This is our team!
Yael Levy
Teacher and curriculum developer
Hi, I'm Yael, it's great to meet you!
I am a Hebrew teacher and a music teacher with more than a decade of experience teaching Hebrew in Israeli communities across Europe.
I hold a B.Ed. and a teaching certificate (Levinsky College of Education in Tel Aviv), as well as a masters degree in composition (The Royal Conservatoire The Hague).
I was born and raised in Israel and currently live in Crete with my partner, Nikos, and our son, Yakinthos ("Yakinton" in Hebrew).
My path to teaching Hebrew stems from a deep love for both the Hebrew language and the teaching profession.
I love each and every one of my students, and I am delighted to see them progressing and enjoying themselves during our classes! 💜
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Matan Norany
Teacher and Mitzvah year program coordinator
I'm Matan Norany. I am married and a proud dog dad, and I currently live in Austria.
I hold a B.A. from Tel Aviv University, where I took part in the university's honors program, Ofakim, specializing in Jewish thought education. During my undergraduate studies, I completed two teaching certifications: one in Jewish philosophy and another in bible studies. During my studies I worked with the youth movements "Aharai!" and later with "Krembo Wings".
After completing my academic studies I taught for three years at Harishonim High School in Herzliya. At the end of my third year I was offered a position as an educational emissary on behalf of the World Zionist Organization in Ohio, USA. There, I taught Hebrew and Jewish Studies to students in grades 3-8 at a Jewish school. In addition, I held Sunday classes for members of the local Jewish community who wished to improve their Hebrew and expand their knowledge of Jewish culture. I also taught adult learners who wanted to learn Hebrew or improve their Hebrew. After spending three years in the United States, my wife and I relocated to Vienna, Austria.
Romina Braier Huino
Pedagogical consultant
My name is Romina Braier Huino. At the age of 18, I made aliyah to Israel from Argentina. I studied special education and worked at the Israeli Ministry of Education for 15 years. During my final years there I served as a special education specialist.
I hold a master's degree in learning disabilities, intervention and therapy program development. I have worked in various didactic assessment clinics and have further expanded my professional expertise through certification studies in parent guidance and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). My background and experience in education, combined with my expertise in therapy and parenting, provide me with a broad and solid foundation for all interventional arenas.
Recently my family and I relocated to Spain. For the past two years I have served as the coordinator of the Jewish school's psychoeducational team. I am currently the pedagogical consultant at Ivritli.
Inbal Gilad
School director
I'm Inbal Gilad, co-founder of Ivritli. I hold a bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate from The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Movement has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember. From a young age I trained at my mother's dance school and later became its director.
Teaching has always played an important part in my life. I believe that education is about much more than teaching a subject. Rather, it is also about guiding the students in their path. Creating space for each student's personal growth is at the heart of my educational approach. Together with a group of dedicated partners, I co-founded the Israeli community in Barcelona and established its educational center, which I was the director of. I am raising the greatest creation of my life, my son Noam, in a small village near Barcelona.
The challenge of providing an Israeli education and teaching Hebrew outside of Israel inspired me to establish Ivritli, alongside my partner-in-crime, Mila Dori. I am grateful every day for the optimism and positive outlook on life that I inherited from my parents, and I do my best to share that same energy with everyone around me.
Mila Dory
CEO
I am Mila Dori, co-founder of Ivritli. I was born in Russia and I made aliyah to Israel in 1995.
I have been living in Barcelona for more than 25 years. I hold a bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate in music education from the Catalonia College of Music (ESMUC), as well as a master's degree in management from the University of Barcelona. Throughout my career I have managed and led multidisciplinary projects. Over the years I came to realize that the most important project of my life has been the education of my two daughters, Alma and Eden.
One of the daily challenges I face regarding their education, as a parent of daughters who speak four native languages and are growing up outside of Israel, is helping them learn and maintain their Hebrew, with an emphasis on standard Hebrew, Israeli culture, familiarity with Jewish holidays, and a love for Israel. This challenge inspired me to create a solution for families who value the Hebrew language, and led me to establish Ivritli with my partner, Inbal Gilad.
