Yitzhak Sokoloff
Keshet was founded by Yitzhak Sokoloff, who graduated from Columbia University and also studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Hebrew University, Bar Ilan University and the Shalom Hartman Institute. Yitzhak taught Jewish Philosophy and Political Science at institutions ranging from Camp Ramah in Israel to the Hebrew University. He completed the Tour Guide program co-sponsored by the department of Eretz Yisrael Studies of Bar Ilan University and the Ministry of Tourism, and has guided and directed numerous youth, student, and adult programs
Dr. Peter Abelow
Dr. Peter Abelow is the associate director of Keshet. Peter, a graduate of Brooklyn Law School, served as General Studies Principal of Ohr Torah High School in NY, Educational Director of Student Activities at the Ramaz School in NY and Principal of the Beth Tefiloh Community H.S in Baltimore, MD before making aliya in 1990. A licensed tour guide, Peter has a unique style of making Israel come alive in a meaningful and enjoyable way for family groups and people of all ages. He is a contributor to the Hadassah Magazine Jewish Parenting Book, has lectured to fellow educators at numerous CAJE (Coalition for Advancement of Jewish Education) Conferences and writes the Israel Tourism Column for the Orthodox Union Jewish Action magazine. Peter is a young grandfather (a few times over), the first sabah on the Keshet staff.
Kayla Ship
Kayla Ship is the Director of Programming at Keshet. A native of Boston, she received a BA in Anthropology and Religion from Dartmouth College and a holds a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. In addition, she participated in the Visiting Graduate Student Program at Hebrew University. She has taught Jewish studies at Hebrew College in Brookline, MA and at other religious schools in the Boston area. After making aliyah in 1997, Kayla completed the Ministry of Tourism's Tour Guiding Course sponsored by Beit Shmuel.
Daniel Ehrlich
Daniel Ehrlich is Keshet’s Educational Director. He was the founding director of the Tehilla Aliyah movement in N. America, Director of Yeshiva University’s Communal Services and of the Bnei Akiva Zionist Youth Movement. Danny was the editor of the Amiel Publications Project, worked for the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the Coalition for Missing Israeli Soldiers and is the Cantor of the Ashkenazi community of Curacao (Netherlands Antilles). He has Masters Degrees in Community Social Work and in Jewish History and as a licensed Tour Guide has served as “Israel Educator” for a wide variety of Jewish and Christian groups. He is the Efrat coordinator for Christian Friends of Israeli Communities and has been a scholar in residence at churches and synagogues all over the world.
Yossi Yeinan
Yossi Yeinan grew up in Ohio and came to Israel for the first time after high school to study at Yeshivot Kerem B’Yavne and Har Etzion. After completing a BA degree in philosophy at Yeshiva University and a graduate degree in social work he worked in Jewish community agencies and federations in New York, Cleveland, and Jerusalem. Yossi, proud parent of seven children, came on aliya in 1990. Yossi, a licensed guide, sees exploring and guiding in Eretz Yisrael as a great educational opportunity and he believes completely that the most successful educational experiences also have to be enjoyable and relevant. He is Keshet's Director of Group Programs
Gadi Kalfa
Gadi Kalfa, a native of Masuot Yitzhak, learned the fine art of logistical support from the master himself, Moishe Lebowitz, formerly of Keshet. When Gadi is not preparing BBQ's in the Negev or stringing disco lights in the middle of the Jerusalem Forest, he studies Urban Planning for his Masters Degree at the Hebrew University. Gadi's undergraduate studies were in Urban Planning and he has received his degree in Industrial Design from the Hadassah College of Technology.
Aliza Avshalom
Aliza Avshalom is one of our leading tour educators. Aliza both guides and oversees the Israel education for the JFS of London program in Israel. She is a graduate of the Department of Eretz Yisrael Studies of Bar Ilan University and its tour guide program, as well as being a certified teacher. She completed her masters degree at Haifa University in Rabbinical Literature. Aliza has worked with a wide range of groups from synagogue families and youth groups, and has also taught in high school and Bet Midrash learning groups. Aliza made aliya in 1985, lives in the Galilee and is the mother of four children.
Chai Sokoloff
Chai Sokoloff is the Keshet webmaster. He began his career at Keshet when he was about 11 years old, when he came along on programs guided by his father Yitzhak and served as a translator for group participants and a representative of Israeli youth. Soon after receiving his driving license Chai found himself travelling all over Israel in a 1991 Renault Express in order to provide logistic support for our groups. Chai has become a master of computer graphics and is constantly updating our site with new pictures, graphics and information. He also serves us as a photographer and produces customized CD's showcasing the highlights of our groups. Chai just started a new career as a Movie Editor in the IDF Spokesperson unit..
Esther Ochana
Esther Ochana joined the Keshet team as Group Management Director in 2004, overseeing all the logistical and operational details for Keshet's many programs. Esti made aliyah in 1985 from England with her family. She is a graduate of the Israeli Tourism School and has worked in the field of tourism and informal education for 13 years. Esti is married with 3 beautiful children.
Leah Gottesman
Leah Gottesman- With a B.A. in English Literature and Education from City College of NY, and studies at Teachers' Institute for Women of Yeshiva University, Leah (Leslie) Gottesman taught language and literature before making aliyah with her husband and three children in the late 70's. Completing studies at Machon Greenberg and a Course in Communal Tour Guiding in Jerusalem, she worked in public relations with the foreign press, journalism, English teaching, guiding, fundraising, and global marketing in telecommunications. As Keshet's Family Programs Logistics Coordinator, Leah thoroughly enjoys providing hands-on customer service in implementing each aspect of the itinerary designed - on an individualized basis - for our private clients.
