DFW students support Israel through StandWithUs

7 local college students share leadership, advocacy for Israel nationwide

By Deb Silverthorn | Texas Jewish Post | May 7, 2025

From left, front row: StandWithUs senior campus regional manager Josh Mitchell-Arbital with 2024-2025 StandWithUs Emerson Fellows Noa Dor, Eliana Field, Noa Buaron; back row: Daniel Horn, Dani van Creveld, Peleg Katz, Gabi Magenheim, Michal Epstein and Allison Perilman at the StandWithUs International Conference, Feb. 27 to March 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. Photo: Courtesy StandWithUs

From left, front row: StandWithUs senior campus regional manager Josh Mitchell-Arbital with 2024-2025 StandWithUs Emerson Fellows Noa Dor, Eliana Field, Noa Buaron; back row: Daniel Horn, Dani van Creveld, Peleg Katz, Gabi Magenheim, Michal Epstein and Allison Perilman at the StandWithUs International Conference, Feb. 27 to March 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.

The mission of StandWithUs — to support Israel and fight antisemitism around the world — is being carried out with passion by DFW-raised college students at campuses across the country.

StandWithUs Emerson Fellows Royce Brik, Noa Buaron, Dani van Creveld, Eliana Field, Michal Epstein, Allison Perilman and Eliam Silva have joined more than 2,000 peers who have participated in the fellowship’s history. During the 2024-2025 academic year, they dedicated themselves to learning, growing and advocating for Israel.

“Our programs bring education to students and faculty, providing an ‘Israel 101,’ explaining what antisemitism is and introducing participants to IDF soldiers and Holocaust survivors. We host Shabbat dinners, speaker events and more,” said Josh Mitchell-Arbital, senior campus regional manager for StandWithUs, who oversees college programs in Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma.

“When I started, we had relationships on five campuses in the Central Area. We now have 36. The program is growing, and there’s definitely a need for what we do,” he added.

Originally from San Diego and raised in Tulsa, Mitchell-Arbital attended the University of Central Oklahoma, where he was one of fewer than 10 Jewish students. After graduate school at the University of San Francisco, he found StandWithUs through a Birthright trip and joined the organization after graduating in 2022. 

Plano West Senior High School graduate Noa Buaron, daughter of Yafit and Rami Buaron and a member of DATA of Plano, is a junior at the University of North Texas majoring in marketing with a minor in real estate.

Referred to StandWithUs by a friend she met through NCSY, Buaron hosted six campus events this year, including a unity walk, information tables honoring the Oct. 7, 2023, victims, and Israel Fest in partnership with UNT’s Hillel.

Buaron credited the conferences she attended in Los Angeles last August and February for providing the education and relationship-building key to her success. At the February conference, speakers included comedian Zach Sage Fox, Olympic medalist Peter Paltchik, StandWithUs co-founder Roz Rothstein and singer-dancer Montana Tucker.

“Before Oct. 7, I never felt or saw antisemitism on campus. Since then, it’s been more stressful,” Buaron said. “The support I’ve found from Jews and non-Jews, and friends at other campuses, has been a huge help.”

 Eliana Field, a Carroll Senior High School graduate and daughter of Marina and Brian Field, is a University of Missouri student majoring in hospitality management with a minor in business.

Raised at Congregation Beth Israel and Chabad of Southlake, Field led Speakers Circle events, hosted a remembrance table for Oct. 7, and welcomed an IDF soldier to campus.

“The Emerson Fellowship has been one of the best experiences of my life,” Field said.

“StandWithUs brought me a family of Jews from different backgrounds and provided me with a community and skills I didn’t even know I needed.

“Josh has been an incredible mentor, and I know we’ll always be connected,” she added. “Israel isn’t just a faraway place — it’s our place, and we must speak for her.” 

Dani van Creveld, daughter of Karen and Ashley van Creveld, grew up at the Jewish Learning Center and Chabad of Dallas. A Texas Connections Academy graduate and Texas A&M student majoring in dance science with a psychology minor, she now serves as StandWithUs’ Central and Midwest campus liaison.

Van Creveld oversees 17 FLI (Future Leaders Initiative) students and is co-president of Texas A&M’s Chabad student board.

“I came to college thinking Jewish community would just be challah bakes,” van Creveld said. “Instead, I encountered misinformation about Israel. Through StandWithUs, I’ve learned who we are, how to express it and how to advocate for peace.”

Also representing DFW in the Emerson Fellowship are:

Royce Brik, a Lovejoy High School graduate studying at Texas A&M.

Michal Epstein, a Plano East Senior High School graduate, also at Texas A&M.

Allison Perilman, a Keller High School graduate at the University of Oklahoma.

Eliam Silva, an Akiba Yavneh Academy graduate now attending Yeshiva University.

“Our goal is to inspire students to lift their voices by providing the language and information needed to make a difference,” Mitchell-Arbital said. “We love seeing them shine and grow.”

For more information about StandWithUs, its programs or to support the organization, visit StandWithUs.com or email campus@standwithus.com.

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