At just 18 years old, local student Dahlia Wolkoff has already become a powerful voice for Israel and the Jewish people.
And it all goes back to a few weeks studying abroad in Israel.
Wolkoff knew when she signed up for the Fall 2023 semester of Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss), Jewish National Fund-USA’s college-prep, study abroad in Israel experience for American teens, that it would be transformative. She enrolled expecting an immersive, meaningful program that would strengthen her Jewish identity and inspire her to explore her connection to Israel.
She experienced that and much more. “I applied knowing it would deepen my connection with the land and people of Israel,” Wolkoff reflected. “And that it did.”
However, what she didn’t anticipate was just how deeply it would shape her identity, leadership, and lifelong commitment to Israel and the Jewish people. Muss’ unique immersive Israel studies curriculum uses the land of Israel as a living classroom. Learning came alive through tiyulim (trips) across Israel, where Wolkoff and her classmates engaged with history, culture, and current events in the very places they happened.
Studying Israeli history at the sites where the events unfolded, forming close-knit bonds with peers from around the world, and gaining exposure to the local culture, language, people, and environment in Israel, Wolkoff was drawn into a community that blended rigorous academics with purpose-driven learning.
When her time at Muss was cut short after the October 7 terrorist attacks, everything in Israel took on new urgency. “Our Counselor, Gon, was called into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reserves,” she said. “Suddenly, the attack became all the more personal.”
Wolkoff and her peers channeled their emotions into action, launching a fundraiser that ultimately raised over $145,000 to support impacted Israelis. They also assembled 2,000 care packages for displaced families and soldiers, filled with essential items and personalized notes.
“The energy of the students shifted from fear to determination, and from reluctance to commitment,” she said. “Many of us recognized that as the new generation of young, Jewish leaders, it was our responsibility to help heal and rebuild.”
What was already a life-changing semester morphed into a powerful lesson in maturity and perspective. Wolkoff found herself reflecting on what it means to be 18 in different parts of the world. “In America, turning 18 brings a lot of freedoms but very little responsibility,” she said. “In Israel, 18-year-olds are entering war zones and risking their lives to protect their country and the global Jewish community.”
That sense of mission led her to take her commitment even further. Upon turning 18 herself, Dahlia joined Jewish National Fund-USA’s Women for Israel, a community of women who harness the power of female philanthropy to support the land and people of Israel.
As one of the youngest participants in the group, Women for Israel wasn’t just a membership—it was an extension of the responsibility she felt during her time at Muss. “We have the privilege to support this, to be a part of this,” she said. “A hundred years from now, Israel will be thriving thanks to the institutions we invest in today.”
“Dahlia is already a powerful force within Jewish National Fund-USA and the broader Jewish community,” said Jewish National Fund-USA Director, Central New Jersey, Anna Millstein. “Her ability to turn passion into action is astonishing. She leads with poise, intellect, and drive, making a real difference today. She doesn’t just represent the future—she’s shaping it right now.”
Wolkoff’s experience at Muss was more than just a semester abroad. It was the spark that ignited her passion for leadership, community, and Jewish continuity. With poise, drive, and purpose, she now stands among the next generation of changemakers—and as the youngest Woman for Israel, she’s already making her mark.
To learn more about Jewish National Fund-USA’s Alexander Muss High School in Israel, visit amhsi.org. To learn about the organization’s Women for Israel affinity group, visit jnf.org/wfi.
