Leadership
Board of Directors
Israel
Yaffah Batya DaCosta – CEO
Avraham Moskowitz (CFO)
Moshe Katz (Audits)
Reuven Prager
Yehoshua Friedman
Don Zusya Goodman
Miryam Heiliczer (Audits)
Bill Rodriguez
Bobbi Schwartz
Pinchas Sacks
VERBAL ENDORSEMENTS
HaRav Shmuel Eliahu (Israel)
Rabbi Hayyim Kassorla – GA
Rabbi Benyamin Terenyo – TX
Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Melman – PA
Rabbi Yonatan HaLevy – CA
Rabbi Yidel Stern – NY
Rabbi Natan Hayyim – Israel
Rabbi Avraham Sutton – Israel
Torah Education Resources
Payman (Moshe) Golshani
USA and Canada (and other English Speakers Global)
Rabino Gili Benyamin
Israel and Global
Rabino Yonatan HaLevi
USA – English
Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowicz
USA – English (Tanya)
Rabino Itzjak Abud
South American Only – Spanish
Yaffah Batya DaCosta
Founder and CEO
Yaffah Batya has oversight responsibility for this entire Ezra L’Anousim organization. Her expertise in commercial business management, coaching and high performance work teams has given her the real world experiences needed to develop policies and procedures for an overall smooth running and very effective (results oriented) non-for-profit organization. In addition, Yaffah Batya has a special focus on the WHAT, WHEN and HOW we are to be working with our “applicants” to ensure that NONE are turned away from being helped, and to ensure there are no abuses of the Bnei Anousim applicants being allowed in any manner, shape or form (i.e. including financial abuses). Yaffah Batya taught ethics in the commercial business world to managers and supervisors and so she is also bringing that orientation (of Torah based ethics) to this organization as well.
Yaffah feels very close to this movement of Anousim Rising, and to develop this non-for-profit organization in such a manner as to streamline the process for applicants coming to Ezra L’Anousim to receive help/support – such that they will not have to go through a decades long arduous journey that involves constant rejections, trauma and denials of assistance.
Avraham Moskowitz
CFO -Chief Financial Officer
Avraham Moskowitz has direct responsibility for all of the financial and fiduciary aspects of this organization that is being done today. This includes the oversight responsibility for the administration of the GOFUNDME Campaigns, THECHESEDFUND Campaigns and over all donations and funds coming into the organization from Israeli and Diaspora sources. It includes responsibility for the Accountant working for the organization and to ensure that all expenses are adequately documented with receipts and explanations and that the expenses were all pre-approved by the Managing Director over that area of the Organization. There will also be oversight to the budgeting process, and to insure that all expenses were in the budget, or explain as an exception to the budget (and why). It also includes collaboration with the Friends of Ezra L’Anousim BOD and/or Financial Officer in this USA 502(c)3 non-profit entity.
José Alberto Cordón Rivera
Managing Director for Alliance Partners
José has overall responsibility for interfacing with all alliance partners of this organization. His activities include identifying other NGO’s (non government organizations) that have similar goals and objects. Contacting them to introduce them to the work of Ezra L’Anousim. Building a relationship with them and seeing how we might join forces and help each other to achieve those common goals. José has plenty of experience in the Trading/Commerce arena and business-like interactions with upper management staffers. He passionately believes in the prophetic Bnei Anousim cause, and is currently pursuing Sephardic Orthodox conversion by studying with a Rabbi to achieve his dream.
Martha Guarneros
Managing Director for USA-Southeast
Martha has oversight responsibility for all the Bnei Anousim in the USA Southeast Region (i.e. Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky). Her activities in developing a cadre of activists (especially in the Florida area) and within the Sephardi communites in this region overall, will give to her special insights to helping the Bnei Anousim in all of this region. Her responsibilities include directing and supporting the pro-Israel rally coordinators, and also the administrative processes for working with the applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim “emerging coommunities”. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in the USA Southeast. Martha has an extra measure of passion for this cause given that she herself is a “returnee” from the Bnei Anousim.
