galia adiv israel€¦ · galia adiv israel teacher and jewish history and culture guide or school,...

Diti Bechor USA

North American Coordinator for Morim Shlichim

World Zionist Organization [email protected]

Diti Bechor is the North American coordinator for Morim Shlichim (Teaching Emissaries) program in

North America and the local representative for The World Zionist Organization. She previously served as

a Shlicha and The Midwest Program Director for Young Judea and the Hebrew Programs coordinator at

Camp Ramah in Wisconsin.

A graduate of Tel Aviv University in Management and Economics, she has served as CEO of several

organizations in Israel. She was formerly a counselor in the Israel Scouts (Tzofim) and head of Israel

Scouts in Yafo. She was also the Head of the PTA in her children’s school for 20 years.

Galia Adiv is an innovative Jewish educator who works at the Or School at Kefar H’oranim. She wrote a

new program on the subject of the homeland, created a new workbook with an accompanying card game

to update students on the Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel from the time of the departure from the walls

to the establishment of the state of Israel, and helped the students prepare presentations on what they had

learned. All lesson plans created by Adiv were tailored to different ages to learn about Judaism and

Zionism. As part of the issues discussed in the culture of Israel and legacy at the 7th & 8

th grade, she

wrote a learning unit called "Sanhedrin travels in Israel," to engage students in the Sanhedrin and in

prayer in relation to Zionist and Jewish values.

Galia Adiv ISRAEL

Teacher and Jewish History and Culture Guide

Or School, Kfar Oranim [email protected]

Marisa Albert USA

Intern


Marisa Albert is an intern at the World Zionist Organization through the Onward Israel program. She is

from Massachusetts and is a rising junior at Brandeis University studying Psychology and Business. She

is a Brandeis Bridges Fellow, which is a student-led initiative that strives to connect the Black and Jewish

communities on campus through conducting dialogue, events, and traveling to Israel and to the South

USA to follow the Freedom Rider’s path during the Civil Rights movement. Marisa was actively

involved in the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) in high school and first discovered her love of

Israel by traveling here with BBYO several summers ago.

Naomi Benedek ISRAEL

English Teacher

Har Nof Elementary School [email protected]

Naomi Benedek is an English Teacher in Har-Nof Elementary School in Tiberias. She was born in

Tiberias and then moved to Kibbutz Misgav-Am in the northern border of Israel. After six years in the

kibbutz, her family came back to Tiberias. In the last ten years she has been involved in the jewish

Agency’s Partnership 2-gether Projects at ‘Sovev Kinneret’ Region. Experience and responsabilities for

joinet youth programs between ‘Sovev Kinneret’ Region and schools from Tulsa and St. Paul. Naomi

holds a BA Degree in Education Studies from Bar- Ilan University and an MA Degree in Bible Studies

from Haifa University. Naomi is married and has 4 children and 5 grandchildren, with 2 more

grandchildren on the way.

Sharon Binnes ISRAEL

English Teacher

Reut School [email protected]

Sharon Binnes was born and brought up in the northwest of England and came to spend a year in Israel

on the WUJS program in Arad in her 20’s. Twenty-seven years later, she is still here! She studied for a

Masters in Comparative Literature at Hebrew University and became a certified English teacher. Sharon

has been teaching High school English for the last 16 years at the Reut School in Jerusalem, a pluralistic

religious community. Sharon is married with 4 children, 2 of whom are doing their military service in the

Israeli army. Sharon belongs to Yedidya, a liberal Orthodox schul in Baka.

Kyle Borenstein CANADA

Director, Student Activities

TanenbaumCHAT [email protected]

Kyle Borenstein, a Toronto, Canada native, spent 2 years studying at Yeshivat Hakotel in Jerusalem

before attending Yeshiva University where he received his Bachelors in Business and Management.

Upon graduating, Kyle participated in Yeshiva University’s Legacy Heritage Fellowship, which had him

teaching students from 6th-12th grade for two years at Robert M. Beren Academy in Houston, TX.

Simultaneously he completed his Master's Degree from the Azrieli School of Jewish Education. Kyle has

spent multiple summers attending the Pardes Summer Curriculum Workshop and will be participating in

Yeshiva University’s Experiential Jewish Education Certificate Program beginning June 2015. Kyle

currently teaches Rabbinics and Tanach at TanenbaumCHAT, a Community Jewish high school in

Toronto. There he is also the Co-ordinator of the Grade 9 Shabbaton Program, leading multiple

Shabbaton retreats throughout the academic year. Kyle will be assuming the role of Director of Student

Activities in the upcoming academic year. In his free time Kyle plays ice hockey as well as coaches high

school ice hockey. Kyle is excited for the opportunity to grow as an educator and to inspire a new

generation of Jews, with a love of Torah, Israel and a sense of commitment to the Jewish people.

Sandy Borowsky USA

Education Director

Orangetown Jewish Center [email protected]

Sandra Borowsky has been Orangetown Jewish Center’s Educational Director since 2002.

