מרכזי דניאל ליהדות מתקדמת

Beit Daniel and Mishkenot Ruth Daniel are proud of its staff and leadership. It is through their dedication, commitment and innovative approaches that visions and dreams are transformed into reality.

Rabbi Meir Azari, Senior Rabbi and Executive Director.

Rabbi Azari was appointed congregational Rabbi and Executive Director of Beit Daniel in 1991. He holds a bachelor´s degree in Jewish History and Political Science from Haifa University and a master´s degree in Jewish History from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. During his rabbinical studies at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem, he studied at San Francisco University and at the Graduate Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California. Rabbi Azari served as the Executive Director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism and is the current chair of the Israeli MARAM (Israeli Council of Progressive Rabbis).

Azari has published two books, the first book takes an in depth look into Independence Day, its customs and traditions as they have involved in Israeli society. The second book is an edited collection of articles the Gates to Reform Judaism introducing Reform Judaism to Israelis and Hebrew readers. Rabbi Azari frequently writes op-ed pieces and commentaries for Israeli press and is a regular guest and speaker in Israeli media.

Rabbi Galia Sadan, Associate Rabbi, Director of the conversion school and the bar/bat mitzvah school at Beit Daniel.

Rabbi Sadan is a graduate of the departments of Hebrew Literature and Linguistics at Tel Aviv University, and current doctoral student in the Hebrew Literature Department at Tel Aviv University. Her thesis studies liturgy manuscripts from the 11th century Genizah.

Sadan instructs Biblical studies in various frameworks. She was active for several years at Kol Haneshama Congregation, coordinating the Bar/Bat Mitzvah program. During her rabbinical studies, she served for eighteen months as student rabbi to the Achvat Israel Congregation in Rishon Lezion. There she was active in various fields including work with women prisoners and guidance for people with hearing impediments.

Talia is the director of the education department at Beit Daniel. During her first years as a Jewish educator at BD, Talia worked on creating Judaic program units for schools. This year there are over 30 participating schools. As director, Talia is responsible for the Judaic content of 14 preschools (the BD preschool network), 2 Reform affiliated elementary schools and various programs for children and families.

During her undergraduate studies she took part in educational missions of the Jewish Agency in North America and Europe and worked to train and prepare educators for such missions. She also lead personnel selection and placement committees. Talia has worked for various institutions developing educational programs mainly concentrated on community approaches to education.

Talia holds a bachelor´s degree in education and social studies from Beit Berl College and a master´s in Talmud and Bible Studies program from the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies.

As an active member of the Beit Daniel congregation since her youth, Rabbi Conforti has strong ties to the Beit Daniel community.

Michal is in charge of the partnership with Ussishkin School and periodically leads the services at Mishkenot Ruth Daniel.

Cantor Pe´er comes to us from the world of opera, a Bass Baritone soloist who performed in many productions of the Israeli Opera Company. He received his cantorial instruction through the army and served as an army cantor. He has served Beit Daniel since its founding and his voice and presence has become synonymous to the “Beit Daniel Experience”.

Orna Landau Rosner, Chief of Operations.

Orna returned to Beit Daniel after a sojourn in the United States with her husband Shmuel Rosner, Washington correspondent for the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz. During her stay in the United States, Orna served as the executive director of Temple Emanuel, Maryland. Prior to Temple Emanuel, Orna was manager and program director of Beit-Daniel.

Before joining Beit Daniel, Orna had a rich career as a journalist and T.V critic. Although successful, she gradually came to feel that she wanted to take a more active part in Israel’s cultural and Jewish life. She began teaching courses at the Open University, and gave lectures at various universities on media and culture. Once she received the offer from Beit Daniel to become a part of the continued creation of Reform Judaism in Israel, she seized the opportunity.

Yonit Kolb, Program Director

Yonit has extensive experience in Jewish education and programming as well as educational tourism. Yonit has been sent on educational missions of the Jewish Agency across the world including the United States, Former Soviet Union, Canada and Australia.

Before coming to MRD, Yonit managed visiting groups from North America through the Israel Experience Ltd, a subsidiary of the Jewish Agency.

Yonit holds a bachelor´s degree in Jewish History from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and is currently enrolled in the cultural studies doctoral program at HU.

Anat has extensive experience in community education for children, parents and families. Before joining Beit Daniel, Anat worked with parents to young children in disadvantaged neighborhoods through parenting workshops offered by community centers.

Anat holds a bachelor´s degree in behavioral studies from the Ben Gurion University, Be´er Sheva.