Hirsch to Edit Newspaper, Zimilover Named Managing Editor
The Governing Board of The Commentator announced Avi Hirsch (YC ‘20) as the new Editor-in-Chief and Yossi Zimilover (SSSB ‘20) as the Managing Editor on May 7, replacing Benjamin Koslowe (YC ‘19) and Shoshy Ciment (SCW ‘19), respectively, for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Hirsch, a Data Science major, has worked for layout staff for the past two years. He joined The Commentator in Fall 2017 as a layout editor, before rising to Junior Layout Editor in Spring 2018 and to Senior Layout Editor in Fall 2018. As Senior Layout Editor this past year, Hirsch oversaw the publication of 14 print issues plus a print Purim Issue, making Volume 84 the most prolific volume of The Commentator in over a decade. Additionally, Hirsch spearheaded both the 2018 Midterm Election poll and the Commentator Spring 2019 survey, as well as an extensive investigation and exposé on the state of recycling on the Wilf Campus. He is also co-President of the Poetry Club.
“I am confident that Avi will do an excellent job next year,” expressed Zimilover. “He is extremely dedicated to the values of the paper, and I look forward to working with him and growing The Commentator to new heights.”
Zimilover, a Marketing major, joined The Commentator as a staff writer in Fall 2017, moving up to Junior News Editor in Spring 2018 and to Senior News Editor in Fall 2018. This year, Zimilover and his News team successfully published over 100 articles, including breaking several much-discussed stories, updates regarding academic policies and regular, timely news coverage of various events and discoveries throughout the year. He follows in the footsteps of his older brother Adam Zimilover (YC ‘14), who served as The Commentator’s History Editor from 2010-2012 and as News Editor from 2012-2013, before stepping down to serve as the Yeshiva College Student Association (YCSA) President for the 2013-2014 academic year. Zimilover has been a member of the Wilf Student Life Committee for the past two years and is also actively involved in Bnei Akiva of New York & New Jersey.
“Yossi’s thoughtfulness and commitment to the paper have made him an invaluable asset to the News section of The Commentator this year,” stated Hirsch. “I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him next year.”
The outgoing Governing Board expressed strong confidence in the decision. “Avi and Yossi are both supremely talented and dedicated editors,” stated outgoing Editor-in-Chief Benjamin Koslowe. “Avi time and again impressed me this year with his competence, organization and general journalistic wisdom, and Yossi did a fantastic job managing a strong News section. I am confident that The Commentator is being passed on to eminently qualified, capable hands.” Outgoing Managing Editor Shoshy Ciment added, “I’m excited to see which direction Avi will take The Commentator next year. Whatever he does, I have full faith that he’ll make us all proud.”
Members of the 2019-2020 board will also include Yitzchak Carroll (YC ‘21), Yosef Lemel (YC ‘21), Jacob Rosenfeld (YC ‘21), Jacob Stone (YC ‘20), Chana Weinberg (SCW ‘20) and Michael Weiner (YC ‘21) as section editors, as well as Rocky Pincus (SCW ‘20) as Senior Layout Editor and Elisheva Kohn (SCW ‘21) as Social Media Manager.
Considering his ambitions for next year, Hirsch said, “I am honored to be taking over as editor of the paper from Benjamin, who has done an outstanding job leading us this year. Our success this past year has largely come as a result of his strong leadership as well as the hard work of our Editorial Board and writing staff. I hope to continue to expand our horizons next year as we face the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
