Our Team

I am Sara Shadmi-Wortman, known as Sarale. I am the Co-Founder and CEO of The Varda International Institute for Community Building.

I devote my professional life to helping groups and individuals live meaningfully by joining together, bringing their talents and uniqueness, and creating strong, vibrant communities that can address shared challenges. Based on my experience building a new kibbutz in Israel, leading the young Kibbutzim movement, and being a member of an educators group that established an educational center for Jewish education (HaMisrasha), I developed a new approach to strengthening communities. This approach is based on creating a culture of belonging through Community Building, and today, it is successfully implemented worldwide.

During the past 30 years as a faculty member of Oranim, the Academic College of Education of the Kibbutz Movement, I developed a Community Building BA and an MA degree program. During that time, I also co-founded SHDEMOT, Oranim’s field department dedicated to leading processes of Community Building in urban, rural, and peripheral regions in Israel, impacting national policy for the Israel Association for Community Centers.
Previously I established and directed a teacher training program-HOTAM and served as the Northern Regional Director of the Ministry of Education, overseeing the activities of 600 schools.

I hold a BA in Sociology and Political Science, MA in Political Communication, and a Ph.D. in Community Work and Education from Tel-Aviv university. I published two books and multiple articles. I am a graduate of the 4th cohort of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership, the 7th cohort of the Maoz National Leadership Program, the Encounter Program, and a board member of the IACS.

I am married with four children and live in Moshav Nahalal, in Northern Israel.

I am Varda Rabin. I am a Co-Founder of The Varda International Institute for Community Building.

I was born in Israel and moved to the US in 1966 where I received a degree at Berkeley. I practiced as an MFC for many years and helped to found the California Graduate School of Family Therapy. I have always incorporated mind-body connection in my work and in my life.

I am a believer in activism and the power of lay leaders to initiate change in any organization. I embrace my Jewish values. I have been active on many boards. While organizing a mission to Israel in honor of my late husband Irving Rabin, I met Dr. Sarale Shadmi Wortman and we bonded over the power of community building. I founded the Varda Institute with the hope to bring Community Building to the world.  Culture of Belonging is a powerful tool that changes any group for the better.

I am a mother of four wonderful children and a grandmother of eleven.  I love to be with my family, celebrate Shabbat and all Jewish Holidays, travel, make jewelry, hike, read and go to concerts.

I am passionate about building communities.

I bring two decades of experience building community in the US and Israel to my current role, where I spearhead Varda Institute’s efforts to build cultures of belonging in organizations globally, working closely with both our organizations and consultants.

I am an organizational consultant by profession, holding a private practice working primarily with the tech industry.

I hold an MBA, and I’m a certified group facilitator. I am a graduate of the “Gvanim” program for Israeli leaders living abroad and a co-founder of “Shivat Gvanim” (Gvanim return) program in Israel.

I have lived in Europe, Israel, and the US. During the time in the US, I served on the Oshman JCC Steering Committee and as a board member at Wornick Jewish Day School. I am the dreamer and founder of “Kol Banot,” a community-wide mother-daughter Bat Mitzvah Journey. I love the outdoors, planning new adventures, and just hanging out with family, friends, and my spoiled dog.

I’m excited to be able to share my passion for developing creative processes, bringing people together, forming and advancing resilient communities where every voice is seen and heard; where people feel they belong.

I believe in people’s power to improve our world and try to practice it in my personal and professional life. Born and raised in Jerusalem, I served for 13 years in executive positions in the Israeli public sector. Relocating to America 20 years ago, I searched for alternative paths for social impact while looking for a place to call my second home.
Since then, I have built communities and developed frameworks connecting Israelis and World Jewry.

I directed the G’vanim Leadership program at the OFJCC in Palo Alto, later expanding it nationally as Director of engagement at the IAC (Israeli American Council), leading the organization’s community-building strategy and strengthening Israeli – American communities in North America. I also co-found ‘Belong,’ a collective impact initiative aiming to deepen connections of Jews in Israel and worldwide.

