The JLIC Fellowship for Campus Professionals

Lele is from Melbourne, Australia. She attended Midreshet Lindenbaum, and has a certificate in Kallah Teacher Training from the Eden Center. She works as an anesthetic and surgical nurse, and is currently pursuing a Masters in perio-operative practice. In her free time, Lele enjoys making ceramics, baking Ottolenghi sweets, watching YouTube videos on architecture, running the steep hills of Jerusalem, and following fashion. Aryeh is from Potomac, Maryland. He studied at Yeshivat Orayta and spent two summers at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush). Aryeh graduated from University of Maryland in 2020, where he studied Philosophy, History, and Jewish Studies. While at UMD, Aryeh served as the president of the Orthodox community (Kedma). Aryeh is in his second year of YU Semicha (RIETS), and currently studies at the Gruss Kollel. Aryeh enjoys cooking, making (and tasting) coffee, watching videos on urban planning, and trying to make his baby laugh. Lele and Aryeh live in Bayit VeGan with their daughter Liora. They hope to build a home and a community that is warm, kind, and passionate about Torah and Judaism.

Sheerelle and Matt currently live in Alon Shvut with their three daughters Lielle, Anayah and Noa, having come to Israel through the Mizrachi UK Fellowship scheme. Sheerelle is an Occupational Therapist by profession, and having completed Matan/Mizrachi’s Eshkolot and Lapidot programmes as well as Mizrachi’s Shalhevet course, she now works as the Occupational Therapist at a Special Needs kindergarten in Beitar. Meanwhile, Matt recently completed his MA in Jewish Education from Hebrew University and Mizrachi’s Shalhevet course. Currently, he spends most of his time either learning in Yeshivat HarEtzion’s ‘Halacha Kollel’, teaching English in an Efrat High School or learning for the Mizrachi Musmachim S’micha course.

Moshe is a teacher, translator and budding Poet. He studied in Har Etzion Yeshiva for over six years, and spent time exploring various Torah horizons. He learnt creative writing for two years, holds a B.ed and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in mathematics and history while teaching high school math. Gaia loves the Torah. She studied at Migdal Oz for a year, participated in the Hebrew University Havruta Gemara program, and is currently studying at Drisha, the first Yeshiva for women while pursuing an undergarduate degree in Computer Science and Psychology at the Open University. She loves playing music, learning new things and hosting. Moshe and Gaia married in December 2021, and have since lived in the desert and the Judean hills. We enjoy learning, reading and trekking together. We have a cute and friendly dog named Noce (Hazelnut in Italian).

Moshe and Saara have been on campus at Brown University for over a decade. They live in Providence with their two daughters and giant pet rabbit. Moshe grew up in New York and Montreal prior to attending the New England Rabbinical College in Providence, RI. He learned under Rabbi Moshe Wolpin in Jerusalem, and taught at a yeshiva for American teens at risk for 2 years before returning to Providence. Moshe started his career on campus running a branch of Meor, and currently works as the Senior Jewish Educator at Brown-RISD Hillel. Moshe is a BBQ enthusiast, coffee addict and Pachad Yitzchak stan. Saara moved around a lot with her family while growing up, and considers herself a Midwestern-Texan-from-Baltimore. She spent her undergraduate years living in Chicago and Baltimore while earning a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, and she is currently working on her Master of Education in Higher Education. Saara works for Brown in an administrative capacity and while her kids keep her a little too busy for hobbies, she does try to make time for her volunteer work educating caregivers about car seat safety and proper usage in her role as a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.

Eitan grew up in Scarsdale, NY. After attending Ramaz High School, he spent one & a half years in Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi. He then spent a year in Allentown, PA studying at Muhlenberg College before transferring to YU, where he ultimately graduated. He is currently in his 3rd year at RIETS and first year at Wurzweiler, pursuing an MSW. Eitan is also a singer, songwriter, and music producer, running a recording studio out of his Washington Heights apartment. Sara grew up in Woodmere, NY. After graduating from HAFTR High School she spent her gap year studying at Midreshet Harova in the Old City of Yerushalayim. She then graduated CUNY Queens College with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and now practices as a dietitian at an outpatient eating disorder clinic. Sara is extremely passionate about women’s health and hopes to become a Kallah Teacher in the immediate future. Sara and Eitan currently live in Washington Heights, NY with their newborn son Ezra. They are looking forward to being a part of the JLIC Fellowship and can’t wait to meet and learn from the other JLIC fellows and Directors!

