Second 'Shaliach' Joins Bnei Akiva of Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bnei Akiva of Los Angeles welcomed Eyal Fridman to serve a two-year post as Shaliach, or Emissary, for the Orthodox Jewish community in the greater Los Angeles area.

As a Bnei Akiva Shaliach, Eyal will coordinate meaningful and engaging experiential education programs focused on Israeli history and culture, Torah values, and Jewish leadership for local elementary and high school students. Eyal and his wife Toby moved from Israel in early December and will be based in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood.

"We're so excited to be part of the LA Jewish community," said Eyal. "I'm really looking forward to working with the teens and parents in this community on strengthening Shabbat, Holiday, and year-round programs that engage their strong Zionistic spirit."

Eyal joins Avi Rodan, the Shaliach based in the San Fernando Valley, who arrived in August. Avi has already begun coordinating Torah classes, leadership programming, social events, and even a Jewish rock band for the 100+ Bnei Akiva teens and young adults in Tarzana and North Hollywood.

The arrival of Eyal and Avi to Bnei Akiva comes on the heels its successful launch of Moshava Malibu, Bnei Akiva's overnight summer camp held on the grounds of The Shalom Institute in Malibu.

"Our goal at Bnei Akiva is to help teens and young adults develop the necessary leadership skills to become actively engaged in the Jewish community," said Ruth Berkowitz, President of Bnei Akiva of Los Angeles. "They can take the skills that they learn during the year-round programming, put it directly into practice by serving as counselors at Moshava Malibu, and then hone those skills over the years as they take their places as leaders in the broader Jewish community."

For more information about the year-round and summer programming of Bnei Akiva of Los Angeles, and to learn how to get involved, visit bneiakivala.org or contact Susan Glick at (310) 248-2450.

SOURCE Bnei Akiva of Los Angeles