Ilan Lavan
Ilan, is the current Coordinator of the EDJE (Experiential Department of Jewish Education) and has been an integral part of Moriah’s Experiential Department for over 5 years. He has a B.Comm (Finance) from Sydney University and has completed a Masters of Jewish Education at Hebrew University in 2016. He is very excited to go to Israel in what will be his 7th IST trip.
Belinda Lax
Belinda Lax immigrated to Sydney from Johannesburg 18 years ago and joined Moriah College in 2010. She spent three years in Israel as a child and from then onward, has always loved being a part of anything and everything that has to do with Israel. Belinda started her career at Moriah in the Primary School and more recently as PA to Dean of Jewish Life & Learning where she has been inspired and fortunate to be a part of the initiatives and opportunities that the school puts forth, including staffing a trip to the Northern Territories this year with the Moriah Year 9 students. Belinda has also had two daughters attend Moriah for the duration of their schooling and is excited to join the IST program for the second time this year to share in this once in a lifetime opportunity with all the students and staff.
Lee-Ann Morris
Lee-Ann grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and emigrated to Australia 8 years ago, with her husband and 3 children who also attend Moriah. She graduated university with an Honours in Industrial Psychology, and has worked at the College for the last 7 years, managing all things Jewish in the EDJE. She gets great joy out of seeing students benefit from programs such as Counterpoint, chaggim celebrations at school and particularly IST. This will be the third time Lee-Ann is traveling with the students on IST, and looks forward to seeing the fruits of her labour, and also exploring ways of enhancing the tour for future years.
Keren Lax
Keren graduated from Moriah in 2016 and spent her gap year in Israel with Bnei Akiva on Limmud. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney, and in-between studying, leads Tefilla at Moriah, work as a Youth Director at Dover Heights Shule and volunteers as a Madricha in Bnei Akiva. Keren feels blessed to have been given so many opportunities both at school and during her gap year to grow and connect to her Judaism and Israel and hopes to be able to continue on her journey in this regard. IST was a turning point in her own life and she feels so privileged and excited at the opportunity to be a part of this life-changing journey for others for the second time in a row.
Gidi Fine
Gidi graduated from Moriah in 2017 and in 2018 spent his gap year on Bnei Akiva’s Limmud program in Israel. Currently, he is studying a combined degree of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Information Systems at UNSW, and work as a tutor and Tefilla leader at Moriah. Gidi is also a Madrich for Year 10 chanichim at Bnei Akiva, with the role of Rosh Israel. He can’t wait to continue his growth and development in informal education on this year's IST, and feels truly blessed with the opportunity to help the students gain a greater understanding of the beauties and meaning that both Judaism and Israel offer. "IST truly changed me as a person, and I’m keen to help in this once-in-a-lifetime journey of connection and heritage."
Ayelet Rev
Ayelet Rev attended Kesser Torah College and graduated in 2016. She was involved in Bnei Akiva as a Chanicha, and this helped inspire her to go on MTA in 2017, attending Midreshet Harova in the Old City of Jerusalem. She is extremely motivated to inspire young Jewish teenagers, and is currently the Merakezet of Bnei Akiva Sydney, participates in Tefillah every morning at Moriah College, and runs the After School Care program at Kesser Torah. Ayelet loves Israel and is constantly looking for opportunities to grow as a young Jewish leader. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Primary Education as USYD.
Eli Grauman
Eli graduated from Moriah in 2016 as School Captain and spent a year in Israel after High School.
He is currently studying a Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice at UNSW. In his spare time he volunteers with Hatzolah as an emergency responder.
He is extremely excited to bond, learn and grow with year 10 students through IST, offering new and thought provoking insights allowing them to strengthen their identity as proud Jewish Australians.
Dinah Di Veroli
Dinah Di Veroli is 21 years old and a graduate of Masada College 2016. Currently she is living in St Ives, after returning from participating in the gap year program MTA 2017. For the duration of her year she attended Midreshet HaRova. Whilst there, she decided to extend her learning to then do an additional program, Shana Bet in 2018. She is now studying at UNSW and is working within the Jewish informal education community to share, learn with and give over what she gained in Israel. A very proud Israel supporter who is beyond excited to spend and experience these empowering 6 weeks together with our year 10 students. This will be Dinah’s second year as an IST madricha.