Shlomo grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and after graduating from the Fasman Yeshiva high school, he began Hesder at Yeshivat Hakotel. Growing up in a deeply Zionistic home inspired his journey of making Aliyah and serving in the Givati brigade of the Israeli army. After his army service, while completing Hesder in Yeshiva, Shlomo held many leadership positions there including Rosh Madrichim for the American program. Shlomo received his semicha from World Mizrachi’s Musmachim program, while studying towards his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Machon Lev (Jerusalem College of Technology). Shlomo is currently working for OurCrowd, a venture capital fund in Jerusalem. In his free time, shlomo enjoys learning, reading, exercising, and watching any sports game, despite the time difference. Kyra, originally from Woodmere, NY, went to SKA High School for Girls NY, and then spent a year studying at Shaalvim for Women in Jerusalem. This is where her deep desire for Yishuv Eretz Yisrael was fostered. Kyra continued on to Stern College for Women where she studied Psychology and Public Health, and stepped into many roles on Stern’s Student Council. Soon after she graduated, Kyra made Aliyah. She received her MA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Hebrew University, and was a Rakezet (mentor) for the students at MMY, a seminary in Jerusalem. Kyra currently works as a Donor Missions Manager at the Jewish Agency, and in her free time, she enjoys doing Yoga, anything crafty, trying out new recipes, and having a good laugh from The Office. Shlomo and Kyra met in Jerusalem during the height of Covid. Good thing they lived within the allowed traveling parameters during Israel’s lockdowns! They now live in Baka, Jerusalem and are passionate about fostering a strong sense of community.

We Have four boys. Otniel is in kollel eretz hemdah learning for smicha from the rabbanut. And Tzivia is a nourse.

Arie grew up in Boca Raton Florida. After learning in Yeshivat Hakotel, Arie served in the Armoured Corps in the Israeli army. He recently finished his bachelor’s degree in Buisness Administration and Political Science from Hebrew University. In his free time, Arie enjoys reading, cooking and learning about history. Eliana grew up in Teaneck New Jersey before making Aliyah with her family at age 12 to Chamonaim. After finishing a bachelors in special needs education from Bar Ilan, she is now finishing her Masters in Clinical Social Work at Hebrew University. She has a passion for the preforming arts and is always down for heart to heart over coffee.. Arie and Eliana got married during Corona and now live with their son Netanel in Jerusalem. Eliana’s fun outgoing energy and passion gives the perfect contrast to Arie’s calm and thoughful presence. After both have been invovled in informal education in the past they are excited to take on new roles with OU-JLIC.

Yaffy was born and raised in Hollywood, Florida. After attending Weinbaum Yeshiva High School, Yaffy spent her gap year in Midreshet Nishmat. This is where Yaffy’s love for Israel grew, leading to her Aliyah. She then did Sherut LeUmi in Sha’arei Tzedek hospital, working in both the surgery and maternity ward. Yaffy continued on to the Mechina program in Hebrew U while working as a Madricha at MMY seminary. Yaffy is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science while working as the Eim Bayit of MMY.

Nadav was born in Yerushalayim and was raised in Ma’ale Adumim. After attending Ort Aviation High School, he went on to study in the Yeshiva in Eli for two years. Nadav then went on to serve 4 years in the Givati infantry brigade as a commander and Officer. Once out of the army, he went back to the Post army program in Eli. After beingmarried in the army for two and a half years, Yaffy and Nadav backpacked across South America for 5 months. Nadav is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science from Machon Lev and studying for Semicha in the Mizrachi Musmachim Program.

Yaffy and Nadav currently live in Jerusalem with their son Pe’er Yisrael.

Avi grew up in Maaleh Adumim. After high school, he studied at the yeshiva in Eli for two and a half years, followed by four and a half years in the army, where he served in a combat engineering unit. When Avi finished his service, he became a tour guide and has been working in informal education since.

Shira grew up in a town called Nof Ayalon. After high school, she did national service for two years near Be’er Sheva, educating and guiding students from all over the country. She served as part of an educational shlichut in Brookline, Massachusetts for a year. When she returned to Israel studied at Midreshet Nishmat for two years. Shira has a degree in archeology and political science. She worked as a tour guide and an educational director at the Western Wall Foundation and other organizations. She has an MA in Urban Planning and currently works in Beit Shemesh.

Avi & Shira have four children: Gili, Matar, Ivri, and Neta. They currently live in Yerushalayim and are excited to be part of the JLIC family!