NYC Gazette

Tziporah Pinczower, a Straus Scholar majoring in political science at Stern College for Women (SCW '26), has been actively defending religious liberty through her academic and professional endeavors. In the spring of 2024, she interned at Agudath Israel of America, supported by a grant from the Straus Center’s Impact Office. During her first year on campus, Pinczower published three articles in the Wall Street Journal, advocating for Israel, America, and the Jewish people following the events of October 7th.

This summer, Pinczower will participate in the Tikvah Fund’s Beren Summer Fellowship and intern at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in Washington, DC.

Reflecting on her experience at Agudath Israel of America, Pinczower described her involvement with KnowUs—a new initiative led by Avrohom Weinstock aimed at correcting misrepresentations of the Orthodox Jewish community in media and entertainment. Launched in 2023 to defend yeshivas and the Hasidic community against targeted attacks in mainstream media, KnowUs has since adopted a proactive approach to encourage understanding on its own terms.

Pinczower's internship was diverse; she conducted research on legal battles involving Jewish educational institutions and school choice policy in the United States. She also collaborated on vision statements, multimedia presentations, billboards, survey data, drafted social media communications, and assisted with event planning. "The dynamic nature of the internship kept me engaged and constantly expanding my skill set," she noted.

Her commitment to religious liberty is deeply rooted in her studies as a Straus Scholar at Yeshiva University’s Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. "As an intern, I learned how to promote religious liberty," said Pinczower. "But being a Straus Scholar has provided me with the why." She emphasized that her education at Yeshiva University serves as a model for effective Jewish education worth protecting.

Pinczower expressed gratitude for representing Yeshiva University and contributing to Agudah’s mission: "I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to join Agudah’s vital mission while representing Yeshiva University and the YU Straus Center."