Marco Rafael
Managing Director for the Country of Portugal
Marco has oversight responsibility for the country of Portugal where the Bnei Anousim live today. His expertise as an entrepreneur, and working to help in construction of housing for the Negev, along with being an emerging community leader for Porto, gives him special insights to helping Bnei Anousim for all of Portugal. Marco also has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim “emerging communities”. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in these countries
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Managing Director of EU Countries
This director will have oversight responsibility for all the EU countries (except France, Spain and Portugal) where the Bnei Anousim live today, with a special focus and priority for Italy and Malta. He/She will have already been working with the Bnei Anousim in Southern Italy on her own for some time. Her responsibilities include directing the pro-Israel rally coordinators in the EU countries, and also the administrative processes for working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim emerging coommunities in the EU. Included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in these countries, and having conferences for the Bnei Anousim in the EU (in coordination with the Managing Directors for France, Spain and Portugal)
Raphael Gur-Aryeh
Managing Director for USA-Southwest
Raphael has oversight responsibility for all the Bnei Anousim in the USA Southwest Region (i.e. California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii). His activities in developing a cadre of activists in the Southern California area, and within the Sephardi community, will give to him special insights to helping the Bnei Anousim in all of the USA and Canada. His responsibilities include directing the pro-Israel rally coordinators, and also the administrative processes for working with the applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim emerging coommunities. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in the USA Southwest. Raphael has an extra measure of “passion” for this cause and has been involved in this arena, on his own, for several years.
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Managing Director of Western Pacific Countries
This person will have oversight responsibility for all the Western Pacific countries where the Bnei Anousim live today (except Australia, and Indonesia). Their responsibilities will include directing the pro-Israel rally coordinators in these Western Pacific countries (specifically New Zealand and Philippines). And also the administrative processes for working with individual applicants (families and groups) who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim emerging communities of the Western Pacific. Included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in these countries.
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Managing Director for USA-North Central
This managing Direction will have the oversight responsibility for all Bnei Anousim in the North Central USA Region (i.e. Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota). Their activities will include developing a cadre of activities (especially in the Michigan area), and within the Sephardi communities in this region overall, and that will give them special insights into helping Bnei Anousim in all of the region. Their responsibilities include directing and supporting pro-Israel rally coordinators, and also the administrative process for working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim “emerging communities.” Also included is a responsibility for the development of realistic budgets in support of all “emerging communities” in the USA- North Central.
Natan Degrazia
Managing Director for Public Relations
Natan has overall responsibility for all the Public Relation activities, for Ezra L’Anousim. This includes (but is not limited to) writing & publishing news articles for the website about our activities, and specific ways in which our funds are being utilized. For example, we supported the Bnei Anousim in Havana, Cuba in sending to them Tefillin that were purchased from funds we had raised for that purpose. We also had a booth at the IAC converence this past spring, in Los Angeles, and we funded the booth that we had there. Natan is also an administrator for the Portuguese speaking world in terms of staying in contact with our “applicants” to ensure that they have the resources they are needing in their process of learning and observing Torah and Mitzvot.
Yaffah Batya daCosta
Managing Director for Fundraising
Yaffah Batya has direct responsibility for all of the fund raising activities of this organization that is being done today. This includes the GO FUND ME Campaigns (including website donations), her Corporate Sponsorship activities, and the writing of Grant Proposals for Philanthropists and Foundations. Yaffah Batya will be taking input and ideas from the entire Management Team regarding where to find the funding for our work. In addition, Yaffah will seek to find a full-time person for this position, in time, who has a strong background and expertise in fund raising for non-profits wthin the USA, primarily.
Devora Aiello
Webmaster and Technical Director
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Managing Director for Israeli Sephardim
The person in this position will have direct responsibility for sharing (with the Israeli Sephardi public) information and updates about our programs for the Bnei Anousim. They will work with various groups and individuals in Israel to encourage the welcoming of these Sephardi Olim (new immigrants) back HOME to the State of Israel, once they have made aliyah. They will also publish articles and “content” (on our social media sites) about Sephardi resources (in Israel and globally) that can be helpful to the Bnei Anousim, including about Torah teachers in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
This individual will need to 1) be fluent in English and Hebrew, 2) have an excellent background in Sephardi resources and/or the ability to find them on the Internet, and 3) be current and up-to-speed with everything going on in this organization. They will also provide to the Technical Director of Media Sephardi “content” to be published on our website regarding many of these Sephardi resources that will shared with our Bnei Anousim constituents worldwide.