Previously, she was the Principal of Pelham Manor Jewish Center in Westchester County for three

years. A year before college, she lived on Kibbutz Hatzerim, near Beersheva. After receiving her

B.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park, and her M.S. Education from Long Island

University, Sandra completed her studies in the first cohort of Leadership Institute for

Congregational Principals, a two-year innovative joint program of the Jewish Theological Seminary

and Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion. She was chosen as a Legacy Heritage

Summer Fellow and studied at the Conservative Yeshiva of United Synagogue, Fuchsberg Center in

Jerusalem. Sandra was selected to participate in an exclusive program at the Center Of Israel

Education and Emory Institute for Study of Modern Israel that was funded by the Avi Chai

Foundation. She received a mini MBA from the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education

in managerial skills. Sandra was honored to be chosen and was funded to be one of 20 American

educators to study at the Yad Vashem International School for Holocaust Studies summer workshop.

Sandra has received numerous grants for her innovative educational curriculum and programming

from various organization including United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the Foundation of

Jewish Camps and the local Jewish Federation.

Dr. David Breakstone ISRAEL

Vice Chairman


Dr. David Breakstone is Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization and Founding Director of

Herzl Museum and Educational Center, as well as a member of the Jewish Agency executive. An

educator by training, he has also served as Director of the Hebrew University’s Pedagogic Center for

Jewish Education in the Diaspora, as Associate Dean and Director of Education at the Schechter Institute

for Jewish Studies, and as Director of Ramah Programs in Israel. Dr. Breakstone, who made Aliyah from

the United States in 1974 and earned his doctorate from Hebrew University in the field of Israel

education, has published numerous articles, books, and pedagogic materials on the teaching of Israel,

Israel-Diaspora relations, and Zionism – all topics on which he lectures extensively. His regular column

in the Jerusalem Post, deals primarily with contemporary issues in Israeli society, particularly as they

relate to the life of the Jewish community worldwide.

He blogs at http://keepdreaminginzion.wordpress.com/.

Rabbi Lee Buckman CANADA

Head of School

TanenbaumCHAT [email protected]

Lee Buckman has had two professional careers: one as a congregational rabbi in the 1990’s and the other

as a head of school. As head of school, he founded a Jewish day high school in a suburb of Detroit,

Michigan in 1999. In 2009, he moved to Atlanta GA to revitalize a failing elementary day school. In

2013, he was appointed head of school of the largest Jewish day high school in North America, an 1100

student school in Toronto called TanenbaumCHAT. In all three cities he has taken great pride in

attracting students from a wide range of denominational backgrounds. His leadership has always

advanced a strongly Zionist and pluralistic vision. It is a vision that reflects his belief that to the extent

one creates multiple entry points into Judaism, more young Jews will connect with their Jewish heritage.

In 1990, Lee graduated rabbinical school from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. In 2009, he

earned Orthodox semicha in Israel from two different dayanim. He is a fluent Hebrew speaker and writer.

He and his wife Rachel, a veteran teacher of limudei kodesh, raised their four sons bilingually. One has

made aliyah and serves in the IDF.

Ian Brojges CANADA

Hillel Director

Jewish Federation of Winnipeg [email protected]

Ian was born and raised in Winnipeg by his parents, two brothers and one sister. He was a very involved

community member there and attended the Jewish elementary school and Jewish high school in

Winnipeg. He studied Jewish Education at York University in Toronto and at Hebrew University in

Jerusalem. He lived in Calgary for seven years and Toronto for four years. Ian was a teacher at the

Calgary Jewish Academy and the Family Program Director at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue in Calgary and

is currently the Hillel Director in Winnipeg. Ian is a friendly and passionate professional who is dedicated

to the future of Jewish Education in North America.

Rachel Buckman CANADA

Teacher, Judaic Studies

Jewish Academy, Atlanta [email protected]

Rachel Buckman is a veteran Judaic Studies teacher who has taught in Jewish day schools in New York,

Milwaukee, Detroit, Atlanta and Toronto. Rachel is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the

University of Minnesota. She has also studied at Hebrew University and JTS. Rachel has been an early

adopter of educational technology. She teaches 5th and 6th grade chumash at the Atlanta Jewish

Academy from her home in Toronto. Rachel and her husband, Lee, are the parents of 4 sons. Their son,

Avi, is currently serving in the IDF.

Babette Cohn USA

Assistant Education Director

B'nai Israel Congregation [email protected]

Babette Cohn has been the Assistant Education Director at B’nai Israel Congregation in Rockville, MD

since July 2014. Previously she served as the Principal for students in grades 4-6 at the Temple Rodef

Shalom Religious School from in Falls Church VA (2007- 2014), and has worked as a teacher in the

Northern Virginia Jewish community for a total of 15 years. She is currently pursuing a Masters in

Jewish Studies with an Advanced Certificate in Jewish Education degree at Gratz College. Babette lives

in Fairfax, VA with her husband Jonathan. Together they are the proud parents of three children.

Marty Davis ISRAEL

Senior Advisor to the Vice Chairman


Marty Davis made Aliyah with his family 34 years ago after serving as the Director of Long Island

Young Judaea and Camp Tel Yehudah. In Israel he has worked in the fields of rural and urban

development, strategic planning, training, implementation, fundraising, leadership development and

donor development. He is an experienced educator in Jewish/Zionist Informal Education. He began

working for JIA’s Project Renewal Ashkelon as a Director. This was followed in 1988 by a three year

Keren Hayesod shlichut in Great Britain. During the same period, the Israel Foreign Ministry sent him

into the FSU to gather information, set up groups, etc. He has spent a considerable amount of time

speaking on behalf of the Misrad Hasbara and spoke at over 500 venues in the UK on the rise of Islamic

Fundamentalism. In 1991 he became Managing Director of the British Joint Israel Appeal’s Israel

operation. In December 1997 he joined the Jewish Agency (JAFI) under contract as a senior consultant.

