Keith Berman, Director and Co-Founder of Aardvark Israel, previously served as the Director of the Young Judaea/FZY Year Course gap year program in Israel for 11 years. Through his leadership, vision, and creativity, the program underwent tremendous growth, both in enrollment and diversity of program offerings. Keith’s accomplishments also include founding and serving as the first Director of the Merkaz Hamagshimim (a popular Jerusalem center  for English speaking young adults.) He was also a participant in Year Course in 1984-85 and is a graduate of the WUJS Arad program. A native of Florida, Keith made aliya to Israel in 1988 and served in the Nachal Infantry Unit of the Israeli army. He earned his B.A. from the University of Miami in psychology and Judaic Studies and studied towards his master’s degree in psychology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Keith has three children and lives in Tel Aviv.

Debbie Goldsmith, Assistant Director and Co-Founder of Aardvark Israel, has worked in the field of Jewish and Zionist education for almost 20 years. Prior to the establishment of Aardvark, she served as the Assistant Director of Young Judaea/FZY Year Course gap year program in Israel. She is a graduate of USY’s Nativ gap year program in Israel. Debbie grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and completed her B.A. at Columbia University majoring in Religion and at the Jewish Theological Seminary majoring in Talmud. She also has an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Prior to making aliya to Israel in 2001, Debbie was a Jewish Family Education coordinator, youth professional, and worked in several Jewish summer camps. She also has led Jewish educational tours to Ethiopia and Holland. Debbie lives in Yishuv Alon with her husband and has three young children and an "adopted" college-aged son.

Simon Cohen, Senior Program Coordinator and Co-Founder of Aardvark Israel, has worked professionally in the field of Jewish and Zionist Education since 1999.  Having grown up in England as an active participant in the Federation of Zionist Youth (FZY), Simon served as the Movement’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 well as a senior staff member and most recently as the Director of the program’s Jerusalem Department.  Among his accomplishments is having founded and directed the Shevet Program which provides participants a structured venue for religious exploration and growth.  Simon is also an experienced guide for Jewish educational tours to Poland.  He earned his B.A. in Economics and Economic History from Manchester University and his M.A. in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University.  Simon lives in Tzur Hadassah with his wife and their two children.

Rotem Regev, Tel Aviv Coordinator, grew up in Givatayim, near Tel Aviv, and spent three years there as a madrich (counselor) in the HaNoar V'Haoved youth movement, prior to completing a year of volunteer service for the movement in the Jerusalem area as well.  He has also worked in the Givatayim Youth Club.  His experience with young people lead him to spend a summer in the United States working in a JCC summer camp in Indiana.  During his army service, Rotem was in the Nachal as a commander and achieved the rank of Senior Sergeant.  After the army, Rotem spent six months traveling through South America before serving as a counselor for Aardvark in 2010-11.  Then, following a six month trip to India, he returned to the Aardvark team for another round as a counselor in Tel Aviv in the Spring of 2012, and we're thrilled to have him now filling the role of Tel Aviv coordinator! Rotem currently resides in Tel Aviv.

Farrel Brest, Marketing and Sales Director, was born in South Africa, grew up in Australia and has spent several years living, studying and working overseas. He obtained his B.A in Media and Communications and a Post-Graduate in Communications of Advertising in Sydney, Australia. Since completing his studies he has worked in a large strategic advertising agency, a boutique social media agency and as a freelance digital strategist and community manager. Farrel is a cultural adventurer, who believes in curiosity, pioneering, precision and karma. He loves Italian gelatos, swimming and drinking from tumbler water bottles, and hates cooked mushrooms, fax machines and muddy clothes from riding bicycles. He moved to Tel Aviv in February 2012.

Liron Milbar, Marketing and Sales Coordinator, was born in Israel but moved to the US at a young age. In 2007, upon completing her B.A in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science from Temple University in Philadelphia, she made aliyah to pursue a M.A in International Relations from Tel Aviv University. Liron has worked in the PR and Tourist Departments of the Women’s International Zionist Organization in Tel Aviv, and more recently, she was the Director of Foreign Relations for World Likud, working with Members of Knesset and the World Zionist Organization. Liron has volunteered with the Shapiro Family Fellowship and has also hosted a bi-lingual event before an audience of 3,000 students and government officials in honor of ‘World Student Solidarity Event for the Kidnapped Soldiers.” She currently resides in Tel Aviv.

