Each cohort is comprised of 20 fellows, led by their Program Coordinator, as well as 2 Junior Counselors, who are Diller alumni from the previous cohort. Today, you have a chance to read what our current Junior Counselors, Justin and Mollie, have to say about their experiences as both Fellows and Junior Counselors. 

Justin: I am a senior at McDonogh school and will be going to the University of Maryland next year. I started becoming active with 4Front in 2022 with the Social Innovation Fellowship, my sophomore year I did the Peer Leadership Fellowship, my Junior year I was a fellow in Diller, and this year I am a Gesher board member and one of the junior counselors for Diller.

Mollie: Hi! I am a senior at Howard High School and will be attending Northeastern University in the fall. The first program that I did was Social Innovation Fellowship in my sophomore year then I was a fellow in Diller, and now this year I am apart of Gesher as well as a Diller Junior Counselor.

1. What has your journey with Diller looked like so far, and what moment from your fellowship year has stuck with you the most? Why?

Justin: Through being a JC and a Fellow, I have realized how important Israel is to me. Even though I was not able to travel there as a fellow, I still felt connected to Israel through to our sister cohort in Ashkelon. Being able to host a fellow was a new experience for me, but I can safely say it strengthened my pride for Israel, and made me a stronger Jew.

Mollie: One moment from my fellowship year that really stuck with me was being able to host a fellow from Ashkelon. When the week was ending, we both realized how close we had become and how hard it would be to say goodbye, because it really showed me how quickly a program like this can turn into a real friendship.

2. What made you want to return as a Junior Counselor, and what does being a JC mean to you personally?

Justin: To me, being a JC means guiding the fellows through the same experiences I went through last year with the hopes of strengthening their connection to Judaism. This is exactly what made me want to return as JC. I wanted to provide the same framework that was given to me as a fellow to guide this year’s fellows through their own journeys in Diller.

Mollie: I wanted to be a JC because I want the next cohort to have the same amazing, life-changing experience that I had, or maybe even better. Diller helped me grow into a more confident, thoughtful, and connected person, and I wanted to help guide others through that same journey. To me, being a JC means that I have the ability to help guide the fellows into becoming better versions of themselves.

3. What kind of leader do you hope to be for the fellows this year? Are there specific qualities or values you want to model?

Justin: This year, I hope to lead by more by action than with words. I want to show the fellows that leading doesn’t always require the boldest plan or the loudest voice, but that the key to a good leader is confidence in themselves, and the people they look to influence.

Mollie: I hope to be a leader who is approachable, supportive, and present for the fellows this year. I want to model openness, respect, and curiosity by being someone who listens, includes others, and most importantly, helps create a space where everyone feels comfortable being themselves and sharing their ideas.

4. What is one lesson or skill you learned as a fellow that you still carry with you today? How do you hope to pass that on to this cohort?

Justin: One skill I learned as a fellow was to be patient. Last year, our Israel trip that we had been looking forward to for months was suddenly cancelled two weeks before we were supposed to leave. At first, I assumed that would be the end of our Diller year, but a couple weeks later we learned that we would be instead travelling to LA with 2 other cohorts instead. Even though we never went to Israel, we still had an incredible trip, and it showed me just how important it is to be patient and trust that everything will work out in the end.

Mollie: One skill I learned as a fellow was how to connect with people from all different cultures around the world. Before Diller, I had really only connected with people from my school and a few others from around America. Diller allowed me to grow my community so much and connect with people from so many different backgrounds. I saw the world in a different perspective and it really opened my eyes.

5. What do you think makes the Diller community special, and how do you hope to help create that environment for the fellows?

Justin: The Diller community is so special because it’s not like your typical friend group; it brings together so many different people from totally different schools and backgrounds. In this way, you will be connecting with people who you would normally never interact with if you weren’t in the program. This year, I hope to create this environment by pushing the fellows outside their comfort zones and helping them create connections with everyone in their cohort.

Mollie: I think what makes the Diller community special is how quickly it feels like a real family, even when people come from such different backgrounds and places. There’s a strong sense of openness where everyone is encouraged to share, listen, and learn from each other in a really genuine way. I hope to help create that same environment by being welcoming, including others in conversations, and making sure people feel comfortable showing up as themselves.

6. What are you most excited for this year as a JC? Is there a specific moment, trip, or experience you’re looking forward to?

Justin: I am most excited to hopefully go to Israel this summer. It will not only be a new experience for the fellows, but for me as well. It will strengthen all of our connections to our sister cohort, Ashkelon, and will be a great conclusion for the fellows’ Diller journey.

Mollie: I am very excited to go to Israel this summer! Although we did not go last year, this experience seems like a once in a lifetime trip that allows everyone to make long-lasting connections with people from around the world.

7. What is your favorite Diller memory from your fellowship year?

Justin: My favorite moment from my fellowship year was our JCM shabbaton. It allowed both cohorts to bond closer than any of the days that week. We played games, learned about each other, and overall, just had an amazing time. I learned so much about Ashkelon during that trip, and it is an experience I hope the fellows will get when they travel to Israel this summer.

Mollie: My favorite Diller memory from my fellowship year was the last night of JCM. It was such a special moment because everyone was together for the final time, just enjoying each other’s company without worrying about anything else. We were dancing, jumping, and laughing nonstop, there was so much joy and happiness but also a little bit of a bittersweet feeling.

After reading Justin and Mollie’s words, it’s easy to see how Diller has impacted them both during the program and beyond. Their leadership as Junior Counselors not only shows the effect that Diller has had on them, but also their motivation to guide others in their footsteps. Needless to say, they both have very bright futures ahead of them!

The Diller Program is designed around the intention to support young Jewish Leaders as they prepare to enter the ever-changing world in front of them. Our Global curriculum centered around workshops and retreats throughout the year are designed to tackle heavy topics through a Jewish lens. Through experiential learning as a cohort, bonds are built not only within our Baltimore community, but also with our partner city Ashkelon and beyond. It is truly inspiring seeing our teens become connected in a network that is much bigger than themselves. This allows teens to open their eyes to the world in front of them, equipped with the knowledge and experiences gained through Diller.