OUR MISSION

Interwoven/שָׁזוּר strives to ensure the continued unity and existence of the Jewish people. We aim to fundamentally transform Israelis' relationship with American Jews in all their diversity, shifting perceptions from ignorance, indifference, and even condescension to mutual responsibility, accountability, and dedication to a shared destiny with their brothers and sisters abroad. By doing so, we strengthen the resilience of the Jewish people and affirm the State of Israel as the national home for all Jews.

People to People

We create the conditions for unmediated encounters between Israeli opinion makers and Jewish-American leaders

OUR WORK

ENCOUNTERS

Interwoven/שָׁזוּר provides opportunities for Israeli thought leaders to experience firsthand the rich tapestry of American-Jewish life.

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EDUCATION

Our seasoned educators facilitate workshops that help cultivate a better understanding and appreciation of world Jewry.

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CULTURE

We utilize mass media and cultural events in order to expose the Israeli public to Jewish life abroad in new and creative ways.

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OUR WORK

OUR TEAM

Interwoven/שָׁזוּר was founded by passionate Israeli educators who are either of American descent or are former Shlichim. We are deeply connected to and inspired by world Jewry, and heavily invested in the future of the collective Jewish people.

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Deborah Fishman is a network-weaver building local and international community through her passions for Judaism, culture, and human empathy. She founded FED, a community that fosters dialogue and connection through food, art, creativity, and Jewish values and experiences. Deborah also serves as North American Director of Hakhel: The Jewish Intentional Communities Incubator. Previously she worked as Director of Communications for The AVI CHAI Foundation; Network Animator for PresenTense and Editor & Publisher of PresenTense Magazine; and National Program Director for the American Zionist Movement. Deborah was accepted to the ROI Community in 2009 and served as grassroots ROI Igniter for NYC. She holds an M.A. in Jewish Professional Studies from Spertus Institute; has been a member of the 248 Network of JAFI; a URJ JewV’Nation Fellow; an iFellow with the iCenter, and named one of the Jewish Week’s “36 under 36.”

DEBORAH FISHMAN

Rabbi Amitai Fraiman is an American-Israeli peoplehood enthusiast. He co-founded 'Jerusalem Midnight Biking', an innovative bike touring company based in Jerusalem. Rabbi Fraiman has professional and leadership experience in content development, advocacy, and relationship building in his work for Tzofim Garin Tzabar (Israeli Scouts Lone Soldier Program), NYU Bronfman Center (Hillel of NYU), The Arthur Project and LAVAN. Rabbi Fraiman was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah as well as completed a dual MPA-MA at NYU. He lives in Palo Alto with his family, where he serves as the Director of the Z3 Project, an initiative of the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, aiming to foster a healthier relationship between Diaspora Jewry and Israel.

RABBI AMITAI FREIMAN

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JODI SANDLER

Jodi Sandler, owner of Sandler Business Services, has been a key support resource for small businesses and non-profit organizations since 1997. By managing the finances and operations, she enables business owners and leaders to focus their time and energy on developing and expanding their business. Her services include accounting/full-charge bookkeeping, QuickBooks setup and training as well as payroll and employee benefits administration. As a seasoned financial consultant, she interfaces with accountants, bankers, lawyers, insurance companies, non-profit Boards and government agencies. Jodi Sandler serves as Finance Director for several non-profit organizations. Sandler Business Services is a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise in the City of New York and New York State.

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LIOR SHABO

Lior (a.k.a Shabo) is an entrepreneur, business development consultant, and sixth-generation Jerusalemite. He is the founder of Coming Soon, a crowdsourcing platform that fosters small business creation in cities across Israel. He also established the Jerusalem Parliament, a network of emerging, Jerusalem-based leaders from the worlds of business, public policy, grassroots activism, journalism, and politics. He served on the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Innovation Delivery Team, consulting on business development to the Jerusalem municipality and initiating public-private partnerships around small business creation. He is a frequent speaker on Jerusalem’s ongoing civic renaissance, and hosts VIP visitors on insider tours of his hometown.

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Moshe served as the Jewish Agency's community emissary to Birmingham, AL, as an Israel fellow at the University of Western Ontario, and in various leadership roles at Camp Ramah in Canada and Camp Ramah in the Rockies. He was the Educational Director of NOAM, the Masorti youth movement in Israel, and the Director of Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, BINA's service-learning Masa program. More recently, Moshe served as the Director of Israel Engagement at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in NYC and as the Program Director of the Sonabend Center for Israel at JCC Manhattan. In April 2021, Moshe’s acclaimed TV miniseries 'The New Jew' aired on primetime television at the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.

MOSHE SAMUELS

OUR PARTNERS

“This experience has taught us how important it is to converse and listen to Jews elsewhere, especially with those we fundamentally disagree with. I now understand that our policies back in Israel directly effect the wellbeing of Jews everywhere, both physically and spiritually. With great power comes great responsibility.”

Delegation Participant, May 2022