I believe that the limits of our language are the limits of our world. Language is power!
Yoav Avidan
Teacher and teaching team coordinator
Hello, I’m Yoav Avidan. I was born in Jaffa and currently live in Barcelona with my wife, Noa, and our sweet daughter, Asia. I have been working in education for more than 15 years, in a variety of settings and with children of various ages, including a boarding school, youth centers, preschools, and an elementary school. I've recently published a children's book.
Before moving to Barcelona I was a homeroom teacher at an elementary school in south Tel Aviv for five years. I hold a bachelor's degree and a teaching certificate in literature from the Kibbutzim College, as well as a master's degree in educational administration and leadership from Tel Aviv University.
I also studied film and philosophy. I play the drums and the piano, and I can honestly say that I am a fairly happy person. I truly enjoy working with children and I learn a great deal from my interactions with them. I look forward to every Ivritli class and greatly enjoy the children's enthusiasm for learning and the positive atmosphere we create together.
Bringing together children from all over the world, united by a shared connection to the Hebrew language, always makes our lessons meaningful, and unique.
Neta David
Teacher and curriculum developer
My name is Neta. I am married to the talented Baruch and am a proud dog mom to two sweet dogs. I hold a bachelor's degree in special education and a teaching certificate (Levinsky College of Education in Tel Aviv).
I have been living in Portugal for the past two years, after spending nearly seven years in Germany.
Over the past decade I have taught language and art in a variety of educational settings and have worked with a wide range of communities. Being a teacher at Ivritli and making Hebrew learning accessible to children around the world is both a mission and a privilege for me.
I believe that enjoyable learning, which creates a positive experience for learners, is the best way to bring
both children and adults closer to our wonderful language and culture.
Ariela Sabag
Teacher
Hello, I’m Ariela Sabag, mother of 15-year-old Rotem. I was born and raised in kibbutz Ginosar in the Jordan valley, and from a young age I have been involved in both formal and informal education. I have many years of experience in the field of education. I hold a bachelor's degree in informal education and land of Israel studies, as well as a licensed tour guide certificate. In addition, I hold a master's degree in education and history and a teaching certificate. I served as an emissary for Habonim Dror in Germany for five years, during which I taught Hebrew at a college in Wiesbaden. Five years ago my family and I embarked on a two-year educational teaching mission in Budapest, Hungary.
For many years I have been a teacher and homeroom educator at our regional kibbutz school, Nofei Arbel.
My educational philosophy is deeply rooted in my childhood and adulthood experiences with the educational system of the kibbutz and the values on which it is built. Teaching languages in general, and Hebrew in particular, is a fascinating and inspiring endeavor that brings people together. I believe that meaningful, high-quality, diverse, and engaging learning grows out of love. I am delighted and excited to be part of the Ivritli team!
Reut Avishay Rizi
Teacher
I am a mother of three and have been living with my family in Barcelona for the past year. Education has always been an integral part of my life. I hold a bachelor's degree in education and land of Israel studies, as well as a master's degree in land of Israel studies, both from Ben-Gurion University. My master's thesis focused on the field of political education in Israel.
I earned my teaching certificate in the Hotam Naomi program, a collaborative initiative of Levinsky-Wingate college and Oranim College. Over the years, I have taught history and Hebrew, and today I specialize in teaching children Hebrew.
My love for the Hebrew language accompanies me in every class I teach. I see it as my mission to pass the language on to the next generation, and I am excited to meet new students each and every time.
Mor Kuperman Weiss
Teacher
Hello! I'm Mor, married and a proud dog mom of three dogs.
I was born and raised in Israel and moved to Greece several years ago.
I hold a bachelor's degree in special education and science, as well as a teaching certificate (Oranim College). I am also a graduate of the Educational Pioneer program offered by the Institute for Democratic Education (the Kibbutzim College).
