(Courtesy of YU) Nine students have been named the 2024 undergraduate valedictorians at Yeshiva University, having been recognized for their remarkable academic achievements and overall excellence. Below are their bios, their experiences at YU and their plans for the future.

Rachelli Benoff

Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies

Rachelli Benoff, from Bergenfield, majored in Jewish education at Stern College for Women. She is currently working on a master’s in Jewish education at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, and teaching at Yeshivat Noam in Paramus. As an undergraduate, she participated in the Legacy Heritage Jewish Educators Project and the Honors program and played on the volleyball and softball teams. During the past two summers, she was a part of YU’s Counterpoint Israel summer program and was a head counselor this past year. Although Benoff enjoyed many aspects of her time at YU, two stand out for her. First, “the professors are truly role models at exemplifying Torah UMadda, with classes in science that reference Chumash and courses on Tehillim that utilize sources from Shakespeare, Navi, Brene Brown and the Rambam.” Second, she is grateful to have been able to develop her skills and knowledge in Judaic studies on a college level “with experienced, passionate professors, while simultaneously exploring new subjects of interest from music to political science to painting, all within a Torah environment.”

Yoni Fine

Yeshiva College

Yoni Fine, from Riverdale, New York, is a psychology major and English minor. Next year, he plans to attend Yale Law School. During his time at YU, he’s been a Writing Center tutor and a justice on the student court; he also spent his summers working for Yachad. Fine found YU to be “a unique place in that it truly encourages excellence in all realms of life, not only the academic and professional.” He is grateful that the University helped him grow as an individual and allowed him to be a part of “this community of excellence.” As he leaves YU, Fine said, “I hope to use the values I’ve learned here to continue growing and to make a positive impact on the world around me.”

Ahuva Abraham

Sy Syms School of Business

Ahuva Abraham, from Teaneck, is a business analytics major with minors in biology and strategy & entrepreneurship. She is currently looking for a data analytics position in the healthcare field. While at YU, she was a member of TAMID, vice president of the Venture Capital club, a tutorand a member of both the swim club and YUPAC. “My time at Syms taught me the importance of seeking advice from mentors, dedicating myself fully to every endeavor, believing in myself and growing from my mistakes. These principles, instilled in me by the amazing professors and Rebbeim, will not only help me achieve my personal aspirations but also hopefully enable me to positively influence those around me.”

Moshe Wolff

Sy Syms School of Business

Moshe Wolff, from New Rochelle, is majoring in finance with a minor in real estate. He is currently deciding between working in either finance or real estate, or pursuing semicha. While at YU, he was senior co-chair of the Student Life Committee and vice president of the Political Action Club. “Yeshiva University has helped me build a foundation by supporting my religious growth as well as developing my skills academically that will help me succeed and make an impact throughout the rest of my life.”

Limor Kohanim

Stern College for Women

Limor Kohanim, born and raised in Milan, Italy, majored in computer science with a minor in math. She will be working at UBS in the fall as a software engineer in their Tech Graduate Talent Program. Her extracurriculars included the position of TAMID tech track co-director, as well as being a teacher’s assistant and peer tutor for several computer science and math classes. At TAMID, she had the opportunity to lead a group of several team members charged with conceiving, designing and developing startup concepts that combine programming skills and critical thinking applied to the creation of a business idea. She was also part of the international students club as well as the computer science club. At YU, Kohanim said, “I have learned numerous lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life and pass on to my children. I have also formed connections that I will treasure forever and found mentors to admire. Not only did my time at YU prepare me for the real world — teaching me how to tackle the challenges life throws at you—- but it also allowed me to become part of a network of incredible people who support each other and strive to achieve their full potential in life.”

Sam Drazin

Mazer Yeshiva Program (MYP)

Sam Drazin, from Montreal, Canada, double-majored in computer science and math while at YU. His next step will be spent learning in YU next year. “I had a great time at YU. It is a unique place that offers an incredible amount of opportunities to learn and grow with others.

Asher Martin

James Striar School of
General Jewish Studies (JSS)

Asher Martin grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and moved to London, England, when he was 12. The marketing major minored in strategy & entrepreneurship and looks forward to making aliyah shortly after graduation. His next steps include being a madrich in Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem, where, as Martin said, “B’ezras Hashem, I will continue learning and growing in my Avodas Hashem,” and to pursue getting semicha. A second team all-conference defender in fall 2023, he was a member of YU’s soccer team for the past three seasons, which Martin said, with credit to his teammates, were YU’s three most successful men’s soccer seasons ever. He feels that he is a very different person now than when he started YU, thanks to “incredible rebbeim and friends that have inspired me to be the person I am today and set me on a journey of growth.”

Andrew Warren

Irving I. Stone Beis Medrash Program (BMP)

Andrew Warren, from Houston, Texas, double-majored in finance and accounting and will be working at PwC in September. He was president of YU’s Comedy and Entertainment Business clubs and noted that he is arguably the funniest person in YU.

Yaakov Baker

Isaac Breuer College of Hebraic Studies (IBC)

Stoughton, Massachusetts native Yaakov Baker is a computer science major in the distributed systems track with a job lined up at Raytheon. Some of his extracurricular involvement included the Student Council as YSU Senior Class Rep, playing on the men’s volleyball team and serving as Wilf president of the Anime & Manga Club. ”I found my time at YU to be incredibly fulfilling and fun, as I gained a lot from my education, the opportunities for personal growth, the extracurriculars that enhanced my time here, the lifelong friendships I forged these past four years and the countless memorable experiences I had here.”