Connection in a Complicated Moment:
Talking Israel with Teens

Ilana Gleicher-Bloom is a seasoned Jewish educator with 20 years of experience fostering inclusive, pluralistic learning environments where every individual can access and engage with Torah.

She holds a B.A. in Judaic Studies (NEJS) and Literature from Brandeis University and was part of the inaugural cohort of the Melamdim Teacher Education Program at the Hartman Institute and Tel Aviv University. After completing her training, Ilana taught Talmud and Tanakh at the Heschel High School in New York and Rochelle Zell Jewish High School in the Chicago area.

In 2015, she developed an innovative model for congregational education, leading to the creation of Mensch Academy, the religious school of Mishkan Chicago. Her contributions to Jewish education were recognized in 2018 when she received the Pomegranate Prize from the Covenant Foundation, honoring emerging leaders in the field.

In 2021, Ilana moved to Jerusalem with her husband and three children, where she served as the Director of Experiential Education at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies.

In her free time, Ilana enjoys reading as many books as possible, drinking coffee, and exploring the streets of Jerusalem with her family.

Kiva Rabinsky is the Deputy CEO and Chief Program Officer at M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education, and lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Deb, and children, Nava and Yonah. Prior to working at M², he directed a range of Jewish Service-Learning initiatives and developed and taught in a series of Experiential Jewish Education training programs through his role at Yeshiva University. Kiva holds an MPA in Nonprofit Management and an undergraduate degree in Education and Archeology.