Meet the Jewish Federation’s 2024-2025 Community Shlichim
Each year, through a program of The Jewish Agency for Israel and funding from The Jewish Federation, Federation brings Shlichim (Israeli emissaries) to Greater Washington to connect with our community and transform our relationship with Israel.
The community Shlichim have diverse professional backgrounds and are hand-picked from different parts of Israeli society. They are dedicated to the Jewish people, Jewish heritage, and to Israel. During their two-year shlichut (mission), they serve in our community’s congregations and schools, and offer unique programming designed to increase Jewish awareness, knowledge, and pride; bridge the gap between Jews of different backgrounds and the State of Israel; and promote an understanding of Israel and its ideals – both at their “home” institutions and the larger community. In turn, the Shlichim have an opportunity to discover our diverse and vibrant American Jewish community.
Learn more about their lives in Israel and what motivates them to educate others around the world. And, if you would like to host a Shaliach for a program, please explore our Hands-on Israel workshops.
Abraham Belilty
Shaare Torah
Abraham is from Haifa, bringing with him his cats, Leah and Pluto, to be a part of the Shaare Torah community. Abraham was born in Venezuela and made Aliyah (immigration to Israel) with his family at six years old to Ra’anana. After finishing high school, Abraham began his way in the shlichut (a group of Israeli cultural emissaries) world during his shinshin (year of service) for the Federation of Greater Metro West in New Jersey. He was a combat medic for most of his Israeli Defense Forces service except for a year when he as part of the education corps to encourage and assist teens before army service to have a meaningful and suitable position. While studying for his BA in education and Jewish history, Abraham worked in NOAM, the Israeli conservative youth movement, leading various groups and writing educational programs. Abraham wishes to be a history and Jewish thought teacher in Israel, hoping to share with his students his understanding of Jewish peoplehood. Abraham is a DJ and believes he’s a good dancer, likes cooking and learning (particularly Jewish thought), and he is very excited to be part of this mishlachat (delegation of young Israeli adults)!
Avi Eisen
Beth Sholom Congregation
Avi is the eldest of four boys and was raised in the largely Anglo-Saxon community of “Nofei Aviv” in Beit Shemesh. Throughout his childhood, Avi would visit his grandparents in Baltimore over the summer. As a teenager, he was a counselor in B’nei Akiva and active in “Acharai,” a pre-army youth movement. Avi was interested in exploring the area outside of Beit Shemesh and attended high school in Jerusalem while also pursuing an education at Bar Ilan University, where he received a BA in Middle Eastern Studies. After graduation, Avi attended Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa for almost two years. He volunteered to serve in the Navy and after graduating from the Israeli Naval Academy (Hovlim), he served as a ship captain and worked hard to secure the Israeli-Gaza border on a daily basis. Avi’s dedication paid off as he finished his time with the Navy as a director of the patrol ship brigade and is currently an active reservist (Lt. Commander). During his service with the Navy, Avi married Avia and they moved to the Negev (southern Israel). After his release, he worked as a security and operations team lead on Israel’s most prominent strategic asset, Karish FPSO. In his free time, Avi engages in startup entrepreneurships, organizing activities for his community, long–distance running, and studying Daf Yomi. Avi speaks Hebrew, English, and Arabic, and is passionate about Jewish thought and connecting people through ideas.
Avia Halevi
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Educational Engagement Shlicha
Avia was born in Rosh Ha-Ayin to a traditional Yemenite family, as the middle child of five children. Growing up, she was a counselor at B’nei Akiva and a tour guide in “Shelcah,” a hiking and nature youth movement. After graduation, Avia spent a year as a Shin-Shinit (service volunteer) in an absorption center in Tzfat, working with Olim (immigrants) of all ages and backgrounds. She served in the IDF Air Force as an NCO traffic controller, and currently serves as an active reservist. After her release, Avia moved to Ethiopia to live with the Jewish community in Gondar for several months. She continued to travel throughout Africa, North and South America, and India, where she joined the staff of “HaChava Shel Adam,” a unique retreat intended for Israeli travelers. During COVID, Avia married Avi and they moved to the Negev (southern Israel), as she always felt that the desert was home. Avia is an artist. She enjoys exploring ancient crafts such as weaving and woodworking, and believes that mutual creation is a great way to connect between individuals of different cultures. In her pottery studio Tenn’e, Avia hosts art workshops inspired by the desert. In her free time, Avia enjoys traveling around the world and is especially interested in ideas and cultural exchange.
