Team
Meet our team
Letter from the executive director
Dear Prospective Participants and Parents,
If you had an entire year to do anything you wanted, what would you do?
Perhaps you’d travel. Maybe you’d learn a new skill. You’d probably welcome the chance to meet interesting people, to experience things you’ve never tried before, to reduce the stress and pressures of today’s world.
This is exactly what awaits you on Aardvark Israel.
No one ever regrets having taken a gap year, but plenty of people regret not having taken one. The world is your classroom and spending a year abroad opens the door to personal growth, developing independence, defining your values, and figuring out who you are as an adult. With Israel as the unique landscape for this adventure, you will explore how you fit into the larger Jewish Community and connect with Israeli society as well.
Within Aardvark Israel, we pride ourselves on providing students with individualized attention, opportunities, and guidance. Each student will discover a year filled with challenges, fun, fascination, learning, volunteering, self-discovery, maturity, and joy. Parents will find a partner in their child’s development and our staff will take care of your children as if they were our own. At the end of the program, students will return home more mature, better prepared to cope with the challenges of university life, and more dedicated to the future of the Jewish People and the State of Israel.
We look forward to working together with each of you on this incredible journey.
Sincerely,
Debbie Goldsmith
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Leadership
Debbie Goldsmith
Executive Director
Co-Founder
Debbie has worked in the field of Jewish and Zionist education for almost 30 years. In honor of International Women’s Day 2021, she was recognized as one of Masa’s Inspiring 12 Jewish Women Working to Make a Difference. Debbie grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and after spending her gap year in Israel on USY’s Nativ program, she completed her BA at Columbia University in Religion and at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Talmud. She also earned an MA in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Prior to co-founding Aardvark Israel, she was the Assistant Director of Young Judaea/FZY Year Course in Israel. Debbie lives in Yishuv Alon with her three children. Her oldest took a gap year and is currently an officer in the IDF, her middle child also took a gap year and is expected to draft shortly.
Simon Cohen
Director of Innovation and Admissions
Co-Founder
Simon grew up in England as an active participant in the Federation of Zionist Youth (FZY) and served as FZY’s National Director of Education prior to moving to Israel in 2000. In addition to participating in Young Judaea/FZY’s Year Course in 1994-95, he dedicated a decade to working for the program as a senior staff member. Simon is also an experienced guide for Jewish educational tours to Poland. He holds a BA in Economics and Economic History from Manchester University and an MA in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University. Simon lives in Tzur Hadassah with his wife and their three children.
Moshe Levi
Director of Education
Moshe, born and raised in Jerusalem, began his career in Jewish education straight after completing his military service in the IDF, where he served for three years as an infantry medic. He holds an MA in Comparative Religion from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and has extensive experience in Jewish and Israel education. Moshe has worked with different Jewish Summer Camps and as a community Shaliach across North America and served as The Jewish Agency’s coordinator of Youth Movement Fellows. He looks forward to bringing his passion and knowledge of Israel and Jewish education to the Aardvark Israel participants.
Tal Sendler
Program Director
Tal was born and raised in Israel. She holds a B.Ed. in high school education, with a major in Israel Studies and Geography. Tal is a licensed tour guide specializing in educational tours. She served as a combat soldier in the IDF and later worked as a coordinator at MASA. She also served as an Israel Fellow for the Jewish Agency in Davis, California, and taught Israel Studies at Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Tal is a passionate dog lover who always finds time for her four-legged friends.
Staff
Omri Osteryung
Tel Aviv Community Manager
Omri grew up in Israel and currently lives in Givatayim. He holds a BA in Education and Political Science from Ben-Gurion University, as well as a teaching certificate in Israeli Civics. In recent years, he has worked with Jewish teens from the United States, both at Eisner Camp and through various educational programs in Israel. Omri is passionate about strengthening the connection between Israel and the Jewish Diaspora and sees community engagement as a meaningful calling. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports tournaments and, fun fact, he also trains as a competitive table tennis player.
Rotem Ashur
Jerusalem Community Manager
Rotem grew up in Hod Hasharon and currently lives in Jerusalem. She holds a BA in Education and HR from Tel Hai College. With extensive experience working with children and youth movements, Rotem is passionate about fostering community engagement. She is dedicated to the role of the Jewish Diaspora and firmly believes in the power of community to drive meaningful transformation.
