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About Oranim:
Founded in 1986 as a travel company geared toward the young Jewish traveler, today Oranim Educational Initiatives is Israel's premiere educational tourism provider. Our broad menu of programs in Israel and abroad focuses on a Jewish audience but includes a diversity of populations including Christian tourism. Oranim has developed unique travel curricula based on the communality of the Jewish people, and we encourage travel to Israel as part of life-long learning concerning the history and heritage of the Jewish People. Some of our groups also travel to Europe in order to trace the roots of Jewish and Israeli history, and to mark the contributions made by Jews to various cities across the globe. Because Oranim was established and is operated in Israel - in the Jewish national and cultural heart - we are just the people to turn to when you are looking for a special, out-of-the-ordinary look at the Jewish People.
In 1999, Oranim operated the first Taglit-Birthright Israel program and quickly grew to be the largest organizer with over 55,000 international alumni. Always committed to Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) and eager to engage his groups in meaningful, long term community service, Oranim president Shlomo (Momo) Lifshitz fulfilled a life-long dream and established the Community Involvement program in 2006. Three years after its inception, Oranim continues to build meaningful, long term programs in Israel - each of which include a community involvement component, interjecting positive and hopeful messages to communities throughout Israel and participants in our programs. Oranim Educational Initiatives proudly stands behind each dedicated and committed participant who contributes his or her time to our long term Israel programs.
Meet our Staff:
Shlomo (Momo) Lifshitz, President - Oranim Educational Initiatives
Momo is the founder and president of Oranim Educational Initiatives, Israel's leading educational travel company. His vision of securing the future of Israel and the Jewish People has been a guiding light through his entire career. Born in Tel Aviv in 1956, he served with distinction in the Israeli Army, rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel and saw action in the first Lebanon War (1982). He acquired a B.A. from Bar Ilan University in Sociology and Political Science, sociology and high-school teacher's certification. Momo left the army in 1984 and joined the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI). Momo has a certification from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as a Specialist in Israeli Tourism.
Amnon Weigler, Vice President - Oranim Educational Initiatives
Amnon Weigler was born on the first Independence Day of the State of Israel in 1949. In 1967 he joined the Nahal unit of the Israeli Army - a unit that shares settlement and social endeavors as well as combat. Amnon served in the paratrooper unit of the Nahal and was the founder of Moshav of Zofar in the Arava. Amnon joined the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and earned his guiding license from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. In the SPNI he established Field Study Centers, was the Coastal Plains Regional Director and built groundbreaking educational programming that is still in use. After 12 years he departed from the SPNI and was involved in various educational tourism programs. He joined Oranim Educational Initiatives as Vice President and oversees the programming and educational content of Oranim's Teen and Jewish School programs, Jewish Teachers programs as well as Oranim's Jewish Travel programs around the world. Amnon has raised 5 children and is the proud grandfather of Ohad, born in December 2007.
Ofer Gutman, Director of Oranim Long Term Israel Programs
Ofer was born in 1975 and raised in Tivon, a town in the north of Israel, as a third generation to one of the first families' founders of the town in the late 1930s. He served on a battleship in the Navy of the Israel Defense Force. Ofer has L.L.B. degree and he is an attorney. He has worked in the Israel Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism, dealing with civil rights in Israel and helping new Olim with legal issues. Over the years, Ofer was very active on the campuses in Israel with peace and social issues and arranged many seminars for young adult and student leadership in Israel about Zionism and social issues. From 2004-2008, Ofer was the Central Shaliach (emissary) for the University Student Division/Hagshama Department of the World Zionist Organization in North America, working to bring Israel to the campuses and the campuses to Israel. Ofer has also worked in politics for several campaigns and was the chairman of Young Meretz and was in charge of the young adult and student activities of the party. Ofer was also a delegate to the World Zionist Congress.
Dana Lev, Director of Israel Volunteer Center
Dana was born and raised in Kfar Saba, Israel. In 1999, Dana volunteered a year in the north of Israel as Community Coordinator of the "Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed" youth movement. She joined the army and served as an Education Officer in the Nahal. After the army, Dana was sent by the Jewish Agency to Argentina as a Shaliach, where there, she volunteered in two communities working in education and bringing the Israeli spirit to them. During that year she met her husband - an Israeli diplomat. They got married and Dana moved with him to San Paulo, Brazil, there she worked in the conservative community as the Director of Informal Education and the Youth Movement. After three years in South America, she moved with her husband to Moscow, Russia, she worked in the Jewish Agency for three years. Dana returned to Israel in August 2009. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Education from The Open University and is doing her M.A. in Public Studies in Tel Aviv University.
