Oranim Long Term Israel Programs

About Oranim Educational Initiatives

Oranim Oranim Educational Initiatives was founded in 1986; a travel company geared for the young traveler and offered Jewish oriented programs to Israel and to destinations around the world. Oranim operated the first Taglit-Birthright Israel program in 1999 and as of 2008 is the largest organizer with over 44,000 international alumni and 8,000 Israeli alumni. Over the years, we have also developed unique travel programs based on the communality of the Jewish People. We encourage travel to Israel and to learn about the history and heritage of Jews across the globe. A special point of interest is the Jewish contribution to the society of the land and city where they lived.

As a company founded and run in Israel, and at the center of Jewish life worldwide, we are just the people to turn to when looking for a special, out of the ordinary look at the Jewish People. Shlomo (Momo) Lifshitz recognized the importance of Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) and in August 2006 he fulfilled a long-time dream as Oranim Educational Initiatives operated the first successful Israel Service Corps - Community Involvement program with eleven volunteers. Two years since its inception, Israel Service Corps continues to interject positive and hopeful messages to communities throughout Israel and the world. Oranim Educational Initiatives proudly stands behind each dedicated and committed participant that contributed their time to Israeli community members who benefited from their acts of kindness.

Our Team

Shlomo (Momo) Lifshitz, President - Oranim Educational Initiatives
Momo is the founder and president of Oranim Educational Initiatives, Israel's leading educational travel company. His vision of securing the future of Israel and the Jewish People has been a guiding light through his entire career. Born in Tel Aviv in 1956, he served with distinction in the Israeli Army, rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel and saw action in the first Lebanon War (1982). He acquired a B.A. from Bar Ilan University in Sociology and Political Science, sociology and high-school teacher's certification. Momo left the army in 1984 and joined the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI). Momo has a certification from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as a Specialist in Israeli Tourism.

Zvi Geva, Director - Israel Service Corps
Zvi Geva grew up in Rehovot, Israel, and studied in the Sde Boker Environmental High School in the Negev. He then served as a Merkava Tank Commander in the IDF. Zvi holds a BA in Business and Communications from the Tel-Aviv College of Management, and a Masters Degree in Jewish Education from the Baltimore Hebrew University, where he received the Eugene Silberman Award in Israeli and Middle Eastern Studies. Zvi spent the last six years living in Reisterstown, Maryland with his wife and three sons. Zvi is a nationally-licensed teacher and served as a NETA Program Master teacher. He was nominated for the Disney Award for Creative Teaching and the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for excellence in Jewish education. Until July 2008, Zvi was the head of the Hebrew program, the Israel Education program, and the director of Jewish life in the Shoshana S. Cardin School in Baltimore, Maryland. During 2007-2008, Zvi also served as principal of the Columbia Jewish Community School, a congregational school in Columbia, Maryland. For the last six years, Zvi has worked with a large number of additional schools and organizations throughout Maryland to help develop love for Israel through his innovative and exciting programs. These programs are known for being accompanied by a healthy dose of humor and an ever-lasting love and passion for the Jewish tradition and Zionism. In July 2008, Zvi and his wife and three sons had moved back to Israel and are living in Moshav Beit Hashmonai.

Sara Reichenbach Manor, Director, Israel Service Corps - Atid Gap Year
Sara was raised in Ridgewood, New Jersey and grew up in the American Reform Movement. Sara holds a BA in English Literature and an MA in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College. Jewish camping and youth group secured in Sara a love for Israel and living Jewishly – so when she met her future husband (a sabra) at camp in 2001, she was ready to move to Israel. Since making Aliyah in 2002, Sara has designed innovative and exciting curricula for Israel and camp environments. Sara creates programs which foster a sense of love and commitment to Am ("people"), Eretz ("land") and Medinat ("state") Israel by "hugging and wrestling" with these subjects in an open, safe and honest environment. Sara and her husband Oded live in the heart of Tel Aviv, and are on a quest to eat in every restaurant in the city (recommendations upon request).

Ofir Teva, Admissions Coordinator - Israel Service Corps
Ofir was born in Israel and moved to Toronto with his family at an early age. Upon completing his undergraduate degree in Psychology at York University (Toronto, Ontario), Ofir decided to reacquaint himself with family, friends, and the people of Israel by embarking on a personal journey back to Israel. Since his first participation with Taglit-Birthright Israel: Oranim trips in 2003, Ofir has staffed multiple North American trips. In 2007, after researching various programs in Israel, Ofir made the decision to pursue a long-term volunteer program through Oranim's Israel Service Corps. Ofir enjoyed the freedom to design his own volunteering schedule and be involved in projects matching his own interests. After completing the 5 months, he chose to stay in Israel and join the Oranim team.

Yoni Franks, Marketing & Recruiting Coordinator - Israel Service Corps
Yoni was born and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Son to an Israeli mother, he grew up with a love and passion for the State of Israel. After graduating with a B.A. in Communications in Marketing and Organizational Management, Yoni was the Youth Director for a local synagogue in Jupiter, Florida. He knew his path in life would eventually lead him to Israel and through Oranim's Israel Service Corps - Community Involvement program, he spent five months volunteering in Israel's city of Ramla. It was there where he established the Ramla School Boys Football Club, taught English to High School students and helped in an after school program. Yoni made Aliyah in December 2007.

Todd Edelman, Website Content Manager & Adviser - Israel Service Corps
New York born, but New Jersey raised. Coming from a conservative family, Todd attended Hebrew school until his Bar-Mitzvah at age 13. After his Bar-Mitzvah, Todd's connection to Judaism started to fade, attending Synagogue less often and no longer feeling connected to his Jewish roots. After hearing about Taglit-Birthright Israel in March of 2005, Todd found himself touring Israel just 3 short months later. Todd felt an instant connection to the land of Israel. He knew he needed to come back, and in May 2006, Todd returned to Israel by staffing a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. Momo quickly saw his passion with the land of the chosen people and encouraged Todd to make a change in his life - to give back to not only the land, but the people of Israel. In August 2006, during the second Lebanon War, Todd returned to Israel to participate in the inaugural round of the 'Israel Service Corps - Community Involvement' program in Ramla. Within months of his arrival, Todd was already filing paperwork to make Aliyah, and on Dec 21, 2006, Todd became an Israeli citizen. Todd has worked with Oranim since January 2007, and continues to 'live the dream' in the land of Israel.

Tomer Ben Ami, City Coordinator, Tel Aviv - Israel Service Corps
Tomer grew up in Kiryat Gat and completed his Master's degree in Environmental Studies at Tel Aviv University. He is currently serving as a consultant for the Ministry of the Environment's project entitled "Clean Coast." At Tel Aviv University, Tomer worked as a counselor in the LOWY Program for Overseas Students, as an Urban Planner and Theoretical Accompanist to the ISEF program, as a Security Officer and as a Manager of the Hillel. Throughout his years on campus, Tomer took part in and initiated numerous activities mobilitzing students' social involvement and environmental activism.

Ask yourself...

Are you planning to embark on a long-term commitment?
Just completed your university degree and going through a transitional period in life?
Looking to enrich your life with meaningful work?

If so, an Israel Service Corps program may be exactly what you are looking for! Click here to fill out a preliminary application today.