Alon
Friedman - Director
Alon started his career in Jewish Education in 1994
as a group leader for American teenagers on Israel Summer Programs. Later he moved
to work with Young Judaea as Director of college age programs. During the years
2001-2004, Alon served as a Jewish Agency National Shaliach (emissary) for Hamagshimim,
the Zionist student's movement of Hadassah in New York. In this position, he was
the educational resource for pro-Israel campus activists across the United States.
Alon is a reserve officer in the IDF and holds an MA in communications and Journalism
from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He resides in Arad with his wife Joni.
To email Alon click here
Jonathan
Rulnick - Educational Director
Except for various stints in coffee shops,
Jonathan's professional career has been devoted to informal Jewish and Zionist
education at the youth through young adult level. Highlights include leading groups
of Ramah Seminar in Israel, a six-week touring program for 17 year-olds affiliated
with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's camping program; coordinating
academic lectures and activities on U.S. college campuses for the Israeli Foreign
Ministry; and directing Hamagshimim, the Zionist student movement of Hadassah
in New York. Jonathan earned a BA in International Relations from Emory University
and did graduate work in Middle Eastern Studies at NYU. Jonathan and his wife
Debbie share parenting duties for their beloved sons Elye and Eitan. The Rulnicks
moved to Israel on August 11, 2004.
To email Jonathan click
here
Jeffrey
Moskowitz - Registrar
A former New Yorker who majored in Education at
CCNY back in 1969 (when the NY Mets won their first World Series), he and his
wife Jean have lived in Israel for over 35 years. They have 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
One of their children married a former WUJS student. Jeffrey handles the applications
and follows through process of the students' arrival to WUJS. He is constantly
looking for a serious challenger in Scrabble. Jeffrey highly recommends that you
apply to WUJS at least for no other reason than to have the chance to win some
of Jean's amazing chocolate-chip cookies at one of his quiz show game nights!
To email Jeffrey click here
Merav recently returned to her hometown of Arad with her husband Ofer and two daughters, Ory and Rotem. In the last few years, Merav has worked in customer service in a personal nursing care company. Recently joined the WUJS family in August, 2006 as the office manager. Merav has a degree in special education from Kaye College in Be'er Sheva.
To email Merav click here
Arnon
Ravid, Logistics Coordinator
Originally born in Arad, Arnon has an M.A.
in Public Policy and Administration from the Ben Gurion University of the Negev.
Prior to his current position, Arnon was the Coordinator for Training at Ma'avarim,
which is a community based organization which organizes area professionals to
help the unemployed. Arnon also serves in a not-for profit organization, Or Yarok,
which helps to combat Israel's high incidence of road fatalities by educating
to change the driving culture. He served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as
a combat medic, and likes to hike, read and discuss politics. Arnon is married
to Inbal, a chemical engineer. They are currently living in Be'er Sheva and are
the proud new parents of Ido.
To email Arnon
click here
A veteran artist of more then 25 years, Ori has been involved in the art world as long as he can remember. A third generation artist, he was a faculty member at the "Bezalel Academy of Art and Design" in Jerusalem as was his grandfather before him. Ori is the co-founder and director of "Aspaklaria– Paths to Renewing Jewish creativity," which is a non-for-profit center dedicated to making contemporary Judaism more accessible and relevant to today's life through integration of arts, texts, and spiritual engagement. Ori creates and writes in his studio at Moshav Bar Giora outside of Jerusalem. He is married to Judy an art-therapist and artist, and the proud father of his daughter Maya, a professional dancer, and son Mickie who is now serving in the IDF.
To email Ori click here
Racheli recently returned from two years abroad as the first emissary (shlichah) of the Jewish Agency and Hillel to the University of Arizona. She was born and raised in the Lubavitch community of Kiryat Malachy. Her career in Jewish service and education began at a young age. She was a youth leader in the Bat Melech organization for Chabbad girls, and a counselor for local summer programs. In high school she served as an educator in afternoon programs for at risk-youth. Upon graduation from high-school, Racheli did a year of National Service working with the elderly. Racheli studied towards a bachelor degree in Hebrew Literature and Yiddish at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and did an intensive summer program in Yiddish studies in Vilnius, Lithuania. In the past six years, Racheli has been volunteering at the Open Gates organization, which assists those who have chosen to leave the ultra-Orthodox community and to integrate into Israeli society at large.
To email Racheli click here
Carmit was born and raised in Beer-Sheva. She served as an officer in the Combat Engineering Corps of the IDF. After the army, she took some time off and traveled to South Africa and South America, in part to satiate her appetite for learning about other cultures. This passion carried over to her studies at Haifa University, where she graduated with a B.A in Sociology, Anthropology and Education. Carmit worked for 6 years in the biggest ISP Company in Israel before realizing that Jewish education was her future. Carmit recently returned from Ohio State University, where she served as their first Israel Fellow. She likes Israeli music, to read and her adorable niece and nephew. She is a true expression of the Wandering Jew, having lived in Beer-Sheva, Ramat-Gan, Haifa, the U.S., and now Arad.
To email Carmit, click here
Suzy grew up in Be'er Sheva, where she finished her B.A. in behavioral sciences at Ben Gurion University and later earned a teaching certificate in the subject. Twelve years ago, Suzy moved to Arad with her family and since then she has been professionally involved in teaching the Hebrew language. Through this experience, Suzy has developed a special appreciation for the uniqueness and spirit of the Hebrew language. She believes that knowledge of Hebrew is an essential bridge to understanding the basic sources of the Jewish people, and therefore places great importance on her profession.
Adi was born in Kfar Sava. After her Army service, she attended Bar-Ilan University, where she received a BA degree in Political Science and Political Communication. She is currently working on her Ph.D. about the Political Economy of Open Source and Knowledge Sharing. Adi worked several years in various social change organizations in various educational frameworks.
to email Adi: adip@wujsarad.org
Susan came to WUJS in October of 2004 as a participant and is now the National Coordinator, working from New York City. She grew up in St. Louis, MO, and received a B.A. in Women and Gender Studies and Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis. She can help you decide whether or not WUJS is the right program for you. When Susan is not spreading the word about WUJS, she is plotting her way to saving the world.
To email Susan click here
Steve Israel - Senior Lecturer
Steve lives in Jerusalem but has been shlepping down to Arad to lecture at WUJS for longer than anyone can remember. Steve teaches Jewish History and Israeli literature, conducts Jewish Identity seminars and pre-festival debates and is universally acknowledged as a major component of what makes WUJS so special.
Neil
Lazarus - Senior Lecturer
Neil Lazarus is an internationally acclaimed
key note speaker in the field of Middle East, Israel Advocacy and effective communication
training reaching over 20,000 people annually. He is the director of AwesomeSeminars.com
and TrainMe.org. His client list is extensive
and includes The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel's Channel 2, the
Jerusalem Municipal Council, The World Bank, Harvard University Extension Courses
in Israel, Hillel, Hadassah, Birthright and The Jewish Agency of Israel. Neil
has been pioneering in the use of internet as an educational tool developed, in
conjunction with The Jewish Agency of Israel and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
an online advocacy training seminars for Jewish communities worldwide. Neil graduated
from the WUJS Arad program in 1989 and has lived in Israel ever since. He lives
on Moshav Givat Yaarim with his wife, and twin daughters.
Artie has been lecturing at WUJS on a part time basis ever since he completed a six-year stint as Rabbi and Educational Director. He now lives in Beit Shemesh but his car knows the way to Arad all by itself. When he gets here, he is the person who shows us the way round the Talmud and introduces us to the profundities of Jewish philosophy.
