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.
Tell us about your name:
When Tilly and I got married, we merged the Hebrew letters of our previous family names (Vichnizer and Shames) and created a new name with a Hebrew meaning. Shemer (שמר) is the root of lishmor (לשמור) and leshamer (לשמר), to protect and preserve. It is also the Hebrew word for yeast, which adds a meaningful layer of nourishment and growth to our familial identity.
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