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Managing Director for Tefillin and Seforim Projects
Managing Director for Tefillin and Seforim Projects
This position will have direct responsibility for all of the support we plan to provide to the Bnei Anousim (who are currently Jewish through conversion, or “return” – or they are in a recognized process for conversion/return). These folks are requiring Sephardi Tefillin and Seforim. Helping them in this manner will increase their closeness to HaShem in very tangible ways. Right now we have put out a call for the donation of used Tefillin, as well as having created a GOFUNDME campaign to raise money for the purchase new Tefillin. The initial “emerging community” to receive the Tefillin is in Cuba. later we, will GD, willing add more of our communities to be recipients of Tefillin and Seforim. This person will managing the day-to-day activities of these projects / programs and interface directly with both the donors (on the one hand) and the Bnei Anousim who receive these objects (on the other hand).
Kasandra Gonzalez
Managing Director for Administration in Central America
Kasandra has oversight responsibility for all the Bnei Anousim in the Central America Region (e.g. Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica). Her responsibilities include helping all the “emerging communities” in these countries to receive Torah classes from a Sephardi Rabbi (online conference classes). It is under her control to record these classes and also the process of sharing the media (video and audio) to every member of the region. Also her role includes coordinating the Rabbi’s visit(s) to every country, and regarding everything that the communities need (which includes that all the applicants get a Jewish conversion). Other responsibilities include working with the applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim “emerging communities”, and the development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in Central America.
Eduardo Gentil
Managing Director for the Country of Brasil
Eduardo Guilherme Gentil de Farias is the Vice President of the Santa Catarina Israelite Association (AIC), a recognize Jewish entity affiliated with the Brazilian Israelite Confederation (CONIB). His responsibilities for Ezra L’Anousim include providing administrative support and Judaism classes focused on a traditional perspective and Jewish identity construction (online conference classes) for small communities and isolated groups. He is working to stablish a permanent dialogue between different Jewish entities and leaderships in Brazil and other Latin America countries.
Eros Samec Gonzalez
Managing Director for Conference Administration and Sephardic Cultural Educator
Eros leads conferences regarding the Bnei Anousim, Art History and Art Exhibits. He does this with the purpose of educating about Sephardic history and the historical Sephardic Anousim experiences. These areas cover topics during the times of the Inquisition and post-expulsion era. Eros teams up with experts in other fields such as Sephardic Halacha and Hashkafot, Minhag and Nusach to give his audiences an over all, and all-encompassing, depiction of Sephardic modus operandi. He also cooperates with visual artists and other professionals.
Bill Rodriguez
Managing Director for Israeli Hospitality
Bill has oversight responsility for helping Bnei Anousim on pilot trips or tourist visits to the State of Israel. His position as an entrepreneur (living near Ashkelon, in Israel) working with metals manfacturing, along with knowing many Bnei Anousim living in Colombia, Venezuela, and the American Southwest gives him special insights to helping Bnei Anousim globally. His responsibilities include helping the Bnei Anousim to find reasonable accomodation in Israel for their Pilot or Tourist visit, helping them to have meetings at the Misrad HaPnim and other Israeli government agencies, and anything else dealing with their pre-aliyah visit(s) to Israel. Included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the Bnei Anousim needing our help and support for these pilot and tourist visits.
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Managing Director of EU Countries
This Managing Director will have oversight responsibility for all of France and French territories. Hopefully, they will have already been working with the Bnei Anousim in France, on their own, for some time. Their responsibilities will include directing the pro-Israel rally coordinators in France, and also the administrative processes for working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim emerging communities in France. Included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in these countries. And coordination with the Managing Directors for EU, Spain and Portugal regarding Bnei Anousim conferences in the EU.
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Managing Director of Scandinavian Countries
This individual will have oversight responsibility for all the Scandinavian countries where the Bnei Anousim live today (i.e. Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Greenland, Svalbard, Denmark, and Finland). Their responsibilities will include directing the pro-Israel rally coordinators in these Scandinavian countries, and also the administrative processes for working with individual applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim emerging communities in the Northern Europe. Included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in these countries. And coordination with the Managing Directors for EU, Spain and Portugal regarding Bnei Anousim conferences in the EU.