During his period at the Agency he edited the Catalogue for People to People programs, wrote and edited

the first Overseas Needs and Assessment Survey. From 1999-2001 he was Executive Director for the

Israeli Masorti (Conservative) Movement. In August 2001 Marty Davis accepted a four year Schlichut in

Ottawa, Canada to serve as the Shaliach for Community. Upon his return to Israel in 2005, he joined the

World Zionist Organization as the Director General of the Department for Zionist Activities. Today he is

the Senior Advisor to the Vice-Chairman. He is a consultant and teacher to non-profit organizations and

bases his work on building community. He is a passionate Jew, Israeli, and Zionist. He is married to Terri

and they have three children and two grandchildren.

Dr. Joe Freedman ISRAEL

Freelance

Educational Tours [email protected]

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Joe holds an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological

Seminary and a doctorate in education from Teacher's College, Columbia University. He came on Aliya

to Israel from the USA in 1980 and lives with his family in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo. For

many years he was Director of the Ramah Israel Seminar and then Director of the Ramah Programs in

Israel until 2012. Previously, Joe worked on the Jewish Values curricula at the Melton Centre for Jewish

Education in the Diaspora at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In 1996 he earned his tour guide

license issued by Israel's Ministry of Tourism.

Joe has been the Tour Educator/Guide for many educational tours, and has experience working with all

age groups and religious backgrounds - from Birthright-Israel experiences to senior adult trips. Moreover,

Joe has also designed and led educational tours in Poland and Spain. He often uses Israeli music in his

guiding and he is also a certified Israeli folk dance instructor. Joe is married to Sue, a geriatric social

worker; they have four children and nine grandchildren - at last count.

Racheli Deutsch USA

Hebrew and Jeudaics Teacher

Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School [email protected]

Racheli Deutsh attended Boston’s Maimonides school K-12, spent a year abroad in Midreshet Harova,

received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Yeshiva University, and received her Masters

degree from Brandeis University in education. Currently, Racheli lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and

teaches 3rd, 5th, and 6th grade Hebrew and Judaics at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. Racheli

was raised in an Israeli home, was very involved with NCSY, and in college, she participated in a CJF

trip to Israel. She spent several summers working at and studying languages at Middlebury College,

focusing most of my time with the School of Hebrew. She has a strong love for Israel, is proud to be a

Jew, and feels privileged to be given opportunities to inspire others to keep their and future generations’

Jewish flames alive.

Rabbi Mordy Dinerman USA

Director, Curriculum Development, Editor-in-Chief

The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute [email protected]

Mordechai Dinerman serves as director of curriculum development for the Rohr Jewish Learning

Institute and is editor-in-chief of its Flagship courses.

Nancy Glinter CANADA

Judaic Studies Teacher

Gray Academy of Jewish Education [email protected]

Nancy Glinter was born in 1953, in Winnipeg, Canada and attended Jewish Day School and Jewish

Camp. In 1971, she traveled to Israel and volunteered on Kibbutz Hamadia for the summer, then

attended Hebrew University for the year. Nancy returned to Winnipeg and completed Bachelor of Arts

and Bachelor of Education degrees and married Harry Glinter. She taught in Winnipeg School Division

as a grade 1 teacher from 1975 – 1981, then worked in a Chabad school, then worked for a year in a

combined grade 2-3 classroom in a Hebrew bilingual program. She has been teaching at a community

day school, Gray Academy of Jewish Education, since 2003. This school places a high priority on the

place of Israel. She has since made many trips to Israel, visiting with family, traveling through the

country, and in 2010, studied at Pardes for three weeks. Two of her children have made Aliyah.

Ella Goren ISRAEL

English Teacher

Megiddo High School [email protected]

Ella Goren lives in Kibbutz Ein HaShofet. After her combat military service, Ella worked in the field

of informal education for 5 years. She then received a BA as a double major in English Literature

and Non-formal education. Ella is currently an English teacher and a home room teacher at Megiddo

High – this is her third year at the school. She got married in September 2013 and her husband is a

first and second grade teacher. Ella plays the guitar and paints.

Debora Goldstein CHILE

Kindergarten Teacher

Instituto Hebreo Dr. Chaim Weizmann [email protected]

Debora Goldstein was born in Mendoza, Argentina and attended a Primary Jewish School there. She

graduated as Preschool Teacher in Mendoza and has been working at Escuela Israelita Dr. Max

Nordeau for twelve years, both at Preschool and Primary levels..She attended Machon Grinberg in

Israel for a year and graduated as a Hebrew and Jewish Studies Teacher for the Diaspora.She then

moved to Chile to work at Instituto Hebreo Dr. Chaim Weizmann and after two years working as a

“ganenet” she was awarded a scholarship to study at Mechanchim Bechirim progeam in Israel at the

Hebrew University. She also attended the Mofet program in 2008. All along her teacher´s career she

has attended several development programs and seminars on the field of Jewish Studies, Hebrew,

Jalav Udvash, Teaching Israel and studies related to preschool years education. She is now a

Kindergarten teacher at Instituto Hebreo, Chile.

Tamara Guggenheim GERMANY

Principal

Jewish Community Dueseldorf [email protected]

Tamara Guggenheim is the principal of the Jewish Community Dueseldorf. She is also a teacher for

Jewish Studies. Her Israel curriculum includes teaching about the history, political situation, and

everyday life in Israel.

