Reut Tsohar, Director of the Career Israel program, was born and raised in Jerusalem and served in the IDF as a social worker. Following her release from the army she lived in Budapest, Hungary for 4 years, where she was the coordinator of the Education Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel. In this position she was responsible for coordinating all Israel programs for the community including Birthright and Masa. She and her husband Tamir, a medical intern, are the proud parents of Ma'ayan and Alma.
Elana Glickman, registration and placement manager for the Career Israel program, was born and raised in New York. Since her aliyah eight years ago she has served as the coordinator of the OTZMA program and the coordinator of English speaking aliyah promotion programs for Tnuat Aliyah of the Jewish Agency for Israel. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Queens College and a Masters in Social Work with a specialization in community organizing from Hunter College School of Social Work. She and her husband Meir, a psychologist, are the proud parents of two children.
Sharon Lintz, Career Israel Director of Marketing and public relations coordinator was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. She studied at the University of North Carolina where she was involved with Greek Life, Student Government and Jewish Life on Campus. After completing a degree in Political Science she worked for Hillel at the University of Virginia, and then went on Otzma, a year long volunteer program in Israel. She joined the CI staff in 2008 and was a group counselor for four sessions before taking on her current role. Sharon lives in Tel Aviv and spends her free time traveling, hiking, reading on the beach and drinking coffee.
Shana Krakowski, Career Israel placement and registration coordinator, was born and raised in the United States. She has served as a placement coordinator for the Stagerim program, as well as director of North American programming for Yavneh Olami, and coordinator of English speaking hasbara staff for the Student Authority. She holds a degree in social work from Bar Ilan University, as well as continued Jewish education credits at the Bet Morasha Bet Midrash.
Itzik Yehezkel, Career Israel participant coordinator, was born and raised in Israel. He is currently studying Jewish philosophy at Tel Aviv University. Since 2002 Itzik has been working with Diaspora Jews. He began his career in the Jewish world with Young Judaea, leading youth groups in the States and Israel. In 2003 Itzik served as a counselor for Young Judea's year course gap program in Israel. Following that, Itzik worked for Merkaz Hamagshimim in Jerusalem for five years, helping olim {new immigrants} and lone soldiers of the IDF. His work there involved assisting olim to navigate the Israeli bureaucracy and helping to create social events for the residents. Itzik has also worked as a tour guide, leading Israeli and American groups all over Israel as well as serving as the social coordinator of the Jewish Agency's Stagerim (internship) program.
Mara Seidel, Career Israel participant coordinator, was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Sociology, and it was there she fell in love with college football and hiking in the mountains. She also went to Israel for the first time her sophomore year on the Taglit Birthright-Israel trip, but it wasn't until she studied abroad in Barcelona that her love affair with traveling began. After graduation, Mara started working for Hillel at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst bringing Jewish life to students on campus and staffing multiple Taglit Birthright-Israel trips and Alternative Spring Break trips. In September 2008, she herself was a participant on Career Israel, volunteering with refugees from Darfur. Mara loves to travel and has backpacked through India, Southeast Asia, Nepal, and Western Europe, but the most exciting move she has done to date would be making Aliyah in November of 2009.
Yael Ring, Career Israel logistics and educational programming coordinator, was born and raised in Israel. She has been involved in Zionist work since her National Service at the Institute for Leaders from Abroad in 2002. She has a BA in International Relations and Jewish History form Hebrew University. Yael started working with the Jewish world in earnest with World Bnei Akiva, leading educational programs in the States as well as leading birthright groups in Israel. In 2008 Yael spent a year in NY teaching at SAR high school in NY and leading the local Bnei Akiva activities. Following that she worked with Bnei Akiva's gap year program in Israel. Yael is a true Jewish history fan, loves hiking and traveling and loves living in Jerusalem.
Jordana Bickel has been the registrar, recruitment coordinator, and internship placement coordinator for Career Israel since July 2011. She graduated from Touro College in Manhatta with a degree in Marketing, and was a participant on the World Union Jewish Students in Israel program in 2010. She has interned for Us Weekly, and the admissions department of the Jewish Theological Seminary. After making aliyah in January 2011 she studied at Ulpan Etzion and is very excited to be fulfilling her dream of living in Israel!
Aryeh Solomon, Career Israel internship placement coordinator, was born and raised in Israel to American parents. After his army service as a commander in the paratroopers division, Aryeh studied education at Herzog College and taugh in several schools. He also worked at various informal education programs including directing Yavneh Olami's summer internship program in Israel. Aryeh lives in Efrat with his wife and two children. He enjoys playing soccer and reading.
Mariel Ackerman is from Chicago, and attended Indiana University (Bloomington) where she received her BA in Public Health and Business. She then attended Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL for her M.S. in Health Systems Management, and worked in Project Management for a large, hospital-employed physician group. After her studies Mariel came on the Career Israel internship program and interned with African Refugees in need of healthcare services in Israel. Her experience on CI was so amazing, that she decided to stay in Israel and assist with marketing for Career Israel internship program. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her friends.