Congratulations to the 2022 winners of the Tanette Goldberg Scholarships for Social Justice!
Hebrew Free Loan partnered with National Council of Jewish Women San Francisco Section (NCJW SF) to award eight scholarships to Jewish women students who are studying or working in the area of social justice and who intend to pursue social justice after graduation. This year’s group of applicants was so outstanding that NCJW SF awarded not only four scholarships of $1,250 each, as it does every year, but an additional four scholarships of $500 each. See the list of winners below.
$1,250 AWARD WINNERS
Maya Eylon is a born-and-raised Californian, who currently resides in the far-less sunny state of Michigan, where she is a second-year medical student. Maya is committed to ensuring every environment she is a part of is inclusive and equitable for all. Growing up in a state with high rates of homelessness, Maya founded a food recovery initiative in Southern California to combat food insecurity in this vulnerable population. Through her initiative, Maya distributed thousands of meals to those in need. For nearly 15 years, Maya has volunteered with nonprofits like Friendship Circle and Special Olympics to create more caring communities that embrace individuals of all abilities. While in undergrad, Maya created a campus community project advocating for women who have experienced sexual assault, increasing awareness and providing resources and support for women. Maya will continue her social justice pursuits by addressing healthcare disparities and taking action wherever she sees inequity in medicine. As a pediatrician, Maya hopes to provide compassionate care for underserved and marginalized families. Maya is incredibly grateful for the support of NCJW SF and for the social justice work they do for our community
Ruth Ferguson studies at the Goldman School, focusing on advancing equity and finding feasible policy solutions to far-ranging issues that negatively impact vulnerable Californians. Previously, she worked in the California Legislature on housing and transportation policy and at Hillel International managing programs on disability advocacy, student leadership, and dialogue facilitation. Ruth is the co-founder of Stop Sexual Harassment in Politics (SHIP), a coalition of survivors and political staffers committed to ending sexual harassment and discrimination in politics and government. SHIP was proud to work with leadership in the California Legislature during the 2022 legislative session to introduce critical changes to HR policies that impact California legislative staffers who experience sexual harassment, assault, and/or discrimination. You can follow her work on social media at @ruthie_ferg and @ship_ca.
Acacia Tripplett is a freshman at George Washington University studying political science. As a junior in high school, she discovered a passion for social justice advocacy, celebrating diversity and the incredible power of coming together. She looks forward to using her voice to confront injustice in the nation’s Capitol.
S.W. holds a BA in Political Economy from UC Berkeley. She is committed to working in the areas of health equity, women’s empowerment, and housing and immigration justice. She has volunteered at many nonprofits focused on social justice issues and has done fundraising for a program providing coaching services for social service nonprofit leaders
$500 AWARD WINNERS
Leah Kaufman graduated from UC Berkeley in 2017 with dreams of being a doctor. Having been diagnosed at 16 with an incurable autoimmune kidney disease, she knew from an early age that she wanted to make sure that every child received the same level of care and support that she had. After graduation, Leah moved to Newark, New Jersey, to work at a healthcare nonprofit where she soon realized that she was much more passionate about the social and emotional effects of illness than the actual practice of medicine. Since then, Leah has worked with chronically ill children in Israel to make sure they feel loved and safe during their time in the hospital, advocated for more equitable mental healthcare access to low-income children, and supported programming for low-income new mothers. In 2021, she began her studies at Columbia School of Social Work with a focus in medical social work. She recently completed her first-year internship at JCCANY where she supported foster children with serious healthcare needs from low-income families. She spent her summer at a camp in Southern California for chronically ill children where she supports the emotional needs of campers. In her free time, she loves to read, listen to podcasts and spend time with family and friends.
Ilana Shoyket is a third-year law student at the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Before moving to Sacramento to pursue her legal education, she spent her childhood in the Richmond district of San Francisco. Her family’s past, as immigrants and refugees from the former Soviet Union, instilled a deep sense of pride in Ilana’s Jewish identity. Ilana has been active in her Jewish community as an undergrad at the University of San Francisco and has been serving on the Board of Directors of San Francisco Hillel since she graduated. When she returns home to San Francisco after law school, Ilana hopes to start her career by defending access to reproductive healthcare across the nation.
B.B. is currently studying in Nurse Practitioner School to become an abortion provider. She has worked in community health centers and with Planned Parenthood, eventually serving as a center manager at various sites in the East Bay, and has been the clinic manager at two other federally qualified health centers. Her passion now is to provide direct services as a family nurse practitioner and be a leader in the reproductive justice movement.
K.W. is currently enrolled in a Master in Public Policy Program with a focus on housing, labor and security issues. After graduating, she hopes to work in Bay Area government or the nonprofit sector implementing local solutions to the larger issues of inequality. She has volunteered with HIAS, the Jewish refugee agency, tutored English, helped lead Reform Judaism advocacy efforts on economic justice, labor issues, gun violence prevention, gender-based violence and Indigenous rights in Washington DC. K.W. has also volunteered with the national office of NCJW and Jews United For Justice.
Hebrew Free Loan provides interest-free loans to Jewish individuals in Northern California to help them achieve self-sufficiency. Our loans support individuals who are overcoming financial challenges or pursuing lifelong dreams.
Inspired by Jewish values, the National Council for Jewish Women (NCJW) strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
The Tanette Goldberg Scholarship for Social Justice was established in memory of Tanette Goldberg (1926-2013), past president of NCJW SF from 1990 to 1993. Tanette was recognized for her work in 2007 when she received the NCJW Hannah G. Solomon Award. Tanette was a tireless and committed community volunteer. She worked to solve issues in the public schools where her children attended and in the community. She fervently believed in justice, equality, and effecting positive change, whether in the Jewish community or her neighborhood.
