Meet the staff


Moshe Samuels		Program Director A native of Jerusalem, Moshe brings to Tikkun Olam his many years of experience working in the Jewish community both in Israel and abroad. Throughout his career, Moshe has served as the Jewish Agency Shaliach for Birmingham, Alabama, as the Israel Fellow at the University of Western Ontario Hillel, was educational director of the Conservative Movement's youth organization in Israel, and much more. Moshe is a graduate of the Gilboa Yeshiva and holds a teacher's certification in Jewish Studies from Herzog Teachers College. As Program Director, much of Moshe's work happens behind the scenes dealing with the administration and financing of the program, but he'll still be around to teach classes and lead study sessions and Kabbalot Shabbat. Follow Moshe on Facebook
Dan Herman		Director of Admissions Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Dan received his BA in History, and Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin. After graduation, Dan came on the Tikkun Olam program, then spent two years on staff, spent a year in the army, and is now back with Tikkun Olam. Dan is also currently working on his MA at Tel Aviv University. As Director of Admissions, Dan is hard at work year-round trying to raise the profile of the program and recruit new Tikkun Olam participants for future editions of the program. From the moment you hear about the program until the moment you land in Israel, Dan is your contact person for all questions related to Tikkun Olam. Follow Dan on Facebook
Rakefet Sholder		Coexistence Track Coordinator Now in her third year on the Tikkun Olam staff, Rakefet brings her extensive experience as a counselor in the CISV Global Peace Education program to help guide Tikkun Olam's Coexistence Track participants through their experience in Israel. Rakefet is responsible for arranging volunteering placements and providing advice and enrichment activities for volunteers, as well as organizing the study program, trips and tours.
Sarah Lesser		Social Action Track Coordinator Director of Alumni Relations Sarah joins the Tikkun Olam staff this year with extensive experience in Jewish service-learning, having worked in a variety of Jewish and secular organizations and institutions in the U.S. and in Israel. For Tikkun Olam Social Action Track participants, Sarah will be around to advise and guide them through their experience in south Tel Aviv, arranging volunteering placements, planning enrichment activities, study days, trips and tours.
Izhar Ben-Zaken		Logistical Coordinator A graduate of a Bina Garin group (a group that combines volunteer work with regular army service), Izhar has come back into the Bina fold and is now in charge of taking care of all the technical issues that are involved in the day-to-day operation of the Tikkun Olam program. Be it fixing things around the apartments, dealing with the landlord or reserving the campsite for the monthly trip, Izhar will be taking care of all the little things that make the program go as smoothly as possible. When not fixing leaky faucets in the Tikkun Olam apartments, Izhar is studying interior design at the Holon Institute.

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Meet the staff