Daniella Shamir
Tel Aviv Community Manager
Daniella grew up between Israel, Hungary, and the U.S., but moved back to Israel to serve in the IDF and has called it home ever since. She holds a B.A. in Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy from Reichman University, where she also took part in the Argov Fellowship for Leadership and Diplomacy. Over the past seven years, Daniella has worked with youth across a range of educational settings, including the Reali Military Boarding School, the Yitzhak Rabin Center, Reichman’s international student community, and various Onward Israel programs. She is deeply passionate about Jewish diaspora education and empowerment – especially during these complex times.
Talya Yunion
Internships Coordinator
Talya grew up in the Jerusalem area and currently resides in Yafo. Following the completion of her national service volunteering with youth at risk, she spent a year in New Jersey working with Bnei Akiva. Upon her return to Israel, Talya a B.A. in Social Work at Ariel University. Prior to joining the team at Aardvark Israel, Talya worked as a counselor in camps and on educational tours throughout Israel, as well as served as a logistics coordinator and security coordinator.
Yehudit Rosenfeld
Internships Coordinator
Yehudit, born and raised in Jerusalem, did her gap year at Midreshet Be’er in Yerucham. In the IDF Education Corps, she was a commander of new olim who spoke little or no Hebrew. Before joining Aardvark Israel, Yehudit was coordinator of student initiatives at the Department of Service and Citizenship at Shalem College, where she also earned a BA in philosophy and Jewish thought. Yehudit volunteered at Tevel B’Tzedek in Nepal and interned at Kan—Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation’s podcasting department. Yehudit loves singing, dancing, and theater.
Anna Vengerovski
Internships Coordinator
Anna Vengerovski, originally from Ukraine, made Aliyah at age 17 and served as a lone soldier in the IDF, specializing as a Sar El Instructor. She completed her BA in International Relations and Journalism & Communications at Hebrew University, working later at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Anna’s commitment extended to roles as a counselor at Rothberg International School and Garin Tzabar, progressing to a program coordinator at Garin Tzabar. Currently pursuing an MA in Communications: New Media and Internet at Hebrew University, she enjoys travel, concerts, and quality time with friends.
Allison Hartman
Parent Liaison
Allison was born and raised in New Jersey, recently made Aliyah, and currently lives in Jerusalem. In 2008, Allison received her Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College and has been working as a Clinical Social Worker in various settings, including both private practice and school-based services. Working with school-age youth, provided Allison the opportunity to work with families at large. Allison is passionate about supporting young people by helping them find & develop their voices, and in turn, empowering them to communicate their wants and needs. In addition to working with high-achieving teens across the Greater New York region, Allison has worked with survivors of domestic violence and those afflicted with addiction.
Carolyn Reiffman
Registrar and Admissions Assistant
Carolyn grew up in Kansas City and made Aliyah to Ma’ale Adumim in 2018, following a 13-year teaching career in a Jewish day school in Denver, Colorado. With a BA in Communications and an M.Ed in secondary education, her career path has included sports writing, dance instruction, cake decorating, social studies, English classes and more. When she isn’t busy supporting Aardvark students and staff, Carolyn enjoys spending time with her family, scuba diving, geocaching, and working on jigsaw puzzles.
Jordana Bernstein
Admissions Coordinator
Nicole Wiznitzer
Admissions Coordinator
Originally from Colombia, Nicole first came to Israel on a gap year and quickly fell in love with the country and its people. She decided to stay and earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Reichman University in Herzliya. Nicole has worked in HR across various industries as well as in the non-profit sector, gaining broad experience in working with people and organizations. Currently based in Tel Aviv, she is passionate about connecting with others, and in her free time, she loves meeting new people over a good cup of coffee or spending time at the beach.
Liv Schneider
Admissions Coordinator
Liv recently made Aliyah from Los Angeles. After earning a BA in Judaic Studies at the University of Arizona, she participated in a transformative year-long Masa program. Upon return to the US, she worked with students on college campuses across the West Coast region as an Israel educator at Hillel and later as Campus Regional Manager at StandWithUs. Liv loves outdoor cafes, documentaries, and the Red Sea.
