OUR HISTORY:
Beginning in 2001, the Southern New England Consortium (SNEC) was a home for Israeli Young Emissaries. The emissaries came from our Partnership communities in Israel: Afula and Gilboa Region. Instead of entering the Israel Defense Forces immediately after high school, the emissaries deferred their army service for a year, and went through an intense application and year-long training process in order to perform a year of service in the United States. The emissaries were trained as experiential, hands-on novice educators, working toward creating meaningful connections and living bridges between the partnership communities in the US and Israel. The emissaries lived with American host families and worked in our local Jewish agencies as well as the public schools. Incorporating these young Israelis into our schools and communal agency programs was always an incredible opportunity for our students, families, and our community at large. These students were role models and the best Israel had to offer.
During Covid our community shifted to the Shaliach Program where our emissaries are now POST ARMY. We are starting our sixth year with the Shaliach program and are delighted to introduce Roni Appel as our 2026-2027 Shlicha.
WELCOME OUR 2026-27 SHLICHA, RONI APPEL!
Our Central MA community is excited to welcome this year’s new Shlicha, Roni Appel. Roni grew up on Moshav Zofar, which is in the south of Israel, in the Arava region, near Eilat. She is one of 6 siblings. Her Dad’s side of the family are 12 generations in Israel! In high school she was involved with the Bnei HaMoshavim youth movement. She served as a sergeant in the IDF as an Electronic Technician in the Airforce.
Roni spent two summers as a counselor at Camp Tamarack in Michigan in 2022 and 2023. Most recently Roni worked with 9th graders in a youth at risk high school in the north of Israel. She also managed the moshav’s national youth movement. Roni likes arts and crafts, loves to read and to hike.
The Shaliach Program is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Central MA.
For more information or questions, please contact:
Liz Baker, Young Emissary Coordinator and Shaliach Supervisor, at [email protected]
Past Mimouna Celebrations
A video montage of our Past Young Emissary Mimouna Celebrations.
Tamar Makes Shakshuka!
Making Shakshuka with Tamar Melech (2017-18) and buying ingredients in the Carmel Market.
After Central MA’s Young Emissaries were forced to go home in March 2020, due to the Covid pandemic, Central MA remained connected to some of their former emissaries through “Where Are They Now?” articles written by the young people, videos and Café Israel, a Sunday morning Zoom presentation by emissaries.
