In honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut, we will be having a conversation on Zoom with Orr Grosman and Reuven Remez. Orr and Reuven are two Israel fellows serving in the state of North Carolina, and both served in the IDF. They will share with us about their army experience, and how it has changed who they are and their connection to Israel. Rabbi Dr. Jenny Solomon will host this panel-style event followed by a Q&A.

About our panelists:
Orr Grosman is serving as the inaugural Israel Fellow for Wake Forest, Elon, and High Point Universities, three campuses of the Triad Hillels of North Carolina partnership. Orr comes to the Triad from Boston University, where he spent the past two years as the Jewish Agency Israel Fellow fostering relationships, creating dialogue, and successfully creating meaningful and fun programs to engage university students with Israel. Originally from a Moshav near Jerusalem, Orr brings professional experience in high-tech and start-up companies, such as IBM and Guesty. He also served as a Chanich (Camp Professional) in Habonim Dror UK and Taglit Chile, led a summer camp in RSY UK, and is a fellow (and proud alum) of Stand With Us at Tel Aviv University. Orr holds a double degree in Social Sciences and Humanities from Tel Aviv University.

Reuven Remez is the Jewish Agency Israel Fellow at Duke University. Born and raised in Jerusalem, Reuven grew-up and became an active member at the Reform-Reconstructionist Congregation Mevakshei Derech. In his three years of mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces, he rose to Staff Sergeant as an anti-aircraft missile crew leader and was named an outstanding serviceman at all levels of the Aerial Defense Array and the Israel Air Force, up to a decoration by then-President Shimon Peres. Reuven then interned at the Milken Institute, Santa Monica, CA, before enrolling in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he majored in International Relations with a History minor. During his undergraduate studies, Reuven worked at the university's Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, first as research assistant to its acting chairman, Ambassador Moshe Arad, and then as program coordinator in the Institute's Events Department. He recently completed his master’s degree in European studies at the Hebrew University, which included terms at Heidelberg University, Germany, and Vienna University, Austria.