New Opportunities for Engaging with our Shaliach Omer Karavani
We are happy to share the good news that our Federation’s Shaliach, Omer Karavani, will be staying for a third year in our community. This coming year we plan to provide more opportunities for members of our community to engage with Omer and learn about Israel.
For the past two years, Omer has done important work in our community. He teaches children in Sinai Synagogue’s Hebrew School, helps to organize the Federation Purim Carnival, and takes a leading role in our Federation’s Camp Ideal.
Perhaps, Omer’s most important contribution in his capacity as shaliach (emissary) is that Omer brings us an opportunity to understand current Israeli society and culture.
One of the programs that Omer offers is called “My Israeli Story.” This is a 30-minute presentation that provides a unique opportunity to learn the history of Israel through the personal story of Omer and his family. Over the past two years, Omer has presented this program at our Federation and to the non-Jewish community through church groups including Sunnyside Presbyterian.
More recently, Omer presented “My Israeli Story” as part of a 5-part series of Forever Learning. Omer also created a fascinating new presentation titled “The Jews of the Muslim World” that he presented in this series. He will present this new program to our Jewish community in the coming year.
This year we are presenting our community with a new opportunity to engage with Omer in your home. With an idea we borrowed from the JCRC of Indianapolis, we will be offering, “Israel Around the Table.”
Through this innovative program, you can host Omer for dinner in your home with your friends. Together with Omer, you will choose a topic for discussion at the dinner table. It can be anything related to Israeli society, culture, diaspora relations, politics, or service in the military.
As you can see from Omer’s biography, he has many unique life experiences to draw upon.
Born and raised in Ashkelon, a coastal city, about a one-hour drive south of Tel Aviv. It is located eight miles from the border with Gaza.
Before his mandatory service in the Israeli army, out of motivation to serve his country, Omer decided to do a gap-year of volunteer service. He worked in Jerusalem in underserved communities with children and the elderly.
In August 2019, Omer joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to be a combat soldier in the Artillery Corps and served for almost three years.
Omer’s family story represents the diversity of the Jewish people. His family came from Iraq, Romania, and Yemen. By understanding the beauty of the diversity of our people, we can build a greater appreciation of Jewish peoplehood.
Our community is truly blessed to host the shaliach program.
Too often, Israel is understood here in America in a very one-dimensional way. For almost twenty years, our Federation’s shaliach program has brought us amazing young Israelis, like Omer, to show a human side of Israel not seen in the American media. Therefore, I encourage you to take advantage of this new opportunity.
If you would like to schedule “Israel Around the Table”, please contact Omer directly at israel@thejewishfed.org.
Bob Feferman
Director of Community Relations
574-233-1164 x1815
RFeferman@TheJewishFed.org