Please join us to learn about how Federation and our partners impact and improve the lives of individuals in Israel. Hear from our partners in Yokneam Megiddo, Yemin Orde Youth Village and survivors of the October 7th terrorist attacks at Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Breakfast will be served.
Wednesday, April 3rd at 8:30AM
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
1440 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
Eliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan is the director of Yokneam Megiddo- Atlanta St. Louis Partnerships, as well as the Federations’ representative in Israel. Previously he served as the Community Shaliach in Omaha, Nebraska. Married with six children, Eliad is originally from a mixed neighborhood in the old city of Akko. Eliad brings tremendous passion to the work he does bringing people together and creating partnerships.
Naomi Petel Adler is married to Amir and together they have three boys- ages 8, 6, and 3. Naomi was born in Minneapolis to an American Mom and an Israeli Dad. The family made Aliya when Naomi was 18 months and she grew up in Jerusalem. She attended Nursing school in the IDF and has practiced as an RN for 21 years. Naomi and Amir moved from Jerusalem to Nahal Oz in 2017.They built their house in the new neighborhood in the Kibbutz and moved in on January 1st, 2023. Naomi, Amir and their 3 boys were in Nahal Oz on October 7th. They were under siege in their shelter for 19 hours- most of that time without electricity and cell service. They were rescued out of their home and evacuated to Kibbutz Mishmar Haemek on October 8th, and they have been there since that day.
Mirjam Heutink and her family of five made Aliyah from the Netherlands 6 years ago to Kibbutz Nahal Oz and Miriam was working as a guide in the visitor center Nativ LeShalom (the path to peace) where she spoke about how it is to live so close to the border with Gaza. They decided to come to Israel due to rising antisemitism at home and the night they arrived Hamas fired the first rockets towards Israel after 4 years of quietness, and it hasn’t been quiet since. Despite everything, all the hard times, they never thought about leaving. She always felt “This is our home, we belong here. We have the right to be here. And by being here, living in this area, we indirectly contribute to the protection of our country.” And then came October 7th.
Racheli Yaso-Ngatuo, Coordinator, Visitor Relations and Outreach joined the staff of Yemin Orde Youth Village in July, 2008. Racheli served in the Israel Defense Forces as a soldier-teacher for children from underprivileged and challenged backgrounds. Prior to working at Yemin Orde, Racheli worked for the ADL, as an Israeli liaison for children’s groups traveling to the United States. She also served as a speaker to visiting ADL groups in Israel. In addition, Racheli worked for the Ethiopian National Project, a nonprofit organization in Israel that served Ethiopian youth of all ages and helped them advance in their school studies.Racheli received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and Criminology at Ariel College. She lives at Yemin Orde Youth Village with her husband and four sons.
Arina Erivman was born and raised in Ivanovo, Russia. Her childhood was not easy having lost her older sister before she was born and then her mom at the age of 8. She made the decision to move to Israel when she was 14, finding her first home at Yemin Orde. As a student at there, Arina thrived finding her interest in engineering and becoming a role model among her peers. Ater graduation, she joined the IDF, serving in the Arrow and Iron Dome batteries as a launcher technicians’ commander. After her military service, she followed her passion for aerospace engineering at the Technion and is now applying her skills as a manufacturing engineer at an aviation structures company.
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Discover Israel’s many treasures on a transformative journey with a focus on historical exploration, exhilarating adventures in nature, and cultural connections.
Travel from the far north in the Galilee to the deep south at the Red Sea as we visit ancient Jerusalem, modern Tel Aviv, the lush Golan Heights, the vast Negev Desert, the unsinkable Dead Sea, and the stark mountaintop fortress of Masada. Along the way, you’ll take part in an authentic archaeological dig, sample the world’s very best falafel, spend a night sleeping under the desert stars, and experience the innovative energy of Tel Aviv first-hand.
More than a tour, this is an opportunity to understand Israel’s dynamic society first-hand while finding your own connection to this storied land. Explore what it means to be Jewish from an Israeli point of view, understand the complex politics of the Middle East with real-world insights, and practice Jewish values through hands-on volunteering and Shabbat experiences.
Some of our Israel Journey trips will have the opportunity to attend The Maccabiah Games. Often referred to as “the Jewish Olympics,” this is the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition that takes place every four years in Israel.
