Schechter Alumni Spotlight: Talia Field (’18)

Alumni Spotlight: Talia Field (‘18) – A Passion for Advocacy from an Early Age

Talia Field’s passion for advocacy and community engagement was evident from an early age, and her journey from Schechter to Washington, D.C., and beyond is a testament to that dedication. A proud alumna of Ramah Wisconsin and Deerfield High School, Talia continued her education at George Washington University, where she is pursuing a degree in Political Science.

Currently studying politics abroad in Amsterdam, Talia reflects on her recent internship with the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), where she worked with the Engagement and Leadership team. “I organized and oversaw data collection on all 49 NCJW sections, communicated with section leadership regularly, and produced blog posts for weekly and monthly newsletters,” she said. “What I loved most about this internship was not only getting to learn more about local Jewish grassroots advocacy but also working with Jewish women who have fought to protect women’s rights and reproductive rights for so many years.”

Talia’s impressive journey includes interning with the Ethiopian National Project in Tel Aviv, the Jewish United Fund, and GW Hillel, where she played a key role in organizing a Reproductive Justice Shabbat. She has also served as Vice President of Community Relations for Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women and held leadership positions with GW For Israel.

In addition to her work on campus and in D.C., Talia’s time abroad has further deepened her understanding of Jewish resilience and history. While studying in Amsterdam, she had the opportunity to travel to Mallorca, Spain, with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). 

“During one weekend, I got to learn about the Cheutas, Mallorca’s small but vibrant crypto-Jewish community. JDC took us on historic walking tours, where we saw Jewish landmarks and learned about the community’s influence on Mallorca’s foods and culture. We even joined the Jewish community for a beautiful Sephardic Kabbalat Shabbat,” she said. “It was wonderful to be able to learn about Jews abroad, especially alongside friends from GW and Ramah. Being together with my friends, as well as seeing the resilience of the Jews in Mallorca, who survived the Inquisition and years of persecution, reminded me of the importance of finding community, whether it is back home or overseas.”

Despite witnessing antisemitism and anti-Zionism on campus, Talia said she remains steadfast in her Jewish identity and activism.

In addition to providing a strong Jewish identity, Talia said that her years at Schechter prepared her academically and personally for the challenges ahead. “I felt very prepared going into high school,” she said. “The academic skills I developed at Schechter set me up well for big projects, papers, and complex courses. More importantly, the values instilled in me during my years at Schechter continue to shape my passions and career aspirations. My passion for tikkun olam, which drives my activism in reproductive justice and Jewish communal work, is rooted in what I learned from the Schechter community.”

For Talia, the Schechter community is not just a past experience—it remains an integral part of her identity. “I will always feel connected to the Schechter community because it has taught me so much about myself, and my experience has informed how I live every day and practice my Judaism.”