Currently, I am fortunate to combine my passion for Jewish Peoplehood and Community Building in two roles, complementing one another in a strategic partnership:

At the ‘Varda institute’ as Head of Content Development, and with ‘Hakhel,’ the Jewish Intentional Communities Incubator, as Director of Programming, overseeing the strategy and the work with 140 communities worldwide.

I hold a BA in Political Science and MA in Public Policy and Management from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

I live with my family in NJ, spending weeks in Israel with our extended family, friends, and colleagues, enjoying everything both our homes can offer.

Hi, I am Asaf.

For many years I have been working in both the business and social worlds and aiming to combine them, driven by my belief that the social world needs professionalism, no less than the business world, to fulfill itself.

In the Israeli Association of Community Centers (IACC), I was the Director of entrepreneurship and innovation, creating technological spaces and solutions. As a senior support solution expert and support project manager at SAP, I also managed lab activities for the community. I served as a vice president of education for the Aharai! (Follow Me!) leadership development organization, and I am currently a staff member at Mandel Leadership Institute in the Mandel Youth leadership program.

I have seen and been part of many complex community processes. I understand how crucial it is to be professionally supported and guided in raising a sense of belonging, meaning, and commitment of all members and stakeholders to succeed. That is why I joined the Varda Institute team.

I hold a BA degree in Industrial Engineering (Information Technology) from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and a MA degree in educational leadership from Oranim Academic College of Education.

I love to travel in Israel and the world. The first place I go to in any new city is the food market, where you can see everything.

Hi, I’m Adi and I live in Jerusalem, Israel.

My BA is in Criminology and Islam and Middle Eastern Studies. I have learned the importance of community from my family’s many moves and travels around the world as part of my parents work for the Israeli consulate. A community, through work, a synagogue, the consulate and more, gave us a sense of home and security in places where the culture and language were initially foreign to us.

As part of Varda institutes team and community, I serve as the Administrative and Operations Coordinator, and am an email away for any question or inquiry, in effort to bring our dream of thriving communities everywhere.

In addition to this work, I try to bring out my inner self and self expression on paper or canvas, with watercolor, oil paints or any other medium I can get my hands on. The world has infinite details, each one is an inspiration, and I can’t wait to see and explore them all.

I am Tali. I live with my family in Haniel, a moshav in the center of Israel.

I joined the Varda Institute a year ago, accompanying the senior management of the Edmond de Rothschild Center in establishing a sustainable alumni network for its art and design program. Alongside being a consultant on the Varda Institute team, leading Culture of Belonging processes, I lead the implementation of an innovative educational project called The Holistic Educational Space, part of the formal education system in the local Regional Council. This project operates in approximately 50 schools nationwide. The program’s core goal is- connecting the dots- engaging people together so that every child will fulfill their potential.

In the past, I held senior management and coordination roles at Mechinot (The Joint Council of Pre-Military Leadership Academies). There, I led community-building initiatives, supported the young-adults leadership development program, and contributed to reducing socio-geographic gaps.

I have guided multi-sectoral and nationwide projects for diverse populations, including disadvantaged youth, Ethiopians, girls and women, seniors, and more. Ever since my year of service at Rabin pre-military academy, I have been motivated to create social impact intending to promote a more united, egalitarian, and inclusive society in everything I do.

I was born in Wales and grew up in Jerusalem. After completing my studies in sociology and anthropology, I volunteered for the Jewish social justice organization “Tevel” in Nepal and ended up spending over two years living and working there. I worked with local communities, practicing and researching participatory community development models in multi-cultural settings. It was a life-changing experience and inspired me to return to Israel to participate in the first cohort of the Glocal Community Development MA program at Hebrew University. Upon completion, I continued working in various international and local community-centered organizations in South East Asia, East Africa, and Central America.

After a decade of fascinating international work, I decided it was time to deepen my involvement in the local social-community context back home in Israel. I joined Dr. Sarale Shadmi designing and training teams in community building at the ICCA.

Today I am an organizational consultant specializing in multi-cultural settings, creating and implementing participatory models across various sectors. I love meeting different people and listening to their stories.

I live in Zichron Yaacov with my wife and son, adore the beach, and enjoy making fancy patisserie in my free time.

Hi I am Michal.