Grace Silverstein
Admissions Coordinator
Grace grew up in London, UK. She came to Israel for a gap year and then went back to the UK to study Business Management with Marketing at Leeds Beckett University. After graduating, Grace worked at the Union of Jewish Students, where she ran sessions and mentored Jewish students on university campuses across the UK. She made aliyah and now lives in Tel Aviv. Grace enjoys traveling, cooking, and hiking and loves meeting new people.
Victor Hyman
Marketing and PR Coordinator
Nick Lees
Communications Coordinator
Nick was born and raised in Akron Ohio, and made Aliyah in 2010. He is a veteran press officer in the IDF Spokesperson Unit and has worked for several years in private sector digital marketing. He joined as Communications Coordinator of Aardvark Israel in order to help other young Jews also have enriching educational experiences and deepen their relationship with Israel and Judaism. He currently lives in Petah Tikva with his wife and son.
Ofir Dagan
Logistics Coordinator
Ofir was born and raised in Jerusalem. He graduated from high school with a specialization in electronics and computer studies. In the IDF, he served in the Israeli Air Force, and later on, learned Music Production studies at BPM College in Tel Aviv. Later on, he worked in the Security Industry in Israel, for more than 12 years. In his free time, Ofir enjoys working out, traveling, and cooking.
Idan Zait
Logistics Coordinator
Elie Herszaft
Parent Liaison
Elie Herszaft is originally from New York but made Aliyah this past year. Prior to moving to Israel, he has a BA in psychology from Binghamton University and received a Master’s in Social Work from Silberman School of Social work in Manhattan. His previous work experience includes individual, group and family therapy, as well as school social work. He also has an extensive history working in jewish summer camps, igniting his love for working in informal education with teens and young adults. In his free time he loves baking, skiing and playing football.
Tzlil Elfasy
Assistant Director of Education
Aviv Jerbi
Logistics Coordinator
Aviv grew up in the north of Israel on a small moshav called Tefahot. Growing up, Aviv worked with Diaspora Jews from the UK and the US as a Shaliach through the Jewish Agency For Israel. In his last position, Aviv worked at JNF-USA as the Travel and Tours General Manager in Israel. It is through these experiences that Aviv found his great passion for educating and working with Diaspora Jews. In addition to being our special programs coordinator, Aviv is studying toward a degree in architecture and design at Shenkar College of Engineering, Design, and Art in Ramat Gan
Madrichim
Izzy Averick
Sharon Musery
Roi Weiss
Itamar Medina
Itamar Medina is from Kibbutz Tuval in the Western Galilee. With years of experience in youth education – from counseling teens in his community to a year in Pittsburgh with JAFI – he also served as a commander in the IAF and later as Deputy Chief Security Officer for Royal Caribbean. Now, he’s returning to his true passion: counseling and educating, and is excited to join the Aardvark Israel team. In his free time, he enjoys music, cooking, yoga, gaming, traveling, hiking, and spending time with good company.
Tal Hasson
Noam Friedler
Noam Friedler is from Kibbutz Yifat in the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel. She has worked in education as a counselor in both Israel and Hungary in summer camps and through the Bnei HaMoshavim youth movement. Prior to enlisting in the IDF as an instructor, she volunteered for a year as a “shin shin” in Montreal, Canada.
Naor Shalom
Educators
Moshe Levi
Moshe Levi is Aardvark Israel’s Director of Education. He has extensive experience in Jewish and Israel education. For two years he served as a shaliach for the United Synagogue Youth in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later returned to the USA for another four years at the Greater MetroWest Jewish Federation in New Jersey, where he was the senior Shaliach and Israel Education Specialist. Moshe also worked with different Jewish summer camps in North America. In Israel, Moshe has worked with the Avi Chai Foundation and the Shalem Center on a variety of educational initiatives, and served as The Jewish Agency’s coordinator of Youth Movement Shlichim. He also has been a senior lecturer at Mechinat Aderet for the past six years. Moshe joined the Aardvark Israel Education Department in 2018. Moshe was born in Israel and grew up in Jerusalem. He served for three years as a medic in an infantry unit in the IDF and he holds an M.A. in Comparative Religion and a B.A. in Jewish History, both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Moshe looks forward to continuing to bring his passion and knowledge of Israel and Jewish education to the Aardvark Israel participants.
