Tehilla Staff
Yosef (Yoske) Shapira is the founder and chairman
of Tehilla, Yeladim-Netivot, and Oz-The Children’s Movement, each of
which is making a unique and important contribution to the state of
Israel and the Jewish People. Mr. Shapira, a native-born Israeli, was
one of the key leaders of the religious Zionist youth movement in Israel
and abroad, serving as founder and head of World Bnei Akiva. He served
as a Jewish Agency Executive member and head of Youth Aliyah. He was
elected as a cabinet minister in the National Unity Government of Israel.
His public career has been devoted to educating the young generation
in Israel and the Diaspora, and to promoting and facilitating Aliyah.
Dovi Paritzky, Executive Director of Tehilla and Yeladim-Netivot,
is a former shaliach to South Africa, Australia, and North America,
where he was involved in informal Jewish education. In Israel, he founded
Midreshet Harova Seminary for women.
Ron Allswang, Associate Director, made Aliyah in 1994.
He has held positions in different capacities of Tehilla in the U.S.
and in Israel since 1990. Among his numerous accomplishments at Tehilla,
Ron was responsible for establishing the Bayit Ne'eman Be'Yisrael publication.
Chana Schuster, Director of International Relations, made Aliyah with
her family in 2003. She has a Masters of social Work degree
and worked at UJA- Federation of New York and UJA Federation
of Bergen County, New Jersey prior to making Aliyah. Once arriving in
Israel, she worked at the Ethiopian National Project in Jerusalem.
Elana Diner, Director of Aliyah and Absorption, made Aliyah in 1995
with her parents and family to Ra'anana. She currently resides in Jerusalem
with her husband and child. She has a bachelor's degree in administration
and education from Bar Ilan University.
Sandy (Shoichet) Cohen, Tehilla's Chicago "Antenna"/Liaison, is a Chicago native. In addition to her work with Tehilla, she works at the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago,(the Jewish Board of Education) and teaches Hebrew High School for the Melvin I. Eisenberg Institute, a program run by the A.T.T. Her mother and step-father made Aliyah 8 years ago to Jerusalem, where she visits as often as possible.Her "claim to fame" is that she has an identical twin sister Andy, who is married to Rabbi Zev Shandalov, who serves on the Tehilla volunteer committee in Chicago and has led several pilot trips for Tehilla.
Samara Berger, Tehilla's Toronto Volunteer "Antenna"/Liaison
plans to make Aliyah with her family in 18 months so Talia,
her oldes child will be able to start grade school in Israel. Their
new goal is to encourage as many people as possible to join them in
the tremendous mitzvah of Yishuv Ha'aretz, settling the land of Israel!