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Managing Director of Balkan Countries
This individual will have oversight responsibility for all the Balkan countries where the Bnei Anousim live today (i.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Turkey). Their responsibilities will include directing the pro-Israel rally coordinators in these Balkan countries, and also the administrative processes for working with individual applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim emerging coommunities in the Eastern Europe. Included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in these countries. And coordination with the Managing Directors for Western and Northern Europe regarding Bnei Anousim conferences.
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Managing Director for Negev Development
The individual in this position will have direct responsibility for working with those still outside of Israel and planning to come to live in the Negev. They will be helping them to plan to move to Negev Communities (and the arrangements that will need to be made after their conversion or “return” has been completed). This individual will also be interfacing with all the leaders of those “emerging communities” of Bnei Anousim outside of Israel regarding opportunities in the Negev, in helping them to guide the Bnei Anousim to get prepared for coming to the Negev.
Arthur Martinez
Managing Director for IAC Festivals
Arthur has overall responsibility for interfacing with the IAC Organization (Israel American Council) regarding our participation in their annual festivals in major cities all over the USA. His activities this year will not only be to manage the Ezra L’Anousim booth (where he participated last year in Los Angeles). He also developed a phamplet last year to hand out to people interested in our work, and can do this again for 2019, But starting in 2019 Arthur will also work to support in developing staffing for booths at the IAC Festival in other major cities in America. Arthur will be looking for Ezra L’Anousim volunteers in other cities where these festivals are held and help them to get prepared to man a booth for Ezra L’Anousim in those cities. Arthur will also seek to build a relationship with the IAC Organization to see how we might join forces and help each other to achieve complimentary objectives. Arthur will also have relationships with the Managing Director for Promotions and Admin Support and the Managing Director for USA and Canada.
Rabbi Dovid Kempe
Rabbinic Support At-Large
Rabbi Dovid Kempe provides overall support (from a Rabbinic POV) to visit our emerging communities and assess the people’s education level and readiness for Beit Din. Rabbi Kempe is able to travel all over Latin America (is a Spanish speaker) and is helping the people in this communities tremendously in getting ready for them to appear before the Beit Din (for conversion or return). He has already been involved with the Havana emerging community and he is currently working to help the emerging community in Costa Rica.
Jonatas Chimen Dasilva
Art Director and Lecturer
Jônatas Chimen DaSilva is now our Art Director for Anousim Visual Culture, through which he will be exhibiting, lecturing, and fundraising for Ezra L’Anousim (for all of our affiliated groups, and interested individuals) about his own journey back to the Judaism of our Sephardi Ancestors.
More specifically, Jônatas will further promote awareness of the important work that Ezra L’Anousim is doing with and for the Bnei Anousim, at the global level, by helping these exiles reconnect to the faith and traditions of our Sephardi ancestors. Jônatas will be speaking and promoting the arts in communities throughout all of the Americas (North, South and Central America).
Jônatas is a Brazilian-American Symbolist artist, author, and academic. His work explores personal and collective identity drawn from his own converso family history of diaspora, survival, and return. For nearly two decades Jônatas has been featured at numerous biennials, museums, art galleries, and fundraisers for important charitable causes, such as the Anti-Defamation League and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Jônatas holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies from The University of Madison-Wisconsin, and a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Florida International University. His website is The Art of Jônatas Chimen
Arianna Sadikov
Managing Director for Caucasus/Iran
Arianna Sadikov is our Managing Director of Administration and the Caucasus Region plus Iran. Based in Los Angeles, she has oversight our Advocacy Program, and assisting in collaborations with other supporting groups and organizations in LA.
She is also involved in oversight of case dealings with descendants of Anousim from the former Soviet Union, and especially focused on Iran, and the rest of the Caucasus region. Her involvement and desire to make an impact in our movement is greatly accredited to her own return to Jewish observance, and community life, in honor of her grandparents who were forced to keep their Jewish identities secret to stay alive during the former Soviet Union (USSR) Pogroms and their violent persecutions of Jews throughout the Middle East.
Miryam Levine
Managing Director of Anousim Awareness Day
Miryam will work with Yaffa Batya regarding scheduling an event at the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv on Motzei Shabbat Feb 12th 2022. And she will also work with Yaffah Batya regarding someone giving an educational event somewhere in Jerusalem on Feb 13th 2022. Each year we will try to do more, do better, publicize more and have many more events.