Haggai Kimmelman
David Ratz
Keren Meyer Preisman
Alan Goldman
Alan Goldman is a distinguished Jewish educator and scholar, specializing in Judaic and Holocaust studies, with particular expertise in Polish-Jewish history. His unique approach combines rigorous academic study with engaging, experiential education developed over three decades of teaching. Alan is currently a senior faculty member of Masa Israel Journey, Midreshet Torah V’Avodah, and JRoots. As a veteran educator, Alan has helped countless students explore their Jewish identity through his innovative educational heritage journeys to Poland. Currently pursuing his Ph.D in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Gratz College, Alan holds a B.A. in Sociology from Clark University, an M.A. in Jewish History from Touro College, and Rabbinic Ordination. His academic credentials complement his extensive practical experience in formal and informal Jewish education. Alan is a frequent participant on the Masa Israel Journey podcast The Israel Conversation, where he helps listeners navigate Israeli politics, news, and culture beyond the headlines. He lives with his family on Moshav Nechusha, where he continues to blend his passion for education with his commitment to Jewish scholarship and heritage preservation.
Shai Yosipov
Shai Yosipov is passionate about navigating complex issues through the lens of Conflict Resolution. His journey began as an Israeli MFA “Youth Ambassador,” representing Israel in the US, sparking a lifelong interest in fostering understanding about narratives. This passion led Shai to pursue a B.A. in International Relations and Political Science and an M.A. in Conflict Management and Resolution. In addition to Shai’s academic background, he is grounded in real-world experience. As a media consultant, Shai honed his ability to craft compelling narratives. This experience taught him how powerful – and sometimes misleading – media portrayals can be. Building on this foundation, Shai directly contributed to public diplomacy efforts at Israel’s international aid agency, “Mashav,” and participated in several Public Diplomacy missions in Europe. Now at Hebrew University, Shai manages high-profile international visits and developing future leaders. Think of Shai as your personal decoder ring, helping you navigate this complex situation with a focus on facts and empathy.
Calev Ben-Dor
Calev Ben-Dor is an analyst and educator focusing on Israel, the Middle East, and the relevance of contemporary and traditional Jewish texts. Having grown up in London, he earned his BA from Leeds University in International History and Politics and an MSc from LSE in the History of International Relations before making Aliyah. He has subsequently spent almost 20 years in policy circles both inside and outside government – as an analyst in the Reut Institute’s National Security team, the Policy Planning Department of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, and Director of Research at BICOM, an independent British research centre producing analysis on Israel and the Middle East. He is currently editor of the Fathom Journal and teaches and lectures on Jewish and Zionist thought to a variety of audiences.
Matthew Lipman
Matthew Lipman has been working in Israel education for over 15 years. He has taught Judaic Studies at Jewish day schools in North America and has led many innovative programs at those schools. He has written high-tech educational materials for US public schools and the IDF, and has directed the multimedia development of an online Jewish day school. In addition to his teaching work at several gap year programs in Israel, Matthew has trained day school leaders in North America to create meaningful Israel education programs. Matthew has a B.A. in Politics and History from the University of Liverpool and holds a Master’s degree in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University. He lives with his family in Modi’in.
Elliot Vaisrub Glassenberg
Elliot Vaisrub Glassenberg is an American-Canadian-Israeli Queer Jewish educator-activist. Elliot teaches and advocates for many topics relating to Jewish pluralism and inclusion, refugee rights, LGBTQIA+ rights and human rights; his educator-activist approach focuses on the application of Jewish culture for social change. Elliot has been teaching at Aardvark Israel since 2019. He is also a senior educator at BINA: The Jewish Movement for Social Change and a leading activist for refugee rights in Israel. Elliot is co-chair of Right Now: Advocates for Asylum Seekers in Israel, a blogger for The Times of Israel, and has published in Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, The Jewish Week, and elsewhere. A native of Chicago, Elliot currently lives in Jaffa and holds a B.A. from McGill University, an M.A. in Jewish Education and an M.A. in Jewish Literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary.
