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Olami Launch is a groundbreaking new division of the Global Olami Foundation. The Olami Launch Fellowship Program was created for students who demonstrate a strong desire during their high-school years to grow as individuals and to truly unlock their Jewish greatness. The fellowship program provides high-level leadership training and professional development, five-star retreats and a trip to Israel for all of our hand-picked fellows. Olami Launch provides informational assistance, guidance and significant financial assistance towards their higher education and Israel gap year experience. Our participants will serve as the premier ambassadors for like-minded Jewish high school students around the country.
Rabbi Menachem Deutsch grew up in Dallas, TX and was educated in yeshivas in Denver, New York and Israel. He received his rabbinical ordination from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, MD. In 1987, he founded ASK (the Atlanta Scholars Kollel), an outreach organization that he led for over two decades. He left ASK in 2010 to become the director of Olami’s North American region and subsequently served as Olami’s CEO for 6 years. Sensing the enormous potential of outreach to teens, he recently stepped down from that role in order to found Olami Launch, the Olami division focused on teens. He and his wife Dena live in Atlanta, GA and they wonder why none of their children or grandchildren live there.
Over the last two decades, Rabbi Yehuda Maryles has become a well-known educator and outreach professional. Yehuda has his Semicha from Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried of DATA Kollel, a degree in Psychology, and an associates in Jewish Law. Yehuda used his musical talents producing JEP LI’s hit Jewish album “I’m A Jew” in 2008. As North American Director of Olami Launch, Yehuda’s energy, creativity, and passion for Torah Education, are clearly evident in all of his work.
Rabbi Avi Weber has been deeply involved in the world of High School Jewish education for the past 15 years. Rabbi Weber has held numerous positions including Rabbi and Director of Israel Guidance at DRS Yeshiva Highschool, Teen Youth Director at the Young Israel of Woodmere and the Director of the Teen program in Camp Kaylie. Rabbi Weber’s passion for creative curriculum and teen leadership development is what drives his involvement in the exciting Olami Launch program.
Mrs. Rachelli Krongold lives with her husband and children in Toronto Canada. She is the Gap Year Specialist for NCSY Canada and works alongside her husband with NCSY Alumni providing education, trips and programming.
Meira Spivak is the director of Oregon NCSY, where over the past 16 years she has been developing Jewish educational programming for teens and parents. Additionally, she serves as the director of Camp Kesher, a growing summer camp in the Pacific Northwest. Meira helps companies solve strategic problems through her Results Driven Innovation workshops. Using the Systematic Inventive Thinking (SIT) method of creativity, Meira can teach anyone how to innovate on demand – after all, creativity is a skill that can be learned. In her past life, Meira was a caterer, aerobics instructor and owned a gift basket business. As a mother of a large family, Meira understands the stresses of everyday life and when she’s not busy stressing from them, she’s laughing at them.
Danielle Sudwerts has been an educator for 20 years. She has specialized in Jewish outreach and at risk youth. She is the owner of a dance and fitness studio and has founded Nafsheinu Seminary for Girls. She is currently serving as the Gap Year Specialist for NY NCSY and Olami Launch, a coach for the Seriously Souled program and a Senior Guide for Oorah’s Girl Zone. Danielle lives with her husband and children in Far Rockaway, NY.
2021 Olami is a 501c3 registered non-profit charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible in the United States.
Thursday October 27th - Sunday October 30th
Thursday February 16th - Tuesday February 21st
The Olami Launch Fellowship Program is an unprecedented opportunity for outstanding high-school students. The fellowship will consist of 40 young men and 40 young women who have demonstrated an exceptional level of dedication to their Jewish growth and/or have assumed leadership roles in their local Jewish youth groups. Olami Launch Fellows will be provided with real leadership training and expert professional development, a five-star destination retreat, a trip to Israel, and up to $5,000 in tuition scholarships towards college and Israel Gap Year programs.
All Fellows will be awarded a $1,000 tuition scholarship towards the college of their choice. Fellows will also receive an additional $4,000 towards select Gap Year programs in Israel and may be eligible for significant additional scholarship awards as well.
For Men:
For Women:
Olami Launch is not a youth group, it’s an elite group of driven individuals assisting each other to build a strong portfolio for their future. Joining this group enables you to make thoughtful decisions about your future, with like-minded peers who are on that same road leading to affluence inside and out! This prestigious network of model students who embody young Jewish leadership will be privy to professional, educational, spiritual and financial opportunities unlike ever before.
For the current school year of 2022-2023, Jewish high-school students in 12th grade may apply for the Olami Launch Fellowship.
All applications must be submitted through the Olami Launch website. Please go to www.OlamiLaunch.org for all information and applications.
All application must be submitted by September 1st, 2022.
This year’s Olami Launch Fellowship will officially kick off September 15th 2022.
