Kedma, the Orthodox Jewish community at this university, brings students together for social events, religious programming and weekly learning opportunities. The ten members of Kedma’s board are always working together to support the Jewish community on campus.

“Kedma is the place where people just love their Judaism and want to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who also love their Judaism,” Kedma President Daya Novich said.

Novich, a junior computer science and entrepreneurship major from Newton, Massachusetts, delegates responsibilities, oversees the work and supports each member of the Kedma Board. She also manages Kedma’s interactions with outside organizations.

Novich certainly feels the burden of her position, but the constant collaboration with the other board members helps relieve that pressure.

“I trust all the board members to do everything they’re supposed to do,” Novich said.

Everyone on the board has similar reasons for joining. Novich and Media Chair Emily Keehn mentioned they are naturally attracted to leadership positions.

But some board members also feel a strong motivation to give back to the community.

Sophomore Shuli Frenkel, a criminology and criminal justice major from Kemp Mill, Maryland, is the Shabbat Chair. She organizes events on Shabbat – such as Lunch and Learn and the Shabbarty – and schedules senior speakers for the weekly Friday night services.

“I love being in a position where I’m able to give my time and my energy back to a community that’s benefited me so much,” Frenkel said.

Education Chair Rena Kosowsky, who coordinates learning opportunities and events, is also driven by a responsibility to give back.

“I feel I’ve had a lot of learning opportunities in the semester that I’ve been here,” Kosowsky said, “and I wanted to help facilitate more of that for the community.”

Social Chair Eliana Zaghi wants to dismantle the misconception that Kedma is exclusively for Orthodox students. While Kedma presents itself as an Orthodox Jewish community, the board makes clear that Kedma wants to reach all Jews.

“All the events that we run really are for anyone who wants to be involved at all,” Zaghi said.

The executive board, consisting of President Daya Novich, Vice President Bayli Alter and Treasurer Eitan Linsider, makes sure that each member is supported on an individual level.

They have a separate group chat with each person on the board. They call these four-person chats “BED” chats – the first letter of each of the executive board members’ first names make up “BED.”

Alter, a junior human development and sociology major from Chicago, Illinois, makes it clear that she enjoys working with the other board members on these BED chats.

“It doesn’t really feel like a chore to respond to their texts or to weigh in on things,” Alter said.

The executive board’s communication skills have certainly been well received by freshman Collaboration Chair Noah Meltzer. 

“It’s amazing how in touch the Executive Board has been with me throughout the whole process,” Meltzer said.

Fundraising Chair Isaac Kushnir, a fellow freshman, also expressed how helpful the board has been to him.

“I appreciate the work [the board] does to facilitate the community,” Kushnir said. “I thought it’d be my job to give back.”

Meltzer also mentioned that Kedma could not run without Treasurer Eitan Linsider.

Linsider, a junior computer science major from Atlanta, Georgia, manages funding for Kedma events.

“He’s super involved in decision making,” Alter said. “He’s really an involved and helpful executive board member.” 

Chessed (charity) Chair Meirav Solomon describes how the responsibility of comforting and caring for Jewish students has never been greater since tragedy struck Israel and the Jewish people on October 7, 2023.

“It’s really important for Jews to feel like they have a community within [the larger population on campus],” Solomon said. “And I think Kedma really helps facilitate that.”