Humans of Netivot is an exciting initiative sparked by the experience of Shabbat Netivot Byachad. Everyone has a story to share. As we get to know members of our special Netivot community more closely, our kehilah will be connected, comfortable and stronger.
Matthew Schlar
PA Chat King, aka Matthew Schlar, can always be seen with a smile on his face when he’s volunteering at Netivot. “There’s so much negativity in this world; it’s such a strange place to be living in at this time, and if you don’t smile you’re living to the stigma of the time. You have to smile. You don’t know [...]
Dikla Weitzner
“I remember feeling totally inspired. I had never felt so good doing anything in my life.” Dikla (Stanleigh) Weitzner reminisces about her teenage experience volunteering at one of the bone marrow drives that her brother Audey Lior z’l had organized. “When I was in my first year of Ulpana, my brother was in Israel in yeshiva and was diagnosed with [...]
John and Lori Ulmer
“The school we want to send our children to doesn’t exist. We need to start a school!” 40 years ago a group of friends discovered their shared vision as they stood around Lori and John Ulmer’s kitchen island. Amongst that group was Shauna Tepperman, a driving force in making that vision a reality, who became Netivot’s first president. Remembering the [...]
Steve Frenkiel
“Growing up, I always knew I was different. My father was older than all my friends' parents. As a kid, I never understood why, but then I really leaned into it as I got more mature; it’s part of who I am. I am probably one of the youngest children of a Holocaust survivor. From a very young age I [...]
Jeremy Pertman
DJ, Hatzoloh member and champion ballroom dancer. While it may sound like Jeremy Pertman is playing “2 truths and a lie”, they are all true! Growing up in Edmonton, he developed a love for music at a young age through his mother’s support and encouragement. Studying classical piano, performing as a percussionist in his high school band and jazz ensemble, [...]
Rachel Cousineau
“One day I will be Jewish” a teenage Rachel Cousineau recalls telling her mother. Growing up in North Bay, Ontario, there weren’t many Jews to connect with; she became intrigued with Judaism through books and her Catholic high school’s World Religions course. Raised in a loving, deeply religious Catholic family, Rachel remembers identifying with the characters from the Bible that [...]