Amit Yaniv-Zehavi on Aug. 25 officially became Israel emissary to Milwaukee and director of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Israel Center. She will hold the position for two years, with option for one more.
Yaniv-Zehavi, 46, was born in New York to Israeli parents and lived her first ten years in Westchester County before her family returned to Israel. She has an undergraduate degree in English literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a master’s degree in “group leadership through the arts” from the Boston-based Lesley College’s Israel branch in Netanya.
She comes to Milwaukee after seven years of working for the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Partnership2Gether program that links Israel communities with diaspora Jewish communities. With her are her husband, computer software engineer Doron Zehavi, and their three children, ages 15, 12 and 8. (See May Chronicle.)
Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle editor Leon Cohen spoke with her on Aug. 22. Selected and edited excerpts of that conversation follow:
Why did you decide you wanted to get into this kind of community relations work?
I’ve always liked to work with people. And I think because of my personal background of moving to Israel [from the United States], I was always looking for ways to keep both worlds alive… the connection of my American side and my Israeli side. And this [becoming an Israel emissary] is really something I’ve always wanted to do… So I’m very excited about this possibility.
One thing that I hope to do, and I think after meeting the community it looks like I will be able to do, is to bring Israel in an informal, personal and tangible way.
We come from a kibbutz, and … [Milwaukee] sort of acts like a big kibbutz; people are showing up with a meal, and driving you everywhere and being very ready to help. There’s a big sense of community…
So I hope to use myself and my family to create personal ties, and of course through events and programming, but also those things that happen off-line, like the friendships and conversations….
In terms of programming, I heard from the former emissaries a few ideas that I liked that I want to continue. For example, the “Cutting Edge Israel” film series [at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center]… There are lectures on different subjects. I already have two things booked for next month, with Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid. So I know the things that exist and I think, when I start working, I’ll realize how I can innovate on that.
I believe in using delegations and missions also as a tool. There’s a medical clown delegation coming soon… And I know that the P2G budget has a line called professional exchange.
Also my husband likes music, and maybe we’ll do some sing-alongs with him. And I hope to host a lot here.
Before I worked for the Jewish Agency, I had a recycled art center on the kibbutz. I actually packed a box of three-dimensional and two-dimensional art materials from Israel to maybe do collages here and mosaics. That can be fun. I can do stuff with teachers and maybe summer camp counselors and things like that also.
There will also be the standard things you have to do, like the community Israel Memorial Day and Independence Day events.
We already have a meeting on this [scheduled]. In Israel, I’m a little [different]. People [tell me], “You plan so far ahead! We don’t know what we’re doing in a month.” I think it’s because I grew up in New York… So I have a few American habits that I kept going in Israel. I know that will help me here.
Initially, he will be like the house mom, helping the kids get adjusted. And when his visa comes through, he’ll be looking for work.
Yes. My father is a film producer, and he does documentary films. I actually have a few films of his I might be able to show.
And my mother’s a botanist. She brought the subject of medicinal plants into Israel. It was pretty new then, when she brought that in. She lectures and teaches in universities.
Each one of the family knows that when they come visit, they’re going to be busy also doing a lecture or something for the community.
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