Professor Lisa Grant USA

Jewish Education Professor

Hebrew Union College [email protected]

Lisa D. Grant is Professor of Jewish Education at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.

Her research and teaching interests focus on adult Jewish learning, the professional development of

Jewish leaders and the place of Israel in American Jewish life. She has published widely on these topics

in a range of academic journals, books, and teaching guides. Most recently, she co-authored a policy

brief with Daniel Marom and Yehudit Werchow on the purposes of Israel education as part of the

Consortium for Applied Studies in Jewish Education that can be found at:

http://casje.com/israel-education/purposes-of-israel-education/

Sergio Herskovits CHILE

Principal

Instituto Hebreo, Chile [email protected]

Sergio Herskovits is a Lawyer from the University of Buenos Aires and has an M.A. degree in

“Philosophy of Education” from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is a fellow graduated from The

Jerusalem Fellows, a prestigious program at the Mandel Leadership Institute. Mr. Herskovits was

headmaster at Tarbut School, Buenos Aires, a K-12 school with 1400 students. He was Director of

Jewish Studies at Bialik College in Melbourne, Australia, where he was also de CEO of the United

Jewish Education Board. Mr. Herskovits is currently the Principal of Instituto Hebreo Dr. Chaim

Weizmann, a K-12 school with more than 1400 students in Santiago de Chile. He is a member of Harvard

University’s fellowship program “The future of learning” and he is Vice President of local Friends of

Hebrew University. Sergio is married and has 3 children.

Judy Jaffe USA

Director of Congregational Learning

Shomrei Torah Wayne Conservative Congregation [email protected]

Judith Kuper Jaffe is the Shomrei Torah Wayne Conservative Congregation’s first Director of

Congregational Learning. Prior to this year, Jaffe was the DOCL at Shomrei Emunah in Montclair for

seven years and completed six years as principal of Beth Am Temple Religious School in Pearl River,

NY. Raised in Manhattan, Jaffe attended The Ramaz School and Syracuse University, where she earned a

double degree in Mass Communications from the S.I. Newhouse School and history from the Maxwell

School. After many years of teaching religious school, serving as a family educator and youth advisor,

Jaffe earned her MAT in Jewish Studies from Fairleigh Dickinson in July 2007 and received both a

Principal's License from The National Board of License for Teachers and Principals in Jewish Schools in

North America and one of the very first to be granted the Conservative Jewish Education (CJE). Jaffe is a

member of the first cohort of HUC-JIR- JTS Leadership Institute Synagogue Congregational Educators.

She now lives in Bergen County, New Jersey with her husband of 36 years and has two daughters and a

grandson.

Aviva Janus USA

Education Director/Teacher

Shaare Tefila [email protected]

Bnai Israel Congregation Aviva Janus is originally from Stony Brook, New York. She earned a B.S. in Psychology from the

University of Wisconsin, Madison. After university, Aviva spent time in Israel enhancing her Jewish

education, learning Hebrew, and working. Aviva has lived in Silver Spring Maryland for the past 16

years. Aviva currently serves as the Education Director for a K-12 experiential religious school in Olney,

MD. She also teaches Israel studies at a large conservative Congregation in Rockville. Aviva considers it

an immense privilege and awesome responsibility to be guiding her many students in their Jewish

Education.

Steve Kerbel USA

Consultant

Steven Kerbel Educational Consulting [email protected]

Steve Kerbel is the principal of Steven Kerbel Educational Consulting in Rockville, Maryland. Before

this, he served as Director of Education for Congregation B’nai Tzedek and Ohr Kodesh Congregation

in Chevy Chase, Maryland for a combined 14 years. Prior to this Steve was the inaugural Retreat

Director of Capital Camps & Retreat Center. Steve has also been a full-time faculty member at the

Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville and an educational consultant to the Seaboard

Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Steve is currently a national vice president

of the Jewish Educators Assembly, the organization of conservative movement Jewish educators. Steve

earned a law degree and was in the private practice of law for eight years. Steve is an alum of

University of Maryland, College Park, where he met his wife, Judy, and they have two daughters.

Among Steve’s consulting activities, he facilitates wine tastings featuring Israeli wines and teaches

about the geography of diversity of Israel through its wines and wine makers.

Dr. Marc Kramer USA

Co-Executive Director of RAVSAK

RAVSAK, The Jewish Community Day School Network [email protected]

Dr. Marc N. Kramer is the Co-Executive Director of RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School

Network, the international association of Jewish schools devoted to serving children and their families

from across the spectrum of religious practice. RAVSAK encompasses over 130 schools and nearly

35,000 students. Marc earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Near East and Judaic Studies from Brandeis

University, a Master’s Degree in social work from Columbia University, a Master’s Degree in Judaica

from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and both a Master’s and Doctorate in education

from Columbia University- Teachers College. He is the recipient of the Sachar Award for academic

research, the Wexner Foundation Graduate Fellowship,the 2007 Covenant Award, and most recently,

the Dr. Benjamin J. Shevach Memorial Award from Hebrew College of Boston.