Rabbi Haim Kassorla
Managing Director for Rabbinic Coordination
Rabbi Haim will provide direct contact and networking with all the Rabbis who are educating Bnei Anousim and/or assisting them in their “Return” or Conversion” process, for those who are registered with Ezra L’Anousim.
He will assist the Administrative Managing Directors of Ezra L’Anousim in locating sponsoring Rabbi’s, ensuring they begin classes, and in referrals to the appropriate Beit Din. He is directly in charge of establishing and maintaining Torah education requirements for all the Bnei Anousim in our network, and for ensuring the quality and continuity of helping Bnei Anousim learn Sephardic minhag, halacha, nusach, and hashkafa.
Rabbi Haim will be an advisor to Bnei Anousim about become functioning members of a local Jewish community abroad, or in “emerging communities” abroad, and also in Israel. Rabbi Haim will work as an advisor to the Rabbi’s to help determine a students readiness to go before a Beit Din and/or to integrate into a Jewish community of their choice. Rabbi Haim may also create curriculum guidelines for Torah educators who are working with the Bnei Anousim within our organization.
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Chaim (Julio) Flores-Tellez
Managing Director for USA North-East
Chaim has oversight responsibility for all the B’nei Anousim in the North-East Region of the USA (i.e. Virginia, Washington D.C, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire). His activities include but are not limited to, developing and directing a dossier of events and activities within the Sephardi communities and to foster friendly and brotherly relationships of many Sephardi organizations with Ezra L’Anousim. Other responsibilities include directing and supporting pro-Israel rallies; also the administrative process for working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing B’nei Anousim “emerging communities”. Critical to these functions is the developing of realistic budgets to support these communities in the North East Region.
Chaim has worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry in the USA and Central and South America for over three decades holding many recognitions as “Top Producer”. He has a vast experience in Public Relations, Marketing and Sales. Holds a Doctoral Degree in Theology, and a Honoris Causa Doctor” in Divinity Sciences. His passion and love for the principles of this organization, opened his eyes to get him committed to the Ezra L’Anousim’s Mission and Vision. Chaim lives in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area with his Wife Erica (Abigail) and his two children Victoria Elisheba and Yosef (Julio II). Their Sephardi ancestors migrated to Central and South America where they became cryptojews due to the merciless church prosecution thru the Inquisition. Chaim and his family have just started their process of return and as they learn first hand the ins and outs of the process, they will become advocates for the recognition, acceptance and inclusion of the B’nei Anousim in the world Jewry and also will turn to be a source for the the anousim that will come after them.
Yvonne Polk Ocasio
Managing Director for Caribbean Countries
Yvonne has oversight responsibility for all the Bnei Anousim (with the exception of Cuba) in the Caribbean Countries (e.g. Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico). Her activities include developing a cadre of activists/advocates within the Sephardi communities in this region overall. This will give her special insights to helping the Bnei Anousim in all of this region. Her responsibilities include directing and supporting the pro-Israel rally coordinators, and also the administrative processes for working with the applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim “emerging communities”. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in the Caribbean Island Countries (except Cuba).
Rafael Nunez
Managing Director for the Country of Mexico
Rafael has oversight responsibility for the country of Mexico, where the Bnei Anousim live today. His expertise in working with three “emerging communities” of Bnei Anousim in Mexico in invaluable. And Rafael has been involved with the Bnei Anousim in Mexico for some time now. His responsibility includes directing the pro-Israel rally coordinators for all “emerging communities”. He also has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with new applicants, who would like help/support from Ezra L ’Anousim in joining (or developing) Bnei Anousim “emerging communities”. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in this country.
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Managing Director Administration for Portuguese Speakers
This Managing Director is the organization point-person for all of the e-mail communication coming into Ezra L’Anousim from the website “apply” section (or contact us) for Portuguese speakers (i.e for Brazil, Portugal and the Azores). He/She will have a close working relationship with the Managing Director for all Media, and also with the Managing Director for Social Media. Her responsibilities include overall support to all the Country Managing Directors of “emerging communities” with the activities that they manage on a day to day basis, along with development of realistic budgets in support of all the support activities of our applicants. He/She will also advise and coach applicants on how to research and develop the “evidences” and the documentation they will need to bring with them to Beit Din for a “return certificate”. And his/her role includes helping applicants with the Torah Educational Resources they will need, and with interfacing with the Managing Director for Rabbinic Coordination, when it comes to their conversion (or return) with a qualified Beit Din.
