Orot Co-foiunder, Orot Healing Retreat co-chair

Karin Hepner is the co-founder and Board member of Irvine Hebrew Day School (est. 2014), a Jewish day school in California founded on principles of social emotional development and growth. Karin received her doctorate in Molecular Biology from UCLA where her research focused on genetic targets for cancer therapy. Karin has demonstrated extensive commitment to building Jewish community and activating others to join her in supporting important communal causes. Karin is a co-founder of Orot which is committed to serving victims of October 7, and those living with trauma in Israel since October 7. Originally from New York, Karin is raising 5 children (and one rescue dog) in Irvine, CA with her husband Absalom.

Orot Co-founder, Orot Healing Retreat co-chair

Rikki Hepner has over twenty years of experience working in the health industry with groups and individuals with disabilities. She works as a consultant broker for individuals receiving services through the state of New York. Rikki has decades of experience as an activist who advocates and organizes events for non-profit causes. Rikki lives in Manhattan, New York City, with her three children, her rescue dog and husband, Zachary.

Rabbi Yonah Bookstein is the founding rabbi of Pico Shul, Rabbi at Camp Neshama, and director of Shabbat Tent. Rabbi Yonah has worked with Jewish communities across the globe. During the 1990’s, as director of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation in Poland, he spearheaded efforts at Jewish community renewal. As a Campus Rabbi, he is credited with helping Jewish students launch successful Israel advocacy efforts on America’s most notoriously anti-Israel campuses in Southern California. The Forward has called Rabbi Yonah one of the “game changers” in American Jewish Life. He was named a Jewish Community Hero by the Jewish Federations of North America, and one of the Top Ten Jews in Social Media by NJOP. Rabbi Yonah is a former Fulbright Fellow, a graduate of Oxford University, Jagiellonian University in Krakow Poland, and The University of Oregon. Rabbi Yonah lives in Los Angeles, with his wife Rachel and their four children.

Limor owns and operates The Jewish Sanctuary Kfar Saba Urban Farm, a nonprofit. therapeutic rescue sanctuary. Limor rescues, rehabilitates and trains animals for AAT - animal-assisted therapy to give back to the special needs, the elderly, and trauma communities. Since October 7th the farm has been hosting the Nova Festival local community, holding space for them and allowing them a safe and secure environment for healing with therapeutic gatherings, providing therapy opportunities, emotional and family support, and a place for building new and happy memories.

Adi is an Israeli-American, born in South Africa to two diplomats, and raised in the Israeli village of Kochav Yair. Her professional and service journey began as a medic in the Israeli Navy. She received her law degree at Reichman University, and worked at the Israeli Ministry of Justice. Adi’s dedication to humanitarian causes led her to work with IsraAID, through which she participated in refugee service missions abroad. Adi’s love for travel and broader connection to the world led her to her work at Swelina.ltd. Adi is also a certified NLP master practitioner and a Watsu therapist. Adi is committed to making a positive impact on Israeli and Jewish communities through advocating for social change and providing healing.

Miriam Wolf is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). In a career spanning more than 30 years, Miriam has served as a program director, forensic interviewer, social worker and therapist. She specializes in the multidisciplinary response to child maltreatment and sexual assault and her practice includes training and curriculum development, coaching and mentoring forensic interviewers, program consultation and expert witnessing. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University, a Master’s degree in Special Education from Bank Street College, and a B.A. in Sociology from UCLA. An active member of the Jewish community, Miriam worked as a Yoetzet (Camper Care Advisor) at Camp Ramah in Ojai, CA for more than 20 summers and has served on the boards of Hausner Jewish Community Day School, Congregation Kol Emeth, Shalom Bayit and Camp Ramah of Northern California. Miriam lives in Palo Alto, CA, with her Israeli-American husband and 14-year-old rescue dog and has two grown children, one of whom lives in Israel.

Nachum is an internationally touring singer/songwriter, songleader, and performer. His live performances bring communities together. He travels to Jewish communities around the world creating an uplifting experience through music, song, and prayer, connecting body and soul. His new album “Nachum’s Songs”, Shirat Nachum, is a collection of songs expressing peace, spirit, unity, and prayer. Nachum wrote and recorded this album in many different countries including Toronto Canada, Jerusalem Israel, Los Angeles and New York. Collaborating with an eclectic group of musicians, producers, and engineers, the album combines soulful Jewish liturgy with a powerful modern sound. Nachum lives in Los Angeles with his wife Ariella, two children, and Golden Retriever, Bamba.

Amitai Klitsner has been a dedicated student in the context of movement for over 5 years. He had learned from renowned and dedicated teachers in 4 continents. As a teacher, he seeks to facilitate his students as they explore themes like balance, rhythm, conditioning, coordination, mobility, proprioception, and more. While he believes deeply that movement has the ability to heal and nourish, it can be daunting to figure out where to begin or what can be done. For this reason, he does his best to ensure that his students receive great tools to form a healthy, joyful, and sustainable movement practice with unique consideration to each individual so that they may feel empowered in their own bodies, and safe to share their journey with others and with their environment.

Ariel has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, corporate philanthropy, cause-related marketing, corporate governance, and fundraising. Notably, Ariel created National Homeless Youth Awareness Month alongside singer-songwriter Jewel and Virgin Mobile, Youth INC’s RBC Race for the Kids alongside RBC Bank, Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walks with Pallotta Teamworks, and Volunteers in Medicine with Johnson & Johnson. She currently works as the Head of US Philanthropy for Food for Education. Ariel has an MBA from Notre Dame and lives in NYC with her husband and three sons.