Our Team

Alex first visited Israel in first grade when his Dad, Mark, took him on a business trip. When they returned to Chicago, Mark turned to Alex and said, “We’re home!” Alex replied, “No, Dad. We just left.” Since then, Alex has been to Israel fourteen times and has been both a participant and staff member on a variety of trips.

He earned a B.A. with High Honors from the University of Michigan, graduating with a degree in International, Judaic, and Middle Eastern Studies. He recently completed his M.A. in Experiential Israel Education at The George Washington University. He is currently in a semicha (rabbinic ordination) program with Rabbi Brovender.

Aliza Goodman has proudly been with The iCenter growing the field of Israel education for over 10 years. She currently leads the design and implementation of The iCenter’s professional development initiatives for Jewish educators across North America. In this role, she is building a team that experiments with ways to help educators infuse Israel throughout their settings, grounded in personal relationship building with Israel and Israelis. Most recently, her focus has been on developing criteria by which to measure success and articulating best practices in Israel education for educators in the field. Her commitment to and passion for Israel was ignited during childhood family trips to Israel from her home in Toronto. Aliza holds an MBA in Social Policy and Management and an M.A. in Jewish Professional Leadership from Brandeis University.

Anne Lanski currently serves as the Founding CEO of The iCenter. Israel education has been Anne’s personal and professional passion for three decades. As a pioneer in crosscultural education and teen travel to Eastern Europe and Israel, Anne is Founder and former Executive Director of Shorashim, a nationally-recognized Israel education organization. She is regarded as the seminal figure in making the “mifgash” an essential component of Israel educational programs, and is the recipient of numerous grants and awards for her pioneering work in this field. Anne received her M.A. from the Steinhardt School of Education at NYU, and is a graduate of the Senior Educator Program at the Melton Centre of Hebrew University. Anne currently resides in Chicago with her husband Barry and their three children.

Ari enjoys having Israel at the center of his work at The iCenter. A Midwest native and a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers, Ari lived in Israel on three different year-long programs: Young Judaea Year Course, Masa Israel Teaching Fellows, and at Hebrew Union College, where he earned a Masters in Jewish Education. As an educator, he experienced the impact educational travel can have during the two summers he guided high school trips through Europe and Israel. Before joining The iCenter, Ari directed the Marin/San Francisco Jewish Teen Foundation, where he learned about the power of education through Jewish philanthropy and social justice.

Ayal’s passion for Israel was cultivated early on and quickly became a major guiding influence throughout his life. He has previously lived in Israel and Nepal working in youth leadership development, and has also traveled extensively internationally. He is an experienced songleader, trip leader, and facilitator who loves photography, spicy shakshuka, and being outdoors—and likes these things even more so in Hebrew and while in Israel. Ayal holds an MPA from UW-Madison as well as a BA from Brandeis University in Environmental Studies and International Studies, and a minor in Hebrew Language.

Binnie has made being an Israel and Hebrew educator her life passion and profession. Binnie taught and directed at congregational schools, day schools, summer camps, public high schools and adult Hebrew Education. Binnie’s experience as a volunteer interpreter for Israeli patients who came to America for open heart surgery with Dr. Dudly Johnson, was one of the quintessential highlights of being bilingual. She was the Director for The Kohl Childrens’ Museum Teacher Center. She is a founding member of The Hebrew Council and The National Association for Teachers of Hebrew. Binnie is a board member for The Illinois Council for Teachers of Foreign Language and through the iCenter has offered Hebrew Language Professional Development opportunities. Binnie received her BS degree in Bilingual Education and Linguistics and a Masters Degree in Administrative Leadership from The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Binnie is a strong believer in immersive and experiential education. Binnie’s family moved to Israel with little Hebrew knowledge and within one year of attending Israeli high school, became comfortably fluent both in language and culture. Binnie taught English for Bagrut at Geula High School in Shuk HaCarmel in Tel-Aviv. Binnie believes that Hebrew fluency allowed her to become part of her students’ world. They studied together because they were making the effort to communicate in each other’s language.

Cari Schulman is a founding team member of The iCenter and leads teams focused on operational excellence and culture building. Her work lives at the intersection of talent, systems, vision, and values to animate an environment that is grounded in, and motivated by, relationships. Cari’s passion for Israel was cultivated in the home, where she was raised with Israel infused into everyday life. She is an Insights Discovery Practitioner, and holds an MBA from Loyola University and a BA in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Carl came to the field of Israel education via his first career in Israeli journalism. During nearly 15 years living in Israel, he reported on some of the biggest—and smallest—stories unfolding in the country. After climbing the ladder at The Jerusalem Post, he served as the paper’s Editor before opting to apply the lens of journalism to help North American learners of all ages engage with Israel in multi-faceted ways. When he’s not collaborating with his iCenter colleagues to build the field of Israel education, he can be found teaching current events classes and making jam, hosting family and friends, and spending quality time with his grandson.

