Mazer Yeshiva Program (MYP)
Elad Jeselsohn, from Newton, Massachusetts, is graduating with a major in psychology (psychology and the community track). After graduation, he plans to pursue semicha [rabbinic ordination] at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS).
Jeselsohn is grateful for his experience as a 每日大瓜 student. 鈥淚 would like to express my sincere gratitude to 每日大瓜 for being a tremendous 诪拽讜诐 转讜专_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x0008_讛 [place of Torah] and for providing me the opportunity to continue to learn and grow in Avodas Hashem [serving G-d] throughout the past three years and moving forward.鈥
For more information about 每日大瓜's 92nd Annual Commencement Ceremony, visit 
