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Catching Up with Our Amazing Grads
Find out where life has taken them—their journeys, passions, and what they’re up to now.

Sisters Nicol Goldfiner Barlev (Class of 2007), and Melanie Goldfiner Goldberg (Class of 2011), are both proud Wise Alumni. Melanie recounts “My time at Wise holds some of my fondest memories, providing me with a nurturing and stimulating environment that fostered lasting friendships and a deep sense of community. The connections I made there, both with classmates and the larger community, continue to shape my personal and professional life, and I’m grateful for the strong foundation it gave me.”

Today, the sisters work for their family business, Rahaminov Diamonds, and recently had the honor of being part of Neiman Marcus’s fifth installment of The Achievers series, alongside their mom and designer, Tamara Rahaminov Goldfiner.

Wise School Alum David Kolodny is an entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Wilbur Labs, a startup studio turning bold ideas into market-leading companies. Wilbur Labs has built and invested in 21+ companies since 2016.

In David’s words, “Wise has felt like an extension of my family for as long as I can remember. The friends I made at Wise feel more like lifelong family members, not just for me but for my entire family. Now, as a parent of two young kids, I see Wise through a new lens. My wife, Emily, and I recently moved to Miami, and our two-year-old son, Ellis, just started school this year. Our newborn, Cy, will be starting school before we know it. Schools like Wise provide more than just an education — they are the center of their communities and a hub for connection, friendship, and shared values. Wise was that second home for me and I hope to recreate that kind of community for our family.”

Nicole Cohen Halle graduated from Wise School in the 90’s. She continued her education at Milken Community High School and thereafter graduated from Indiana University and received her law degree from Pepperdine University.

In Nicole’s words, “Wise School laid an important foundational building block to my Jewish faith, culture and upbringing. Now that I am raising my own kids, I often reflect on my experiences and education at Wise when incorporating traditions or explaining the significance of holidays and our Jewish history.

As a parent of a Wise student, it’s gratifying to see my child immersed in a Jewish education. He is having similar experiences that I had when I was a student, including the upcoming 4th grade trip to Sacramento.

My favorite Wise memories include being at the Purim assembly when our teachers dressed up, performing Hebrew plays in front of classmates and family, attending Friday Shabbat services, and celebrating with challah and grape juice in the classrooms. Today, when I drink grape juice, the taste takes me back to elementary school.”

Wise School Alum, Taylor Golshan, graduated from Tulane this year with a Degree in Business Management and a Minor in Legal Studies. She stayed in New Orleans to keep working and enjoy one last semester with her friends. As a passion project, Taylor runs a trucker hat business and is hoping to grow it next year and bring it to different colleges. In a few months, Taylor will be moving to New York to start work at AlphaSights!

Taylor reflects fondly on her time at Wise: “Wise has shaped me in so many ways. It gave me not just a great education but also the Jewish values that guide how I move through the world, like Tikkun Olam and love thy neighbor as thyself. These values have stuck with me over the years and feel more meaningful than ever today. Wise is also where I built some of my most important friendships, learned the power of community, and discovered how much joy comes from staying connected to your roots. I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my time at Wise.”