Dean Bagdadi
Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia
Dean is married with two cats and has lived in Be’er Sheva in the south of Israel his whole life. He comes from a mixed background of both secular and traditional Jewish families with roots across the globe. Before embarking to be a part of the shlichut (a group of Israeli cultural emissaries), he was part of “The movement for quality government in Israel,” which is a non–profit NGO that combats corruption and works for a better, more efficient and more qualified administration in Israel. He has experience in the civil society field, community engagement, and public affairs. Dean loves cooking and baking, camping, and is a big video and board game geek. Dean has a bachelor’s in political science and business management from Ben Gurion University (BGU). During his undergraduate years, he was the chairperson of the board for the student’s union of BGU, part of an ADL leadership delegation, an intern for the national student’s union foreign relations and government office, part of four political campaigns, a formal and informal education instructor, and a social media manager for Jusidman academic youth center. During his army service, he was a logistics officer who ranked up to captain and still takes part as a reservist commander for supply convoys.
Laila Akselrad
Mo’Ed & Ohr Kodesh Congregation
Laila was born in La Plata, Argentina. At the age of one, she moved with her family to Spain, where they lived for 10 years. When she was 12 years old, her family made Aliya (immigration to Israel) and lived in Kfar Saba, a small town in central Israel. In middle school, she began her journey in the world of education as part of the Mashatzim program – a program that teaches children about the land of Israel and Israeli culture through nature and field trips. In 2019, Laila enlisted in the army and served as a commanding officer for Air Force troops in the first phase of training. In this role, she instilled Israeli values and love for the country in the soldiers. In addition, she served as a support system and guided them through this important and challenging time in their lives. Since the age of four, Laila has enjoyed dancing and participating in dance competitions. Laila is passionate about education, dance, and exploring the world and the different cultures in it. She is excited to learn, grow, and bring her fields of knowledge to this wonderful community.
Maya Ezra
Makom
Maya was born in Jerusalem and raised in Mevasert Zion, and is a middle child of three sisters. Maya studied at Academy of Music & Dance high school. She started her social activity in high school as a counselor for three years in “Krembo Wings”, a youth movement for kids with special needs. After graduation, Maya spent a year in Mechina (Rabin) in the north of Israel. She served in the IDF Air Force as a commander and during her service, Maya joined a Birthright trip. After, Maya volunteered at Project Ten in Uganda, teaching children art at schools for several months, until October . She returned to Israel to serve in the IDF reserves for three months. And last summer she was a Shlicha at Tamark Camp as an art specialist.
Maya enjoys practicing yoga, art, and going to the beach with her friends. She is passionate about meeting people from diverse cultures, and especially interested in engaging and building connections.
Snir Holtzman
Temple Emanuel
Snir was born in Tel-Aviv and raised in Holon. Before becoming a shaliach (Israeli emissary), Snir volunteered in his neighborhood’s community center as a youth counselor, where he led and mentored youth groups of different ages. He served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as a drill sergeant, later becoming a staff sergeant in BHD 11, the IDF’s training base and school of Human Resources. He worked with new recruits joining the IDF, teaching them the basics of serving in the army and much more. After his service, Snir worked at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute, a summer camp in Oconomowoc, WI for two summers. He was a counselor in the chalutzim (Pioneers in the building of the State of Israel) program, a Hebrew immersive program for rising sophomores and juniors, and as Sgan (second in command) in Avodah, the camp’s Counselor in Training program. He also worked at Alexander Muss High School in Israel, a boarding school in Hod Hasharon and was a counselor of a group of seniors (class of 2022) from Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Maryland during their semester in Israel, teaching them about Israel, Judaism, and their Jewish identities. Snir enjoys working out, hiking, cooking, and reading. He’s also very into film, television, and filmmaking. He wanted to become a shaliach to create meaningful and deep relationships with Jewish youth and young adults in the Greater Washington Jewish community and help them navigate growing up and shaping their Jewish identity and relationship to Israel.
Tamar Bar Dov
Agudas Achim
Tamar is from a small community near Jerusalem called Givon Ha’Hadasha.
Tamar is a recent graduate from Ben Gurion University of the Negev with a degree in Management and European-African Studies. Her mother is an Olah (immigrant) from Brazil, and her father is native Israeli. She has two older brothers who are officers in the IDF. Tamar’s involvement in community engagement began as an instructor in the Scouts youth movement (Tsofim). During her military service she was an infantry instructor for paratrooper trainees and moved on to be a shooting instructor for paratrooper trainees. Before starting her studies, Tamar worked as a youth coordinator where she worked to create diverse and appropriate activities for each age group, such as military preparation activities, community contribution activities, and trips throughout Israel. It was a significant job that taught her the value of guidance. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, baking, traveling around Israel and the world, going out with friends, spending time with family, and meeting new people from diverse cultures.
