ALBANY - Temple Israel Scholarships have been awarded for the 2026-27 academic year. All scholarship funds are available due to the generosity of those who have established these funds and continue to make contributions. A scholarship awards ceremony will be held on June 27th at Temple Israel during Shabbat services. The service can also be found on live-stream on the Temple Israel website, tialbany.org.

Freya Dubose is the recipient of the Dorothy K. Davis Foundation Scholarship. A 2025 graduate of Albany High School, Dubose attends SUNY Fredonia, and is majoring in environmental science aiming for a bachelor’s degree in May of 2029. Dubose says, “I am studying environmental science at Fredonia and really enjoy the field, especially geology. I am hoping that I will be able to one day make the world more sustainable!”

Freya Dubose is the daughter of Beaulie Dubose.

Ethan Rosenblum is the recipient of the David and Rose Udelson Bray Graduate Student Scholarship. Rosenblum is a student at the University at Albany and enrolled in UAlbany’s 4+1 M.S. in digital forensics and cybersecurity—cyber risk management and compliance. He will complete his master’s degree in May 2027. As Ethan said in his Bray Essay, “Knowing that one small security gap can create major real-world consequences made me want to be part of the solution.”

Ethan Rosenblum is the son of Alan and Sharon Rosenblum.

Funds used for this award: the David and Rose Udelson Bray Graduate Student Scholarship and the Sagan Scholarship.

Shoham Randall is receiving a scholarship for post-secondary Judaic scholarship. Randall is attending Brandeis University where she will continue her Judaic studies. At Brandeis University, she will take, “From Sunday Schools to Birthright: History of American Jewish Education.” Randall wrote, “Taking this class will allow me to expand my Jewish education and will provide me with more sophisticated Jewish learning than I previously have had. Additionally, taking this class will allow me to fulfill a Judaic studies minor.”

Shoham Randall is the daughter of Rabbi Nomi Manon and Suzanna Randall.

Fund used for this award: The Harry and Rose Wasserman Scholarship Fund.

Noa Wacholder is the recipient of a scholarship for post-secondary Judaic scholarship. She is attending the List College Joint Program with Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). Her anticipated graduation date is May of 2028 with a dual degree in Jewish Biblical Text Analysis and Interpretation and Economics/Chemistry. At JTS, Noa will take a course, “Character Of God In The Bible.” As Wacholder wrote, “…We also will reflect upon the theological relevance of the biblical God for contemporary religious life. This is an intermediate level course exploring biblical conceptions of God, in the context of philosophical and historical considerations. I’m really looking forward to this class to help me explore my own feelings and understanding of the Jewish God and what that means for me in my adult life.”

Noa Wacholder is the daughter of Avi Wacholder and Andrea Juris.

Funds used for the award: The Esther and Sholom Traub Higher Education Scholarship Fund, and the Sam and Ruth Rosenblatt Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Maya Earleywine is the recipient of a scholarship for post-secondary Judaic scholarship. She attends the University of Denver—and expects to graduate with a bachelor’s degree this June and with a master’s degree in public policy.

Maya wrote, “Learning about institutional racism against Jews and black people across history, and their ability to create meaningful allyship during the civil rights movement, allows me to connect deeply with the Tikkun Olam sentiment passed down to me by my ancestors. This course connects me to my great-grandparents, who owned the only motel in Missouri that served black people and Jewish people. Learning about the complicated relationship between these two groups helps me build bridges with people who are different from me and marvel at our similarities. This course paints a clear picture of Jewish life in America from the beginning, helping me understand contemporary context. As someone who’s grown up with black Jewish friends my whole life, I am happy this course helps shed light on the beauty of their intersectional identity.”

Maya Earleywine is the daughter of Mitch Earleywine and Elana Gordis.

Fund used for this award: the TI Higher Ed Scholarship fund.