The IDC

A sAmPling Of this yeAr’s 16 DevOteD cOunselOrs:
ERAN NAOT
Where I served in the army:
I served as a commanding first sergeant in a combat
unit called “Moran.”
My school and year of study: Communications, 3rd year.
My Diaspora Connection: While I was born in Israel, I
grew up (15 years from age 3 to 18) in Germany.
Why I chose to be a counselor: Being a counselor lets me give back and
serve the community of people that surround me every day at school. It’s a
social job that allows me to help the new students find the right track to a
good university experience.
GUY AHARON
Where I served in the army: I served as a Naval Officer
in the Israeli Navy.
My school and year of study: Radzyner School of Law,
law and business program, 2nd year.
My Diaspora Connection: A huge appreciation for the
important worldwide Jewish external support, and a
family in Atlanta, GA
Why I chose to be a counselor: I think that the RRIS is the 21st century
Zionism. It is a unique project that allows the students to feel what it’s like
to be an Israeli, to get to know the Israeli way of life and mentality. Most
important - after three years, the RRIS qualifies hundreds of highly educated,
highly motivated and highly addicted Israeli ambassadors.
JONATHAN GIRON
Where I served in the army: I served in Nahal.
My school and year of study: Psychology, 2 nd year.
My Diaspora Connection: I have an extensive family in
Sweden and the US.
Why I chose to be a counselor: I really believe in the
purpose of orientation week and all the good it does for
the first year students, so I wanted to be a part of it and contribute some of
my personal values to the process. My favorite phrase: Don’t ever be shy to
ask questions, because if you don’t ask, you will never know!
MEITAL PROTAS
Where I served in the army: I was a Psycho-technical
Diagnostician in the recruitment office of Be’er-Sheva.
I gave interviews to teenagers in the ‘first call’ from the
army, and decided who was mentally capable of being
a fighter (or being in the army at all) and who was not.
My school and year of study: I’m in my 4 th year in the
Radzyner School of Law and Business, and also studying in the accelerated
program for my masters in Commercial Law.
My Diaspora Connection: I participated in various programs with Jews
from North America, here and in the States (first as a participant and later
as a counselor), mainly through the Jewish Agency.
Why I chose to be a counselor: Being able to show young students the
beauty and the wonder of our country, what it’s like to live here and what
many good things Israel has to offer them, helping them getting settled here
and in their academic studies – all of these gave me an enormous satisfaction.
Also, being a counselor and also a Rakezet is so much fun; participating in all
of the cool RRIS trips and other activities. It enriched my experience at IDC.
48 < IDC Winter 2010
OZ LANIADO
Where I served in the army: I served in the Navy.
My school and year of study: Law and government, 4th year.
My Diaspora Connection: I took part in a Jewish
summer camp in Pennsylvania for two and a half
months, where I was a counselor and assistant director
of the camp, right after my completion of the army service.
Why I chose to be a counselor: Being a counselor is a big responsibility
and at times is a challenge, yet its outcome is rewarding. Meeting students
from all over, building a special bond and trust is such a great feeling. It is a
privilege to be able to change people’s lives in a non-academic way, learning
from them and giving them the values which I believe are important and
meaningful as they start this new chapter of their lives.
EDO JOSEPH
Where I served in the army: Electronics Instructor in
the Ordnance Corps.
My school and year of study: Law and business, 3rd year.
My Diaspora Connection: I lived for 4 years in the
USA as a child, so I can identify with what it’s like to be
in the Jewish Diaspora.
Why I chose to be a counselor: I decided to be a
counselor because of my identification with the international students who
left their country for a whole new place and who need the support to adapt.
My satisfaction derives from the fact that I am their comfort when things go
wrong but of course when they want to tell me something funny, happy or
just to talk, then they know that I am always around. My motto? Promise a
lot and give even more!
EINAT DAHARI
Where I served in the army: My last two positions
were as an instruction officer in the Human Resources
Management School and then as a commander in an
Officer’s Course, where I trained around 60 officers. I
was ranked Captain upon my release.
My school and year of study: Government, 2nd year.
My Diaspora Connection: After my army service I volunteered for 2 years
as an Israeli shlicha (emissary), a representative of the Jewish Agency in
North Central Florida. My job was to strengthen the connection of Jews in
the Diaspora with Israel. I worked with children and adults (Jewish and
non-Jewish), organized events related to Israel, holiday parties and Israeli
cooking workshops. Mainly I showed people what it’s like to live in Israel
from my own personal experience.
Why I chose to be a counselor: I was looking for something meaningful to
do, as part of my experience as a student, and I believe that as a counselor I
can influence other people’s lives. The counselor is like a ‘big brother’ who
supports the student throughout his degree. Personally it’s important for me
that my students will have a good experience in Israel.