Saul Oberstein
Saul Oberstein came to Moriah College in year 7, where he enjoyed running, soccer and music. He went on the Moriah College band tour in 2014 and IST in 2015, so by 16 years old was a well-travelled kid. During these years I worked at Dominos to pay off his expensive taste in co-curricular programs. Not the most Jewish job in the world, but it paid the bills. These programs instilled a serious love of Israel within me and pushed me along my Jewish journey. Last year Saul returned to Israel (again?!) with Bnei Akiva Shnat. He started his year on Limmud, working the land on kibbutz and spending Pesach in the Old City of Jerusalem. Saul then moved to Yeshivat Har Etzion in the Gush for the remaining months of the year. This was an incredible year of spiritual and emotional growth, and it was also the most fun anyone could ask for. Saul is now studying Commerce/Information Systems at UNSW. He also runs prayers at Moriah and is a Bnei Akiva Madrich in Bondi and Maroubra. He loves his Maroubra Shule and enjoys learning, chilling with friends and listening to music. Saul is so excited to be a part of this amazing IST journey and cannot wait to make more amazing memories with all of you!
Lori Bernstein
Lori Bernstein is a 2016 Moriah College graduate. She spent a year in Israel on the Bnei Akiva gap year program called ‘Limmud’. Since returning to Sydney Lori has been actively involved in Bnei Akiva Maroubra and Moriah morning prayers. She is currently studying Occupational Therapy at ACU. Lori considers herself very lucky to experience this incredible journey along side the year 10’s and to share some of the meaning and joy that she found on her own year 10 IST experience.
Yossi Meyer
Yossi Meyer graduated from Moriah College in 2016 and spent a year in Yeshiva in Israel after High School. He is currently studying Psychology, and in between studying leads Tefilla at Moriah and volunteers with Hatzolah as an emergency medical responder. Yossi is so excited to have been given the opportunity be a Madrich on IST and can’t wait to share his love for Judaism with the year 10 students.
Chana Hirschowitz
Chana Hirschowitz graduated from Kesser Torah College in 2014. After high school she spent one year in a Midrasha in Tzfat Israel where she developed a deep love for Torah and the land of Israel. In 2016, Chana began working in informal Jewish education at Beth Rivkah College in Melbourne. In Melbourne she developed a passion and love for teaching, learning, running camps, organising programs and connecting with high school students. She is currently studying Commerce/PR at UNSW, however she continues her passion of giving back to her community through hosting Torah classes, leading prayers at Moriah and organising events for teenagers in Sydney. Chana can’t wait to be a madricha for the second year in a row on IST, and embark on a journey to discover the history of our people and strengthen our Jewish pride and identity.
Taube Friedman
Taube grew up in Sydney, and aside from a brief stint at Crawford College in Year 10, she attended Moriah College for her high school years. She currently works alongside her own teachers from school! Taube graduated from UNSW with a Bachelor of Science with a major in Pure Mathematics and a Bachelor of Education. Taube has spent over four years in Israel since 2007, was a madricha on the gap year program Aviv in 2014, speaks fluent Hebrew, and has been lucky enough to experience living and working in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Taube feels lucky to have had so many incredible experiences in Israel, and is so excited to connect with this amazing group on her first IST!
Lindy Kawalsky
Lindy is a born and bred South African who, following her first trip to Israel in 2000, knew she would one day call it her home. While completing her Undergraduate Degree in English Literature, Jewish Civilisation and History and Theatre and Performance, she filled an active role in the South African Jewish community. As head of the South African Union of Jewish Students, representative of Jewish students on both the South African Zionist Council and South African Board of Deputies, she was privileged enough to attend a plethora of local and International Conferences, including the World Union of Jewish Students in Israel and the Y2K “March for the Living” in Poland. In 2005 and she completed her Post-Graduate Degree in Education, followed by a Masters Degree in Educational Law and Curriculum Development. She has spent the last 13 years between London, South Africa and Israel, holding teaching, student well-being and Head of Department roles at a range of schools, working with teenagers from all backgrounds and walks of life. Her passion for Education and her love for Israel found her making Aliyah at the end of 2014, where she spent 3 years working for NGO’S and embedded and working for the Israeli Education system (Misrad Hachinuch). Just over two years ago, together with her partner (now husband), she made the move to Sydney and is thrilled to be teaching English and Studies of Religion at Moriah College. She is overjoyed at having the opportunity to, once again, join a group of teenagers on their journey and discovery of Israel and hopes that her experience on IST last year, and expertise travelling with students, as well as her love for Israel and its rich history will help make this year’s experience an unforgettable one.
