November 22, 2010 / 15 Kislev 5771

The Jewish Agency, in conjunction with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), organized a 'Faces of Aliyah' tour throughout the United States to bring the unique stories of people who call Israel home to Jewish communities in the Diaspora.

From October 17- 27, 2010, three Israeli women in their 20's visited the Jewish communities of Omaha, Nebraska, Charlotte, North Carolina, Worcester Massachusetts, and the Quad Cities, Iowa.

Katya Minakova, 28, was born and raised in Moscow where she became connected to her Jewish heritage thanks to the Jewish Agency summer camps and Sunday school.  She eventually came to Israel on a Taglit-Birthright trip. Later, this PhD in social psychology spent an extended period of time in Israel as part of the prestigious Masa Israel Government Fellows Program- one of more than 200 Masa programs available through the Jewish Agency. She made Aliyah in 2008, and currently works for the Institute for Jewish Studies headed by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz.

Orit Tabay, 27, was born and raised in Beer Sheva. Her Ethiopian-born parents endured hardships before they were able to settle in Israel. With a degree in educational counseling and history from Bar Ilan University, made possible through the support of a Jewish Agency scholarship, she has devoted her life to helping under-privileged communities in Israel. As the director of the Hineni Young Community in Beer Sheva, a project supported by the Jewish Agency, she and a community of young people live, work and act as role models in one of Israel's most difficult neighborhoods.  
 
Keren Neiger, 25, made aliyah from the USA three and half years ago. The daughter of a sabra father and a naturalized Israeli/American mother, she was active in her synagogue and the B’nai Brith Youth Organization. Upon graduation from Indiana University, she moved to Israel where she joined her brother who was a “lone soldier” serving as a paratrooper in the IDF.  Soon after her parents and younger sister joined them. Keren works for the Jewish Agency as the Community Relationship Manager for the West Coast Region and New York.  

The trio made a real impact on the people they met.

"You three made a huge impression on our Young Leadership group, and it was a pleasure to meet all of you.  And when Faces of Aliyah makes a return trip to the states, Omaha wants to be the first to sign up again!" said Jan Goldstein, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.

If you would like the Faces of Aliyah tour to visit your community, please contact Racheli Ben-lulu at speakers@jafi.org