Zvi Levran

Posted/updated: September 15, 2009

Zvi Levran was born in New York (1956) and has lived in Israel for 30 years. While in the U.S. he worked in Jewish education in numerous school and camp settings and organized for Israel on college campuses, eventually directing the Student Department of the American Zionist Youth Foundation.

Zvi graduated Brandeis University (BA, Jewish History) and later obtained an MA from the Hebrew University in Jewish History and Jewish Education.

Since arriving in Israel he has worked for the “Melitz Centers for Jewish-Zionist Education” as facilitator and supervisor, coordinator of Diaspora Staff Training, staff member of the Israel Experience School and as shaliach (Israeli Emissary) in New York. He has taught Jewish history in Israeli High schools (three years) and has served as educational staff for numerous American programs in Israel, including the Young Judaea Year Course and Rockland Community College.

Zvi is a licensed tour guide and has been a member of the staff of Archaeological Seminars. He is an education officer (lieutenant) in the IDF reserves and has also studied at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies and the Kerem Teachers Seminar.

Zvi and his wife Debbi, a lawyer, live in Jerusalem and are the parents of two boys, Yaniv (16) and Amit (13), and a girl, Noa (9).

Zvi’s educational style and technique are influenced by his non-formal and formal teaching experience with adults and youth.  Drama, costumes, dialogue and role-plays often accompany the presentation of history, sites and issues. Biblical and traditional texts along with modern poetry, prose and music provide additional stimuli for discussion and analysis.  Values are discussed and dilemmas are raised in an objective manner that is participant focused, making for a lively exchange of ideas and opinions amongst varied ages.  In addition, Zvi’s summer camp background in the U.S. and his nature and hiking experiences in Israel provide the know-how for developing and framing “off the beaten track” and “people to people” experiences in a positive atmosphere with group bonding.

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