Dr. Noam Weissman is the Executive Vice President of OpenDor Media (Unpacked). He spearheads the educational vision and content creation at OpenDor Media. Noam has led the expansion of the Unpacked For Educators division, which is used by thousands of educators across the globe, and recently launched a new platform for independent schools to teach about Israel and antisemitism, called ConnectED.
Noam earned his doctoral degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California, specializing in curriculum design. His dissertation, “Approaching Israel Education,” advocates for a fresh perspective on learning about the modern State of Israel, emphasizing Zionist identity development, narrative formation, and fostering a mature, empathetic relationship with Israel. He is the host of “Unpacking Israeli History,” and co-host of “Wondering Jews,” both top trending podcasts.
Prior to joining OpenDor Media, Noam served as the principal of Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles. He is married to Raizie Erreich and they are the proud parents of four incredible kids.
Avi Posen is the VP of ConnectED, where he leads the UED team and the broader educational vision, oversees content development, and supports educators around the world in teaching about Israel and Judaism with nuance, confidence, and clarity.
For six years, Avi has helped shape Unpacked for Educators’ platform, curriculum, and global community. He brings extensive experience as a former Jewish day school teacher, Hillel director, and Jewish camp director, and has trained educators and spoken to audiences across Israel, North America, Europe, South Africa and Australia. Avi holds a Master’s degree in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University and has been published in various educational journals, as well as in Ynet and The Times of Israel.
Yoni Buckman is a passionate Jewish educator who helps learners explore Israel, Jewish identity, and complex contemporary issues with nuance and empathy. Drawing on over a decade of experience, he meets people where they are—from elementary students to seasoned educators—using authentic dialogue, storytelling, and multimedia to make challenging topics accessible and engaging. Through his work with ConnectED and Unpacked for Educators, Yoni empowers teachers and communities to facilitate meaningful conversations that build understanding across differences and cultivate curiosity in diverse settings.
He currently serves as the education lead for Unpacked Junior, directs the Unpacked Teen Leadership Fellowship, and manages educator relationships across the western United States.
Dr. Jonathan Golden is the Founder of HeartStance Education Consulting. He teaches at the Hebrew College in Boston and for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. Previously, he served as the Israel Curriculum Coordinator and a history teacher at Gann Academy, a pluralistic Jewish high school in Waltham, MA where he taught from 1999 to 2023.
A graduate of Princeton University, Jonathan received his M.J.Ed. from Hebrew College and Ph.D. from Brandeis University. At Brandeis, he studied American Jewish history under the tutelage of Professor Jonathan Sarna and wrote a dissertation entitled From Cooperation to Confrontation: The Rise and Fall of the Synagogue Council of America. Jonathan has participated in the Schusterman Center Summer Institute for Israel Studies which in 2022 included participants from Abraham Accords countries (Morocco, Bahrain, UAE), and has taught the Myra Kraft Seminar on Israel to first year students of the Hornstein program at Brandeis University.
At Unpacked for Educators, Jonathan leads our professional development course offerings for educators and schools. A skilled teacher coach, his expertise lies in guiding schools to integrate Israel education holistically across multiple grades and subject areas. He drives UED’s growing work with Jewish camps and presents regularly at conferences for both Unpacked for Educators and ConnectED.
Lauren Grunsfeld is a dedicated educator with 25 years of classroom experience teaching English literature and history to middle and high school students. Passionate about the intersection of text, identity, and history, she helps students connect historical moments to the world they live in today.
Lauren developed an integrated Judaic and general studies curriculum at Barkai Yeshiva that continues to be used by teachers today. She also authors a weekly parsha source sheet designed to sharpen students’ textual analysis skills while exploring how the Torah shapes and guides character and values.
Lauren holds a BA in English and Psychology from Brooklyn College and an MA in Jewish Education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her deep love for the Jewish people, its history and the history of Israel fuels her commitment to helping young people understand not just what happened, but why it matters.
At Unpacked for Educators, Lauren brings her passion for teaching, textual analysis, and Israel education to shaping our curriculum development and educational resources, empowering educators to teach about Israel and Judaism with nuance, confidence, and clarity.
Lauren lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters, and is the proud mother of two sons living in Israel.
Hona Dodge is a dedicated educator committed to strengthening Jewish identity and community. Based in Israel, he leads our international network of educators, with a focus on partnerships in Australia, South Africa, and the UK. He teaches both local Israeli groups and visiting groups, including gap year students, and contributes to The Weekly, our current events newsletter for the classroom. Before making Aliyah, Hona spent years teaching and leading in Melbourne, Australia where he served as Head of Jewish Life at Leibler Yavneh College. He holds degrees in Law, Commerce, and Education.
Keren Horn is a passionate Jewish educator with expertise in curriculum development, with a focus on Israel and Holocaust education. She is an experienced classroom teacher who, during her time at Yavneh Academy, created and facilitated a comprehensive Israel education program that remains a cornerstone of the school’s middle school curriculum. Keren has presented widely on Israel and Zionism to educators, teens, and parents across the U.S., and holds a Master’s in Education in Learning, Cognition, and Development from Rutgers University.
At Unpacked for Educators, Keren directs the Unpacked Scholars program, a national teen initiative exploring Jewish identity, Israel, and belonging, and leads our work with the Michael Kay Israel Fellowship at the Weber School in Atlanta.
