Staff
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Dr. David J. Portowicz - Chairman
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 Dr. David J. Portowicz co-founded the Jaffa Institute in 1982 and orchestrated it's merger with the Bet Shemesh Educational and Residential Center in 1986. Prior to establishing the Jaffa Institute, Dr. Portowicz, an American-born rabbi with a Ph.D. in social work, was the director of the Jewish Community Center of Jaffa. Today, he is acting Chairman of the Jaffa Institute and the Bet Shemesh Center, and lecturer in the School of Social Work at Bar Ilan University; a post he has occupied for over thirty years. "Students here are given the chance, for the first time in their lives, to be part a nurturing community. The best way to help these children is to say 'you are our son, you are our family'".
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Rabbi Avi Burstein - Founder
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 Rabbi Avi Burstein founded the Bet Shemesh Educational and Residential Center over 20 years ago. From the beginning, his vision was to provide beyond a standard education. He created a supportive boarding school for 10 at-risk boys, which, over the years, grew to be a warm home with a nurturing family of over 300 students per year. "Hundreds of graduates still have a strong connection to the Center; they are the proof that we are one big family. I dream and pray that this educational center will continue to support and advance hundreds of students for many years to come."
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Rav Yemin Akrish- Rosh Yeshiva
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 Rav Yemin has been the Rosh Yeshiva since 1989. He was previously the Rosh Yeshiva in a yeshiva and ulpan in Hatzor Haglilit. Rav Yemin believes that every student has many capabilities and skills. "The challenge of education is to reveal these capabilities together with the student and to help each student develop good values and rise to higher spiritual and social levels."
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Mr. Raziel Weisel - Executive Director
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 Raziel has been the director of the Bet Shemesh Residential Center since it was established in 1986. He served in the Israeli army as a chaplain, finishing with the rank of Captain. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Center, making sure that the students have good meals, the best teachers and a warm, safe and pleasant surrounding in which to learn and live together. "I get great satisfaction from the progress that our students make. When they first arrive, we can see how their family situations have made their lives difficult. With time and lots of close attention, they succeed at their studies and go on to yeshiva studies that include army service, and to establish good families of their own."
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Mr. Michael Peretz - Principal
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 Michael Peretz has been the principal of the high school since it's founding. Michael believes that each child has different needs and that the school needs to adjust the educational and guidance services accordingly for each student. "We aim to provide a guiding hand to each of our students. With patience and understanding for the background and overall picture of each student as an individual, we have had great success in bringing out the best in our students."
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Mr. David Moyal - Assistant Principal
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David Moyal joined the staff of the Bet Shemesh Educational Center in 1980. Previously he served as the Educational Director of Efrata Teachers Seminar. When David first met Dr. David Portowicz and Michael Peretz, the Principal, he was impressed by their belief that every student has the ability to succeed. "Many of our students were not accepted at other schools and they were falling through the cracks of society. I get great satisfaction and enjoyment in seeing the students succeeding and continuing in high level studies after they graduate. It is a pleasure to work with our dedicated teachers - the staff feels like one big family."
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