Meet the Team
Dorron Kline (CEO)
Dorron Kline was born in Cape Town and grew up in Bulawayo and Johannesburg. In 1985, after matriculating at Yeshiva College, he made Aliyah through Bnei Akiva and served in the IDF as a combat lone soldier in the tank corps. He completed his BA (Psychology) and MA (Education) at Bar Ilan University and obtained his Orthodox Rabbinic Ordination from the “Ariel Institute for Religious Judges” in Jerusalem. Dorron and his wife, Cindy, have five daughters and a granddaughter. In 2002, his family relocated to South Africa, where Dorron served as the Aliyah Shaliach and Director of the Israel Centre. Since their return to Israel in 2006, he has worked at Telfed, becoming the CEO in 2013. Dorron works closely with the staff, Directorate and Executive Council in order to ensure that Telfed is the premier oleh organisation, supporting and enabling former Southern Africans and Australians to participate in and contribute to Israeli society.
[email protected] / 09 790 7818
Nava Lapid (Chief Operating Officer - COO)
A graduate of Tel Aviv University, Nava completed her BA (Economics and Management) and MBA (Accounting and Finance), before entering the corporate world. She joined Telfed in 2008 with 20 years experience in some of Israel's most well-known companies. Nava brings a wealth of experience in Management and is in charge of the general operation of Telfed, including financial and legal matters pertaining to the organisation, the real estate portfolio, Trust Funds under Telfed’s administration and the organisation’s human resources.
Nava is married to a South African Oleh, and they have three daughters.
[email protected] / 09 790 7803
Daniela Shapira - Aliyah and Klita Advisor
Daniela hails from the Netherlands and is married to a former South African. In her previous jobs, serving the community has always played a big role and she enjoys providing this service for our Olim as well. Daniela provides information, guidance and social connections for Olim, both Pre and Post Aliyah, to ensure that they have a smooth and successful klita. Daniela is also part of Telfed's Lone Soldier Committee and is in touch with SA and AU Lone Soldiers accordingly.
[email protected] / 09 790 7804 / WhatsApp 058 660 8048
Yael Strausz - Employment Advisor
Yael made Aliyah from the USA with her family immediately after the Yom Kippur war, and is familiar with the challenges facing new Olim. She served in the IDF’s 8200 unit, receiving outstanding soldier commendation. After her army duty, Yael completed her MSc (Biology) at Hebrew University. Yael joined a start-up company that advanced education in developing countries, where she established the marketing and sales departments, developed and implemented sophisticated IT systems, and spent a number of years recruiting for a variety of positions. The company grew to 50 employees and Yael retired after 18 years from the position of CEO. In 2016, Yael decided to invest her energy in the 3rd sector – where she discovered Telfed. Yael is responsible for the employment department at Telfed. She has since become a career and life coach, and, utilizing her experience in recruitment and management, has developed Telfed’s abilities to support new and veteran Olim in their job searches, and in their preparations for Aliyah. New and veteran Olim are welcome to consult Yael with issues pertaining to employment.
[email protected] / 09 790 7815 / WhatsApp 054 616 9407
Ariela Siegel - Social Worker
Ariela is Telfed’s resident Social Worker and manages all matters relating to new Olim and their absorption. She is in charge of professional counseling and assistance for new and veteran Olim.
Prior to obtaining her degree in Social Work from Haifa University, Ariela completed her first degree in Economics and Business Management. Before joining Telfed, Ariela worked in a municipal programme where the empowerment of young Olim was central to her work. She uses her expertise in these fields in guiding our Olim. Ariela is a mother of three and is married to an Oleh.
[email protected] / 09 790 7821
Dafna Rosenfeld - Olim Housing Manager
Dafna manages Telfed’s three subsidised rental buildings in Tel Aviv and Ra’anana with 105 apartments and more than two hundred tenants. Dafna was born and raised in Israel, and has three children. She completed her BA (Sociology & Far East Studies) at Hebrew University and her MBA (Accounting & Finance) at Ono Academic College. Dafna worked in the hi-tech industry for 15 years before joining Telfed in 2013.
[email protected] / 09 790 7808
Michelle Nathan - Volunteerism, Community Projects & Events
Michelle is responsible for volunteerism, community projects and events at Telfed. She develops community projects and co-ordinates events while recruiting, training and coaching the regional and office volunteers. Michelle made Aliyah with her family from Durban in August 2021. For her as a new Olah, building a community is key. She loves connecting people and is passionate about conceptualising and creating wonderful events.
[email protected] / 09 790 7805 / WhatsApp 054 885 9796
Alona Zamir - Scholarships: PRAS, Financial Need & SASI
Alona is responsible for Telfed's scholarship programmes - PRAS, Financial Need-based scholarships and SASI (South Africans Studying In Israel). She completed her BA in English Literature and Linguistics at Bar Ilan University prior to completing her MA in Communications at Hebrew University. Alona has extensive experience in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. She is a former Marketing Director at Steimatzky, she served as the Spokesperson for Yehud Monosson, she is a former Student Enrolment Manager at Lirom - Study in Israel, and she worked as the Culture and Community Manager at Tur Itzhak before joining Telfed. Together with her husband and three sons, Alona has met many former South Africans in her community in Kochav Yair.
[email protected] / 09 790 7811
Nicole Trope - Community Awareness
Nicole is responsible for media and community engagement at Telfed. Born in Johannesburg, Nicole completed her MA (Political Science) in South Africa. Nicole has worked with multilateral organisations, think tanks and community organisations. She made Aliyah with her husband in 2010. She has three children and only one still has a South African accent.
[email protected] / 09 790 7825
Miriam Lipshitz - Olim Liaison
Miriam was born in Bulawayo, married a Capetonian, and together with their 3 Johannesburg-born children made Aliyah in 2003. With a background in education and librarianship, Miriam is the Office Manager and, usually, your first point of contact when phoning Telfed or coming into our office. She assists our Social Worker and Aliyah and Klita Advisor.
[email protected] / 09 790 7801
Simone Jubiler - Resource Development
Simone made Aliyah with her family from Johannesburg in 2021. She has a background in Office Management and Operations and has worked across various industries and sectors - including non-profit organisations and educational institutions in South Africa. She is part of the Community Resource Development team.
[email protected] / 09 790 7819
Ofra Yechiel - Resource & Technology Development
Ofra graduated from Tel Aviv University with a BSc (Computer Science) in the Academic Reserve Programme. She served in the IDF's Tikshuv (Mamram) unit before working in the hi-tech industry. Ofra joined Telfed in 2019 and brings invaluable knowledge and new skills to the resource development department.
[email protected] / 09 790 7812
Devorie Piekarski - Bookkeeper
Devorie joined the Telfed team in 2022. She is responsible for daily bookkeeping, preparation of bank deposits, journal entries / bank reconciliations, payments to vendors and preparation of trial balances and working papers for the annual financial audit.
[email protected] / 09 790 7820