Orot Co-founder, 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 varying disabilities. She works as a consultant broker for individuals receiving services through the state of New York, advocating for families who are seeking necessary support for their children; she has developed therapeutic programs for children with physical disabilities, with the foundational belief that we all must tirelessly advocate for the needs of those we love. 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.

Leetal Caidar Benzvi, PhD, is an Expressive Arts Therapist specializing in trauma. As a speaker and lecturer, she has contributed her expertise at Haifa and Tel Aviv universities, as well as Rupin College, where she trains therapists and professionals in the use of the Expressive Arts Resilience Journal, an innovative tool designed for trauma work and to build resilience through the arts.

​Dr. Benzvi developed the Resilience Journal, a unique method that integrates intermodal art therapy, incorporating visual arts, movement, drama, and music. Her work spans across diverse populations, including children, youth, and adults, addressing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD.

Rabbi Yonah Bookstein is the founding rabbi of Pico Shul, Rabbi at 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.

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.

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.

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.

Clinical Psychologist, Director of the Ra’anana Clinic Center

Dr. Gil Levi is a clinical psychologist and holds a doctorate in psychology. He is the director of the Clinic Center in Ra’anana, where he provides therapy to children, adolescents, and adults in a private and welcoming setting. Dr. Levi specializes in treating specific and general anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, depression, eating disorders, behavioral issues, crises, difficulties in social skills, interpersonal relationship challenges, and other emotional difficulties.

Dr. Levi integrates several therapeutic approaches in his practice, including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and a variety of tools such as biofeedback, meditation, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and relaxation techniques.

Clinical Psychologist at Emek Medical Center and Psychedelic Researcher at Reichman University

Ronen Sidi is the founder and director of psychedelic research at Emek Medical Center, where he leads active studies on the effects of individual and group therapy combined with MDMA on military trauma and moral injury. He diagnoses and treats military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for the Rehabilitation Division of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and facilitates combat experience processing groups for veterans of elite military units.

Ronen’s therapeutic work focuses on integrating compassion-based and mindfulness approaches to treat military trauma. He is also conducting research at Reichman University on the impact of MDMA-assisted therapy on the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.

Sara Jacobovici, M.C.A.T., is a Creative Arts Psychotherapist living and working in Ra’anana, Israel. She has 39 years of experience in the health and mental health fields specializing in trauma. She owns Creative Arts Therapies Services registered with Israel’s Ministry of Defense.  Sara is an international speaker. She also supervises creative arts therapists and mental health practitioners.