Chicago to Israel to Kenya A family’s story of living Jewishly on three continents Michelle Cohen, May 28, 2021 When Avital Kaszovitz prepared to be a Modern Orthodox shlicha (emissary) to the Jewish community in Kenya, she never imagined one of the first things she would do would be sending homemade challah and chicken soup to recovering COVID-19 …
Ensuring Jewish Community Growth, Even During a Pandemic When idealistic, committed young adults embark on the two-year Straus-Amiel Emissary Training Program for rabbinical couples, they cannot possibly imagine all of the challenges they will face building Jewish community throughout the Diaspora; least of all, those that will arise due to a worldwide pandemic. During the …
Exodus to Freedom in New Zealand: Seder night without masks or social distancing Members of the Jewish community are registered on an app and at any given time they know who needs to self-isolate and who has been exposed to a Covid-19 patient. However, this is insufficient to reduce worry about gatherings, and only half of …
Ayala (Shapira) and Eliran Shabo Athens, Greece Eliran Shebo is serving as Deputy Rabbi while Ayala (Shapira) Shebo is a teacher as well as being responsible for community projects in the Jewish community of Athens, Greece. The couple was the first to go out on shlichut from last year’s crop of graduates (because of COVID); …
“One Extended Family” – OTS Emissary Training Programs Reach Out to Students’ Parents When a young couple makes the decision to leave Israel and serve as emissaries, the move impacts not only them, but their parents, as well. Over the last 22 years, Ohr Torah Stone’s Straus-Amiel Rabbinical Emissary Program, Beren-Amiel Educational Emissary Program and …
Natalia and Shaul FribergHeidelberg, Germany Rabbi Shaul and Rabbanit Natalia Friberg have been serving as the Rabbi and Rebbetzin of the young people in the “Hochschule für Jüdische Studien” community in Heidelberg, Germany, for the past 13 years. Children:Hannah- 24Raphael- 22Sarah – 20Shimon- 18Chava- 16 Tell us about the community you’re in:We serve as the campus …
Ruchama and Ariel YeshurunMiami, Florida, USA Ariel and Ruchama Yeshurun have been serving as the Rabbi and Rebbetzin of the Skylake Synagogue in Miami, Florida for the past 10 years. Children:Avner Yishai – 20Akiva Nechemia – 18Tamara Naomi – 16Leah Zahava – 10Sasson Moshe – 7Yakira Mazal – 2 Tell us about the community you’re …
Collector of Jewish souls: A rabbi’s treasures culled from around the world When he arrives in a new community, Rabbi Eliahu Birnbaum, 62, slips into detective mode: “I’ve found amazing old books, prayers, Haggadahs and more in those places.” By Deborah Fineblum | January 25, 2021 (JNS) A 12-branch copper candelabra kindled on holidays by Jews …
Michal and Bentzi MannLondon, England Bentzi and Michal Man serve as rabbi and rabbanit of the Mill Hill East Jewish Community and the Jewish Free School Campus in London, England. The couple have been on shlichut for two and a half years. Children:Carmi – 3Shachar – 2Lavie – 7 months Tell us about the community …
Sarah and Mark FishmanMontreal, Canada Rabbi Mark and Sarah Fishman have been serving as the Rabbi and Rebbetzin of Congregation Beth Tikvah in Montreal, Canada for ten and a half years. Sarah, a psychologist by profession, also runs a clinic. Children:Shira – 12Shmuel – 8Devorah – 6Batsheva – 3 Tell us about the community you’re in:The community …
Ilana and Daniel Epstein London, UK Rabbi Daniel and Ilana (Spitz) Epstein have been serving as the Rabbi and Rebbetzin of Cockfosters & N Southgate United Synagogue in London, England, for the past six and a half years Children: Stephen – 23 Yoel – 21 Odelle – 17 Jacob – 14 Tell us about the …
Eliya and Oded Pe’er Lower Merion, Philadelphia, USA Eliya and Oded Pe’er have been serving the Lower Merion community as educational emissaries and Bnei Akiva shlichim for for the past two and a half years Children:Ori – 12Yedidya – 11Dvir – 8Benaya -6Lavie – 2 Tell us about the position you’re in:Elia and Oded teach Hebrew, Bible, …