Emil Zaidman, Director of Short Term Programs
Born In Bucharest, Rumania in 1969 and making Aliyah at the advanced age of one year, Emil was raised in Jerusalem. Following the typical Israeli path of Youth Movement ("Hanoar Haoved"), serving in the Army (combat soldier in the Nahal unit) and academic studies (Law School of the Hebrew U), Emil's professional life took a turn as he spotted a small ad in the newspaper looking for Madrichim (counselors) for Educational Tourism "Israel Experience" groups of Jewish teens coming from the USA. The summer of 1991 which he spent with 40 American and Canadian college students changed Emil's life as he understood that Jewish/Zionist education will be a more thrilling and rewarding career path for him than any law firm could offer. Emil's started working as a Madrich (counselor) and tour guide for Young Judaea, the Zionist Youth Movement of Hadassah. Emil became YJ Israel's Short Term Programs educational director from 1995-1998, Regional Shaliach (educational Emissary) in the Midwest from 1998-2001, and back in Israel as the director of the STP department from 2001 – 2006, rebuilding it after the Intifada years and during the 2nd Lebanon war. In 2006 Emil started his 3 years term as the Central Shaliach (emissary) of Young Judaea, overlooking 10 regional shlichim and the educational framework of this 100 years old movement. During his USA tenure, Emil also served as the Educational Director of Camp Tel Yehudah, the leading Zionist senior leadership camp in the USA. Emil is a member of Kibbutz Giv'at Ha'im Ichud in Emek Hefer and lives there with his wife Anat and his 3 children: Ela, Shaul and Ofri.
Yariv Ofer, Director of Educational Programs
Yariv was born and raised in Kibbutz Yechiam in the Galilee. He graduated from Ashrat High School in 1988 and served as a combat team commander in the IDF from 1988 - 1992. Yariv has traveled extensively in Europe, Asia as well as North and South America and studied criminology at Bar Ilan University, graduating in 1997. After getting his tour guiding license from Haifa University in 1999, Yariv has guided many Israeli and American high schools, families, youth movements and Taglit-Birthright Israel groups. He is married to Dana and father to Roi and Ma'ayan.
Todd Edelman, Director of Marketing
New York born, but New Jersey raised. Coming from a conservative family, Todd attended Hebrew school until his Bar-Mitzvah at age 13. After his Bar-Mitzvah, Todd's connection to Judaism started to fade, attending Synagogue less often and no longer feeling connected to his Jewish roots. After hearing about Taglit-Birthright Israel in March of 2005, Todd found himself touring Israel just 3 short months later. Todd felt an instant connection to the land of Israel. He knew he needed to come back, and in May 2006, Todd returned to Israel by staffing a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. Momo quickly saw his passion with the land of the chosen people and encouraged Todd to make a change in his life - to give back to not only the land, but the people of Israel. In August 2006, during the second Lebanon War, Todd returned to Israel to participate in the inaugural round of the 'Israel Service Corps - Community Involvement' program in Ramla. Within months of his arrival, Todd was already filing paperwork to make Aliyah, and on Dec 21, 2006, Todd became an Israeli citizen. Todd has worked with Oranim since January 2007, and continues to 'live the dream' in the land of Israel.
Dana Ganot, Administrative Coordinator
Dana was born and raised in Kfar Saba, Israel. She holds a B.A. in Islam and Middle East studies from Tel Aviv University. During her studies, she worked as a research assistant at the Center for Iranian Studies at the university and improved her Farsi knowledge in parallel to intensive Arabic studies. Dana also worked at the Peres Center for Peace as a project manager for the economy and business department. As such, she organized and initiated many business meetings and professional trainings for both Israelis and Palestinians from similar fields for the benefit of both sides. Over the years, Dana participated in many coexistence and peace building activities and also functioned as a counselor at the "Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed" youth movement. During her free time, Dana likes to Jog, read and play with her dog.
Ofir Teva, Admissions Coordinator
Ofir was born in Israel and moved to Toronto with his family at an early age. Upon completing his undergraduate degree in Psychology at York University (Toronto, Ontario), Ofir decided to reacquaint himself with family, friends, and the people of Israel by embarking on a personal journey back to Israel. Since his first participation with Taglit-Birthright Israel: Oranim trips in 2003, Ofir has staffed multiple North American trips. In 2007, after researching various programs in Israel, Ofir made the decision to pursue a long-term volunteer program through Oranim's Israel Service Corps. Ofir enjoyed the freedom to design his own volunteering schedule and be involved in projects matching his own interests. After completing the 5 months, he chose to stay in Israel and join the Oranim team.