I have always dreamt of teaching Hebrew. That dream began when I was sixteen, as a youth counselor, continued during my military service in the Education Corps, where I was a youth instructor, and later became part of my career in the education system.
I believe that learning takes place every moment of our lives, and I am delighted to be part of the wonderful project called Ivritli.
Meeting children from all over the world fills my heart with joy. Each child brings a unique color and light that makes our classes truly magical.
Ayelet Troper
Teacher
Hello, I’m Ayelet. It’s nice to meet you!
I hold a degree in Hebrew language and education from Ben-Gurion University, and I am certified in didactic assessment. I currently live in the United States with my wonderful family, who are the pride and joy of my life.
I discovered my passion for teaching while I was a student at a high school for gifted students and later went on to teach at a similar school. At one point, the school where I taught expanded to include students with a wider range of academic abilities. As a result, I had the privilege of working with students who genuinely needed a different kind of learning experience than the one typically offered in the traditional education system. This experience introduced me to a new and fascinating world, inspiring me to further specialize in the assessment of learning disabilities and the development of learning strategies. That specialization enabled me to provide my wonderful students, and myself, with more than twenty years of a successful, enriching, and deeply rewarding educational journey.
Today that journey continues with great joy in the United States, where I guide students of various ages along the path of the Hebrew language. Together, we explore the beauty, diversity and richness of Israeli culture in a learning experience filled with laughter and joy.
Inbal Levy Polliack
Teacher
I'm Inbal. I was born and raised in Israel and today I live in Portugal with my beloved family. Over the past few decades I have had the privilege of working in fields that are especially dear to me, in various combinations: languages, nature, and art. I worked with sweet and wonderful children in a magical forest kindergarten and learned a great deal from them. I also taught Hebrew as a foreign language to students at Ono Academic College and served as a first grade homeroom teacher at the Arab-Jewish school at Beit Berl. I had the privilege there of taking part in complex and enchanting conversations with children who began the school year without speaking a single word of Hebrew and ended it celebrating in two languages. They filled my days with light and smiles. I believe there is nothing more inspiring than children! I hold a bachelor's degree in photography from Bezalel, and I completed both the academic conversion program for art education at the Midrasha and the Hebrew as a foreign language teacher training program at Ono Academic College.
The Hebrew language fills me with excitement and joy. I feel truly fortunate to have the opportunity to make both the language and the creativity it inspires accessible to more children.
Osnat Meir
Teacher
My name is Osnat, it's nice to meet you!
I am Maarten's partner and the mother of Mia and Daan. I have been living in Amsterdam for the past 16 years.
I am a preschool teacher with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, and I have 25 years of experience working in educational settings in both Israel and the Netherlands.
In Israel, I worked as a preschool teacher in Ministry of Education preschools for about a decade. For the past 14 years, I have been teaching Hebrew as a second language, and I currently serve as both a preschool teacher and pedagogical leader at the educational center of the Amsterdam Jewish community.
Love, respect, and joy are at the heart of everything I do. Every day I choose to be a meaningful presence in children's lives – to truly see them, listen to them, and believe in them.
I deeply believe that "The great power of an educator lies in love" ❤️ (Pestalozzi).
Shikma Araky Cohen
Teacher
Hello! I'm Shikma Araky Cohen. I was born in Eilat and currently live in Miami ❤️. I studied education at Beit Hakerem College in Jerusalem. I hold a bachelor's degree in education with a specialization in special education. In Israel, I worked in a variety of schools and taught children of various ages. I developed my identity as an educator inspired by teachers I liked, but also by those I liked less. In other words – I wanted to become the kind of teacher who was different from the teachers I didn't like 🙂. I have been living in Florida for the past 19 years. Before joining Ivritli, I taught at two Jewish schools. I have been part of the Ivritli family from the very beginning! My daughter, Noam, is an Ivritli student, and we are both extremely happy with the experience!
Roy Nissim
Teacher
Hello everyone, I'm Roy.
