The IDC

connection is to Israel and any personal issues that might need attention
in the future. After that first meeting the students know that they have
someone to approach if they need help – whether with an emotional
difficulty or a practical dilemma such as signing an apartment lease or
learning where to catch the bus.
Besides following the monthly progress of their students, counselors are
extremely active in the campus social life, initiating new activities and
participating in all major events. Like true older siblings, they are there to
offer from their wisdom and experience, to spice things up and to lend an
ear when the going gets tough.
Meital Protas is a former counselor who now serves as a coordinator,
supervising 8 counselors and building the school’s annual orientation
week. According to Protas, she seized the opportunity to do something
extra while studying, and it has brought her more satisfaction than she ever
expected: “Every time a student has a problem, and by working with the
counselor and with me he finds a solution, whether funding his degree or
deciding to stay on even though he thought about leaving, I see the success
and I feel that this is what I’m here for.”
Eran Naot is a third year student studying communications at the RRIS.
Although he was born in Israel, Naot spent the majority of his life in
Germany and England, so he understands what it means to come to Israel
as a foreigner: “I decided to be a counselor because these students are going
through some of the experiences I went through when I came to Israel for
PArents, rris PArents, yOur yOur chilDren kiDs Are in greAt hAnDs
the first time. It’s a responsibility you take on yourself, like being an officer
in the army. You do it if you have the drive to help the people around you.”
Besides the counselors and coordinators, the program’s team includes a
social and cultural affairs coordinator, financial aid officer and absorption
coordinator, all supervised by Atar.
“I’m so proud to work in a place where they really try to take care of
everything,” says Atar. “The counselors are doing an amazing job because
they want their students to stay for 3 years, and maybe for good. Their level
is so high, they are so caring - that’s why I wake up in the morning and
come to work. I have students come in and tell me how wonderful their
counselors are and that they want to become counselors the next year -
they really are the spirit of the RRIS.”
– Joy Pincus
“they knOw the stuDents AnD stAff hAve fun, AnD
they wAnt nOt Just tO Be A cOunselOr, But tO Be A
PArt Of the teAm AnD tO engAge with yOung, tAlenteD
PeOPle frOm ArOunD the wOrlD” - Merav Atar, RRIS director of Student Affairs
Counselors Sivan Illuz and Yalli Cnaani with their counselor coordinator,
Meital Protas
IDC Winter 2010 > 47