Natalie David grew up in Neve Ilan, a small moshav near Jerusalem. She recently completed her BA in Middle-Eastern Studies, Geography and Environmental Studies from Ben Gurion University in Be'er Sheva. She served for two years in the Israeli Army during which time she drove a Hummer on a combat training base in the Negev. She continues to serve the IDF as a reservist for two weeks each year. Natalie previously participated in a student leadership program of the Jewish Agency. She also was a group counselor and logistics coordinator for various companies’ staff days. She is an active volunteer in “Amcha,” an NGO which provides support to Holocaust survivors. One of her biggest loves is dogs and she has also volunteered in raising awareness and preventing animal abuse among children. Natalie currently lives in Jerusalem.

Gali Ezer grew up in Jerusalem until age 15, when she moved to Boston, Massachusetts for her freshman year of high school. Since returning to Israel a year later, she has lived in Hod HaSharon (near Tel Aviv). During high school, she was a counselor and staff leader in the Israeli Scouts youth movement. Prior to entering the army, she spent a gap year volunteering with kids with special needs in Hod HaSharon. In the army, Gali taught basic training to non-Hebrew speaking soldiers in the Border Patrol Unit. She spent three summers working at Jewish summer camps in the United States, in North Carolina, St. Louis, Missouri, and New York City. She also has worked as a counselor with American high school students at Alexander Muss High School in Israel and worked for the Jewish Agency for Israel in the Summer Shlichim department. Gali spent 5 months traveling throughout Asia and looks forward to further travel in the future. Gali currently lives in Tel Aviv.

Danielle Longo grew up in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Graduating with honors from the University of Michigan with a BA in Psychology, Danielle went back to school to pursue her MA in Counseling, specifically working with high school students and their families. She loves dogs, event planning, and experiencing new things. Danielle recently made aliyah after participating in a 10 month Masa program, volunteering and teaching English to Israeli students in the periphery. That experience solidified her love for the land, culture, and people of Israel. In the States, Danielle was a school counselor as well as a coach of a public speaking team. She not only brings enthusiasm to the team but also an understanding of the difficulties that may arise when living in a new place. Danielle currently lives in Tel Aviv.

Or-Lee Kaidar was born in Haifa. She recently completed her B.A in Communication and International Relations from Hebrew University in Jerusalem where she was also a founding member of the first online newspaper "Kilkshoret." Following an internship at the Jewish Agency she found her calling: working with young students who support Israel and have a keen interest in shaping the future of Israel. During her army service in the Israeli Air Force as a non-commissioned officer, Or-Lee was responsible for Information Security and accompanied foreign visitors around the base, as well as conducted and planned weekly lectures to soldiers and officers. Or-Lee spent a year as Volunteer Teacher's Aide at Kfar-Saba School for adults with special needs. She's a StandWithUs Alumni and was the media manager for Project S.E.E, bringing young social entrepreneurs to Israel. Or-Lee speaks Hebrew, English and Spanish fluently. She currently resides in Jerusalem.

Yonatan Mehl grew up in Kfar HaOranim, a small town between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Yonatan holds a B.A in international relations and a B.A in communications and journalism from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He served in the Israeli Defense Forces as a combat soldier in the artillery forces. He participated in the StandWithUs fellowship for public diplomacy. Yonatan also participated in ISRAMUN, the first Israeli university level Model United Nations, twice as a delegate and once as the chair of the Human Rights Council. He worked in the Zionism Seminars as part of the UJEB-Bialik delegation to Melbourne, Australia. During his studies, Yonatan worked as a substitute teacher in the Kfar HaOranim elementary school. Yonatan loves sports and is a die-hard fan of Newcastle United in soccer and Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA. He currently resides in Jerusalem.

