KAHAL Team

Alex is the founder and executive director of KAHAL: Your Jewish Home Abroad, which creates transformative Jewish experiences for students studying abroad. A native of Chicago, he graduated cum laude and with honors in Classical Languages and Civilizations from Northwestern University. Committed to human-centered design and innovation in the social sector, Alex was selected for the Core18 Leaders Lab fellowship and awarded the Covenant Foundation’s Pomegranate Prize for Jewish Education in 2016. Alex is a founding board member of SketchPad: Chicago's Jewish Innovation Space. He and his girlfriend, Samantha, are active members of AIPAC, Alpha Epsilon Pi, JCYS, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Illinois Firefighters’ Association, the JUF, and various other Chicagoland Jewish organizations and synagogues. His passions include golf, college football, and every dog he’s ever met.

Contact Alex at alex@kahalabroad.org

Becca was first inspired by global Jewish peoplehood on a trip to Uruguay, volunteering alongside the Jewish community. She later led a college JDC Entwine trip to Ukraine, where the group visited homebound elderly Jews and met local Jewish students. These experiences, together with her time living in Israel, Cape Town, and London taught her of the transformative nature of studying, living, and traveling abroad. She currently works as the Chief Operations Officer of KAHAL, connecting study abroad students to Jewish experiences and communities worldwide. With KAHAL, Becca has visited Jewish communities around the world, developing relationships with community leaders, building a network of more than 700 partners in 40 countries. She previously worked in nonprofit fundraising specializing in donor relationship management and planned giving. When they’re not traveling, Becca and her husband reside in Washington, DC. They would travel even more often if they could bring their puppy, Frank along.

To contact Becca email becca@kahalabroad.org

Joey is a Yemeni Jew from London, UK and has spent much of the last decade living and working abroad, visiting over 50 countries. He is passionate about exploring and educating on Jewish communities in Europe and minority communities in Israel. He has a Masters in International Relations and Global Development and cares far too much about his football team, Tottenham Hotspur.

If you're travelling to Austria, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece Hong Kong, Hungary, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, and The Netherlands, contact joey@kahalabroad.org

Jessie is the Associate Director: Abroad Experiences at KAHAL: Your Jewish Home Abroad. Before working with KAHAL, she taught in a myriad of Jewish environments, including several Day Schools, Israel programs, camps, and experiential adventures. Jessie earned a Master's degree in Jewish education and a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from the Pardes Educators Program in Jerusalem as well as a Certificate in Jewish Day School Education from Hebrew College of Boston. Prior to receiving her M.A., Jessie received a B.A. in Modern Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Columbia University. Jessie is married to Adam and is the proud mama of three-year-old Charlie Ruby and Nadi the Puppy. Jessie and Adam currently run Base Miami, an initiative to engage young Jewish professionals in the Miami area.

If you're travelling to Italy, Semester at Sea, USA, Canada, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, and India contact jessie@kahalabroad.org

Jojo graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a Bachelors in Human Development and Family studies and a certificate in Studio art. She had the great opportunity to study abroad in Florence where she studied art, and connected with KAHAL. She’s passionate about helping students find a Jewish community abroad so that they can feel a sense of home and belonging. Jojo loves to travel anywhere and everywhere, take pictures, sculpt clay, and meet new people.

Ellen received a B.A. in Art History and Psychology from Northwestern University, and earned a certificate in Integrated Marketing Communications. She followed her passion for art history and travel, to Florence, Italy, where she studied Art History and Italian. While the experience was undeniably rewarding and educational, she wishes she had found a welcoming Jewish community during her time in Italy. Prior to joining the KAHAL team, Ellen worked in operations for a grant writing firm for nonprofit organizations. Ellen recently moved back to the Chicagoland area from Washington, DC, and looks forward to getting lost in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Mia graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences and is a Master of Liberal Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. She had a life changing study abroad experience at the University of Haifa where she was immersed in Judaism and coexistence. Mia has interned with the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Community Relations Council, but most recently worked for UPenn's Hillel on the Jewish Renaissance Project team. She's passionate about enriching student's lives by connecting them with the global Jewish community. Since she is new to London she is always up for exploring a new spot and meeting a new friend!

