Aliyah Committee, AMTON Newsletter — Spring 2004

Welcome Devora Greenberg!

The Aliyah Committee is excited to welcome Devora Greenberg, our new Shlicha (emissary) to the Conservative Movement in North America. Born in Jerusalem, Devora fulfilled her military service in an Intelligence Unit of the Israel Defense Forces and received her B.A. from Hebrew University in Jewish Philosophy and Political Science in 2003.

The daughter of British olim, Devora grew up in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem where her parents were active in Yedidiya, the well-known open modern Orthodox congregation. She was educated at the Pelech Girls High School, founded by Dr. Alice Shalvi, and was active in the Religious Scouts, serving as a madricha (counselor) and merakezet (Group Leader).

Devora became acquainted with Conservative/Masorti Judaism when, after completing her army service, she was sent on shlichut as a summer camp counselor to Camp Ramah New England, in Palmer, MA. "My experience at Camp Ramah was life-changing. I became a 'Ramahnik' in body and soul and found a new home within the Conservative religious community." Following that summer, Devora joined the counseling staff of Ramah Israel and worked with numerous synagogue and Solomon Schechter Day School groups touring Israel, and then summered on staff with the Ramah Seminar Program.

Devora arrived in New York in February to begin her service with us and like her predecessors, splits her time between the MERCAZ USA office and the Israel Aliyah Center. Her goals are to help us with outreach to synagogues and organizations to provide a variety of educational pro-grams concerning Israel; help for individuals and families who are considering long term stays in Israel as well as, of course, aliyah; and involvement with college students and young adults interested in travel, study and volunteer programs in Israel.

Devora is eager to help us in any way she can. She can be reached at 212-533-7800, ext. 2021 or shlicha@mercazusa.org