Institute: Staff & Leadership

We’re dedicated to building global consciousness through experiential education.​

A B O U T

Our programs seek to re-establish the lost link to the history of the Jewish people throughout the world by discovering and sharing the noble and creative story of Jewish life around the globe

Kivunim Staff

Stephen Palacino Stephen Palacino

Atara Arad

Hebrew Language and Literature Teacher

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Stephen Palacino Stephen Palacino

Michal A.

Hebrew Language and Literature Teacher

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Kivunim also has dozens of part-time lecturers from both Israel and around the world. 

Each year students learn from and meet with academic and community luminaries such as: Yasmine Abu Noor, Said Abu-Shakrah, Dr. Amal El-Sana Ahjooj, Honorable André Azoulay, Dr. Clinton Bailey, Gershon Baskin, El Mehdi Boudra, Dr. Ruth Calderon, Rabbi Haim Casas, Maxim Delchev, Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, Kamal Hachkar, Dr. Susannah Heschel, Dr. Nevin Naar, Chief Rabbi Gabriel Negrin, Rabbi Pinhas Punturello, Dr. Sarab Abu Rabia, Muzzy Rosenblatt, Rabbi Jackie Sebag and many more.

Without the leadership, consultation and inspiration of the people below, (some no longer with us) Kivunim would not be more than a dream: 

Board of Directors

  • Stefan Malter, Chair

  • Abby Doft

  • Jill Golub ('13)

  • Rabbi Edward Schecter

  • William Yotive

  • Peter Geffen, ex officio

Honorary Advisory Board 

Frederic Brenner • David Broza • Dr. Lewis Bernstein • Dr. Ruth Calderon • Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove • Larry Garber • Rabbi Yitz Greenberg • Professor Susannah Heschel • Rabbi Rolando Matalon • Dr. John S. Ruskay • Dr. Robert Sherman • Noam Sohn • Dr. Anita Weiner

Inspiration 

Dr. David Ariel, ‭”ז ‬ל • Rabbi Samuel Geffen, ‭”ז ‬ל • Emanuel Gruss, ‭”ז ‬ל• Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, ‭”ז ‬ל• Mollie Kessler, ‭”ז ‬ל• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‭”ז ‬ל• King Mohammed V of Morocco, ‭”ז ‬ל• Dr. Rebecca Shahmoon Shanok, ‭”ז ‬ל• Alan B. Slifka, ‭”ז ‬ל• Dr. Eugene Weiner, ‭”ז ‬ל