A Perfect Match. From Federation's Partnership 2000 Region of the Central Galilee, Yoav Raban talks about his return to Detroit on behalf of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and his new role as Community Emissary (Shaliach).
Q: JAFI, a Federation partner, recruits and trains young, dynamic and talented Israelis as emissaries for educational placement in Jewish communities, youth organizations and campuses around the world. Among this elite group, you were identified in our community and essentially groomed for the role through your previous connections with birthright israel, the Federation’s Teen Mission and the Israeli Camper Program.
Yoav, would you say that you represent a new model of shaliach?
Y: For many young people and their families in the Detroit Jewish community, I am already a familiar face. That in itself is a tremendous privilege and an advantage as I move into the role of the community’s Shaliach. For me, the selection process was intensive and accelerated by the mutual desire of the Detroit/Central Galilee Partnership that I return to the community for a full-time two-year commitment to Federation’s Shlichot program. It’s great to be back, I will say, it feels like home away from home. A much colder home I would have to admit, since this is my first time here in the winter. But even though it can get freezing cold here, the community has been very warm and welcoming – the experience has been overwhelming and heartwarming!
Q: At the age of 28, you have had a variety of experiences that have prepared you well for your assignments here. Tell us a little more about your background.
Y: I graduated in 2006 from the University of Haifa with a BA in Social Work and served in the IDF Intelligence Corps from 1998 to 2001.
I would say that many things in my background have led me to Michigan, where I now have the opportunity to “connect all the dots.”
I grew up in Kibbutz Ramat David, in the Jezreel Valley and played on the regional basketball varsity team. As a 10th grader with this team, I came to the U.S for the first time in December 1994. Experiencing Jewish life and the celebration of Chanukah outside of Israel, greatly impacted me.
Working through the Federation’s Partnership 2000 connections, I started my first program in May 2001. Participating in a birthright israel student exchange from Hillel of Metropolitan Detroit in Israel, I came to Michigan for the first time in September 2001 to meet again with the group. I have made long-lasting connections through that experience. One in particular with my good friend Jason Cooperman of West Bloomfield for whom I came back this May to be his best man in his wedding.
Additionally I was a counselor at Tamarack Camps in 2002 and then returned to Tamarack as the supervisor of the Israeli campers from the region in 2003. In the summer of 2004, I was a counselor on Federation’s Teen mission.
Q: So with your love of basketball you must be a Pistons fan?
I must say that I have the highest respect for them, but I am a Celtics fan (Something I can finally say with pride this year).
Q: As community Shaliach, what are your primary areas of focus and how do you see your role evolving?
Y: I am here to strengthen Jewish identity and to help the Federation accomplish a difficult goal, and that is to connect a name and face to life in Israel today. The Israel we see in the news and the Israel our children study in school does not reflect the reality, the complexity or richness of living there. I am here to give voice to that experience, and to provide a “living bridge” between Israel and the Jewish Federation community particularly in relation to our Partnership 2000 Region of the Central Galilee. And to that end I will be active on college campuses and working to integrate Partnership’s 2000 into community programs like Federation’s Teen Mission and the JCCA Maccabi games that are coming to town this summer. I also look forward to playing a major role implementing the community-wide Israel at 60 Celebration.
Q: Yoav, you have adopted metro Detroit as your new home. You are recently married to Noa, who will join you here following the completion of her sophomore year degree program next summer. Clearly many challenges lie ahead for the two of you. What do you see as your greatest opportunity here?
Y: It's definitely a hard time for the both of us now, being apart for awhile.
However, we have been together for almost 8 years and Noa is very supportive of this great experience for me.
My greatest opportunity here is to be able to build on my previous experiences, and broaden the connection and impact with this wonderful community.
Being the Shaliach here feels like the perfect fit and that it was meant to be.
Questions about life in Israel? Ask our Shaliach: yraban@jfmd.org