8th-12th Graders Giving Back to Religious School
Our Madrichim are 8th -12th grader students who assist with our Religious School in a variety of ways. Madrichim lead chuggim (electives), assist teachers, tutor students in Hebrew, and so much more. We are so proud of the number of Shomrei Torah students who choose to return each year to participate in this program.
Please reach out to Brandon Binder, Director of STaRS and Teen Engagement, to apply.
Check Out Our 2022-2023 Madrichim!
Alanna Magers
Hi! I'm Alanna, a senior at Montgomery High School. I've been attending Kehillah (previously Chaverim) for 5 years, and been a part of the SHORTY board for all 4 years of high school. This will be my 4th year as a part of the madrichim program, and I hope to make it the best one yet! My goal is to help kids become an active part of our community and love it as much as I have.
Amelia Fichera
I am Amelia Fichera, I’m going to be a freshman at West County High School in Sebastopol. I was a madrichim at stars last year, I participate in kechilla, I used to participate in STaRs, and I attend services.
Amelia Westerhold
My name is Amelia Westerhold. I am in 9th grade and I go to Montgomery High School. I have been going to STaRS ever since I was little and I also have been going to URJ Camp Newman for the past 5 years. What I am most looking forward to this year at STaRS is working with children and helping them learn to love Judaism.
Ari Gershen
Hi my name is Ari, I am in 9th grade this year at Credo High School. I was Madrichim in the kindergarten-2nd grade classroom last year and really enjoyed it. I have been a long time member of Shomrei Torah, I was in STARTS starting at KIDdish and had my Bar Mitzvah in August, 2021. I look forward to helping kids learn more about Judaism and getting prepared for their B'Mitzvah.
Ben Siegel
I'm going into my Junior year at Maria Carillo. I have been a Madrich for two years before this. I went to religious school at Shomrei Torah and was Bar mitzvah'd in 2019 and have done various camps and activities over the years. I am proficient in reading Hebrew.
Caleb Shiffman
My name is Caleb Shiffman and I am a current Junior in high school (2022-2023). I attend Technology High School, which is a magnet school focused on math and science. I am also involved in my schools ASB or leadership programs where I have planned events and lead students in activities. This upcoming Jewish school year will hopefully be my 3rd time being a classroom Madrichim. I am really looking forward to being able to take my leadership in the classroom to a whole new level. In the past years I have not been as vocal in the classroom when I am trying to explain something. I hope that this year I can change that by having a more fun and stronger stature.
Elijah Gottlieb
This year I am going into high school at Credo High. Before this, I attended Mary Collins Cherry Valley for nine years. I have had a wonderful experience at Shomrei Torah, as well as several Jewish summer camps. I’m very excited to work with kids and have the responsibility of a job this year.
Elijah Shiffman
I am going to be in 11th grade at Technology High School. I have been a madrichim for the past two years and I am hoping to make this my third. I am looking forward to working with younger students and helping them get excited about their culture.
Ella Kushins
My name is Ella Kushins and I’m a rising Junior at Credo High School. I went to religious school at Shomrei Torah from 1st to 7th grade. I had my Bat Mitzvah at Shomrei Torah and did Chaverim with Rick through Shomrei Torah after. I worked as a Madrichim after my Bat Mitzvah but everything shut down when COVID hit. I haven’t been as involved in my Jewish community as I wish I could be recently so I’m excited to get back into it and reconnect.
Erez Kayne
I'm a teenager that has been in the Jewish community since I was two years old. I always liked being around Jewish people, and I really liked starting at Shomrei Torah, when I was 4 years old. I have always liked Jewish holidays, and I have made my best friends in synagogue. I'm going into 8th grade, but I always look forward to summer because I get to go to Camp Newman, a Jewish summer camp. Whenever I return, I always say it was the best experience of my life, because it's so wonderful being around Jewish company. This year at STaRS I am looking forward to helping out with whatever is needed and connecting with the Jewish youth.
