For Yotam, 32, from Haifa, Israel, serving as The Jewish Agency’s Senior Shaliach (Israeli emissary) to the iCenter and RootOne in Chicago is only his latest role with the organization and in the Shlichut (emissary) world.
Every year, The Jewish Agency sends numerous Shlichim (Israeli emissaries) to Jewish communities around the world to work in schools, JCCs, Hillels, summer camps and other local Jewish organizations. Shlichim act as an authentic living bridge to Israel, building lasting personal relationships, teaching Hebrew and spreading an appreciation for Israeli culture.
After serving for three and a half years in the IDF as a commander in the anti-aircraft corp, Yotam spent his first summer as a Jewish Agency Summer Camp Shaliach in 2014 in North America, enjoying the experience so much that he returned in 2015 and 2017. He also worked in The Jewish Agency’s Shlichut division, helping train other Israeli camp staff.
“Growing up, I participated in a few activities through the Haifa-Boston Partnership2Gether program, and that’s where I was first introduced to the idea of world Jewry and started to learn how Jews around the world are different. Then I went to a Jewish summer camp in Hungary and met Jews from all over, and that further opened my eyes to the diversity of Judaism globally,” reflected Yotam. “After my military service, I wanted to participate in Shlichut somehow and ended up at a camp in North America for the summer, and I became really passionate about working with and strengthening connections between Israelis and North American Jewry.”
After completing a BA in International Affairs and Communications from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Yotam’s next Shaliach role was as a Jewish Agency Campus Israel Fellow at Yale University from 2018-2020. During that time, he earned an MA in Israel Education from a joint program between George Washington University and the iCenter.
Now, for his second year, Yotam is the Senior Shaliach at the iCenter, which works with Israel educators across North America, focusing on Israel education, and also with RootOne, which helps bring thousands of Jewish teens to Israel each summer. Yotam works as an educator and does programming at the iCenter, and is part of the team that does staff training for Israel trips and also on-the-ground recruitment and engagement with RootOne.
“Shlichut has become even more important since October 7; truly, not a lot is as vital as this right now. And the work of the iCenter and RootOne has become more essential as well, because Israel education has changed since October 7 and educators have more challenges now to continue creating relationships, and also Israel travel has changed drastically too,” shared Yotam.
“Through my years of Shlichut, I’ve built meaningful connections, which have been so impactful both for the communities and camps I was in and also for myself,” Yotam added. “And I’m still in touch with friends from camp from years ago, and with students from Yale, and they were some of the first to text me after October 7 to check in. Because as a Shaliach, I am giving Jews outside of Israel a real relationship and connection to the Jewish State that can’t be substituted by anything else – and I’m proud to be that bridge.”