Kely Levy, Registration Coordinator
Kelly was born and raised in Montreal and Toronto, and first visited Israel in 2005 on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. She found herself back in Israel that same year on a personal journey, and the following year taking time off her job as a photographer at a professional studio to backpack the Oceania/South East Asia Regions. In 2008, she was ready for another adventure, and decided to do an Internship in Tel Aviv where she worked as a photo and graphic artist for various web and print projects. Later that year, Kelly returned to Israel as an Olah Chadasha (new citizen) and currently lives in the heart of Tel Aviv. Kelly joins the Oranim team with the passion and excitement of knowing that she is helping hundreds of young people like herself prepare for the experience of a lifetime.
Jessica Trosterman, North American Program Recruiter
Jessica was raised in the Riverdale section of New York City, where she was regularly involved in the North American Reform Movement. She received a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration from Boston University. While Jessica has worked in nearly every facet of restaurants and hotels, her specialization lies in conference/event management and recruitment. She has extensive experience planning events in both the hotel and corporate environments, and on local and national levels. During her career in hospitality management, Jessica has been a world traveler, gaining experience in Australia, England, New Zealand, and the United States. Participating in a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip with Oranim allowed Jessica to combine her passion for travel with her connection to Judaism. Jessica fell in love with Israel and looks forward to helping you find your way home.
Mara Seidel, Program Adviser
Mara was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Sociology and it was there she fell in love with college football and hiking in the mountains. She also went to Israel for the first time her sophomore year on the Taglit Birthright-Israel trip, but it wasn't until she studied abroad in Barcelona that her love affair with traveling began. After graduation, Mara started working for Hillel at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst bringing Jewish life to students on campus. She had the bodacious opportunity of staffing four Taglit-Birthright Israel trips with Oranim, and in September 2008, she participated in a MASA internship program in Tel Aviv volunteering with refugees from Darfur. Mara loves to travel and has backpacked through India, Southeast Asia, Nepal, and Western Europe, but the most exciting move she has done to date would be making Aliyah in November of 2009!
Maya Grosberg, Program Adviser
Maya, who you can usually catch saying 'crumpets' and 'mind the gap please' was born and raised in (SHOCKING) not so sunny Manchester. After her stint as an afternoon tea-drinking model student at King David High School, she got a little crazy and followed her Jewish youth movement to Israel for a gap year. When she wasn't filling her belly with hummus and falaffal she worked teaching English in underdeveloped towns and travelling the country from top to bottom. Whilst there she fell in love with how liberal it was to say you were Jewish, as well as the culture and sights. However, before her parents started renting her room out, she returned to the UK to study 'Music and Communications' at University of Liverpool - where the Beatles rocked out! In her spare time she worked for BBC Greater Manchester radio doing film reviews, interviews and broadcasting news live on air. Realising her heart was still in Israel she signed up for a Tel Aviv Internship program in 2009 and after completing it is now well on her way to becoming an Israeli citizen..Now the rents can start renting the room out!
Justine Rosin, Program Adviser
Once upon a time in a land far,far away Justine was born in the exotic country of Africa. South Africa that is. Commonly mistaken for having giraffes nibbling on her back garden trees and using elephants for transport. A Born and bred city slicker from Johannesburg, she grew up in a traditional Orthodox home and attended the Jewish school of King David Linksfield molding her into the perfect JAP (Jewish African Princess). Whilst attending 8 Jewish summer camps back home, her love for Jewish Identity was strengthened and became a camp counselor for Habonim Dror. Feeling a tad lost after graduating from University of Witswaterstrand with a Bachelors of Art in Art History and Anthropology. Justine embarked upon a spontaneous trip to Israel to take a 'break' from life. Three canceled air tickets later to go home, she is still in the holy land embracing her love for Israel, spreading the word and meeting new people in her weird accent. What more could a girl ask for!
Michelle Fields, Program Adviser
Raised in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, Michelle grew up as a Reform or "cultural" Jew with an Israeli father but never had any connection to Israel. Michelle has spent her 20's recklessly exploring- studying abroad in Italy, living abroad in Ireland and England, visiting Israel 5 times as a Birthright Trip Leader and with Oranim's Internship Program in Tel Aviv as well as earning a B.A. in Sociology and a Master's in Communication Management. Of all these experiences, none were quite as meaningful as the time she spent in Israel. This may have had something to do with the delicious hummus and shwarma. In actuality, Michelle felt a deep connection to the land, people, and language and also to the Israeli side of her family that she had never known before. Now, she is living in Kfar Saba with the Israeli man she was able to wrangle and is excited to be part of the Oranim team- sharing her passion for Israel with other young, hip Jews.
Meet our City Coordinators:
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