Guy Alush was born and raised in Haifa. He attended the Leo Beck Educational Center where he specialized in Judaism and media. In the IDF, he served for three years as a team commander in the artillery unit "MLRS,” and received an award for his outstanding duty. Upon completing his army duty, Guy worked at a URJ summer camp in the U.S called Camp Harlem. He is a graduate of the ACVA course, which prepare you to become a counselor. Guy traveled for six months in South America and enjoys traveling, soccer, music and going to the movies. He currently resides in Tel Aviv.

David Mizrahi grew up in Hod Hasharon, a small city near Tel Aviv. During high school, David was a madrich in the NOAM youth movement. During his IDF service, he was a commander of training for new soldiers. David has also worked at the Jewish Agency’s summer camp GUCI in Indiana, USA. In 2011, David worked as a video specialist at Camp Harlem in Pennsylvania. He took a break from work to travel for about 9 months around the world. Last summer he worked as a videographer in Camp Sprout Lake Young Judaea in New York. David currently resides in Tel Aviv.

Or Peretz grew up in Mevasseret Tzion, just outside of Jerusalem. Throughout school, she was actively involved in the "Seeds of Peace" organization and took part in a student exchange program with German youth. During her army service, Or was in charge of education division overseeing soldiers on the border of Gaza. She has spent two summers as a staff counselor at Camp Alonim in California, mostly working on the art staff and as a general programmer. This past summer she was the head of the Israeli delegation at that camp. Or has a passion for art and photography as well as music and guitar. Last year, Or was a madricha for Aardvark in Jerusalem and she was excited to return for a second year, this time as a madricha in Tel Aviv.

Rav Ari Faust is an inspirational educator and long-time friend of the Aardvark program. He and his family have been residents at the Aardvark Jerusalem campus for two year and have met and hosted many students for Shabbat meals. They are warm and caring, and create an atmosphere that allows for all visitors to really feel at home. Rav Ari made aliya from Montreal, Canada and has been teaching in gap-year programs in Israel for over five years. He has taught and connected with students from across the spectrum of Jewish practice and knowledge, and his classes are enjoyed by all. Rav Ari loves swimming and hiking, and his favorite place in Israel is the Upper Galilee. Rav Ari's wife, Chaya, is an artist who devotes her time to painting, and taking care of their daughters, Maya and Galia. Chaya has also studied baking and her cakes and cookies have become legendary amongst Aardvark students over the past two years.

Rabbi Ariel Konstantyn is renowned for his boundless energy and spirit, scholarly discourses and unconditional love for every Jew. He is the Founding Rabbi of The Tel Aviv International Synagogue and President of ME-Tzion – The Institute of Zionism and Jewish Heritage. In addition, he serves as a Rabbinic Consultant to Tzohar Rabbis and is the Corporate Rabbi and Liaison to Jewish Communities for Agel Enterprises. He received his Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshiva University, and holds a BA in Biology from Yeshiva University, a BA in Physical Therapy from Hunter College, and an MA from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. Prior to his aliya, Rabbi Ariel served as a congregational rabbi and religious school principal at The Hampton Synagogue and at Congregation Mount Sinai in New Jersey. He also served as National Vice President of the Religious Zionists of America, was on the Founding Board of Directors of the Jewish Academy of Suffolk County, and was a member of the Boards of Directors of Peconic Bay Medical Center as well as their Family Counseling Service and Medical Ethics Committee. Rabbi Ariel and his wife, Cheryl, live in Tel Aviv with their four children.

Dr. Steve Copeland received his PhD from Harvard University and has devoted over 30 years of his career to teaching young adults. Since 1988 he has been recognized as one of the leading professors at Boston's Hebrew College - in the fields of Jewish thought and education. Since Steve's return to Israel, he continues to serve on the College's faculty, through its online courses as well as for its joint program with Machon Pardes; in addition he has been teaching variously at Hebrew University, Machon Schechter, Young Judaea Year Course, and Ramah High School Semester in Israel. Steve spent nearly 20 years as an educator at Young Judaea's Camp Tel Yehudah and served as the movement's National Education Director. He has been described by the director of Hebrew University's department of Jewish thought as "one of the most important scholars with us in Jerusalem – possessing unusual depth of soul, sensitivity & broad-ranging perspective. His classes are an experience of intellectual journeying, seasoned with his unique character that engages the spirit as one freely at home in its realm."

