Essex County Native and Livingston High School Alumnus TJ Katz Selected for Prestigious WJC Lauder Fellowship

NEW YORK, NY — Tyler “TJ” Katz, a 2023 graduate of Livingston High School (“LHS”), has been named a Lauder Fellow for the 2025-2026 fiscal year by the World Jewish Congress (“WJC”). The Lauder Fellowship is a highly selective international network of top Jewish student leaders dedicated to representing and advocating on behalf of the global Jewish community. The WJC has appointed 18 fellows for this academic year, hailing from 15 different countries.

Katz took a gap year after graduating from LHS to serve as the 99th International President of BBYO, where he led a network of 70,000 Jewish teens across more than 60 countries.

Following the conclusion of his term, Katz 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. 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,” Katz stated.

Katz recently joined his 17 peers in the fellowship in NYC to kick off the year. The group met with ambassadors at the United Nations and individuals at the International Red Cross. The cohort ideated on their project plans for the year which strive to create a meaningful impact for Jewish communities throughout the world.

The Lauder Fellowship is generously 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.