I was born in Tel Aviv, and I teach Hebrew and Jewish culture. I studied philosophy and art history at university and later completed my Hebrew teaching studies at the Kibbutzim College and The Jewish Agency for Israel.
In 2012, I had the privilege of joining The Jewish Agency for Israel. In that role, I taught in several countries, including Russia, Romania, Mexico and Ecuador. During those years I met people from various cultures, and while teaching I also learned a great deal about the richness and diversity of our world. It was an especially meaningful experience for me.
Today I live in Ecuador with my wonderful wife and my three lovely daughters. We are fortunate to live in a magical place called Baños de Agua Santa, surrounded by nature, mountains, and waterfalls. We are happy to call this place home, while always remembering that our true home is in Israel.
I truly enjoy teaching at Ivritli and sharing with my students the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years. If there is one thing I have learned on my journey, it is that teaching should always be done with a smile and a warm, welcoming atmosphere – the rest will follow naturally.
Hila Cohen
Teacher
My name is Hila. I am married, a mother of three wonderful children, and I live in Israel. I enjoy traveling and dancing.
I hold a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, a teaching certificate with a specialization in special education and learning disabilities, and a master's degree in family studies with a specialization in family counseling. I have been working in education for more than 15 years, combining teaching with the training and mentoring of educational teams and parent guidance, while specializing in teaching children Hebrew, in Israel and around the world.
At Ivritli, every week I meet wonderful students from all around the world. Their curiosity, perseverance, and enthusiasm for learning inspire me time and time again and strengthen my sense of purpose as a teacher.
I believe in meaningful, experiential learning – learning that truly reaches the child, connects with their inner world, and opens a window to knowledge, self-expression, and success.
To me, the Hebrew language is much more than a means of communication – it is a cultural and personal bridge. I am grateful for the opportunity to accompany each child on their learning journey, step by step, through an approach that is personalized, engaging, and enriching.
Tally Melion
Teacher
Hello, I’m Tally!
I am a teacher and homeroom educator with five years of experience teaching in elementary schools in Israel, including Montessori classrooms. I hold a teaching certificate as well as academic degrees (BA, LLM, and MBA) and I believe in lifelong learning, for both myself and my students – guided by curiosity, joy, and a sense of purpose.
I love turning Hebrew class into an experience that feels like home: a place where children feel comfortable making mistakes, laughing, exploring and building confidence via small successes. I believe in active, engaging learning that incorporates games, movement, music and curiosity, alongside meaningful conversations that foster a sense of belonging and independence while respecting each child's individual pace.
A few months ago my family and I moved to Canada with our three children. Since then, I have been continually inspired by the way Hebrew connects children from all around the world.
Livnat Herzig Sheinfux
Language editor
I am Livnat, a language editor living in Israel. Language in general, and the Hebrew language in particular, has fascinated me ever since I was a child. I studied linguistics, psychology, and computational linguistics, and later also language editing. I became acquainted with Ivritli while living with my family in Spain for several years. Through my son, who was a student at Ivritli, I discovered just how much one can deepen one's knowledge of Hebrew even while living outside of Israel. For the past several years I have been the language editor of Ivritli's learning materials. In addition, I do language editing for books for children and adults, academic papers, and a wide variety of other types of texts.
Shirly Schwartz
Teacher
I'm Shirly. I am married, the mother of four children ranging in age from elementary school to university, and I live in Zikhron Ya'akov, Israel.
After many years in public service, I now teach children using a differentiated instruction approach that helps make language learning effective for each child according to their individual strengths and abilities. I have been involved in teaching and mentoring from a young age, including leading both in-person and online art workshops through my own studio.
I have a strong aptitude for languages and am a devoted language enthusiast, so I enjoy chatting with Ivritli students in the language of the country they live in whenever I can. I am also an avid music lover, and in every class my students are introduced to Israeli songs – either contemporary favorites or classics from my own wonderful childhood in Israel during the 1970s and 1980s.
I am a devoted admirer of the Hebrew language and I always strive to pass on its magic to the next generation.