Dr. Bryan Roby was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He holds a B.A in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. He recently completed his PhD in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Manchester, England. He has acted as a volunteer for the Israel Committee for Equality in Education (HILA) and as a thesis consultant for graduate students. Bryan has also taught university-level tutorials in contemporary politics of the Middle East at the University of Manchester. Bryan made aliyah in 2007. He is an avid movie-goer and currently resides in Jerusalem.

Dr. Harold Goldmeier began his career teaching middle school in Chicago, and was later a Research and Teaching Fellow at Harvard where he earned his Doctorate in Education. Harold also served as Asst. Prof. at Tufts U. Medical School. He was a founding member, youth activist, and advisor of the Midwest Region of NCSY. He has worked in the administrations for three Governors and the U. S. Surgeon General on education, civil rights, and children and youth issues, and for seven years as voluntary Co-Chair of Mayor Daley’s Youth Council of the Chicago Workforce Board. He recently sold his own business employing more than 70 prior to making aliyah with his wife in February 2012. He is now a writer, teacher, and business management consultant to start-up and expanding companies.

Rabbi Joshua Cohen has served in a myriad of capacities to better promote Jewish education. Originally from Skokie, IL he has served as the Assistant Director of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, and as the senior rabbi at Temple Beth Emunah (Brockton, MA) and Temple Emanuel of North Jersey (Franklin Lakes, NJ). He and his family made aliyah in August 2009 to Modiin. He has worked as an instructor for Young Judaea’s Year Course and taught an introductory course in Jewish education at Tel Aviv University through a partnership with JESNA, the Jewish Educational Service of North America. He has worked as the Projects Coordinator for MAROM Olami in Jerusalem and served as the interim coordinator for Tel Aviv University’s International MA in Jewish Studies. His summers are spent at Camp Ramah in Nyack as a Rosh Aidah and parent liaison.

Rabbi Cohen holds BA’s from Columbia University (History) and List College (Jewish History) as well as an MA in Jewish Education and Rabbinic Ordination (Jewish Theological Seminary). He loves all forms of education and outreach and can teach a variety of subject matters to different audiences.

A long suffering Cubs fan, he loathes the day he will have to choose who to root for in the World Series when the Cubs play the Yankees. He lives in Moddin with his wife and two amazing kids.

Adimika Smith is a licensed clinical social worker and PhD candidate at Arizona State University where she also completed her MA. She previously studied psychology and business administration at the University of Denver. Prior to making aliya to Israel in September 2010, Mika worked as a therapist and educator in Arizona where she specialized in working with trauma victims including military personnel returning from war, adolescents suffering from psychotic episodes, mothers with a history of childhood trauma, and other people with psychological needs. She also was Katrina Evacuee Volunteer. One of the joys of her career is teaching staff, students, and colleagues to think outside of the box, to stretch their imaginations, and to develop skills.

Abraham Silver is a licensed tour guide and Jewish educator who has devoted the last 18 years to creating and implementing innovative informal Jewish and Israel education. His experience includes working with Young Judaea, the United Jewish Communities, the United Israel Appeal of Canada, Melitz, Dorot Fellowship, Archeological Seminars, and other organizations. He is currently the Educational Director of Israel Interactive, providing educators with inventive, attractive, DVD and Internet based instructional programs. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Abraham was deeply involved in Young Judaea and after completing his B.A. in History and Philosophy from S.U.N.Y. Binghamton, Abraham served as a madrich (counselor) on Young Judaea’s Year Course gap year program in Israel. He then moved to Kibbutz Ketura where he spent many years as a date farmer. In the army, Abraham served in the Nachal Paratrooper Corps and was in a front line combat unit as a reservist in the IDF until retirement in 2003, serving in Lebanon and during both Intifatas. Abraham also completed an M.A. in Architecture from University of Pennsylvania and in addition to practicing architecture, he currently lectures on the architecture of Jerusalem at Hebrew University. He is also the co-author of the book “Living the Dream: Israel at 50”. Abraham and his wife live in Tel Aviv with their two daughters.