Dr. Simcha Leibowich USA

North American Representative


Dr. Simcha Leibovich, The WZO’s North American representative, oversees the operations of the World

Zionist Organization in North America. Dr. Leibovich is a teacher trainer and a co-editor of the

Encyclopedia for Social Educational Activities. He has served as Dean of Informal Education at Orot-

Academic College for Education and Givat Washington College of Education for over 3 decades. For 30

summers, he ran “Mercaz,” the educational programming center at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, and

developed the Ramah Program Bank for Online Educational Activities for the Ramah Camps in North

America. A consummate advisor and supervisor to youth movements across Israel and the world, he

founded the Outdoor Center for Leadership at Neot Kedumim (Bible Lands Reservation), which he

directed for over a decade.

Becky Lerner USA

Hebrew Coordinator and Teacher


Becky Lerner is from Indiana and was active in Young Judaea. She graduated from Indiana University

with a B.A. in Near East Languages and Cultures and a B.S. in Psychology. After spending a year of

college in the One Year Program at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, she lived and worked in Israel for

three more years, then returned to the States to pursue a graduate degree. Becky completed an M.A. at

Washington University, and has taught Hebrew at all different levels in St. Louis, Missouri for nearly 20

years. She is in her 10th year in day school education and currently coordinates Hebrew and Israel

Education, and teaches Hebrew in Kitah Alef, at the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. In the

summer of 2014, she participated in the First International Dialogue on the Israel Educator, and is the

iNfuse Coordinator for SMJCS through the iCenter. She is married with three children.

Leiba Levine USA

Teacher


Leiba Levine has been an advocate of Israel since her college abroad experience on the MACHON

program. She is a first grade educator at a day school and integrates Israel into all of her subjects. Leiba

recently taught the sustainability of resources at Kibbutz Lotan. She has taught in supplementary schools,

three different day schools, and many religious schools. Her daughter has been to Israel twice and is

currently studying at the University of Haifa, her son will go on his second trip this year. This will be

Leiba’s fourth trip to Israel, and each trip has given her new and important experiences.

Bernice Malka ISRAEL

Living Bridge Coordinator

The Jewish Agency for Israel [email protected]

Bernice Malka was born in Scotland and made Aliyah with her parents at age seven. She has a BA in

informal education and sociology and is a graduate of the Master’s degree executive program of Tel Aviv

University in Public Policy. She has been a civil servant all my professional life and many years were

devoted to working with youth including youth at risk. As an employee of the Yokneam municipality

between the years 1994- 2006 she had the privilege of being involved in the Partnership between

Yokneam Megiddo, Atlanta and St. Louis from the beginning. Since 2012 she has been the living bridge

coordinator of the partnership and is also responsible for the Global School Twinning program

connecting between Yokneam Megiddo and Atlanta. In her spare time she enjoys reading and sports and

has participated in the Israel women's Triathlon once a year since 2012.

Hedda Morton USA

Director of Congregational Learning

Institution Adath Israel Congregation [email protected]

Hedda Morton has been the Director of Congregational Learning at Adath Israel Congregation

(Lawrenceville, NJ) since 2001. She has developed and leads an award-winning religious school and

adult education programs. She has initiated, planned, and co-led congregational trips to Israel and

developed major events, such as the annual Sacks-Wilner Holocaust Education Program. Both Adath

Religious School and Mrs. Morton have been honored with Solomon Schechter Awards (USCJ),

JEA/Torah Aura Curriculum and Administration Awards, and the NJ Coalition for Inclusive Ministries

Religious Educator Award. In addition, Adath Israel Religious School’s Resource Center has received

national attention for its Dalet Dog program which uses therapy and service dogs to encourage children

to learn to read Hebrew and prayers. Prior to her current position, she served in Jewish educational

faculty and leadership positions in community and synagogue schools, day schools, and Jewish summer

camps. She has been an active member of the Jewish Educators Assembly (JEA) for over 20 years in

numerous positions including its national President. She participated in Young Judaea’s Year Course,

earned BA (University of Pittsburgh), MA (University of Colorado), and MAJEd (Gratz College)

degrees. She was also among the first to be recognized for her professional and educational

accomplishments when she received the Conservative Jewish Educator (CJE) credential. She continues

her personal and professional development and love of learning through seminars, workshops, and

conferences, as well as classes in both formal and informal settings.

Susana Meyohas CHILE

Hebrew and Jewish Studies Teacher

Instituto Hebreo Dr. Chaim Weizmann [email protected]

Susana Meyohas studied at a bilingual Jewish School in Chile, which included Hebrew, Torah and

Jewish Studies. She studied Civil Engineering at USACH University in Chile. At the Michlala she

completed her Hebrew and JS Teacher degree. She’s been working at Instituto Hebreo for 20 years now,

and during her career she attended several development Seminars and Congresses on Hebrew learning,

teaching Torah in the diaspora, Shabbat, teaching Israel, among others. Susana now teaches Grades 2, 3

and 4 using the Tal Am program and has attended Talam seminars in Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and

Santiago.

Robert Oster USA

Teacher

Temple Beth El [email protected]

Robert Oster has been an educator and lawyer for 35 years. He spent a year before college studying and

working in Kibbutz Sde Nehemiah near Kiryat Shemonah and went on to graduate magna cum laude

from Boston University with a BA in English Literature and studied in the prestigious University

Professors program. After college, Robert was awarded a JD degree from St Louis University. He

currently practices law with one daughter, Sarah Oster and is an adjunct professor at Johnson and Wales

University and Bryant University in Law Subjects. Robert also had a 20 year teaching career at temple

Beth el religious school in Rhode Island in Israel and holocaust education. He attended advanced study

of Israel programs with Ken Stein at Emory University and advanced Holocaust study at Yad Vashem .

