Our Staff

Previously, she was the Director and Chief Administrator of the Yavne Institute of Montevideo, where she prepared and oversaw educational programming, and authored the Spanish-language book, “Words From the Heart”. Blaustein has an MA degree in education, and worked as a teacher of history and ontological coaching in Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, and Israel. 

…Boca Raton, Florida, in 2002. Prior to joining Shavei Israel, Laura managed social media for the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization. Laura is the author of the book, “Moving Up: An Aliyah Journal”, a memoir of her move to Israel, as well as numerous published articles both in print and digital media.  

…Hidden Jews of Poland. She was born and raised in Mexico, and made Aliyah to Israel in 2009. A graduate of Hadassah Academic College Jerusalem, she completed a BA degree in Business Administration with a specialty in Management of Service Organizations (Tourism). She has expertise in entrepreneurship, banking, customer service, information systems, network marketing, hotel management and hospitality services. She also participated in several courses of Jewish studies, tradition and life coaching.

…for Conversion and Return. She also serves as Director of the Amiel Institute’s Training Program for Rabbis’ Wives in the Diaspora. Birnbaum has taught in primary schools both in Israel and abroad, supervised kindergartens, taught at teacher-training seminars, and lectured widely to adults. She has a Bachelor’s degree in literature and a Master’s degree in Jewish Philosophy.

…as a congregational rabbi for 23 years, most recently in Toronto, where he was also director of the Beit Din of the Vaad Harabonim for 10 years. He and his wife Joyce made aliya in 2009 and reside in Jerusalem. 

…organization’s behalf in countries such as Turkey and Ethiopia. Mizrahi directed “Operation Moses” and “Operation Solomon” for the Jewish Agency, which involved the large-scale immigration of Jews from Ethiopia. A social worker by profession, he was involved over the years in the immigration and absorption of Jews from Syria, Iran and elsewhere. After retiring from the Jewish Agency, he joined Shavei Israel as Project Director for Bnei Menashe Aliya and absorption. 

emissary to India, where he helped to set up the organization’s local headquarters and educational centers. Born and raised in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, Khaute made Aliya in 2000 along with his family. Prior to doing so, he taught economics at a high school for four years. He holds a BA degree in economics from the University of New Delhi and a BA degree in Jewish philosophy from the Herzog Institute in Alon Shvut, Israel.  

He received his MA in Chinese at Henan University in Kaifeng, China. Since 2011, he has served as Shavei Israel’s coordinator for the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng, China, and has overseen their immigration and absorption in Israel. 

…and Alternative Medicine Studies in Jerusalem. Previously, she worked as Director of Client Service Centers for a prestigious Israeli company and directed an English studies project for elementary and high school students. In her spare time, she has volunteered helping people with low vision, and at the Hematology department at Shaare Tzedek Medical Center.