When it comes to her education, Lynn resident Mariya Shpolberg goes the distance. Each weekday the high school junior rides the commuter rail for 45 minutes to attend the Commonwealth School in Boston; on Sundays she commutes an hour to attend Prozdor. And this summer, propelled by her accomplishments in both settings, Shpolberg plans to fly thousands of miles to Israel on a Bronfman Youth Fellowship.

Twenty-six North American high school juniors from diverse Jewish backgrounds are selected each year for the five-week educational program. Founded by business magnate and philanthropist Edgar M. Bronfman in 1987, the Bronfman Youth Fellowships in Israel cultivate young Jewish leaders with an ongoing commitment to Jewish learning and pluralism, involvement with Israel and social responsibility.

For Shpolberg, Prozdor—which has produced three Bronfman Fellows in the past four years—has served as an incubator for these values. "Overall, Prozdor has kept me thinking, seeking out my Jewish identity within myself and within the context of my people," says the Ukraine-born visual arts and Hebrew language enthusiast. "I have many, many questions about how I want to live my life as a Jew, and I think the fellowship will help me explore that further."

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