LINDA SCHERZER, Program Director

Linda Scherzer is a former Mideast correspondent for CNN and Israel Television with extensive experience covering the Arab-Israeli conflict. During her years with CNN, she covered the first Palestinian uprising, or intifada, the Gulf War and Mideast peace process. Scherzer was the only North American ever to work as an on-air correspondent for Mabat, Israel Television’s Hebrew news program, where she covered Arab and Palestinian affairs. She traveled to Damascus twice to report on Syrian attitudes towards the peace process and produced a one-hour documentary, “Through the Eyes of Enemies: Is the Middle East Ready for Peace” which explores opinion in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt towards Israel. Prior to joining CNN, Scherzer worked for WPTZ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Burlington, Vermont where she won five Associated Press Broadcasters Awards. Scherzer was also part of the CNN team to win a Cable Ace award for distinguished coverage of the Gulf War. Today, Scherzer is a media and public relations consultant, and advises the Jewish community on how to confront negative media images from Israel.

GARY ROSENBLATT, Founding Director

Gary Rosenblatt is editor and publisher of The Jewish Week of New York, the largest Jewish newspaper in the United States. Prior to coming to New York in 1993, Rosenblatt was editor of the Baltimore Jewish Times for 19 years. Rosenblatt is chairman of the Jewish Investigative Journalism Fund, and has won numerous awards for his writing from secular and Jewish organizations.?His analysis of the Simon Wiesenthal Center of Los Angeles was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in the category of Special Reporting in 1985. The honor marked the first time an article in a Jewish publication was cited in the Pulitzer competition, which dates back to 1917.?His investigative reporting on a rabbi alleged to have abused teenagers in his charge for three decades received international attention and won the prestigious Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism in 2000. The award is presented by the Casey Journalism Center (at the University of Maryland) for distinguished coverage of disadvantaged and at-risk U.S. children and families.

YOTAV ELIACH, Core Educator

Yotav Eliach has been an educator and administrator in Yeshiva High Schools for more than 26 years. Since 2000, he has been the Principal at Rambam Mesivta High School in Lawrence, New York. In 1978 – 1979 Eliach was the New York Metro Area Regional Director of the College Division of the American Zionist Youth Foundation. He coordinated Pro-Israel Activities on 30 campuses. Eliach, who serves as a volunteer in the Israeli Army and Israel Border Patrol, is also a public speaker who lectures on topics related to Israel, Judaism, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the IDF and the Holocaust.

TAMAR SNYDER, Alumni Coordinator

Tamar Snyder is a staff reporter at The Jewish Week, where she covers business and philanthropy. She has been involved in the Write On program for several years, serving as an advisor to both the junior and senior classes. She now coordinates alumni affairs efforts and maintains the Write On For Israel Web site and alumni Web portal. Her journalistic work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Edutopia Magazine, AOL, MSN and Inc. Magazine.