Carolyn’s passion for Israel started when she went to the University of Illinois—Chicago and has continued throughout her career in the Jewish Community. Carolyn comes to The iCenter after working at Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale, Arizona, Temple Beth Israel in Skokie, IL, and the Jewish United Fund in Chicago, IL. She is fortunate to have lived and worked in Israel in addition to having visited many times. Carolyn is so excited to work at The iCenter and combine two of her passions—Israel and education.

Dan Tatar has dedicated over 25 years to experiential Israel education, from facilitating teen travel to Israel to his work as the Director of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships at The iCenter. Dan’s extensive background in the field is rooted in his own transformative teen Israel experience led by his then-teacher, Anne Lanski. With a Master’s degree in Israel Education from The George Washington University and an Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies from Spertus Institute, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. Dan also holds a certification in Innovative Strategies from Systematic Inventive Thinking. As a former stage and television actor with a fascination for educational technology, he offers a unique perspective on Israel education. (Pronouns: he/him)

Elana is the coordinator for Chicago’s shinshinim hub, a program that brings young Israelis to North America to volunteer, teach, and enrich our Jewish communities. Growing up, she spent her summers at the URJ OSRUI summer camp, where Israel and Hebrew became a central part of her identity. Elana lived in Israel for a number of years as well, and went on to serve in the Israel Defense Force’s Education Corps. Before joining The iCenter, Elana worked as a Jewish educator with numerous organizations in Israel and the Chicagoland area, as well as in Chicago’s theatre scene as an actor and writer. Elana holds a BFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Born and raised in Israel, Elisheva developed strong Jewish and Israeli identities. Elisheva got her Bachelor in Social Work from Bar Ilan University, and her Master in Nonprofit Management from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and practiced different managerial positions in various organizations in Israel such as Kesher (a center for families of children with special needs), Gvanim (a rehabilitation center for adults with mental disabilities), the JDC, and the Israeli Friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Elisheva is excited to work with The iCenter as an Educational Experience Producer and combine two of her passions—Israel and high-end productions. Elisheva lives in Deerfield with her husband and their four children.

Israel has been central to Erika’s identities for almost as long as she can remember. Since 2015, she’s had the good fortune of being a member of The iCenter team lending her talents to multiple facets of the organization, from publication production, to data management, financial development, and program management. Currently, Erika serves as the Program Director for The iCenter’s Graduate Degree in Israel Education in partnership with The George Washington University where she has the opportunity to work daily with the current and future movers and shapers of Israel education.

Erika has extensive nonprofit experience with expertise in the areas of strategic development, program management, and communication. Previously, she served as the Director of the Association of Israel’s Decorative Arts (AIDA) at the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. Prior, Erika served as a Program Manager at Heartland International, an international development organization and she began her career as a Research Assistant at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. She received her MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago and her BA in Middle Eastern and International Studies with a minor in Hebrew from Emory University.

Originally from Belarus, Ilana grew up in Nahariya, Israel. In addition to her BA in Political Science and Education, she holds an MBA in Social Entrepreneurship from Ben-Gurion University. Ilana is extremely passionate about education and community development. With a focus on teens in Israel’s periphery, she led educational programs and teams at a variety of social organizations. In 2019, Ilana launched an initiative for empowering families with young children to reconnect with nature. Today, the community has over 7000 active members and continues to grow. Ilana is very excited to join The iCenter and inspire and connect its multiple communities of learners and change agents.

Jake is excited to be a part of The iCenter, where he infuses his lively camp counselor spirit into the realm of Israel education. Within The iCenter, he holds the role of Academic Program Coordinator for the iFellows initiative and the Graduate Degree in Israel Education at the George Washington University. In this capacity, he collaborates closely with both academic programs and The iCenter’s Experience Team to craft and execute in-person experiences and contribute to the expansion of The iCenter’s academic offerings.

