Hechalutz, an innovative Jewish education project, is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between Israel and the Jewish Diaspora.
At Hechalutz, we recognize the growing distance between Jewish youth, young adults and Israel. We bridge this gap by offering engaging programs and educational experiences in both Israel and the Diaspora. Hechalutz has been working for twenty years with gap year programs, young adults, lay leaders and grass roots activists.
Leadership
Adam
Levi
Co-Director
Adam Levi is an educator with nearly two decades experience in working with youth from Israel and Jewish communities abroad. Raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Adam spent seven years working at Camp Miriam, including three years as Camp Director. Adam made Aliyah to Israel and spent years working with Jewish youth from Canada, US, England, South Africa, New Zeeland, Australia, and Holland. In 2017 Adam was the Director of the Hanoar Haoved v’Halomed pre-army Shnat Sheirut (year of service/volunteering) program with over 250 participants. Adam develops programs for engaging college students in Jewish leadership, lectures in various educational institutions throughout Israel and the United States, and manages our educational think-tank for developing new and relevant Israel-based education for the current reality.
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Gabriel Freund
Co-Director
Gabe is a community leader and experienced Jewish educator with a passion for growing strong and thriving connections between Jews around the world and Israeli civil society. Born and raised in Australia, Gabe has lived in Israel for 14 years, during which time he has contributed to and led numerous projects across the informal education and not-for-profit sectors, including Hakhel – the Global Incubator for Jewish Intentional Communities and the Advot Center for Grassroots Democracy and Shared Society which he cofounded in 2017 in the Jewish-Arab city of Akko, where he lives in northern Israel. A firm believer in the power of people to shape their reality, he devotes his time to cultivating the next generation of resilient, courageous, and hopeful Jewish leaders. In addition to his role at Hechalutz, Gabe is also a cofounder of the peace-tech start-up Project Didi.
Our Team
Nathan Brown
Head of Programming and Partnerships
Born and raised in Australia, Nathan has spent the last 13 years in Israel, deeply engaged in fostering connections and leadership among Jewish youth and young adults. With extensive experience in organizations like Masa Israel, March of the Living, and the Israel Engagement department of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, Nathan has dedicated himself to educating Diaspora Jewish young adults and empowering them to establish Garinei Aliyah to Israel. He is driven by a belief in the transformative power of youth and has spent his career nurturing resilient, courageous, and hopeful Jewish leaders who dare to envision and shape a brighter future.
Coral Gur
UK Partnerships Manager
Coral Gur grew up in Rosh Ha'ayin in central Israel, and worked for over a decade amongst Israeli youth and young adults. Coral’s served in the IDF as a teacher in the education unit, after her release from service Coral lived in Jerusalem and worked as leader and director of a branch of coexistence activities in East Jerusalem. She also worked as a counsellor with Kids4Peace in Sheikh Jarrah. Coral has spent the last 7 years in the field of Jewish and Zionist education, with expertise in directing Gap Year programs, seminars abroad, teaching Ulpan programs to English and Arabic speakers. Coral is currently living in the city of Rehovot and finishing her teaching degree in Beit Berl College.
Tamar Levi
Israel programs Consultant
Tamar Levi grew up in Victoria, BC and attended Camp Miriam. She was an active member of Habonim Dror North America while completing her degree at McGill University. She made aliyah in 2010 and joined Dror Israel's Kibbutz Eshbal as a member and educator. She worked in World Habonim Dror coordinating Israel programs for many years before transitioning into coordinating activities for Habonim Dror's sister movement in Israel, Hanoar Haoved v'Halomed. Additionally, she leads educational trips to Poland and facilitates workshops on the Holocaust. She most recently served as the Central Shlicha for Habonim Dror North America from 2021-2023.
Anya Friedman-Hutter
Youth Movement Manager
Anya Friedman-Hutter grew up in Philadelphia and discovered a passion for Jewish education in high school. Before making aliya, she served various leadership roles in the Habonim Dror youth movement and earned a BA in Sociology and Urban Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Anya has eight years of experience developing educational curricula for Diaspora Jews and mentoring youth educators. She specializes in leadership development and meaningful encounters between Jewish youth from Israel and the Diaspora. Anya lives in an urban kibbutz in Be'er Sheva.
Adam Kausman
"Shorashim" Program Director
Adam Kausman grew up in Melbourne, Australia and made Aliyah in 2019 after serving in senior leadership and executive positions in Habonim Dror. For the last five years Adam has continued to develop his passion for Jewish education, with experience leading groups from Australia, New Zealand, The US, Canada, and the UK, as well as Israelis. Today, Adam is the coordinator of our flagship Shorashim program, overseeing the building and delivery of our three month long intensive Jewish and Zionist leadership course. Adam aims to build on his experience by completing his Informal Education degree at Beit Berl College.