Our Team - Bar-Ilan University: International Programs

Our team

Ofer Dahan — Ofer Dahan
Ofer Dahan has worked in various frameworks to bring tens of thousands of immigrants and refugees from many countries and regions of distress to Israel. Ofer established and managed the Israel Centre in South Africa, continuing the marketing system at the Jewish Agency's Aliyah and absorption department. He was the director of the 2010-2011 Ethiopian immigrant campaign from Gondar and also found and brought hundreds of high school students from around the world to study in Israel.
International School Director

Prof. Rachel Dekel — Prof. Rachel Dekel
Prof. Rachel Dekel, professor at the Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work at Bar-Ilan University, and former head of the school, serves as the Academic Head of the International School. She is the winner of the I-CORE: Israeli Centers of Research Excellence, in the area of mass trauma. Rachel is world-renowned, known for her research on the effects of traumatic events on family relations. Currently, she is the Director of the Family Trauma Clinic at Bar-Ilan University that provides training and conjoint intervention for couples in which one of them suffers from post trauma symptoms.
Academic Head

Merav Gilad — Merav Gilad
Merav Gilad joined the International School from The Center for Designated Programs at Bar-Ilan University. She serves as the Director of International Student Services and Affairs, making sure that all students receive the support and service needed.
Director International Student Services & Affairs

Daniel Schuval, MSW — Daniel Schuval, MSW
Daniel has been an integral member of the International School at Bar-Ilan University since before the school was officially formed. Today, Daniel heads up international relations and partnerships with universities in the EU and around the globe. He initiates and provides support for the formal establishment of academic partnerships, projects, and programs with foreign institutions and relevant organizations or institutes. Daniel also represents the university at relevant international conferences, forums, and government meetings related to internationalization.
Director Academic Partnerships and Projects, Erasmus+ ICM Coordinator

Yael Toledano — Yael Toledano
Yael joined the Bar-Ilan University team after many years of professional activity with olim chadashim and other immigrants to Israel. Yael herself immigrated to Israel from France, studied for her BA in Jerusalem, and has a master's degree in public policy from Tel Aviv University. Until September 2018, Yael founded and managed an immigration network from Western Europe and created innovative models for absorption, education, and employment in Israel. Currently, she is responsible for academic visits between Bar-Ilan University and foreign institutions.
Director Academic Visits

Rabbi Ari Kahn — Rabbi Ari Kahn
Rabbi Ari Kahn is the Director of Foreign Student Programs at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, where he also is a senior lecturer in Jewish studies. Rabbi Kahn received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University, where he studied with Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. He also holds a BA in psychology and an MS in Talmud.Rabbi Kahn is a renowned speaker, and has lectured worldwide. Having authored hundreds of articles on the weekly parsha with a readership in excess of 10,000, Rabbi Kahn is also the author of “Explorations,” an in-depth analysis of the weekly Torah reading, “Emanations,” an in-depth analysis of the Jewish holidays, and “Echoes of Eden,” a projected 5-volume set of parsha analysis. Rabbi Kahn combines the mystical explorations of kabbala and chassidism with a highly-intellectual and broad-minded approach to Torah study, incorporating psychology, literature and Jewish history into his observations as well. He has lived in Israel since 1984 with his wife Naomi and 5 children.
Director IX Gap year Program - International School

Ayelet Gerling — Ayelet Gerling

Coordinator International School

Solange Offner — Solange Offner
Born in Belgium, Solange made Aliyah just after high school to study at Bar-Ilan University. Since 1991, she has been working with new immigrants and tourists who study at BIU. Students from a wide variety of backgrounds can feel comfortable speaking to Solange as she is fluent in Hebrew, English, French, Dutch, German, Flemish, and Yiddish! Solange meets with hundreds of applicants, and their families, every year. She is responsible for the application and acceptance process for BA students studying in Hebrew and coordinates between the applications and the various departments, while remaining “in the loop” throughout the students’ entire degree.
Coordinator Hebrew BA

Alyta Pitaru — Alyta Pitaru
Mrs. Alyta Pitaru, Director of Administration, was born in Petach Tikva Israel, raised in an English speaking household by parents who emigrated from England. She did her national service as a Coordinator of a Bnei Akiva branch in Moshav Netzer Hazahi in Gush Katif. She attended Bar Ilan University earning a BA in Land of Israel Studies and Jewish History. Alyta has been the director of administration for overseas students at Bar Ilan University since 1997.
Director of Administration for IX gap year program

Hava Barak-Yochalis — Hava Barak-Yochalis
Hava Barak-Yochalis has been working at Bar-Ilan University ever since starting her BA in management at Bar-Ilan, seventeen years ago. For the past ten years she worked at Shema (student service and information), having been an active partner in its founding. Hava is currently the coordinator of short term and exchange student programs.
Coordinator Short Term and Exchange Student Programs

Dalia Harats — Dalia Harats
Dalia Harats was born in Switzerland and made Aliyah just after high school. Dalia has a BA in business administration and marketing. After working at the Europe Desk in the Global Resource Development Operations Department at Bar-Ilan University, Dalia joined the International School team. Currently, Dalia is responsible for marketing and recruitment of international students from all over the world.
Deputy Director of Marketing and Recruitment

