Bios
Wendy Keter, Director Emerita, Raphael Recanati International School, Reichman University
Wendy made Aliyah from Philadelphia at age 18 and holds a B.A. in Political Science and Jewish Philosophy from Hebrew University and an MSW in Community Organization from Howard University. She has over 45 years of experience developing and directing social and communal programs in Israel, including work with young adult immigrants and a national women’s health initiative at the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Wendy previously served as Aliyah shlicha and Director of the Midwest Israel Aliyah Center and now continues in an advisory role at Reichman University, assisting with student recruitment in the U.S. and Europe.
Active in the Masorti Movement, Wendy serves on the board of Havurat Tel Aviv and chairs the education committee and Adraba program at the national level. She is married to Avi, has two children, and is a grandmother of five.
Marianella Kreiman, Director, Adraba
Marianella, originally from Colombia and formerly of Chile, made Aliyah with her family 18 years ago and now resides in Ra’anana, Israel. She is married to Alejandro and has two daughters, Susan and Amanda.
A special education teacher by training, Marianella has extensive experience in Jewish community work, including youth coordination and Bar/Bat Mitzvah education. She combines her passions for working with children with disabilities and preparing young people for Bar and Bat Mitzvah through her role as Director of the Adraba Program, recognized internationally.
Marianella was also part of the team that created the accessible siddur Bechol Drachecha, with a second edition coming soon.
Dr. Gila Vogel, Co-Founder, Adraba
Dr. Vogel grew up in New York and holds a BA in Psychology from Barnard College, an MS in Special Education from Ferkauf Graduate School of Education, a BHL from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Haifa University. She directed the Tikvah Program at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, served as Director of Special Education in Southern New Jersey, and was a senior lecturer at Beit Berl College in Israel.
Gila is a co-founder of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program for Children with Disabilities (Adraba) and has been active in the program for over 30 years. She also contributed to the accessible siddur Bechol Drachecha and co-founded the Kol Kore website, featuring Haftarot recordings and Torah teaching resources.
Gila and her husband, Rabbi Dov Vogel, are active in Hod V’Hadar Masorti Synagogue in Kfar Saba and are proud grandparents of nine.
