Livingston native is WJC Lauder Fellow
Tyler “TJ” Katz, a 2023 graduate of Livingston High School, is one of 18 people named as Lauder Fellows for the 2025-2026 academic year by the World Jewish Congress. The Jewish Standard and New Jersey Jewish News ran a story about him in 2023.
The fellowship is a selective international network of top Jewish student leaders dedicated to representing and advocating on behalf of the global Jewish community. This year’s fellows come from 15 countries.
Mr. Katz took a gap year after graduating from LHS to serve as the 99th international president of BBYO, leading a network of 70,000 Jewish teens across more than 60 countries. After his term, he matriculated in the dual-degree program at Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary.
“I look forward to working alongside a network of the world’s brightest Jewish students,” he said. “I am extremely humbled and honored to get the unique opportunity to present the work done over the following year at the United Nations and other international bodies in Europe.”
He recently joined the other fellows in NYC to kick off the year. They met with United Nations ambassadors at the International Red Cross. The cohort’s project plans aim to create a meaningful impact for Jewish communities throughout the world.
The Lauder Fellowship is funded by the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, which was established by WJC president Ronald S. Lauder. The foundation focuses on rebuilding Jewish life in Central and Eastern Europe, and the fellowship is a key initiative to support and empower Jewish leadership and community engagement worldwide.