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Meet the

Fellows
NIC
ABERY London, England

PROJECT:
“LooktoLearn” is a cross curricula
learning experience that combines
Nic is the creative director of “LooktoLearn.” She the study of Tanach text and Museum
creates unique multi-dimensional educational art and artifacts for schools and
programs for schools and families. Nic believes families.
that her cross curricula learning experience can
inspire a life-long interest in the arts and in Torah.
MADELINE
BLEIWEISS Cleveland, Ohio

PROJECT:
“JCLE” will inspire, engage and
After graduating from Indiana University in 2009, motivate Cleveland’s Jewish com-
Madeline began working at Cleveland Hillel as
the Coordinator of Graduate Student programs,
munity to create and promote
planning social events and building networks for Cleveland in a youthful, trendy and
students. Currently, she volunteers frequently on desirable light for singles and young
various committees for Temple Tifereth Israel. With couples.
her ongoing passion for Cleveland and Judaism,
Madeline hopes to combine and channel that energy
into a big change for the Cleveland community.
MARLA
GAMORAN Madison, Wisconsin

PROJECT:
“Skilled Volunteers for Israel”
After spending most of her professional life in non- will design and coordinate custom-
profit and higher education management, Marla is ized volunteer opportunities that
now launching her encore career through this new link skilled volunteer resources with
venture. Marla’s passion for Israel has led her to
discover the need to build the framework for baby
the Israeli non-profit sector to expand
boomers like herself to volunteer their skills and capacity, meet specialized needs and
expertise in Israel. Marla can’t wait to connect this transform volunteer engagement.
rich resource of Jewish talent with the Israeli non-
profit sector.
MOLLIE
GERVER Jerusalem, Israel

PROJECT:
Mollie is a campaigner for a more just policy “Refugee Testimonials” is a project
towards asylum seekers, mostly from Africa, entering where volunteer citizens interview
Israel. She has assisted in lobbying in the Knesset asylum seekers. Testimonials are sent
for the past four years and she regularly organizes
to policymakers and the media and
meetings between Knesset Members and asylum
seekers. She is an active member of Israel’s university are collected in a central database to
debating league where she won first place in the encourage a more just Refugee
country’s 2010 English Debating Championships Status Determination process.
and has worked as a high school debating coach
for the past eight years.
NAOMI
GRUMET Jerusalem, Israel

PROJECT:
“The Eden Center” aims to revitalize
Naomi earned a PhD in sociology from Bar Ilan the mikvah in order to meet the needs
University. Her doctoral research focused on the of Jewish women today, making it an
contemporary observance of the mikvah rituals. integrated and holistic center that
She is hoping to create a new paradigm that will addresses the needs of body, mind
combine state-of-the-art mikvah and spa facilities and soul in ways that are empowering,
with educational workshops and health and
enriching, and personally meaning-
halakhic resources.
ful.
JENNY
KAUFMAN Shaker Heights, Ohio

PROJECT:
“The Cleveland Young Professionals’
Minyan” will build a foundation for
Unable to find a suitable religious community in
her hometown, Jenny decided to start her own Jewish engagement through a local
independent minyan targeting young professionals independent minyan in Cleveland,
in the Cleveland area. She hopes to attract unaffili- which can serve as a model for other
ated young Jews back to Judaism and to create not communities.
just a minyan but a strong, empowered community
that will enrich the Cleveland Jewish community as a
whole with social justice initiatives, a new social scene
and learning opportunities.
DAVID
KRAMER Jerusalem, Israel

PROJECT:
“The NU Campaign” is an Israeli
Before making Aliya and serving in the IDF, David
social-awareness clothing brand and
was the head adviser for the Department of Informal non-profit organization dedicated
Jewish Education for the South African Jewish to raising awareness and funding for
Board of Education as well as the founder of the important Israeli causes and chari-
Israel Information Department for the South African table organizations. Its mission is to
Zionist Federation. In Israel, David worked for the serve as inspiration for others to get
Jewish Agency and the World Union of Jewish
Students until he decided to establish the NU
involved and make a difference!
Campaign.
MICHA
KURZ Jerusalem, Israel

PROJECT:
Micha has been active in Israel’s National Youth Move- “Grassroots Jerusalem” is a
ment for over ten years and has worked extensively “bottom-up” mapping project of
on leadership programs with new immigrant communities and grassroots efforts
communities in Israel. He also co-founded “Breaking in Palestinian and Israeli neighbor-
the Silence”, an organization of former Israeli soldiers
hoods of the greater Jerusalem
who speak out about their army service in the
Occupied Territories and the moral price and area.
degradation of spirit paid on both societal and
personal levels while serving the nation.
DAVID
LASDAY Jerusalem, Israel

PROJECT:
“Bring It In – Israel” is an Israel based
program that trains and certifies
A University of Maryland graduate, David is the former young Jewish leaders from around
Program Director for PeacePlayers International – the world to use sports to teach life
Middle East, an organization that uses the game of
skills, Jewish values, and about Israel.
basketball as a vehicle to educate and unite Arab and
Jewish children in Israel and the West Bank. Prior to
working with PeacePlayers, David served as Assistant
General Manager for the minor league basketball
team, the Maryland Nighthawks.
YISHAI
MIZRAHI VARON New York, New York