He lives in Lincoln, Rhode Island with his wife and five daughters.

Rabbi Dubi Rabinovitz USA

Director

The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute [email protected]

Rabbi Rabinowitz is the Director of the Sinai Scholars Society and the International Initiative branches at

the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI). Rabbi Rabinowitz directs a network of 103 Sinai Scholars

Society chapters for university students on campuses across the United States and Canada, and

coordinates the annual Sinai Scholars National Jewish Retreat, and the Mentor-Protégé Program. Rabbi

Rabinowitz oversees international operations at JLI, establishing learning centers and providing

educational materials to Jewish communities throughout Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and a number

of Spanish-speaking countries. Previously, he held various management and business-process analyst

positions. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Touro College in

Jerusalem. Rabbi Rabinowitz received his Rabbinic ordination in 1993 from Yeshivas Tomchei

Temimim in Brooklyn, NY. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and 6 children.

Monica Nudelstejer MEXICO

Preschool Principal

Colegio Israelita de Mexico ORT [email protected]

Monica Nudelstejer is a preschool prinicpal and the educational philosophy at her school is the “Project

Approach” which is based on teaching through interaction, research, thinking skills, problem solving, and

communication, among other things, extending the classroom to each student's home, the community, our

country and the world. Some of the pillars that form our values as an institution is Judaism, which

reflects the philosophy of love and commitment to Israel. Monica had the opportunity to participate in the

Mejanjei Israel seminar, will allows her to take responsibility, as a community leader, from her position

as director and guide children who are the future of our community, encourage them to become active

participants in favor of the state of Israel, bringing their culture, traditions, and its immense capacity of

invention and commitment with the army and with all their nation, in every project they work on

throughout the year, and thus reflect what a Jewish school must offer in their curriculum.

Giora Rana ISRAEL

English Instructor

Ministry of Education, Emek HaHula Regional Council [email protected]

After completing his active duty in the army, Mr. Rana joined the Home Front Command – Israel

Defense Forces as a reservist and served in several positions, such as, Search and Rescue Company

Commander in a SAR Battalion, Population Behavior Officer in a SAR Battalion, Population Officer of a

Northern Sub-District and currently the Head of the Population Branch of the Northern District and

currently holds the position of the Director of the International Crisis Management Seminars and

Workshops for last five years in the Home Front Command – Israel Defense Forces.

Mr. Rana had been a Social Science researcher and lecturer at the Tel Aviv University and the Open

University between the years 1986-1992. Mr. Giora Rana has been an English language teacher and

instructor for more than a decade in schools and colleges. Today, Mr. Rana is teaching in the Emek Ha-

Hula Regional Comprehensive High School in Kibbutz Kfar Blum. He is also the Regional English

Language Instructor for schools in the north. Mr. Giora Rana is the director of Ground Rules Solutions

which specializes in Resilience Building /Crisis and Disaster Management issues. He is the Head of the

Disaster Management Division of the International Global Medical Horizon Ltd. Mr. Rana is a senior

HFC - IDF (Home Front Command) authorized trainer to the Local Authorities, Government Ministries

and Agencies in matters involving Public Preparedness for Emergencies, Civil Defense, Emergency

Preparedness and Readiness, Media Planning for Emergencies, and Resilience Building and Management

during Emergencies. He has been a Crisis Management Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the

MASHAV division for the more than 10 years in Crisis and Disaster Management issues in the African

and Asian Continents.

Lisa Richman USA

Judaic Studies Teacher and Coordinator

Perelman Jewish Day School [email protected]

Lisa Richman has been a professional Jewish educator in the Philadelphia area for over four decades. She

has been employed at the Perelman Jewish Day School – Stern Center since 1976. She is currently in the

Ed.D. Program at Gratz College. She also currently works at her synagogue, Temple Beth Hillel Beth El

and was the Education Director for many years at Camp Ramah in the Poconos. Lisa’s daughters both

spent time in Israel over the years with their synagogue, school, and youth group and on their own. Her

younger daughter made Aliya immediately upon her graduation from high school in 2012 and recently

completed her service in the IDF. Lisa lived in Israel in the early 1980s and has maintained close

connections with family and friends there.

Eran Rosenberg USA

Judaic Studies Coordinator

Columbus Jewish Day School [email protected]

Eran Rosenberg, is on the faculty of the Columbus Jewish Day School in Ohio where he serves as Judaic

Studies Coordinator and teaches fourth to sixth grades Judaic studies and Hebrew language. He is a

recreational Jewish educator who makes the learning into an experiential and fun one. His development

of pedagogic resources, curriculum, and assessment materials has been featured in numerous workshops

in Columbus and other Jewish communities. Eran has been involved in strengthening the relations with

teachers and students of Kfar Saba as part of Columbus Jewish Federation and JAFI's P2G program. He

has served as the chair of the Educational Bridge program for several years and has been involved in

other programs within the partnership as well. Eran is involved in several local synagogues where he

leads services and Torah reading, conducts children's programs during Shabbat and holidays, and

prepares students for B’nai Mitzvah.