Yoel Gleizer
Beth El
Yoel was born in Argentina, and when he was one and a half years old, his parents decided to make Aliya (immigrating to Israel). He was raised in Ra’anana, a small town in the center of Israel, by two loving parents and an older brother. He began his journey in the world of education as part of the Tzofim (Israeli scouts) and a youth center in Ra’anana, called ‘HaMartef” (The Basement).
In 2014, Yoel enlisted in the army and served as a commander in the Intelligence Corps. After his military service, Yoel began working for Ra’anana Municipality, in the youth center that he grew up in, ‘HaMartef’. He created music programs for teenagers, led youth bands and singers, and orchestrated events. He also worked as a field youth coordinator for the municipality, patrolling city hotspots at night, and offering a supportive presence to local youth — a mentor and a guardian.
After six years at the municipality, Yoel was a music workshop instructor and coordinator in schools. He guided workshops for students in creative writing, songwriting, and the stages of producing and filming a music video. In addition, he produced musical events and school ceremonies.
In his personal life, Yoel enjoys singing, playing many instruments, producing music, working out, and exploring nature. Yoel lives with his partner Yuval, who is also a new Shlicha at B’nai Israel Congregation, and their two cats, Grace and Doja. Both are thrilled about this new chapter in their lives.
Yuval Ifrah
Bnai Israel Congregation
Yuval was born and raised in Rishon Lezion, located in the heart of Israel, and is the oldest of three children in a loving extended family spread out across Israel.
She began her journey in the world of education as part of the Tzofim and the Mashatzim program (two Israeli youth movements) – programs that teach children about the land of Israel and Israeli culture through nature. In 2017, Yuval enlisted in the army and served as a Behavioral Science Diagnostician in the Education Corps.
After her military service, Yuval was a youth event and social media coordinator in Ra’anana (another town in the center of Israel), organizing various events for teenagers including small gatherings, theme nights, comedy and musical shows, Independence Day performances, and Memorial Day ceremonies.
Yuval has developed valuable experience in formal and informal education, having worked with teenagers in youth centers, teaching English to 5th and 6th graders, and leading after-school activities for younger children.
In her personal life, Yuval enjoys singing, drawing, sculpting, meeting new people, and exploring new places. Yuval lives with her partner Yoel, who is also a new Shaliach at Beth El Congregation, and their two cats, Grace and Doja. Both are thrilled about this new chapter in their lives.
Senior Shlicha
Tali Arnolf Wohlgemuth
Senior Shlicha, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington
Tali Arnolf Wohlgemuth is Federation’s senior shlicha, serving as the head of the Israeli Mishlachat (delegation) to Greater Washington. She was raised in Kibbutz Revadim as part of the Hashomer Hatzair movement where she developed a deep connection to community, education, and Jewish heritage. Her parents made Aliyah from Argentina, and she has two siblings. In recent years, Tali has lived in Moshav Haniel, a village surrounded by citrus and avocado orchards in central Israel, with her spouse, Eyal, and their three children: Alon, Yuval, and Lotem.
Professionally, Tali is a committed community builder, leadership facilitator, and educator. She brings extensive experience from both the nonprofit and public sectors. As the former CEO of Be’Artzeinu, a community-building organization for young adults, Tali led numerous initiatives for thousands of people. The mission of Be’artzeinu was to strengthen the communities of the Negev and the Galili by empowering and supporting groups of young adults to live and to be active in those communities. Tali also worked as a Senior Community Consultant at the Varda-International Institute for Community Building, founded by Dr. Sarale Shadmi, where she supported various organization leaders in cultivating a culture of belonging. As a Community Manager with TFI (Hotam), she led nationwide programs to strengthen Israeli public education, ensuring every child could reach their potential, regardless of background. A significant part of Tali’s experience comes from her work with the Mechinot (Pre-Military Leadership Academies), where she began as a Hanicha, and grew into administrative roles, spending over a decade with the JCM (the umbrella organization of the Mechinot).
Tali holds an MBA in Social Leadership from the Mandel program and a BA in Social Welfare, earned with honor. Both are from Ben-Gurion University in the Negev. In her free time, Tali enjoys long hikes in nature with her family, practicing yoga, listening to podcasts, and Israeli folk dancing (Rikudei Am).
*Through the Imagine Israel initiative, Federation fulfills its long-standing commitment to connecting Washingtonians with Israel and Israelis through the lens of social chance. A wide variety of social impact programs foster meaningful relationships with the country and its people – programs that make real, sustained impact locally and in Israel.