Gavi Geffner
My name is Gavi Geffner and I am an upcoming sophomore at Santa Rosa High School. I went to STaRS for my entire Jewish education, even doing the KIDdish/Tot Shabbat program when I was very little. I went to a two week overnight Jewish camp called Camp Tawonga and went to Camp Newman weekend retreats multiple times. I'm looking forward to learning some songs to sing with the kids because I'm in choir and I have a lot of fun singing and teaching others to do it too. I will enjoy helping and being with the students.
Hannah Perry
I am entering 8th grade at Willowside Middle school this year. I have been enrolled at STaRS since third grade, and had my Bat Mitzvah at Shomrei Torah last February. In summer of 2021 I went to a Jewish sleepaway camp for 2 weeks, and in 2022 I went back for four weeks. This year at STaRS as a Madricha I am looking forward to staying involved in the Jewish community and helping kids work towards their B' Mitzvah.
Hannah Westerhold
My name is Hannah Westerhold and I am a senior at Montgomery High School. This will be my fifth year as a Madricha. I have been part of the Chaverim/Kehillah program for 5 years as well and I am beginning my third year on the Shorty Board! I am so excited to be part of the kids’ Jewish learning experience!
Joel Zimmer
I’m Joel, a senior at Sonoma Academy. I’ve been a Madrich since 8th grade and am looking forward to helping not just the kids in the classroom but with any other tasks the STaRS team needs.
Lily Matalon
My name is Lily Matalon and I am an incoming senior at Montgomery High School. I've been a madricha at STARS ever since I could, in eighth grade. This summer I am going to be a CIT at a reform Jewish camp, Camp Newman. I have also participated in teen youth groups such as Kehillah and SHORTY. This year I hope to continue to create connections with the students to make the learning environment as enjoyable as possible.
Luca Mejia Valle
Hello! I am Luca Mejia Valle. I will be in 12th grade and attending Rancho Cotate High school in the fall. I didn’t go to any Jewish programs as a child, but I am currently active in Shomrei Torah’s community. What I’m looking forward to this year at STaRS is seeing students from last year and catching up with them!
Martin Geffner
My name is Marty Geffner, and I will be a senior at Santa Rosa High School this year. I have worked as a madrich for 4 months now and have had many valuable experiences with the program. I am excited to share my knowledge this year and meet new students!
Max Schneider
Hi, my name is Max Schneider and I am a Junior at Santa Rosa High School. I was in STaRS for as long as I can remember and I love being a member of this wonderful community. I love going to summer camp and I would love to give people the experiences I have gotten from this community.
Miriam Landau-Camarillo
My name is Miriam Landau-Camarillo. I am a rising senior at Montgomery High School and I have been a madricha at STaRS for the past 4(!) years. I have been on SHORTY board for the past 3 years, including as co-president for the latest. This year, I am looking forward to sharing my love for Judaism with the students, particularly through immersive art projects.
Ronan Yarbrough
I am a Credo high school sophomore. I've worked at Jewish summer day camp before, and I like to be connected to my Jewish community. I'm looking forward to being more involved in my community as a madrichim.
Sam Oryn
My name is Sam and I’m in 11th grade. I have been a madricha for 2 years. I am looking forward to spending time with the kids and teaching them Hebrew culture.
Theo Marvin
Hi, I'm Theo! I'm a senior at Sonoma Academy, and I've been a part of STaRS since I was in kindergarten. I was a madrich in-person during freshman year as well as on Zoom during sophomore year, but with COVID being at a high and having a lot of extracurriculars last year, I had to take that year off. I'm looking forward to once again being able to work with the kids in-person, and to seeing the next generation of Jews growing up.
Tobias Cohen
I will be going into eighth grade at Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley this year. Last summer I went to Eden Village West, a Jewish summer camp. I began STaRS in sixth grade and was met with very helpful madrichim who helped me along the journey to my Bar Mitzvah. I hope to help other students reach these goals and learn more about Judaism myself.
Willa Navarro
Hello! My name is Willa Navarro and I am going into 12th grade at Montgomery High School. I have been a member of Shomrei Torah since 2013 and am an involved teen in my Jewish community. This is my fourth and final year in Kehillah, Madrichim, and SHORTY. I am so excited to have a fun filled and enriching year of STaRS to close out my final year.