In the last ten years, I’ve worked with different communities in Nepal, Haiti, Burundi, Zambia, and Israel. I was lucky to feel how a strong sense of community helps every attempt to change lives become more sustainable.

Through my work, I’ve experienced healing from loneliness and separation. It inspires me to belong to a community with my family and continue this healing work through healthy togetherness. I am also a DJ, screenwriter and director.

I am Naama and I am from Jerusalem, Israel.

Being “a Jerusalemite” is an important part of my identity and guides my professional choices. I studied public policy (MA) and seeing as at the time many young people my age were leaving Jerusalem, I became involved in young adult initiatives and projects, I wanted the city to become more attractive for people like me.

I was appointed Director of the Students Union at the Hebrew University, and later coordinated a project that aimed to develop Jerusalem’s neighborhoods as a place that attracts young families. During this time, I met Dr. Sara Shadmi. Dr. Shadmi who taught how to build community in the neighborhoods. I was amazed and inspired by the theory and applied the learnings to my work. Later, I managed a community center in a central Jerusalem neighborhood for 6 years. As a consultant at the Varda Institute, I continue to practice the community building principles and apply the framework.

I enjoy leading processes with organizations from all over the world, seeing people come together and build community. I am a mother to 2 young lovely girls, who teach me new lessons every day, and a co-chair on the board of “15 Minutes – the public transportation users organization”.

I am a community social worker and a union organizer. In recent years I have been working as the head of the transportation branch in the trade union ‘Koach LaOvdim’ (Power to the Workers), which is a democratic Workers’ Organization in Israel.

Communities in all their forms fascinate me, and my passion is to accompany communities and assist them in their strategic processes. I hold a BA in Community Social Work and Political Science and an MA in Non-profit Management; both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. My thesis was about organizing female workers as a tool for social change.

In my free time, I coach community social work students, and together with women from around Jerusalem, I founded “Zaza – A Women’s Sports Community”, where I serve on the board.

I live in Jerusalem with my wife. When not being an activist, I love hiking and am a big fan of the Hapoel Jerusalem soccer team.

Throughout my career I have worked to create a Jewish community that is inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to all. I believe that each person has something meaningful to learn from others and has something significant to contribute; when we create environments that facilitate that exchange, our entire community will thrive.

I live in the Boston area where I served as CEO of Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh and Education center for more than a decade, having grown the organization’s reach and impact significantly during my tenure.

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work (Macro Practice) from Skidmore College and Boston University respectively, I also participated in DeLeT (Day School Leadership through Teaching) at Brandeis University, learned at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, the fifth cohort of Schusterman Fellows, and was named one of the 18 most influential young adults in Boston by Combined Jewish Philanthropies.

You can find me online leading the Mental Health in the Jewish Community Facebook group and through my blog, “ There’s no I in Uterus,” that tracks my journey as gestational carrier. I enjoy knitting, cooking, creating homemade Purim costumes, and live with my husband, Jamie, and our three children.

I thrive on creating mutually rich cross-collaborations and supporting global Jewry, and I believe in the power of being in deep relationship with others in order to create effective impact. I am a senior program professional with a background in communications, client management, and organizational development. My work experience spans the secular and the Jewish world. In the past I have worked for Hazon, Office of Innovation, American Express, and Forbes. Currently I work as a consultant for a number of organizations, including the Varda Institute and Hakhel: The Jewish Intentional Communities Incubator.

Additionally I am a writer and poet – and my writing is a commentary on harnessing the shared nature of the human experience to relate more substantively to each other and to day to day life. I hold a BA in English literature and Spanish from Northwestern University and an MA in Experiential Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Additionally, I received a graduate certification in Israel Education from the iCenter. I am a proud graduate of the inaugural cohort of the Adaptive Leadership Lab, funded by the Jewish Agency for Israel.

In my personal life, I am hooked on minimalism and letting go of that which does not serve my family and me. I am conversationally fluent in Spanish, forever trying to pick up more Hebrew, and an avid fanatic of all things Israeli culture. My family and I live in the Hudson Valley north of New York City.