PROJECT:
“The Shemspeed Israeli Keffiyeh Project”
Born in Jerusalem and raised in Seattle, Yishai utilizes popular trends such as music and
currently resides in Brooklyn where he leveraged a fashion to engage Jewish students; to
chance meeting with Shemspeed Founder and leverage their passion for what’s hip and
Director Erez Safar into a position as Associate Director hot into an interactive dialogue about
of Marketing. Yishai has a solid background in Jewish identity, community, and Israel;
marketing, publicity and promotions. Known for his and to inspire them with relatable role
passion and drive, Yishai has his finger on the pulse models that exemplify Jewish commit-
of what is hip, fresh, fashion forward and on trend. ment and Israel activism.
He has a definitive point of view, a strong editorial
eye, and an established ear for talent.
YONATAN
NERIL Jerusalem, Israel

PROJECT:
Yonatan grew up in northern California with a “Jewish Environmental Teaching
garden and orchard that he tended to with his Seminars” will train rabbis, rabbinical
mother and also attended Camp Tawonga — a students, and Jewish educators to
Jewish camp near Yosemite — where his body and teach Jews our tradition’s environ-
soul thrived on being outdoors with other Jews.
mental and spiritual wisdom
Yonatan moved to Israel seven years ago where he
has been involved in Jewish environmental work.
JACK
REICHERT Jerusalem, Israel

PROJECT:
“Middle East Cleantech,” as a
Jack worked his way through a degree at Hebrew branch of GreenProphet.com, will
University in Philosophy as a business consultant with
Dale Carnegie Training, then as a web development
provide an online hub for Middle
director for Jerusalem.com. But Jack’s passion has East Cleantech companies.
always been the environment. At the end of 2007
he helped launch GreenProphet.com. Today Green
Prophet boasts over 5.5 million hits monthly and a
readership of over 80,000 unique visitors a month.
YONI
SARASON St. Louis , Missouri

PROJECT:
“Next Dor STL,” will build community
Yoni currently serves as the Director of Client by creating a vibrant center of
Development for Kiosite, a St. Louis-based technology activity, culture, and community that
startup focused on online screening, selection, and draws young Jewish adults together.
development. Yoni is heavily involved in the St.
Next Dor will empower young adults,
Louis Jewish community, founding three separate
post-denominational ventures that aim to connect organizations and informal groups to
and strengthen involvement of Jewish young adults. utilize the space for peer-generated,
community-driven projects.
NOAH
SUDOW Columbus/Cleveland, Ohio

PROJECT:
Noah’s project will create a tool to
Noah currently serves as the Associate Director of foster and nurture research collabo-
Economic Advancement for Chancellor Eric Finger- rations between Northeast Ohio and
hut. Noah helps coordinate the public institutions Israeli universities resulting in research
in Ohio and serves as the Chancellor’s liaison to the and product commercialization that
Ohio Department of Development and as a policy will bring new industries and jobs to
assistant for Governor Ted Strickland on issues the region and to Israel.
related to Higher Education and Economic Devel-
opment.
MANNY
WAKS Canberra, Australia

PROJECT:
“The Capital Jewish Forum” is a
non-partisan Australia-based group
The second oldest of 17 children, Manny grew inspired by the desire to promote
up in Melbourne, Australia in an ultra-Orthodox
and strengthen Jewish continuity
environment. He is currently the Assistant Director
– Aviation Security, at the Australian Government’s and identity through the facilitation
Office of Transport Security. Manny is also the Vice of meetings and discussions among
President of the Canberra Jewish Community and Jewish professionals nationally,
the Founder and Director of the Capital Jewish particularly interaction with distin-
Forum. guished speakers.
ZACH
WEINER Stanford, California

PROJECT:
“GivingTurtle” aims to make improv-
Zach is a student, pianist, hacker, and entrepreneur ing the world for the average user
passionate about using design thinking and easy, routine, and fun through an
technology to change the world. He’s currently
enrolled in the Symbolic Systems program at
innovative and simple game-based
Stanford University and studying human-centered micro-donations platform.
design at the Stanford d.school. When not designing
or coding, he can be found playing frisbee and tennis
with friends, or playing the piano at Carnegie Hall.
We are honored to work with the following present
and past sponsors in pursuit of our mission to build
a future of creativity, innovation, and leadership
for Israel, the Jewish People, and the world:

American Zionist Movement, Amitai Foundation, The Avi


Chai Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family
Foundation, The Covenant Foundation, Foundation for
Jewish Culture, Gorlin Family Foundation, Hillel, iCenter,
Israel on Campus Coalition, Israel Venture Association,
Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, JFN
Philanthropic Services, Jim Joseph Foundation, Joint
Distribution Committee, Joyce and Irving Goldman Family
Foundation, Inc., The Kopelman Foundation, The Lippman
Kanfer Family Foundation, The Morningstar Foundation,
Natan, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The Oregon
Jewish Community Youth Foundation, Professional
Leaders Project, The Rosenbloom Philanthropic Fund,
SalesForce, UJA Federation of New York, The Wohl Family
Foundation, World Zionist Organization, and thanks to our
kickoff investors: Pamela Applebaum, Virginia Bayer and
Rabbi Robert Hirt, Gary Gross, and Sharon Ungerleider.

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