YULA’s Harvard Model Congress team made YULA history by winning eight awards overall at the annual Boston conference, despite missing a day and a half of the event due to Shabbat. The trip spanned four days, Feb. 18 through Feb. 22, and 32 students and four faculty chaperones attended.

“I thought it made it far more rewarding,” said Eitan Gershov (‘26) about winning Best Delegate despite missing a day of the conference.

Gershov has been on the HMC team for four years.

“I felt that it made a big Kiddush Hashem to leave for Shabbos. And that people saw that we were serious competitors… but we still left because that was our priority,” he said.

In 2024, YULA students collectively took home five awards from Harvard Model Congress, including one Best Delegate award and four Honorable Mentions. In 2025, YULA earned one Best Delegate award. 2026 marks the first year that YULA has won eight awards in recent history, including three Best Delegates and five Honorable Mentions.

“Missing Shabbos was incredible since my bill passed unanimously and I had to announce I had to go after I just won something huge,” said Freida Levy (‘27), who won Best Delegate. “It felt really empowering to do that.”

Eliana Sufrin (‘28), who won an Honorable Mention, said that she was surprised to hear herself announced as one of the winners even after missing a day.

“I was so lucky to have such cooperative chairs, who reassured me that not being at the conference wouldn’t hurt me in any way,” said Sufrin.

“Even so, everyone did have that extra chance to get ahead that I didn’t get. So when I won, I felt amazing, because there were so many talented people in my committee, but when it came to deciding who the winners were, I was one of the people who came to mind, which was surreal,” said Sufrin.

Team members also spoke about the most memorable and rewarding moments of the trip, beyond winning.

“Hearing the freshmen and sophomores and juniors give their feedback and favorite memories at the airport… was rewarding as a captain to hear how much everybody learned and how much they enjoyed the trip,” said Gershov.

Ali Prero (‘27) enjoyed both religious and academic aspects of the trip.

“The most memorable part of the trip was being in session. Debating, collaborating on bills, and seeing everything come together… I also loved finding other Jewish delegates to put tefillin on them for the first time or invite them to havdalah. It made the trip feel even more special and like we were making a difference and a Kiddush Hashem,” said Prero.

Mr. Eichenbaum, history teacher at the Girls Division and trip chaperone, said that he was impressed by the team’s performance.

His favorite part of the trip was “being able to quietly sit in the back of the meeting rooms and catch a glimpse of our students in their element… making their arguments, demonstrating their knowledge, and leading their committees… the confidence and professionalism with which our students conducted themselves was unexpected.”

These experiences provide valuable lessons for students, Mr. Eichenbaum said.

“The HMC trip allows students to immerse themselves in real-world issues. It serves them two-fold; they gain expertise and confidence in a vast subject while building and facilitating friendships and collegial relationships,” said Mr. Eichenbaum.