Claudia Schlesinger MEXICO

Teacher, Arts Coordinator

Colegio Hebreo Tarbun [email protected]

Claudia Schlesinger was born in Mexico City and studied K-12 in a Jewish School called Naye. She was

part of an Israeli dance Company called “bamajol,” participated in Habonim Dror, and went to Shnat

Hagshara in Kibbutz Ein Guev. She made aliya with her husband got her BA at Tel Aviv University in

special education and a 2-year course for markidim. Claudia loves teaching and working with kids and is

the proud mother of 3 children.

Olga Sacal Bissu MEXICO

Hebrew Teacher

Sefaradi School [email protected]

Olga Sacal Bissu has been a teacher at the Jewish elementary Sefaradi School in Mexico for the past 6

years. She teaches tradition and Jewish History. She was born and raised in Mexico City and graduated

from a Jewish High School. Olga holds a degree in Communication Science from Anahuac University

with a post degree in Education from the Hebrew University of Mexico.

Lisa Schwartz USA

Shorashim Religious School Director

Temple Israel Center, New York [email protected]

Lisa Schwartz has taught at a local Hebrew Day School and synagogue school for the past 15 years in

Rockland County, NY. After her first family trip to Israel at age 17, she spent 5 months learning in

Jerusalem, and then spent 5 months on a new kibbutz in the Arava Valley named Kibbutz Yahel. After

completing college in the US, she made Aliyah and lived with her husband in Arava for 10 years. She

returned to the US in 1992 and received her Masters in Teaching. Israel and Jewish education is her

passion, and she feels fortunate to be able to work in this field on a daily basis.

Limor Shacham USA

Hebrew Teacher


Limor Shacham teaches Hebrew to fourth through eighth grades at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community

School. She coordinates the eighth grade trip to Israel and integrates Israel education through the middle

school elective course offerings. Limor is completing her 14th year teaching at Mirowitz. Limor holds a

BA in education and literature, and a teaching certificate from Ben Gurion University.

Tzofia Shapira Barchad ISRAEL

Education Coordinator

The Jewish Agency for Israel [email protected]

Tzofia Shapira Barchad lives in Moshav Hazorim, near Tiberius. She did her national service as a tour

guide and has continued guiding ever since, particularly to Jewish groups from abroad. She now works in

the Jewish Agency in the Yokneam Megiddo-Atlanta St. Louis partnership as an education coordinator

and is in charge of the school twinning-kesher b’ekita project which connects schools in the region to

schools in St. Louis. She also runs the Makabim project, which is a community leadership program with

a wide pluralistic context.

Leticia Sirazi MEXICO

Kindergarten Teacher

Colegio Hebreo Tarbut [email protected]

Leticia Sirazi runs a kindergarten and teaches Hebrew through through the Chalav Udbash program at the

Tarbut Hebrew School in Mexico. Teaching children the bases of Judaism and conveying the customs

and traditions of Judaism is a major part of her life. Seeing how the children develop within the school,

explore the world, and share their knowledge, insights, and learning makes her feel that she have

transmitted her love for the Israeli culture, the country, the language, the community and love of

neighbor. She strives to transmit attitudes to help the children be empathetic, caring, daring, thinkers,

inquirers, for this is what makes them grow and develop.

Michal Shmuel-Lewis USA

Hebrew Teacher/Counselor

Kadimah School of Buffalo [email protected]

Michal Shmuel-Lewis was born and raised in Israel and received her BA in Education and a teaching

license from Seminar Hakibbutzim in Tel-Aviv. She moved to the US in 2001 and graduated in 2006

with a masters’ in education from the University at Buffalo and is a licensed school counselor. She taught

English in Israel for seven years in mostly middle school and high school. She has been teaching in

Kadimah Jewish day school in Buffalo since 2001. She teaches Hebrew, prepares the students for the

NYS regents’ exam, and teaches character education and social skills in the primary and middle school.

Israel is an integral part of the curriculum and Hebrew is taught using all four skills. Israel and

coordinates the holiday programs in our school. Michal is married and is a mother of 2 girls.

Prof. Ken Stein USA

President of CIE and ISMI and Professor

CIE/ISMI at Emory University [email protected]

Ken Stein is the President of the Center for Israel Education (CIE) and the Director of the Emory Institute

for the Study of Modern Israel (ISMI). Since 1977, he has taught modern Middle Eastern History,

Political Science, and Israel Studies.

The establishment of ISMI in 1998 was the first permanent Institute or Center in the U.S. created for the

study of modern Israel. An off-shoot of ISMI, CIE was established in 2008. Ken is the author of four

books, numerous papers and scholarly articles, whose expertise focuses on the origins of modern Israel,

the conflict, Palestinian history, and U.S.-Israeli relations. Two of his books, The Land Question in

Palestine, 1917-1939 (1984) and Heroic Diplomacy: Sadat, Kissinger, Carter, Begin and the Quest for

Arab-Israeli Peace (1999) have remained standards in their fields. He is the recipient of awards at Emory

for teaching excellence, life-long mentoring of students and for internationalizing the curriculum. Ken’s

initiatives are responsible for bringing to Emory College ten visiting Israeli professors. His vision and

execution are responsible for more than two dozen Center-sponsored workshops for students and

educators about modern Israel. Educated at Franklin and Marshall College (BA) and the University of

Michigan (two MA degrees and a doctorate in Middle Eastern History), he was an advanced graduate

student at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In Spring 2006, he was a visiting professor of Political

Science at Brown University. He is the primary content author of materials found on the website.