Talia grew up in the UK based Masorti youth movement Noam, which has shaped so many of her Jewish and personal ideologies. She studied Philosophy at Birmingham University and after graduating, she worked in Noam’s head office and then with Marom, Noam’s sister movement for young adults. Since she was 18, Talia has have loved to travel the world and meet new people. She is so excited to be able to help Jewish students studying abroad have magical experiences! Talia is a passionate feminist, amateur photographer, keen writer, animal lover and nature enthusiast.

If you're travelling to Australia, Denmark, Israel, Middle East, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sweden/Scandinavia, contact Talia@kahalabroad.org

Joseph grew up in Birmingham and studied French and Spanish at University College London. For his year abroad he worked in Paris for six months and then studied in Santiago, Chile for another six months, after which he became a KAHAL intern during his final year at UCL. During his time at UCL, Joseph was education officer for the Jewish society, where he would put on weekly lunch and learn sessions for local and international students. His hobbies include travelling, learning about different cultures, meeting new people and the occasional trip to the theatre! “My year abroad was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life and I am so excited to help other students make the most of their time abroad.``

If you're travelling to Latin America, Ireland, Spain, or the United Kingdom, contact Joseph@kahalabroad.org

Jenn graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in psychology. She had an amazing study abroad experience at the University of Birmingham, during which she gained a passion for traveling and exploring. While just being in Europe was incredible, Jenn was determined to have Jewish experiences during her time abroad and was excited to meet KAHAL students across the continent. Jenn grew up in Washington D.C. and is excited to get to know Chicago!

Major: Sociology

Studied Abroad: Grenoble, France

Bucket List Destination: Venice, Italy

Major: International Studies

Studied Abroad: Chiang Mai, Thailand

Bucket List Destination: New Zealand

Major: International Affairs and Economics

Studied Abroad: New Zealand

Bucket List Destination: China and Argentina

Major: Exercise Physiology

Studied Abroad: SLondon, England

Bucket List Destination: London, England

Major: Communications and Rhetorical Studies and Sociology

Studied Abroad: Tel Aviv

Bucket List Destination: Italy

Major: Finance with a certificate in Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

Studied Abroad: Barcelona, Spain

Bucket List Destination: Bora Bora, Thailand, Ibiza, Santorini, Patagonia

Major: Rehabilitation and Human Services

Studied Abroad: Florence, Italy

Bucket List Destination: Fiji

Major: Youth and Social Innovation and English

Studied Abroad: Semester at Sea

Bucket List Destination: Scandinavia

Major: Business Management and Marketing

Studied Abroad: Sydney, Australia

Bucket List Destination: Peru (Machu Picchu)

Major: Psychology

Studied Abroad: Sevilla, Spain

Bucket List Destination: Thailand

Major: Political Science

Studied Abroad: Utrecht, Netherlands

Bucket List Destination: South Africa

Major: Integrative Physiology

Studied Abroad: Semester At Sea

Bucket List Destination: Japan

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Major: Finance and Management with Jewish Studies Minor

Studied Abroad: Liverpool, England

Bucket List Destination: Egypt

Major: Cognitive Science

Studied Abroad: Morocco

Bucket List Destination: Australia

Major: Business Administration

Studied Abroad: Sydney, Australia

Bucket List Destination: Greece

Major: Psychology

Studied Abroad: Kenya

Bucket List Destination: Australia

Major:

Studied Abroad:

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Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

Study Abroad Destination: London, UK

Bucket list Destination: Thailand, Croatia, Greece

Major:

Studied Abroad: London, England

Major: Psychology and Political Science

Studied Abroad: Barcelona (hopefully in the spring)

Bucket List Destination: Greece

Major: Economics

Studied Abroad: London, UK

Bucket List Destination: Saudi Arabia

Major: International Studies and Education Studies

Studied Abroad: Semester At Sea

Bucket List Destination: Vietnam, Laos, Singapore, and basically all of Southeast Asia!

Major: Legal Studies in Business, minor in Art History

Studied Abroad: Milan

Bucket List Destination: Australia

Major: Development Sociology

Studied Abroad: Rome, Italy

Bucket List Destination: Singapore

Major: French

Studied abroad: Paris France

Bucket List Destination: Santorini, Greece

Major: Political Science and Environmental Studies

Studied Abroad: Sevilla, Spain

Bucket List Destination: Denmark

Major: Criminology

Studied Abroad: Cape Town, South Africa

Bucket List Destination: Vietnam

Major: International Business

Studied Abroad: Santander, Spain

Bucket List Destination: Bali