Jamie Salter is a licensed Israeli Tour Guide and highly respected Jewish educator. He earned a BA in Modern History from Oxford University and a MA in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Prior to making aliya, Jamie was the National Education Coordinator of the Union of Jewish Students of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and was the Education and Training Coordinator at Makor, the Jewish Agency’s Education Department in Great Britain. In Israel, he served in the Israel Defense Forces’ tanks brigade and has worked in many different Jewish educational arenas - he has guided British Members of Parliament on their trips to Israel, lectured in England on the most recent archaeological discoveries in the 'City of David', and is a regular guide and educator for many notable Jewish organizations, including Machon Pardes, Shalom Hartman Institute, Aardvark Israel, and Taglit-Birthright. He also spent several years in the United States where he was an educator at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School of Greater Washington. Jamie and his family live in Jerusalem.

Mark Hay was born in Manchester, England and made Aliya to Jerusalem 4 years ago. Mark has spent 15 years helping people to smile and have fun whilst connecting to their Jewish heritage and homeland. He has worked with a wide range of Zionist youth programmes in the UK and Israel. When he is not studying to become a Rabbi at an Israeli Bet Midrash programme, Mark can be found at home playing with his children or racing around the city teaching, talking and writing about Judaism, leadership and Zionism. Mark has an MA in Education and Psychology.

Neal Levy has 30 years of experience in a wide array of organizations that rely on successful partnerships between Israel and the Jewish world. He has served as Director of the Hadassah Youth Center, Young Judaea Israel Programs and Year Course; spokesperson and US West Coast Regional Director of the Jerusalem Foundation; Director of Marketing & Fundraising at the Israel Tennis Centers; Director of International Relations at the Yitzhak Rabin Center; Executive Director of the Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco and Vice President, International Relations at the Beit Hatfutsot Museum in Tel Aviv. In addition, he directed the late Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek’s re-election campaign headquarters in 1988, and accompanied San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom on his first visit to Israel in 2008. As a volunteer, Neal serves on the executive committee of the Board of Directors of the American Friends of the Yitzhak Rabin Center. He holds an MBA degree in Non-Profit Management from American Jewish University.

Rabbi Fivel Yedidya Glasser has studied in the top ivy-league universities (BA, Dartmouth; MA, Harvard) as well as Israel’s leading Anglo yeshivot, earning his smicha from Rav Riskin, Rav Reich and Rav Zalman Nehemiah Goldberg. He developed his love for the outdoors growing up in rural New York State, and has been developing a unique niche by teaching about Judaism, spirituality and the environment both formally and informally in New England, Israel, Alaska and California for over a decade. His love of Torah and the Jewish People is infectious and his ability to bridge ancient wisdom and modern paradigms has inspired hundreds of students around the world. He has taught at several seminaries and yeshivot in Jerusalem, and is an educational adviser for one of the top educational touring companies in Israel. Also, he is the founder, director and lead guide for a new Jewish experiential outdoor education program called P'tach Libi (www.ptachlibi.org). He currently lives in Gush Etzion with his Israeli wife Dorit, and their three little children

Rabbi Eliyahu Yaakov speaks internationally on Judaism, as well as an assortment of other topics, such as relationships, parenting, and life, inspiring people of all backgrounds to take a fresh look at their lives through the lens of Torah and Kabbalah. Noted as a master orator, Rabbi Eli articulates abstract ideas into practical transformative principles, communicating the deeper side of Judaism in a relevant way that resonates with the newcomer as well as the well-read student. Rabbi Eli currently lives in the Old City of Jerusalem and spends most of his time teaching, writing, coaching, learning, hosting, and with his family. Books include the #1 Amazon Bestseller "Jewish By Choice: A Kabbalistic Take on Life & Judaism" (National Light), and "Human By Choice: A Kabbalistic Path to Self Help" (National Light). For more on Rabbi Eli, go to: www.getyourjewon.com