Catherine Kaissis
Catherine has been a Design and Technology and Food Technology teacher at Moriah College for over ten years. Everyone that meets her, knows she has a flair for design, a flamboyancy and a caring and warm nature. She has worked as an event stylist and has run and managed several student-led initiatives at Moriah, being proactive in the co-curricular life of the College in events such as; Year 12 Graduations, Staff Lunches, Pink Breakfasts, Year 12 Formals and the Shabbat Project Challah Bake. She has enjoyed participating in several Counterpoint camps which have fostered a keen interest in Jewish learning and spirituality. She has also attended the Great Barrier Reef Trip to Far North Queensland several times, where she immersed herself in all outdoor experiences with energy and eagerness. She has experience in mentoring and coaching junior and senior students, and new staff members of the College. Completing a postgraduate degree in Psychology two years ago, Catherine is most passionate about student wellbeing and mental health. She has been Head of House for Junior Akiva for the past two years, and she is looking forward to the rich personal and social learning experience and relationship building that will come by traveling overseas with her students. Being her third trip on IST, Catherine is especially looking forward to returning to Israel, sharing this adventure and deepening her connection with the Year 10 cohort of 2019.
Dee Fittinghoff
Dee is the High School Psychologist at Moriah and works mainly with Years 10-12. Dee has spent the past 25 years working with children, teens, parents and families in Johannesburg, Vancouver and Sydney. She has valuable insight and a considerable understanding of our community, our students and our parents. Dee has been working closely with the Year 10’s throughout the year and is so excited to have the opportunity to take them on this trip of a lifetime. She has 3 children, 2 of whom have been on IST and regard it as the highlight of their school years. Dee has a Masters degree in Family Therapy as well as a Masters of Clinical Psychology and strongly believes in developing positive, empathetic and respectful relationships with our students and staff. Dee is so happy to be joining the 2019 IST program with this incredible cohort of students, madrichim and staff members and promises to be “mum” to all of them!
Avichai Berkovits
Born in Jerusalem, Avichai grew up in a musical family, to the sounds of ancient Jewish melodies and words of Torah. He learned for over six years in Yeshivot Carmel and Shilo, and served as a tank gunner in the IDF's armoured corps. Following his years of study and service, Avichai came to Sydney in 2014 as a Hesder boy, furthering his own Torah learning and teaching the wider community. Avichai has been involved with the Counterpoint seminars as well as IST for the past four years.
Avichai is currently on Shlichut in Sydney with his wife Tifferet, and their son Tuv, serving as the Rosh Kollel of Torah Mi’Tzion at the JLC and both are involved with Jewish education at Moriah College.
Hilary Kahn
Hilary migrated to Australia from South Africa with her husband Raphael in 1979. She taught at Masada College for 17 years before 'migrating' to the eastern suburbs, and has been teaching Jewish History and Studies of Religion at Moriah College since 1997. She has three married children, all of whom graduated from Moriah and has five grandchildren. This will be her third IST and she feels privileged to again be accompanying Moriah students on this deeply engaging journey, which she hopes will be filled with lots of singing. Her ardent hope is for each one of the participants to return to Sydney with an unwavering commitment to their Yiddishkeit and to Israel. Am Yisrael Chai!
Jesse Klass
Jesse Klass is a 2014 graduate of Killara High School and currently resides in the leafy suburb of St Ives. He has established and continued to strengthen his connection to the Sydney and wider Jewish community through his involvement in Maccabiah games as a swimming competitor, BJE as the Israel Program Coordinator and Youth Engagement Officer and various other Jewish youth based work in the understanding that they play a vital role in the success and continuation of the Jewish community. With his current engagement in a degree of Media Production at Macquarie University, he cannot wait to put his passion into action through creating films, and capturing beautiful and memorable memories of our IST students of 2019!