Maya Roditi
Teacher
Hello, I’m Maya Roditi, it's nice to meet you!
I am a writer, social entrepreneur, director and theater teacher. Over the past year I have been living in northern Italy with my partner.
I studied theater directing and theater education at the Kibbutzim College. I have taught in numerous schools in both Arab and Jewish communities: in Jaffa, Tira, Jerusalem, Kafr Qasim and Be'er Ya'akov. I wrote and directed a play that was produced at the Acre Festival. I also founded Achshav zahav ("Gold now"), an initiative that connects schools, senior citizens and academia, and I am proud to say that it is now entering its fifth year.
I have loved the Hebrew language for as long as I can remember. My mother tells the story that it took me a little longer to learn how to read, but once I started, I never stopped! When I was eight years old, my father would come into my room at midnight and switch off my reading light so that I would finally stop reading and go to sleep. I have always loved wordplay and I delight in the treasures our Hebrew language has to offer – a whole world of culture, thoughts and emotions. I am thrilled to be part of the Ivritli team, I really enjoy it and I look forward to meeting my students and sharing the joy of learning with them every week.
Hadas Tesel
Teacher
My name is Hadas, and I have been living in Canada with my family for the past year. I am an experienced Hebrew language teacher, for speakers and non-speakers, and I hold a degree in creative early childhood education from the Kibbutzim College. I began my teaching career at The Arison Campus for the Arts in Tel Aviv, where I taught elementary school students Hebrew in a creative and supportive learning environment. Later, I served as a homeroom teacher at The Balfour School in Tel Aviv. In the years before moving to Canada, I taught special education at Tichon Hadash in Tel Aviv – a role that required sensitivity, inclusiveness, and a personalized approach to every student.
Beyond my formal teaching positions, I have always felt a deep connection to working with children and adolescents. As a young adult, I was a counselor at Bnei Arazim Center, where I worked with at-risk youth and with students from diverse and complex backgrounds. That experience strengthened my understanding that every child deserves individual attention, genuine listening, and patience.
I bring to my work as an educator extensive experience, professionalism, a flexible way of thinking and a genuine love for both the Hebrew language and education. To me, teaching is a calling, and every class is an opportunity to build a connection, inspire curiosity, and empower each child.
Mia Palevsky
Teacher
Hello, I’m Maya. I’m originally from the Galilee, and I currently live in Spain with my partner and our two children.
I studied History and Bible Education for secondary schools at Kibbutzim College and taught for about a decade in elementary schools, middle schools, and pre-military preparatory programs. I am currently pursuing a research-based master’s degree in Educational Management.
I enjoy traveling, hiking, cooking, and teaching. In my classes, I strive to incorporate games, riddles, songs, and stories so that children can be as active, engaged, and involved in the learning process as possible.
In addition, it is important to me to create a social and supportive group environment where children can learn from the life experiences of peers from around the world, while also feeling comfortable sharing what is happening in their own everyday lives.
Aya Haj Yahya
Teacher
I'm Aya Haj Yahya. I hold a master's degree in teaching Hebrew as a second language from Middlebury College in the United States. I have taught both adults and children from diverse backgrounds in a variety of educational settings. As a student, I always did very well in school and loved exploring subjects in depth.
Shai Dory
Administration and accounting
Hello, I’m Shai. I am married and have two wonderful daughters. I have been living in Spain for more than 20 years.
Previously, I managed international service companies in the security sector and oversaw hundreds of employees. Today I am responsible for Ivritli's accounting department and also handle various administrative functions in our organization.
I have witnessed Ivritli grow from a simple idea to the remarkable school it is today, more than six years later – an amazing school with children from all over the world. I am part of the team that tours in search of connections and partnerships with a wide range of organizations, communities, and community leaders in Israel and around the globe.
I consider it a great honor to be part of Ivritli's important work. I believe there is tremendous power in helping shape the next generation and in passing on Hebrew as a language that is fluent, vibrant, and full of life.