Moshe Ardila
Managing Director for South America
Moshe has oversight responsibility for administration for all the Bnei Anousim in the South America Region (with the exception of Brazil). And his initial primary responsibility will be the “emerging communities” in Colombia.
His responsibilities include helping all the Bnei Anousim in these “emerging communities” to receive Torah classes from a Sephardi Rabbi (online conference classes). It is under his control to record these classes and also the process of sharing the media (video and audio) to every member in the region.
His role includes coordinating Rabbi visit(s) to these countries, and documentation regarding everything that the communities need to live halachically as Jews (which includes that all these applicants getting a Jewish conversion, or return certificate). Other responsibilities include working with the applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining these developing Bnei Anousim “emerging communities”, and the development of realistic budgets in support of all these “emerging communities” in South American countries.
Moshe is an experience systems engineer especialized in developing, integration and migration systems. High acknowledgement in IBM iSeries (AS/400) with 20+ years of experience in this platform. Specialist in systems integration and migration, Web services integration (SOAP, REST) in Java and other languages. Responsible for analyzing business processes, designing solutions and managing
complex implementations.
Moshe lives in Jerusalem, knows the situation of the Anousim, the new communities and is willing to contribute to these project.
Baruch Haim Almaral
Managing Director for Cuba
Baruch has oversight responsibility for all the Bnei Anousim in Cuba. He has been working with our communities in Cuba for more than two years already and by supporting and helping them as much as he can. His activities include developing a cadre of activists within the Sephardi communities all over the county. This gives him special insights in helping the Bnei Anousim. His responsibilities include the administrative processes for working with the applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim “emerging communities”. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in Cuba. And Baruch is our main support for the Aliyah to Israel of the people in these communities.
Ana Rodrigues
Social Media Team Facilitator
Ana Rodrigues has been developing a team of social media activists (and those learning how to do the same) to respond to anti-Semitic and anti-Israel comments on the various Social Media platforms. And Ana’s team will also be spreading information regarding the truth about the modern State of Israel, and also the NEWS that the Bnei Anousim are in process of returning openly and publicly (globally) to to the faith and traditions of our Sephardi ancestors of Spain and Portugal.
Ana’s Social Media Team is already working on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Team members will be coming from any of our supporters and activists worldwide (since Ana is conversant in many languages). Ana will also coordinate with the Managing Director for Spanish Media and the Managing Director for Portuguese Media.
Mordejai Velázquez
Managing Director for the Country of Venezuela
Mordejai has oversight responsibility for the country of Venezuela where the Bnei Anousim live today. Mordejai is himself a “returnee” from the Bnei Anousim, which gives him special insights to helping Bnei Anousim for all of Venezuela. He also has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the individuals and/or “communities” in his country.
Ariel Alacron
Managing Director for the Country of Peru
Ariel has oversight responsibility for the country of Peru where the Bnei Anousim live today. Ariel is himself a “returnee” from the Bnei Anousim, which gives him special insights to helping Bnei Anousim for all of Peru. He also has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the individuals and/or “communities” in his country.
Moshe Ruegsegger
Special Manager for Spanish Translations
Moshe will work with the CEO as her simultaneous Spanish translator. This will begin April 20th 2021, for the lecture she will be giving on a Zoom Meeting hosted by Root and Branch. And we may do more with Root & Branch after the initial lecture.
Beyond this first assignment, Moshe will work with the CEO on special ZOOM Meetings in the future with Spanish speaking groups. This is an invaluable service and Moshe is an outstanding simultaneous translator (English and Spanish).
Ilan Daui
Managing Director for MENA
Ilan has oversight responsibility for the countries of MENA (Middle East and North Africa) where descendants of the Bnei Anousim live today. Ilan is himself a Jew living in the Middle East, which gives him special insights to helping Bnei Anousim for all of this arena. He also has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the individuals and/or “communities” in his region.
Esther Astruc
Managing Director for the country of France
Esther has oversight responsibility for the country of France where descendants of the Bnei Anousim live today. Ester is descended from the Huguenot (Spanish Jews who went over the border into Southern France). She has many resources about the Huguenots and can help those around the world (in French Canada, Australia) etc. about doing research in this arena.
Esther has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with applicants from France (and other areas specifically about the Huguenots) who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the individuals and/or “communities” in this region.