I’m an archaeologist, although never liked to actually excavate. I enjoyed teaching archaeology and guiding at archaeological sites. I’ve worked for many years at the Israel Antiquities Authority in the education and community center. During these years I concluded that local communities are the key factor in heritage conservation. 10 years ago, I came to “Shdemot” (Center for Community Leadership) to learn how communities work. That is when I met Sarale, and immediately knew I found my professional home and one of my strongest passions. I became a community building consultant and R&D professional at Shdemot. Today I work as a lecturer and researcher at Oranim College for Education, in Community and Education Leadership Studies.

My personal vision is to connect between individuals and their environment. I believe that connecting with people is essential for one’s well-being, and affords long-term existence for them and for the environment in which they live and work. I strive to combine my professional work with my academic work, as I believe that groundwork challenges academic knowledge, and research promotes the groundwork.

I hold a B.A and an M.A in archaeology; and Ph.D. in Heritage Tourism Management.

I live in Shechanya, a community village in Northern Israel, with my partner Amitai and our children: Avishag, Eshkar and Uriah. I go out to nature whenever I can, and know the names of most of the wild flowers of Israel.

I am Reut, I live with my family in the communal settlement of Katzir. For the past 18 years, I have been engaged in education and teaching, guiding groups, developing training and content, leading change processes in the educational-social field and developing educational and community leadership among educators and society. Building a community is always one of the main goals and methods of operation in every area in which I operate. At Varda Institute I am a member of the development team and a partner in building the organization’s strategy, designing content processes and building models for training and leading change processes with communities and organizations. Together with my partners we are busy with the professional development of the team, improving and deepening the impact in the processes it leads and creating work tools and guidance that support them.

I strongly believe in the shared vision of the Varda Institute and the great need we have as a human society for connection and a common goal, cooperation and frameworks that will help us maintain this. The knowledge, tools and processes we promote invite our partners to deepen and expand, to observe from a new perspective the challenges before them and by raising the level of community to influence almost every component of them. In my opinion, it is appropriate for community building to be an organizing principle and an accompanying goal in any field where people are asked to act together.

Alongside my position at the Varda Institute, I serve as the academic director of the regional leadership program at the Mandel Foundation, trying to support the local community in the town I love so much, relaxing at sunset to the sound of the muezzin, and continuing to believe.

My motto in life is that strangers are future friends. I know what it feels like to be an outsider and how lonely it feels not to belong. That’s why my mission in life is to help people connect to themselves and to each other.

This is how I started building communities in 2008, with a social initiative, mobilizing people, and building a community around this mission. Since then, I have built many communities and guided the establishment of communities within organizations and various initiatives.

I am an entrepreneur, facilitator, and lecturer on the topics of communities, storytelling, personal branding, and connecting to your zone of genius. I specialize in the connections between communities to networks and technology.

I currently work at a startup in the field of communities for families in crisis. I managed communities for Common, a startup for social good. I managed the communities for Motke (the leading social network for people aged 50+) for four years. I am a co-founder of the ‘Playing with Fire’ community (30,000 members) and established ‘Ishava’ – my personal blog with 17,000 followers.

I am happily married and the proud mother of Daryah and Dolev.  I’m a tour guide, and a lover of traveling – both in Israel and around the world.

I always believed in the special force that’s created in the encounter between people, a quiet or verbal encounter, in movement or seated in a circle

While still in my BA I was curious about the concept of ‘community’, the conditions for it to flourish and the sense of meaning and belonging it creates for members.

During my time with Tevel b’Tzedek some of these questions found answers, while other questions emerged. I learned that for me, the beating heart of the community is where the children and those who meet with them daily are. After that experience I began Democratic Education studies.

After graduating I got the opportunity to return to Nepal with Tevel b’Tzedek to lead an international fellowship, focused on rural community building in  Nepal, a time which cemented my belief in the transformative power of a group working together for a shared purpose.

After coming back I’ve been practicing education in a similar spirit, working with a tight knit community of educators and learners in Siach, a dialogical school in Western Galilee.

I’m a believer in the power of togetherness to create a supportive vessel that provides joy and security to its members.

I love playing, wandering with my kids, creating with different materials, and dancing – mostly together.