Mala Falkof - Director
Mala.Falkof@ketura.co.il
Mala Falkof has been a central personality in the history of our community practically since it's founding. She received her degree in nursing from Hasharon Medical Center and has worked as a health professional, as the General Secretary of the Kibbutz and in early childhood education, before entering into the world of tourism. She loves to read and play the recorder, but the personal accomplishment of which she is most proud is her newly achieved title of grandmother, following the birth of a beautiful little girl named Rotem. Mazal tov!

Leah Kayman - Director Public Relations and Development/Educator
Leah.Kayman@ketura.co.il
Leah Kayman has been involved in informal Jewish education all of her adult life. Originally from the Midwest, Leah received her B.A. in Communications from the University of Wisconsin in 1977, moving to Israel and to Kibbutz Ketura soon after. She served as national shlicha for Hamagshimim, the college and adult level of Young Judaea in North America from 1988-1991. A founder of the Keren Kolot Jewish Studies institute, Leah was its director from 1991 until 2003. She is presently completing her Masters Degree in Jewish Studies from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem. Leah is our most experienced educator. Her areas of expertise are Jewish Sources, Kibbutz life, and Pluralism.

Bill Slott - Educator and Tour Guide
Bill.Slott@ketura.co.il
Bill Slott has lived on Kibbutz Ketura since graduating from Cornell University in 1981. While his B.A. is in psychology, his passion has always been the desert trails that grace the Arava. As such he found his way to Keren Kolot and the seminars that use the desert as a Jewish text, and nature hikes as a modern commentary on the text. Bill is a licensed Israeli tour guide and a semi-professional cantor. He has worked with the Keren Kolot Seminar Center since 1996.

Sara Cohen - Educator
sara.cohen@ketura.org.il
Before moving to Israel in 1986, Sara received her B.A. in Religion from Barnard College, Columbia University and she has an M.A. in Jewish Studies and Women's Studies from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem. Sara has been a member of the Keren Kolot Faculty since its founding as a one-month summer program in 1989.

Barbara Pinsker - Reservations Manager/Registrar
Barbara.Pinsker@ketura.co.il
Barbara is originally from Shawnee, Oklahoma. She made Aliya in 1978 and served in the Israeli Army from 1979-1981. Twice since moving to Israel, she and her family have been Jewish Agency shlichim in the United States. Before joining the Keren Kolot staff Barbara held a variety of administrative positions on Kibbutz Ketura, including directing the Health Services of the kibbutz, and running the committee responsible for screening applicants and absorbing new kibbutz members. Since joining the Keren Kolot staff in 1999 Barbara has managed the bed and breakfast side of our business and is also the Registrar for the Jewish Studies Institute June Program.

Leon Shulton - Food Manager
Leon.Shulton@ketura.co.il
Leon Shulton is Keren Kolot's food manager. Leon oversees all meals served to Keren Kolot students and guests, in the kibbutz dining room, at our guest suites and "on the road." A veteran member of Ketura's communal kitchen staff, Leon has worked as a cook since arriving in Israel from England in August 1992. He lived on Kibbutz Hanaton for two years , and one year on Kibbutz Gesher before ending up here. His hobbies include sports (he is an avid English football fan - go West Ham!) and music. He is honored to be the first Queen's subject to join the Keren Kolot staff.

David Factor - Educator and Ulpan Teacher
David.Factor@ketura.co.il
David has been an instructor in informal and formal Jewish education for over 20 years. He studied at Columbia University and received his B.A. in Hebrew Literature and Elementary Education from Hunter College in New York in 1986. He completed an M.S. in Special Education from Bloomsburg University, Pennsylvania in 1991. David has been a teacher in the New York City and Israeli school systems. He has lived in Israel since 1989 and came to Kibbutz Ketura since 1997. He joined the Keren Kolot Staff in 2000 and has been instrumental in curriculum development and program enhancement over the last few years. His areas of interest are Hebrew Literature, Israeli Society, and Israeli Diaspora Relations.

Rabbi Michael Cohen - Educator
Rabbi Cohen joined the faculty of Keren Kolot in 1996 while on sabbatical from the Israel Congregation and has continued to divide his time equally between Ketura and Vermont.

Marcello Schlisserman - Educator and Tour Guide
Marcello.Shlisserman@ketura.co.il
Marcelo Schlisserman is 39 years old and made Aliya from Argentina in 1988. He has a BA in Zoology from Universidad Nacional de Tucuman, and completed Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Biblical Studies at the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies. Also an accredited tour guide, Marcelo is pursuing doctoral studies in Biblical studies through Ben Gurion University. Married and the father of two children, Marcello has lectured at the Midrasha of the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies, and taught Jewish Studies at Cleveland's Beit Sefer Tichon Pardes. He has worked for the Israeli Society for the Preservation of Nature and for the National Parks Authority, safeguarding nature reserves and archaeological sites in the lower Galilee, and has taught biology and Yediat Ha'aretz at schools in Nazareth and Be'er Sheva. His interests include new age music, Nature, hiking and spending time with his family.

Shimon Ben Yosef - Educator and Tour Guide
shbenyosef@yahoo.com
Shimon Ben Yosef is a veteran tour guide who specializes in the desert environment. He combines his expertise in local flora, fauna, and geology along with his passion for the Bible to form a facinating, integrated tableau of our landscape. In addition to guiding hundreds of groups over the years, Shimon has worked at the World Union of Jewish Students in Arad. He enjoys blues music, fixing bicycles and spending time time with his three daughters.

Yuval Ramos-Maintenance and Repairs
Yuval.Ramos@ketura.co.il
Yuval made Aliyah from Argentina in 1990 and has lived on Ketura since 1999. He is a professional photographer, printer and graphic artist and enjoys mountain biking, nature photography and blues music. He can fix just about anything and always with a smile.

Sarai Goldman - Reception Desk
Sarai.Goldman@ketura.co.il
Sarai was born and raised on Kibbutz Ketura. She recently completed her service as a medic in the Israeli Army and is currently greeting every visitor to our Guest Facilities with her warm welcome and winning smile.

Jason Sperzel – Facilities Manager

Jason graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in Sociology. Since then he has been a dedicated Special Education Teacher in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Jason is the oil that keeps our entire B and B machine working and in his spare time he runs marathons.