Yohanan Grau
Managing Director for the country of Spain
Yohanan has oversight responsibility for the country of Spain where descendants of the Bnei Anousim live today. Yohanan is himself also a returnee, which gives him special insights to helping other Bnei Anousim for Spain. He also has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the individuals and/or “communities” in his region.
Hadassah Avilés
Managing Director for Spanish Media
Hadassah will work with the CEO as the Director responsible for getting articles published in the Spanish Media in Latin American countries. She will work with all the Country Managers as well to get ideas from them of articles to be published. And she will coordinate with our Social Media Team Facilitator.
There are many articles and videos already in our FB groups for the Bnei Anousim from work by our supporters over many years. Hadassah will tap into content that has already been utilized. She will develop a list of the major and minor Spanish newspapers, and other print media (like magazines) and online news sources, like internet blogs and broadcasts.
Diana Moreno Reyes
Managing Director for USA-South Central
Diana has oversight responsibility for all the Bnei Anousim in the USA South Central Region (i.e. Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana). Her activities include developing a cadre of activists in the Southern Central area, and within the Sephardi community, which will give to her special insights to helping the Bnei Anousim. Her responsibilities include directing the pro-Israel rally coordinators, and also the administrative processes for working with the applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim emerging communities. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in the USA South Central Region. Diana has an extra measure of “passion” for this cause in that she is herself a “returnee” to the faith and traditions of our Sephardi ancestors from Spain and Portugal.
Herry Frans
Managing Director for Indonesia
Herry has oversight responsibility for the country of Indonesia, where descendants of the Portuguese Bnei Anousim live today. Herry is himself a Jew living in this country, which gives him special insights to helping Bnei Anousim for all of this arena. He also has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the individuals and/or “communities” in this region.
Jorge Isaías Ascencio
Managing Director for El Salvador
Jorge has oversight responsibility for the country of El Salvador, where descendants of many Bnei Anousim live today. Jorge is himself a Jew living in this country, which gives him special insights to helping Bnei Anousim for all of this arena. He also has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the individuals and/or “communities” in this region.
Maximo Salazar
Managing Director for the country of Australia
Maximo has oversight responsibility for the country of Australia. His responsibilities include directing the pro-Israel rally coordinators in Australia. And also the administrative processes for working with individual applicants (families and groups) who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim in joining the developing Bnei Anousim emerging communities of the Western Pacific. Included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the “emerging communities” in these countries.
Jonathan Perkins
Managing Director for Coordination with Jewish Communities in the USA
Yonatan has oversight responsibility (on behalf of this movement) for coordination activities with Jewish Communities in the USA (especially Sephardic communities). His responsibilities include coordinating the showing of the excellent film “Children of the Inquisition” and making an initial appeal to Holocaust Museums all over the USA. He will also coordinate Jewish Learning about the Inquisition in areas with large Jewish populations.
Rajal Hernandez
Managing Director for the country of Nicaragua
Rajal has oversight responsibility for the country of Nicaragua, where descendants of the Bnei Anousim live today. Rajal is herself also a returnee, which gives her special insights to helping other Bnei Anousim from Nicaragua. She also has responsibility for the administrative processes in working with applicants who would like help/support from Ezra L’Anousim. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets in support of all the individuals and/or “communities” in his region.
Prof. Miriam Jaskierowicz Arman
Managing Director for the countries of Italy and Malta
Miriam has oversight responsibility for the country of Italy where descendants of the Bnei Anousim live today. This responsibility also includes Calabria, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia, San Marino and Malta. Miriam is responsible for counseling and instruction in helping B’nei Anousim in their plight to attain their birth rights, and to create public awareness in the media for the plight of the B’nai Anousim in Italy and around the world. Her responsibilities include any and all conversations with the Israeli embassy, in Italy, as well as relations with the Vatican.
She is especially involved with our film project in screening the excellent film “Children of the Inquisition”, in discussing it, scheduling screenings of it, and in promoting the film, and other special projects. Also included is a responsibility for development of realistic budgets (for expenses to be paid by professional donations) in support of all the individuals and/or “communities” in her region.
Miriam is the President of Associazione per lo Sviluppo della Voce, Ebraismo e Kabala APS. She is an ambassador of peace of the Universal Peace Federation, Italy.