Most recently, Jake was the Community Experience Specialist at Hillel at Arizona State University, where he planned and executed all of Hillel’s large-scale social programs, oversaw all of their student-facing marketing, and led Birthright Israel trips. Jake was a longtime camper and staff member at Capital Camps, where he served as Sports Director and led their inaugural Israel trip. A graduate of Tulane University in International Relations, Jake is a big fan of Tulane athletics (and sports in general) and is an avid baseball player and fan.

Kristy Scher joins The iCenter team as the graphic designer. She studied painting and sculpture at Illinois Wesleyan University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Kristy then attended Rhode Island School of Design and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching that focused on art and design education. She thinks graphic design is the perfect career for her as it perfectly marries her meticulous self to her creative self.

Lori B Sagarin RJE has served as the Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Beth Israel in Skokie, Illinois, since 1995. She is the former president of the National Association of Temple Educators (now ARJE), and is also the past president of the Chicago Association of Reform Jewish Educators. In addition to formerly serving on the advisory boards for NEXTBOOK and Project Esther, Lori has served on the faculty of OSRUI since 1993. Lori completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin and a Masters degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College. In 2009, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in Jewish Religious Education for 25 years of dedicated service in Jewish education.

Michael is a Senior Educational Consultant with The iCenter. Prior to that, Michael was the Vice President of Canada Israel Experience and Next Generation Initiatives at the Jewish Federations of Canada–UIA. In that role, Michael maximized the number of Canadian teenagers and young adults traveling to Israel on programs such as Birthright Israel, the March of the Living and high school/youth movement programs. Michael has been invited to speak all over the world on topics of the Israel experience, Birthright Israel, Israel and experiential education. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University, a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, and an Executive Master’s of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. Michael is married to Rebecca, and they have a daughter named Jordyn and son named Joshua. In his spare time, Michael is studying Shotokan Karate and working towards earning his Black Belt. Stay tuned for updates.

Dr. Michal Peles-Almagor is a consultant at The iCenter and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Michal received her PhD in comparative literature at the University of Chicago, specializing in modern Hebrew and German-Jewish literature, modern theater, and Jewish cultural history. She holds an MA in Hebrew literature from Ben-Gurion University and a BA in Comparative Literature and Theater Arts from Tel Aviv University. Her work has been supported by the Greenberg Center for Jewish Studies, The UC-Mellon Foundation, and the Franz Rosenzweig-Minerva Center for German-Jewish History and Culture. Previously, she worked in the Israeli theater and at the Beit Bialik Museum, where she served as a Museum Docent and developed educational programming.

Born and raised as part of the “Frozen Chosen” in Anchorage, Alaska,  Mikayla’s Jewish identity and passion for Israel were developed at home and flourished after spending a year in Ashdod as part of Masa Israel Teaching Fellows. Before joining The iCenter in 2023, Mikayla worked in engagement and development at Hillel at Arizona State University and as a Hebrew / Judaics teacher at Congregation Beth Israel and Temple Emanual in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Mikayla holds a Bachelor’s in Geology from Northern Arizona University, a Master’s in Tech Management from Arizona State University, and a Masters in Israel Education from The George Washington University. At The iCenter, Mikayla pairs her passion for data-driven decision-making with her love of Israel Education by developing and implementing operational systems to further the impact of The iCenter. Mikayla lives on the beach in southern California with her pup Cookie.

Moshe Lencer was born and raised in Herzliya, Israel, by two olim from Poland and moved to the United States to work for AEΠ in July of 2015. Moshe attended the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, where he attained a degree in Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy with a minor in International Affairs and Business Administration.

While working for AEΠ, he continued his education by obtaining his Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew University and a Masters in Israel experiential education at The George Washington University.

While working on AEΠ’s staff, he has created and improved upon the many Jewish programs that the fraternity organizes and implements throughout the year. He has made strides towards increasing Brothers’ participation and improving upon the quality of programming. Moshe volunteers for amazing organizations such as Artists 4 Israel, Kahal: Jewish Home Abroad, and the ADL and is the chapter advisor for Hatmadah, a BBYO Chapter in Ann Arbor, MI.

Moshe currently lives in Ann Arbor with his partner Sarah and their dog Khloe.

Natalie Blitt is an educator and the author of two young-adult novels and three middle-grade novels. While Natalie claims that everything she knows in life she learned as a result of reading children’s books, she does understand that there are many ways to educate and inspire connections. A graduate of McGill University, she also has a Journalism degree from the University of King’s College in Halifax, and is now pursuing a master’s degree at The George Washington University in Israel Education. While she’ll proudly fly the Canadian flag at any opportunity, she currently lives in Skokie, IL, with her husband, Rabbi Josh Feigelson, and their three sons.