Donna Tarutz USA

Jewish Educator, Manager Senior Programming

Temple Beth Elohim [email protected]

Congregation B'nai Torah

JCC of Greater Boston Donna Tarutz is from Boston, Massachusetts. She was awarded her B.A. from Brandeis University in

Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and History and her Bachelors in Jewish Education from Hebrew

College, Newton, MA. At Hebrew College, Donna was selected as the Jubilee Speaker-the Highest

Community Service Award and the Highest Academic Award in honor of the Jubilee Celebration. Donna

was awarded her Masters of Arts is from the Hornstein Program in Jewish Communal Service. She has

been teaching in Jewish Conservative and Reform supplementary schools for over two decades. She is

passionate about Jewish education and guiding children and young adults to love learning, to engage

students in the love of learning about their Jewish identity. Donna was the Director of Jewish Education

at Camp Pembroke, a Zionist Camp for girls. In 2013, Donna was selected as a Teaching and

Technology Fellow by the Boston Jewish Federation to study advanced technologies for integration in

the Jewish classroom. Donna also works at the JCC in Greater Boston creating Jewish programming for

adults.

Hazzan Arlyne Unger USA

Cantor/Educational Director

Beth Tikvah B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue [email protected]

Hazzan Arlyne Unger earned B.A. and M.S. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.H.L. in

Hebrew Literature and dual M.A. degrees in Jewish Education and in Jewish Music/Cantorial Track from

Gratz College. She has been Hazzan for 19 years and Educational Director for 21 years at Beth Tikvah-

B’nai Jeshurun in Erdenheim, PA. She has served as adjunct instructor of Hazzanut at the

Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and adjunct instructor of Nusah at Gratz College. She has been on

the Executive Council of the National Cantors Assembly and is currently on the Board of the National

Jewish Educators Assembly as well as Chairperson of the Cantors Assembly Delaware Valley Region.

She is a past President of the Delaware Valley Jewish Educators Assembly, and a past Vice-President of

the Women Cantors’ Network.

Atara Volk-Itzchaki ISRAEL

Project Manager


Atara Volk is a project manager in the Vice Chairman’s office at the WZO. Since her military service as

a Teacher-Soldier, she has been involved in Jewish Education in different organizations, such as Beit

Hatfutsot, Taglit and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin and Israel. She studied Hermeneutics at Bar Ilan

University for her MA degree, and Psychology and Jewish Art for a BA degree. In addition, she has a

teacher certificate and has taught Jewish History and Art History in an Israeli high school. She is married,

has a young son and lives in Modiin.

Rich Walter USA

Associate Director for Israel Education

CIE/ISMI at Emory University [email protected]

Rich Walter is the Associate Director for Israel Education at the Institute for the Study of Modern Israel

(ISMI) at Emory University. He oversees the education and community-based work of the Center for

Israel Education (CIE) and ISMI, including developing curricula and lesson plans, and sharing strategies

for teaching and their implementation. He engages the Atlanta Jewish community, congregations, and

Jewish communities across the nation with Israel education initiatives. Receiving his BA in Politics and

Near Eastern Judaic Studies and MA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, Rich

has extensive experience increasing community involvement in Jewish formal and informal learning for a

wide variety of age groups. Prior to joining CIE and ISMI in August 2012, he served as Director for

Jewish Life and Learning at the Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven,

CT, and as Associate Executive Director for Education and Community Development at the Bureau of

Jewish Education in Rhode Island. From 1997 to 2001, he taught at the Alperin Schechter Day School in

Providence, RI.

Davidi Winograd ISRAEL

Advisor to the Vice Chairman


Up to a short while ago and for the past 15 years - Director of Short Term Shlichut Programs at The

Jewish Agency for Israel (human resource educators and emissaries for short term programs). Davidi sees

himself as an accomplished educator and strategic leader with many years of experience in leading and

managing programs, training next generations of young Jewish leaders in Israel and Jewish communities

around the world. As the founding director of the Short Term Shlichut department, Davidi managed a

global education operation responsible for recruiting and training over 1500 Israeli emissaries for Jewish

communities and summer camps around the world. Davidi has been responsible for the strong

organizational and educational infrastructure of The Jewish Agency Short Term Shlichut Programs, an

infrastructure that enabled enormous growth and development and that is consider one of JAFI's prestige

programs today. Davidi developed dozens of initiatives such as, partnerships with the IDF and the

Division of Security and Social Services at the Ministry of Defense, programs with the generosity of the

Avi-Chai and Goodman Foundations for the empowerment of Israel education. Davidi expanded action

channels vis-à-vis the Israel public and academic institutions, developed customer and marketing

concepts geared toward target population in Israel and around the world and transformed a subsidized

program to financially profitable. Davidi has been fortunate to have had the privilege to share a profound

experience with over 20,000 young Israeli’s, a broad picture, a mosaic of Israel, comprised of an infinite

variety of colors; a world of young people proud of their Jewish and Israeli identity. Davidi's experience

is varied and his responsibilities have required knowledge of human resource and career development

expertise as well as strong educational experience. Davidi sees himself as an agent for change and seeks

to continue impacting and developing action areas for leading non-profit organization in spheres of

Jewish peoplehood & social activism by creating inter-organizational partnerships. Currently, Davidi is

filling in as acting Adviser to the Vice Chairman of the World Zionist Organization.

galia adiv israel€¦ · galia adiv israel teacher and jewish history and culture guide or school,...

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