Diller Graduation: Reflections on My Diller Journey
Posted on 09/26/2025 @ 06:00 AM
By Gabrielle Heckler,
Diller Teen Fellow, Cohort 12
As the school year starts up again, and most students dive into new and exciting extracurriculars, I find this feeling bittersweet and take a step back to reflect.
On Sunday, September 14th, I marked the end of one of the most meaningful chapters of my life at our Cohort 12 Graduation.
CAJE’s Diller Teen Fellows program has been the highlight of the past twelve months.
It has extended further than just a program; it has been a transformative, unforgettable journey.
When the Diller Teen Fellowship program first started last September, I was worried about fitting in, not knowing what to expect.
But I decided to put myself out there and embrace this new experience with open arms. To my surprise, what I received in return was much greater than I could have ever imagined.
From our first mifgash (gathering), my cohort made me feel right at home, greeting me with warmth and love, making me feel special in my own way.
Month after month, I looked forward to our meetings not only to expand my Jewish learning and exciting activities, but simply to be with this incredible group of people who quickly became like family.
The 19 of us built an unbreakable bond, and Diller hastily proved that “it’s the people who make the place.”
Along the way, Diller provided me with the tools I needed to discover my Jewish identity and gave me space to grow and spread my wings, from stepping into leadership roles in my community to learning how to actively participate in tikkun olam in all aspects of my life.
As we learned how to lead in our communities, we cannot overlook the leaders who supported us along the way.
Bari Lutz, our tireless coordinator, who guided us with dedication and creativity, always adapting with grace when plans changed, and Claudine Ackerman, who worked diligently behind the scenes, her support often went unseen by some, but spending time forming a relationship with her deeply impacted my Diller experience and never failed to make me smile.
Thanks to our incredible mentors, our graduation ceremony was the perfect closing to our year.
Continuing Diller tradition, each fellow was given the platform to share their thoughts and memories on this past year with all our friends and family.
All of the fellows truly took this time to reflect upon our experiences together and tie it into the key pillars of Diller: Jewish identity, Leadership, Tikkun olam, Israel, and Peoplehood.
This final Diller experience, listening to others talk about their lives and different experiences they’ve had throughout this year, reinforced the idea that Diller has touched each of us in its own unique way and presented to all our parents and friends how strong the connection between our incredible cohort has become over this past year.
As I close this chapter, I do so with gratitude for the friendships, the growth, the lessons, and the love.
Though the formal program may have ended, the impact of Diller will stay with me always.
For more information about the Diller Teen Fellowship Program, contact Bari Lutz at barilutz@caje-miami.org or visit Diller Teen Fellows Miami