Marc Hay (Smicha in progress) was born in Manchester, England, and made aliya to Jerusalem 4 years ago. Marc has spent 15 years helping people to smile and have fun whilst connecting to their Jewish heritage and homeland. He has worked with a wide range of Zionist youth programs in the UK and Israel. When he is not studying to become a Rabbi at an Israeli Beit Midrash program, Marc can be found at home playing with his children or racing around the city teaching, talking and writing about Judaism, leadership and Zionism. Marc has an MA in Education and Psychology.

Nechama Goldman Barash made aliya from Philadelphia over 20 years ago after graduating from Stern College. She studied in Matan’s Advanced Talmud Institute and finished a master’s degree in Talmud at Bar-Ilan University on the topic of the Beautiful Captive Woman in the Eyes of Chazal. She teaches at several post-high school programs in Israel, including Lindenbaum, Emunah and Young Judaea's Shalem program, as well as at Pardes. She is currently studying in Nishmat’s Yoatzot Halakha program to gain expertise in family purity law. Nechama lives in Gush Etzion with her husband and four daughters.

Nili Salem, MA.NPM, is an ever-smiling, Torah-loving, drum-playing, niggun­singing, teacher of Jewish studies. Nili's spiritual journey was inspired at her first visit to Shlomo Carlebach's Moshav Modiin. As she explored her Jewish identity, she simultaneously began to explore the Jewish identities of others as well. Highlights have included: teaching and serving as a liaison to NACOEJ in the remaining Jewish community in Northern Ethiopia, coordinating Shavuot workshops for high schoolers of the Abayudaya Jewish Community in Uganda, conducting field work for a thesis about a 'lost' Jewish community in Ghana, West Africa, visiting Israeli prisoners in jail in Cambodia, researching the lives of Jewish soldiers during the Vietnam War in Vietnam, lighting over-sized Chanukiot with descendants of Holocaust survivors in Nicaragua, Central America, and travelling across South Africa by motorcycle to experience its wide and stunning array of Jewish communities. Over the course of the last decade she also spent time in 30 countries worldwide volunteering, learning ethnomusicology, recording music albums, studying Torah & Chassidut, singing as a Chazzanit, and storytelling. Nili made aliya, lives and learns in Gush Etzion, Israel, and is currently training in Narrative Therapy and Kabbalistic Meditation practices.

Esther Sterlin is from Toronto, Canada, and has been living between Toronto and Jerusalem since 2005. A year program alumna herself, Esther is pursuing a career in Jewish Education, largely as a result of her incredibly positive and inspirational experience on the program. A graduate of the Jewish Education Program at York University, Esther holds an Honours B.A. in Jewish Studies and a Bachelors of Education, as well as being a Masters student in the Pardes Educators Program. She has learned widely in an array of seminaries and other institutions of Jewish learning in Israel. Esther has taught Jewish studies at the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT Wallenberg Campus), the Frankel Jewish Academy High School in West Bloomfield, Michigan, as well as at Shirat Devorah Seminary in Jerusalem. She lives in the eclectic Jerusalem neighborhood of Nachlaot.

Rav Ari Faust is an inspirational educator and long-time friend of the Aardvark program. He and his family have been residents at the Aardvark Jerusalem campus for three years and have met and hosted many students for Shabbat meals. They are warm and caring, and create an atmosphere that allows for all visitors to really feel at home. Rav Ari made aliya from Montreal, Canada and has been teaching in gap-year programs in Israel for over five years. He has taught and connected with students from across the spectrum of Jewish practice and knowledge, and his classes are enjoyed by all. Rav Ari loves swimming and hiking, and his favorite place in Israel is the Upper Galilee. Rav Ari's wife, Chaya, is an artist who devotes her time to painting, and taking care of their daughters, Maya and Galia. Chaya has also studied baking and her cakes and cookies have become legendary amongst Aardvark students over the past two years.