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 studied received his BA in History, and Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin. After graduation, Dan came on the Tikkun Olam program, and has been on program staff ever since. He is also currently studying for his MA at Tel Aviv University. As Director of Marketing and 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 the Tikkun Olam program. Follow Dan on Facebook
Elin Avrunin		Program Coordinator - Social Action Track After serving in the IDF's Education Corps and receiving her degree in Behavioral Science from the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Academic College, Elin began working in the field of education and social justice in Tel Aviv. She led the way in opening a youth center in south Tel Aviv's Neve Ofer neighborhood where she supervised Tikkun Olam volunteers and got to know the program before joining the staff. This year Elin will serve as coordinator for the Social Action Track. For those choosing this track, Elin will be your madricha (guide). She'll be around to provide guidance and the first staff person that you'll turn to during your Tikkun Olam experience.
Noa Fuchs		Program Coordinator - Coexistence Track Noa began her way in the field of education during her National Service, when she volunteered In a special high school for youth-at-risk. Afterwards, she enrolled in the Jewish Agency's Summer Shlichim program to volunteer in a summer camp in upstate New York as a Hebrew teacher. After two summers at the camp, Noa was an emissary for three more summers, serving as head of the delegation. In addition, Noa worked with groups of young students from Germany who came to Israel for a special Ulpan program, Noa developed the educational program and guided the teachers.
Rakefet Sholder		Volunteering Coordinator Now in her second year as Tikkun Olam staff, Rakefet brings her extensive experience as a counselor in the CISV Global Peace Education program to help guide Tikkun Olam participants through their volunteering experience. Rakefet also works with BINA's pre-army program, and is also responsible for the study program, as well as the 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.