[by Phyllis Shaikun]
Whether it is deciding on her future career as either a therapist or marine biologist or working at Dooley’s as she has for the past 18 months, Sophie Reskin, a rising junior and straight-A student at Ballard High School, puts her whole heart into the task at hand. She somehow managed to keep her crowded schedule this spring and summer while preparing for a trip to Israel on July 1, which was made possible through her receipt of this year’s Ellen and Milton Cantor Israel Scholarship Fund and an award from the Mayer and Frances Shaikun Memorial Israel Scholarship Fund.
At first meeting, Reskin tells you straight-out that Judaism is very important to her. She attended Eliahu Academy and the Louisville Hebrew School, was a member of Kadima and the Shalom Club and often goes with her family to services at Keneseth Israel. She considers her parents and grandparents good role models who exemplify traditional Jewish values and have been actively involved with the Jewish community for many years. Their influence led her to raise $1500 for Habitat for Humanity as her bat mitzvah project.
Reskin has been active with the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization at the Jewish Community Center for the past three years. She has served Jay Levine BBG as chapter president and morah (vice president of retention, recruitment and re-education) and is vice president of the KIO (Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio) regional board, a job that entails endless conference calls since she has to touch base with all chapters in the region.
This past April, Reskin planned the regional Kallah and just helped plan a convention at Camp Livingston in Bennington, Indiana. The camp, which is sponsored by the Cincinnati JCC, is like her old stomping grounds since she has been a camper there for seven years. All of her best friends attend Livingston and will be traveling with her to Israel on the Camp Livingston/ Pinemere Camp Solelim Israel 2011 educational experience.
“I have always wanted to go to Israel,” says Reskin. “It is so beautiful and I’m excited to going there with my good friends.” She is mindful that some friends can’t make the trip because of cost, so she feels fortunate not to have that as a concern. “Hopefully,” she says, “everyone will get to go someday.”
Reskin is the daughter of Rhonda and Jim Reskin and sister of Max and Hillary Reskin.