Nomi grew up in a home, school, and camp environment which fostered a great love for Israel. After her gap year on Young Judaea Year Course, Nomi made aliyah and enlisted into Israel’s Home Front Command, serving 2 years in an infantry unit. Before joining The iCenter team, Nomi has worked for a variety of Jewish organizations, such as Hillel, Birthright Israel, the JCC, and the Jewish Federation. Nomi’s passion for experiential Israel education has grown through many years of staffing Birthright Israel trips. Nomi received her B.A. in Religion and Jewish Studies from Northeastern University and holds a master’s degree in Israel Education at the George Washington University.

Omer was born and raised in Israel. During her military service, Omer graduated from the prestigious Israeli Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree from Haifa University. She was the first woman to serve aboard a Sa’ar 5 Class Corvette, creating the opportunity for women to serve aboard this type of vessel. Omer has a Research-Master’s degree in Policy and Management in Education from Tel Aviv University and has written pioneering research about Educational Networks in Israel. Before moving to the U.S, she managed a non-profit sailing association and received her Teaching Certificate. Omer is excited to work with The iCenter as Chicago’s Shinshinim hub coordinator, bringing young Israeli volunteers to North America to teach and enrich Jewish communities.

Or grew up in Hod Hasharon in a secular Israeli home, with Iraqi and Ashkenazi Jewish traditions. She is a certified Israeli Tour Guide, has a BA in Israel Studies from the University of Haifa, and is completing her MA in Israel Education through the George Washington University and The iCenter. Before moving to the States, Or lived in Jerusalem where she was involved with several social initiatives, focusing on LGBTQ+ life and feminist culture. Prior to joining The iCenter team, Or was the Jewish Agency Israel Fellow to the University of Michigan Hillel. She lives in Ann Arbor with her wife Tilly.

Rachel See started realizing Israel was going to be a central part of her life after her first Israel experience at the age of eighteen. Her relationship with Israel led her to the world of Jewish education and to The iCenter as a participant in the first cohort of the Master’s Concentration in Israel Education (iFellows). Rachel holds an M.A. in Jewish Education and an M.A. in Jewish Nonprofit Management from HUC-LA, and is honored to have graduated as part of the first cohort of The iCenter’s Masters in Israel Education at The George Washington University.

Shalom is a senior educator with The iCenter, and serves on faculty for the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Prior, he served as the AVI CHAI Project Director for the training of staff returning to summer camps in North America, and Director of Education in the Shlichut and Israel Fellows unit for the Jewish Agency. He is a member of the International Education Committee of Taglit-Birthright, has served as a consultant for the Jim Joseph Foundation, JUF Ta’am Yisrael and the Jewish Peoplehood Committee and teaches a course in experiential education at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Shalom was the Central Shaliach for USY from 1992 -1995. He was also a scholar on the prestigious Jerusalem Fellows Program, following which he was the Executive Director for Jewish Renewal at the UJIA in England. Shalom is an acclaimed public speaker on contemporary Israel who brings extensive knowledge, humor and passion. He recently served as a month-long scholar for United Synagogue in Chicago and at the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York. He has published articles on Israel and Jewish education in The Times of Israel and eJewishPhilanthropy, and delivered an ELI Talk.

Shalom is still in awe of the fact that we can speak about the ‘State’ of the Jews! He is the son of a Holocaust survivor who grew up in the company of aunts and uncles of the closest type albeit not family. Their experiences, Yiddish banter, humor and optimism very much shaped who he is.

Rabbi Yehudit Werchow was born in Argentina and grew up in Israel. She holds a BA in Political Science and Literature from the Hebrew University and a M.A. in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York. She was ordained at HUC-JIR in Jerusalem. Previously, Yehudit served as the Director of Israel Engagement for the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) in North America, as the Jewish Agency’s Senior Shlicha for the Reform Movement in North America and the UK, and as the Director of Education for MASA.

Yotam Wolk is the Jewish Agency Senior Shaliach (emissary) with RootOne & The iCenter. He grew up in Haifa, Israel, as the youngest of three. Upon concluding 3.5 years military service in the anti-aircraft corp as a sergeant major, Yotam spent several summers working in Jewish summer camp, as well as training other Israelis to become summer camp staff through the Jewish Agency. Yotam also served as the Jewish Agency Israel Fellow to Yale University.

Yotam holds a BA in International Affairs and Communications from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and an MA in Israel Education from the George Washington University. Yotam currently resides in Chicago with his wife, Nitsan.