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Atara Ariel
Atara is Keshet Comptroller, has been a part of the Keshet team since October, 2004. Atara was born on Kibbutz Ma'ale-Gilboa to American Olim/Immigrants and grew up in Jerusalem where she now lives with her husband, who is an IDF Soldier and her Son. Atara is a certified bookkeeper.
Dani Abelow
Dani Abelow made aliyah with his family in 1990. Dani studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion and served in the IDF as a Paratrooper in conjunction with his "hesder" studies. He has a BA in Psychology and Logistics from Bar Ilan University and completed the Derech Eretz Tour Guide Course. Before joining Keshet as the Director of Operations, he traveled to South Africa and Australia to work in high schools and communities teaching about Eretz Yisrael. He also represented Israel on college campuses in the United States in order to improve Israel's "hasbara".
Ashel Cern
Ashel Cern, Keshet's Elderhostel Logistics Coordinator, has been involved with helping people come to Israel for the past five years. Born in New York, Ashel and her family made aliyah to the Jerusalem area when she was four. After serving in the army as a teacher to Ethiopian children, she received her BA in Social Work from Bar Ilan University. Ashel spent two years in Boston as a travel agent, and returned in 2006 to work for Keshet. She is married to Michael, and they have a son, Lavi.
Orit Roset
Orit Roset is Keshet's Logistical Group Coordinator. She began working with Keshet as a youth counselor in 2000, guiding youth groups and family tours. Originally from Ashqelon, Orit finished her BA in Law from Bar Ilan in 2004. As a child, Orit spent five years in Canada when her parents served as shlichim in both Toronto and Ottawa. Orit joined the Keshet team in April 2005.Orit Roset is Keshet's Logistical Group Coordinator. She began working with Keshet as a youth counselor in 2000, guiding youth groups and family tours. Originally from Ashqelon, Orit finished her BA in Law from Bar Ilan in 2004. As a child, Orit spent five years in Canada when her parents served as shlichim in both Toronto and Ottawa. Orit joined the Keshet team in April 2005.
Aimee Reed
Aimee Reed is Keshet's Logistical Group Coordinator Aimee was born in England, and made aliyah to Israel with her family when she was one year old. She has a certificate in Informal Education in Art and is currently studying nutrition. Aimee has extensive experience as a volunteer with Magen David Adom and helping victims of terror and their families. Her friendly nature and desire to help others has made her a perfect addition to the Keshet staff.
Moshe Gabay
Moshe grew up in Schaffhausen, Switzerland where he worked for four years at an Insurance Company. He made aliyah in 2002 and joined the IDF. After working at the Hilton Queen of Sheba Hotel in Eilat and the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, he developed a deep commitment to studying the land and history of Israel. After taking the Ministry of Tourism's Tour Guiding Course, he joined the Keshet staff in 2007 and spends much of his time marketing Keshet's tours to Christians in Switzerland and Germany.
Geoff Winston
Geoff started working with Keshet as a tour guide and group leader for the Na'ale Youth Program, which he has run every summer since 2006. Geoff grew up in New Jersey and graduated from SUNY Albany with a BA in Judaic Studies. Geoff made aliya in 1992 while volunteering on Project Otzma. He has worked as a program coordinator with Project Otzma and has been a guide and educator for Ramah Seminars in Israel and the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. In 2002, he was a founding staff member and worked for six years at the Keshet Democratic School for religious and secular children in his home town of Zichron Ya'akov. Geoff is married with four adorable children.
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Joshua Halickman
Born and raised in Montreal, Josh continued his education at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University in New York where he earned a degree in accounting. Following a 3 year stint working in public accounting he became the Chief Financial Officer of the Isaacs Center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan for 7 years until making Aliyah in 2004. Most recently Josh has been the CFO of a non profit organization in Jerusalem before joining Keshet. Josh lives in the Arnona neighborhood of Jerusalem with his wife of 15 years Sharona and his 3 children Dov (10), Moshe (6) and Yehuda Maccabi (3).
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Jacqueline Hantgan
Jacqueline is our Director of Marketing and Outreach. She has previously served in leadership and outreach roles at Americans for Cures Foundation, The California Research and Cures Coalition, The Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, CA. and was an elementary school teacher in California and New York City. Her volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of the Women's Alliance for Jewish Federation and the Kavod charity. Jacqueline holds a masters degree in anthropology and education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She and her husband Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback have three children and have made Aliyah from Los Altos, California during the summer of 2009.
Tsippy Goldstein
Tsippy is Keshet's Bookkeeper, has been part of the Keshet team since July 2008. Tsippy was born in Chicago and made Ailyah with her family when she was 1. She worked in a Gan in Peteuch Tikvah during her Sheruit Leumi Service with special need children. Tsippy studied bookkeeping in Jerusalem and lives in Afrat with her husband and two sons.
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Einav Avraham
Einav is Keshet's Logistics Coordinator. Einav grew up in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem and currently lives in Gilo. Einav completed her army service in 2004. She served as a medic and a clinic manager. After her army enlistment she studied Biotechnology at Hadassah College and received her BS in 2009. She loves her dog and during her free time loves going to the beach and hiking in the north of Israel.
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