Reich to Be Editor-in-Chief; Zagelbaum Takes Over as Managing Editor
Hadassah Reich (SCW ‘26), outgoing junior features editor for The Commentator, was chosen to lead the paper as editor-in-chief for volume 91 by current Editor-in-Chief Sruli Friedman (YC ‘26). Rikki Zagelbaum (SCW ‘26), the current senior news editor, will be promoted to managing editor.
Reich is an incoming senior at Stern College from Hollywood, Florida and attended Hebrew Academy RASG for high school. She is currently studying English at YU. “I am humbled and honored to have been promoted to this position,” Reich told The Commentator. “I believe that The Commentator is not just a paper, but also a community and I am so excited to lead and work with such a dedicated and passionate community. I am immensely grateful to Sruli [Friedman], Hannah [Mamet] and Rivka [Krause] for their guidance, wisdom and kindness.”
“It was an honor to work with Hadassah and Rikki over the past year. Both of them have demonstrated the leadership qualities, integrity and commitment to emes that have been so central to The Commentator’s mission since day one,” Friedman reflected in a statement to The Commentator. “There’s nobody to whom I would be more excited to commit this excellent paper to for its upcoming 91st year. We’ve accomplished a lot over the past months, and I look forward to seeing the great new heights to which the incoming board brings The Commentator!”
Friedman — also an incoming senior — is stepping down as editor-in-chief in order to run for Yeshiva College Student Council (YCSC) president. The Wilf Campus constitution prohibits members of the general assembly, including the YCSC president, from serving on The Commentator.
Managing Editor Hannah Mamet (SCW ‘26) told The Commentator that she is confident in Reich heading the paper.
“I first got to know Hadassah when I was the Junior Features Editor and had the pleasure of editing her articles. Besides being an excellent writer, I immediately sensed Hadassah’s curiosity, passion, ability to pick up on certain nuances to stories, as well as a keen sense of journalistic purpose. I am very proud of her and have no doubt she will be a fantastic leader.”
Zagelbaum will also be a senior at Stern next year and is majoring in media studies. She is from Monsey, New York and attended Bruriah High School, and is also a freelancer for Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), a reporter for YUPAC and has interned for the Jerusalem Post in Israel.
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to serve as Managing Editor next year and to continue working alongside such a smart, driven and genuinely kind team,” Zagelbaum told The Commentator. “Over the past year, I’ve gotten to know Hadassah both personally and through our work together, and I’ve seen firsthand the care, commitment and thoughtfulness she brings to everything she does. I know she’ll be a phenomenal Editor-in-Chief. I’m also especially proud to be part of The Commentator’s first all-female executive team!”
“A huge thank you to Sruli and Hannah for their guidance and leadership over the past two years,” Zagelbaum added. “Sruli’s mentorship especially has shaped the way I approach reporting and editing, and I’m so grateful for his trust and support. Hadassah and I have big shoes to fill, but I’m so excited for what’s ahead!”
Junior News Editor Daniel Kohn (SSSB ‘27) will replace Zagelbaum as senior news editor for the coming year and Junior Opinions Editor Rebecca Guzman (SCW ‘26) will replace Nadav Heller (YC ‘25) — who is graduating — as senior opinions editor. Mo Berlin (SSSB ‘26) and Liev Markovich (YC ‘26) will remain as senior editors for the Business and Arts & Culture sections, respectively.
Photo Caption: Incoming Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor Hadassah Reich (SCW ‘26) and Rikki Zagelbaum (SCW ‘26)
Photo credit: Hadassah Reich and Rikki Zagelbaum
