Efrat Shechter,
Resilience workshop for individual and group development
Efrat is a social worker, organizational consultant and director of education. She holds a BA in social work and an MA in public policy – both from Tel Aviv University. In recent years she has been managing the “Clalit” Health Services Leadership School. In the mechina, Efrat conducts “Resilience”- a workshop for individual and group development.
“I see the mechina year as an important, significant and character shaping experience for students and it is a great privilege for me to be a partner on their journey. I have been part of the mechina since day one and am connected to our graduates to this day.”
Amnon Arbel,
Politics
Amnon holds a BA and a teaching certificate in general history from the Oranim College and an MA in Jewish history from the University of Haifa. For most of his life he has worked in the formal and non-formal education systems: teaching in schools, in PPMPs and in programs for military graduates. Amnon has been teaching at the mechina since day one.
“The encounter with young people who are caring, curious, motivated for social action and open to opinions and ideas, expands the heart and creates an optimism regarding the future image of Israeli society.”
Michal Schuster Flancia,
Hebrew poetry and literature
Michal holds a BA in democratic education and in teaching literature and history from the Kibbutzim Seminar and the Institute for Democratic Education, and is a teacher of movement improvisation. Along with teaching at the mechina, Michal manages two schools as part of the “Derech Ruach” organization; to which elementary and high school students come to study humanities.
“Teaching at Be’eri allows me to stretch the boundaries of the literary world as the students know it from high school, while at the same time operating within a literary, cultural-social-political and emotional research laboratory”.
Michael Keren,
Gender and Sexuality
Michael is a holistic therapist, relationship instructor and teacher and facilitator of men’s circles. He accompanies educational teams on gender, sexuality and masculinity.
“For me, teaching at Be’eri is to join a family that feels natural for me to belong to, because it’s based on openness, sincerity and connection at eye level between the staff and the students”.
Effi holds a PhD in gender studies from Bar Ilan University. He prepares students for their matriculation exams in citizenship, history, gender and literature, through the “Ankuri” schools, and supervises students doing their masters at the Open University. The learning process in the mechina is a rich and compelling ground for Effi to examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it’s complexity and the various consequences it entails.
“Each year I look forward to the shared learning experience, to the student’s challenging questions, attempting to crack the complexity of the conflict, and hopefully find a common solution in the future.”
Meitav Dagan,
Current Affairs
Meitav holds a BA in international relations from the School of Economics and Government in London (LSE), a BA in law from Tel Aviv University, and an MA in public policy from IDC Herzelya. He currently works as an attorney at the State Attorney’s Office and has served as a lecturer at the “Bnei Zion” mechina in Tel Aviv.
At Be’eri, Dagan teaches current affairs. His goal is to challenge the students intellectually and ethically in relation to the core issues that are on the agenda in Israeli society, to provoke them to be involved and take meaningful action in the future.
“The mechina is a magical place that allows for a pure study experience, without grades and formal duties, thus creating authentic dialogue between students and teacher, sparking fascinating discussions, enabling reevaluation of opinions and acquiring meaningful knowledge that often continues to motivate them later in life”.
Guy Pade,
Society and Economics
Guy lectures on political science, history and philosophy at the Open University, and on economics, society and Israeli society in PPMPs across the country. He has been active in various social organizations over the years, and is currently a research fellow at the Berl Katzenelson Foundation.
“In the Jewish world there was the concept of a “Community Preacher” and a “Traveling Preacher.” The first had a permanent community before which he would demand and Preach Torah. The later, on the other hand, did not have a permanent community, he wandered between communities and spread his sermons and gospel to an ever-changing audience. In this spirit, I like to call myself a Traveling Preacher. I rotate between mechinot and challenge my audience with questions of justice, organization, philosophy and politics, where we came from and where we are going.”
Shai Wolheim,
Jewish Thought
A BA of law and social work from the Hebrew University, Shai works in various fields, specializing in criminal law, working with children and engaging in group facilitation. As part of the mechina courses, Shai teaches a series of lessons in Jewish thought.
“For me, the encounter with mechina students means embarking on a joint journey in the history of our people – we will read, learn, argue and get to know the various “shelves” in the Jewish bookcase from an objective outlook”.
Five fingers /
physical training
Five Fingers is the educational sports organization in charge of all physical training at the mechina. Working among diverse sectors of society, the organization implements a unique method connecting the body and the mind, harnessing the skills and values needed to face the challenges of the modern age.
Collaboration with Be’eri
Training with Five Fingers at the mechina includes developing work habits, building mental resilience and strengthening team and leadership skills. Over the course of a year, the Five Fingers work program integrates it’s physical and mental influences into the everyday routine of the students’ lives.
About the coaching team:
Lear Golan – Has been coaching in the program 3 years, leader of the field of women in the organization.
Lear is an undergraduate student of philosophy and gender at Tel Aviv University.
Dor Brenner -Has been coaching in the program for 5 years and holds a BA in psychology and political science from Bar Ilan University. Conducts collaborations with formal and informal educational bodies. This is the third year in which he has been managing the collaboration with Be’eri mechina.