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David Glass 

If home is where the heart is, then Lior Zisser-Yogev must have two hearts. How else can you explain the pull that brought her back to Michigan after a summer at Camp Tamarack as part of the first Israeli Camper Program… 21 years ago?  

Fast forward to now, and Lior is here to call Detroit home for the next three years, serving as our community’s new Shlicha. Hebrew for Israeli emissary, Shlicha live and work in communities like ours to assist in the strengthening of local Jewish identity and our connection to Israel. They provide a living bridge to Israel by promoting Israeli experiences, facilitating Jewish social activism and speaking authentically about faith and culture. 

Lior grew up in Givat Ella in Emek Izrael in Detroit’s Partnership2Gether region, and after meeting the Jewish community of Michigan at camp, decided to get involved in Shlichut and Israel education.  

After finishing her army service as a combat soldier and a teacher, Lior worked in other Jewish summer camps and spent two years as a community Shlicha in Illinois, and even a summer as a Shlicha in Sydney, Australia. 

Lior has a BA in Education and Political Science, and MA in Public Policy and Management (both from the Hebrew University) and a teaching certificate in civil studies. For the past eight years Lior worked for different ministries in the Israeli government in various roles.  

Lior is here with her husband Gil, a mechanical engineer, and her two daughters- Zeve (7) and Rona (4), and says, “We are so excited to feel the warm Michigan welcome and become a part of this special community.” 

So, what are Lior’s hopes and aspirations during her time in Detroit?  Toda raba for asking: 

What are you most looking forward to as our new Detroit community Shlicha? 

“I’m looking forward to start collaborating with many different and diverse groups and congregations within the Jewish community and creating more programs that will bring Israel to as many Detroiters as possible. I want to get more people involved with Israel and feel connected to the people living there.” 

What kind of programs/events do you want to initiate to help build the bridge between Israel and Detroit? 

“I come from the field of government work and public service in Israel, and those are the things I’m most passionate about. I am planning to start a group of learners about Israel’s policies in various aspects and expose people here to the good (and bad) of Israel’s policy in the fields of education, public health, housing, infrastructure, economy, social services and more. I feel that Israel has so much to learn from the Jewish community here — and I’d like to bring some of these best practices back to Israel.” 

What has surprised you the most about being back in Michigan?  

“It was incredible to see the unity of the Metro-Detroit Jewish community — even with all the different sects and the multiple congregations that live in the area. There is a sense of brotherhood and connection here among all Jewish people that I wish we had in Israel among the various groups that live in the country.” 

We can’t wait for you to meet Lior and help her forge a more meaningful bond between Israel and Jewish Detroit. Her email is zisser-yogev@jfmd.org. Please feel free to contact her about anything regarding Israel, or just to say “Shalom.”