Anabella Jaroslavsky — Anabella Jaroslavsky
Anabella is currently the coordinating of educational programs in Central America for the World Zionist Organization. She Is also the President of the Latin American Department of the Maccabi World Union (Israel), Former Executive Director of Hebraica Jewish Community Center in Caracas-Venezuela. (1993-2018) Former Director of CLAM (Latin American Maccabi Confederation) (2008-2015) Director of Hatzad Hasheni Public Diplomacy Institution since 2010 She is an Organizational consultant for Jewish communities, dedicated to the design, management, development, and fundraising for educational and socio-cultural projects. Specialist in the training of teams of volunteers and professionals.
Educational Programs Coordinator in Central America for the World Zionist Organization

Ahlam Ibrahim — Ahlam Ibrahim
Ahlam has a bachelor’s degree in English literature and Latin studies and a master’s degree in English literature and education from the Hebrew University. Before joining the Bar-Ilan University team, she has worked at NYU Tel-Aviv and the Israeli Center for Excellence through Education. Ahlam is the coordinator for advanced degrees and scholarships.
Advanced Degrees and Scholarships Coordinator

Eldad Shetrit — Eldad Shetrit
Born in Haifa, Eldad lived in Minnesota as a young child. Eldad continued his “American connection” by attending Ramah Wisconsin every summer until joining the army as a sniper in Golani. His BA (social sciences) and MA (political communication) are from Bar-Ilan University. Eldad has worked as a writer for the Knesset, and in advertising agencies He is also a bilingual stand-up comedian.
Social Media Manager

Shaindy Davidson — Shaindy Davidson
Shaindy Davidson grew up in New Jersey and made Aliyah after high school. She is in her final year of her BA in Political Science and Communication. Shaindy joined the International School as a logistics coordinator in the Office of Academic Relations where she organized and executed visits of academics and diplomats from abroad in order to further collaborations between international universities and Bar-Ilan. She is currently responsible for the events, programming and welfare of the international students.
Coordinator of Student Affairs & Well-being

Ophira Link — Ophira Link
Ophira grew up in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and moved to Israel three years ago. She is a third year student in economics and business administration. Before studying, she did Sherut Leumi at the International Relations department at Yad Vashem. Ophira joined the International School where she is coordinating visits of academics and diplomats from abroad.
Visits Coordinator of Academics and Diplomats From Abroad

Adi Levi Perach — Adi Levi Perach
Adi Levi Perach began working at the International School in 2019 as an international student coordinator in the visa and dormitory areas. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, and a Master's degree in Technology and Learning. She served in the IDF as a soldier teacher for new immigrant Ulpan students. Adi would be happy to assist any international student regarding the issuing of student visas or housing matters for foreign students at Bar-Ilan University.
Coordinator Visa & Dorms

Devorah Haber — Devorah Haber
Devorah (Debi) grew up in São Paulo,Brazil and moved to Israel four years ago. Devorah is currently a third year student in Political Science and Sociology, and prior to that she attended the Mechina Program at BIU. Devorah is a student ambassador who helps new students when arriving at BIU. Devorah works within our Marketing and is involved with student recruitment in Latin America. Devorah also guides various groups of visitors that come to BIU.
Marketing & Recruitment

Miriam Blum — Miriam Blum
Miriam Blum is a third year student in political science and communications. She grew up in Manhattan and moved to Israel four years ago. Miriam is a student ambassador actively involved in academic visits of new students, providing them with the information they need when first arriving at Bar-Ilan University. Miriam is also involved with other various groups of visitors coming to BIU such as, administrators and representatives from universities abroad. She also assists the student services office of the International School with getting full and immediate help to international students on campus.
Marketing & Recruitment

Chana Pollock — Chana Pollock
Chana grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and moved to Israel five years ago. She is a second year student in Economics and Business Administration. Before studying, she came to Israel on the Na’ale Program for High School. She then did Sherut Leumi in Bikur Cholim Hospital in Jerusalem. Chana assists in the application process of foreign students looking to study in Hebrew.
Student Services

Sharon Maidanchik — Sharon Maidanchik
Sharon Maidanchik is a first year master’s degree student in linguistics. He works on the Erasmus+ project, helping out with both incoming students from all over the European Union as well as outgoing students from Bar-Ilan University. Sharon also assists the student services office of the International School with getting immediate help to international students both on campus and abroad.
Academic Partnerships

Shira Gafni — Shira Gafni
Shira joins Bar-Ilan University with vast experience in global marketing and business development from the fields of higher education, high-tech and healthcare. She has held key functions within higher education in the US, involving the marketing and recruitment of graduate programs and in the establishing and developing of institutional partnerships towards online programs. In her capacities in high-tech and healthcare, she led marketing and business development teams focused on global initiatives. Shira holds a BSc in business marketing from Arizona State University and an MSc In business management from Boston University.
Global Engagement, West Coast and North America Head

Dr. Dorith Raviv Shay — Dr. Dorith Raviv Shay
Dr. Dorith Raviv Shay is a lab manager at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine at Bar Ilan University and serves as the BIU International representative at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, located in the north of Israel. She has been working with International graduate students for the past 5 years, and joined the International School after having identified the needs of international PhD students in the faculty. Dorith holds a PhD in Molecular Genetics and lives in the north of Israel with her family. Currently Dorith is involved in all aspects of International students in the northern faculty, from recruitment to graduation.
Representative at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine