Kol Israel serves to advance the dreams and expectations of Global Jewry in its relationship with Israel.
The State of Israel is the beating heart of the Jewish People, its existence realized through the efforts of the World Zionist Organization (WZO) founded by Theodor Herzl.
Kol Israel is an a-partisan, non-denominational faction bringing together Jews from all backgrounds and political ideologies: right wing and left wing, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Secular, Sephardic and Ashkenazic, to educate and engage our next generation of leaders and activists who carry the mantle of Jewish continuity forward. We believe Zionism should come with no hyphens or predispositions and wish to serve as a home to all Jews who wish to work for a better Israel and Jewish peoplehood without any political or religious framework.
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We actively pursue the sages’ teaching of: “all of Israel are ...
responsible for one another”.This includes strengthening the relationship between the State of Israel and global Jewry through support and creation of platforms that provide an important opportunity for Jewish youth to make a positive contribution towards the building of Israel and partnership with youth movements that champion pioneering and Aliyah.
Informal education of the next generation is a method that ...
yields positive results in the context of maintaining a Jewish and Zionist Identity. We advance the transmission of knowledge and open dialogue, through Zionist engagement with Israel at its center, using innovative and inspiring methods. Through our partners, we encourage the creation of an educational process intended to develop the person’s personality, creativity, and diverse abilities, tailor-made to create the next generation of Zionist leaders. We encourage open and transparent dialogue among professionals, thought leaders, and practitioners, seeking to create an environment that welcomes diverse opinions among our youth today. This discourse should take place while standing against hatred, antisemitism, and fake news, which pose a threat to the Zionist enterprise.
We inspire individuals, communities, and by ...
extension global Jewry, to forge their link to the chain of Zionist continuity within the Zionist movement. This includes active outreach to policymakers and thought leaders, and facilitation of the cooperation among like-minded individuals and organizations against the rise in antisemitism and on behalf of Israel, with a focus on campuses and other next-generation focused platforms. We embrace all organizations and groups within all countries who accept and support the principles of General Zionism and call upon them to join us in working to improve Israel and the lives of Jews.
We believe that the Zionist Movement and its ...
institutions have global Jewry,been sufferingfrom deep stagnation and politicization that have prevented them from optimally fulfilling the needs of Jews in Israel and the diaspora. Therefore, we seek to instill innovative and modern thought processes and actions in the work of the National Institutions, focusing on harnessing Israel’s hi-tech industry to manifest and implement Zionist ideas.
We view assimilation, especially among the ...
younger generations, as a danger to the continuation of the Jewish people. Therefore, we hold the view that Aliyah and Jewish peoplehood are the optimum expressions of Zionism. We accord full support to our chalutz Youth Movements - Hanoar Hatzioni, FZY, and Young Judaea - and other youth groups which demonstrate loyalty to the principles of General Zionism. Simultaneously, we offer support and a home for programs that promote Jewish peoplehood, with an emphasis on building communities around the world.
we believe in promoting the values of a Jewish and ...
democratic state, as they appear in Israel's declaration of independence. Maintaining and promoting these values are key to Israel remaining a relevant and attractive homeland to Jews from around the world.
We aspire to strengthen respect for basic freedoms, ...
democratic and ideational pluralism. To do so we engage based on mutual help, tolerance, personal example, and respect for fellow men.
We have an active youth movement, Hechalutz Hamerchav, that is active in 15 cities reaching around 1,500 people. The Machane in January hosts 300-400 children. Hechalitz runs seminars all year round and activities every Shabbat, and runs the youth department in the JCC in all communities.
We have a counselor who does programs about Zionism for families. StandWithUs teachers in seven Jewish high schools, runs seminars and workshops for youth, gives lectures in synagogues, and has fellow on university campuses.
Our affiliate in Canada is under development Via StandWithUs we have 14 high school interns, 23 fellows on university campuses
Activities are done for Yom Hashoa, Hazikaron, Haatzmaut, and Chanukah. A series of zoom lectures has begun featuring Confederation representatives. There is programming for madrichim of Habonim and Bnei Akiva. We are exploring expanding to universities and broadening the programming.
Federation of Zionist Youth runs bi-monthly meetings for 11 to 15 year olds as well as summer camps for this age group. Hundreds of 16 year olds go on “Israel Tour” for 3 ½ weeks. Then there is “Year Course” for high school graduates – 9 months in Israel with Young Judea. There are also subsidies for March of the Living for the participants. 17-18 year olds have a 2 year leadership program that includes seminars, shabbatons, and participating in leadership votes and positions in FZY. They also have summer trips which they lead as well as the Diller Teens program. There are monthly programs on campuses – educational sessions on Israel with a different topic each time. There are also seminars for program alumni including leadership training.
Via Dorshei Torah V’tziyon there are 140 rabbis in the field including Hillel educators or executive directors in Temple, Harvard, Cornell, GW, Penn, UCLA, Brandeis, and Ontario. There is also the Meorot program for university leadership.
Via StandWithUs we bring Israel education to 5,000 students in 220 middle schools, 50,000 students in 355 high schools schools including 125 students in an internship program and 165 in teen leadership council, and we engage 62,000 university students with 150 Emerson fellows on 250 campuses.
We run 25 Israel education events per year aside from celebrating the Israeli holidays. We run an annual trip to Israel for ten top students. We are exploring expanding our activities to five universities.
We have hundreds of active members and do one major Zionist event per year in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Dusseldorf. We are exploring conferences and events in collaboration with StandWithUs and neighboring countries.
We join with others to run events for holidays. We are exploring becoming active in the areas of Hebrew, Jewish studies, and history classes. We are also running a series of events via zoom to educate about Israel and Zionism.
Secretary-General
Arie Edelheit is Kol Israel’s Secretary-General. Arie made Aliyah from Argentina in 1966 at the age of 23. In his first years in Israel, he worked in agriculture in his Kibbutz, Nitzanim. Over the years Arie filled a long list of central positions in Hanoar Hatzioni, TH4, and Kibbutz Nitzanim. In addition, he served as an emissary (Shaliach) on behalf of KKL to Brazil and Hanoar Hatzioni to Latin America. Today he deals with varied areas such as the physical planning of Nitzanim and youth villages as part of the “Yesodot” organization.
Founding Director General of the Arizona Israel Trade
and Investment Office
David Yaari (formerly Borowich) is the Founding Director General of the Arizona Israel Trade and Investment Office, under the Arizona Commerce Authority. David has over 25 years of senior business leadership and entrepreneurial experience in the private sector and serves on the Advisory Board of Natura Growth LP, an agtech focused incubator in the South of Israel. He received his MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and prior to that served in a combat unit in the Israel Defense Forces.
former chairperson of the World Confederation of United Zionists
Jesse Sultanik is a former chairperson of the World Confederation of United Zionists, a current member of its Board of Directors, and is currently a Director of Business Development at Argus Cyber Security, a leading provider of cybersecurity software and services for the automotive industry. Jesse is an expert in connected mobility and related regulations and standards. A former founder of an Israeli Hi-Tech firm, Jesse holds an MBA from Bar-Ilan University and a BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Interim Secretary-General of the World Confederation of United Zionists
Leor Sinai is the Interim Secretary-General of the World Confederation of United Zionists, a thought leader in the field of Education Diplomacy, and an experienced campaign executive. Originally from New York, Sinai made Aliyah with his family in 2011. Seminal to his approach to education is bridge-building and motivating influential actors to collaborate towards advancing Global Jewish – Israel relationships. Sinai is a doctoral candidate in the field of Education Leadership and is the head of Israel Education at RootOne.
Concepcion de Uruguay, Argentina,
Mariano (Mato) Wexler was raised in Concepcion de Uruguay, Argentina, and was part of the Hanoar Hatzioni youth movement. After making Aliyah, he studied social work in the University of Haifa and served as a Shaliach of Hanaor Hatzioni in Uruguay and Mexico. During his Schlichut, he managed the operations of 3 local Zionist youth movements. Today, Mato runs Hanoar Hatzioni’s Latin American desk.
Director of FSU outreach
Nadia Iermakov is Kol Israel’s Director of FSU outreach. She joined the World Confederation in 2017 and deals with expanding its work and presence in the FSU and promoting projects with Russian-speaking Jewry. Nadia holds a Ph.D. from Dnipropetrovsk National University in Ukraine and a post doctorate from Ariel University and is currently the Director of Strategic Project Development at the Office of the University’s Rector. Her Research interests are focused on the History of Zionist Movement in the FSU and the International Campaign in support of Soviet Jewry.
Marketing and project coordinator and the personal assistant to the Chairman
Ohad Shary is Kol Israel’s marketing and project coordinator and the personal assistant to the Chairman. Originally from Kibbutz Yahel, Ohad grew up in the reform movement and attended its youth and pre-army programs. After completing 5 years of military service in the intelligence corps, Ohad went on to earn a B.A. in International Relations and History from the Hebrew University. During his studies, he worked for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Truman Institute for the Research and Advancement of Peace.
Director of European outreach
Olga Israel Deutsch is Kol Israel’s director of European outreach. She serves as vice president of the Israeli applied research institute, NGO Monitor. Olga brings extensive experience in international politics and Europe-Israel relations and is an expert in advocacy and building effective strategies to address attempts to delegitimize Israel, BDS, and modern antisemitism. Olga graduated from the University of Belgrade and the University of Munich with degrees in banking, insurance, and finance.
Secretary-General of the Hejalutz Lamerjav youth movement
Quique Rosenburt is the Secretary-General of the Hejalutz Lamerjav youth movement and chairman of the World Zionist Youth Movements Council. Hejalutz Lamerjav is part of the Kibbutz movement in Israel and works to strengthen pluralistic, Zionist Judaism around the world in order to create a just society in Israel. Quique also has a background in social entrepreneurship and community social work. Quique considers himself a Zionist Jewish educator and is heavily connected to Israeli society and world Jewry.
Member of Kol Israel’s leadership team
Rachel Gur, Adv., is a member of Kol Israel’s leadership team. As an Israeli- American who made Aliya at age 17, Rachel is committed to bridging the gap between Israel and world Jewry. She is an expert in the fields of Israeli legislation, regulation, and public policy. Gur holds an L.L.B. and B.A. in political science from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya and an L.L.M in Legal Theory from New York University Law School.
Head of Education at Hanoar Hatzioni Olami
Romi Morales is currently Head of Education at Hanoar Hatzioni Olami. She has a bachelor’s degree in Education Sciences (UBA) and a master’s degree in Administration, Policy and Leadership in Education (HUJI). She has been teaching an “Introduction to Education” course at the Machon LeMadrihim for more than a decade and has more than 20 years of experience in the field of non-formal education within Youth Movements.
educated in the Jewish education system
Sergio Edelstein was born in Uruguay and was educated in the Jewish education system and the youth movement “Hanoar Hatzioni”, where he served as an educator and madrich. Sergio is a graduate of the Machon L’Madrichei Chutz Le’Aretz in Jerusalem.
He made Aliyah in 1985 and completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Educational Management.