Meet BIG IDEA Gap Year staff

Our Staff is here to answer any question about our gap program in Israel.
Check if BIG IDEA is the right program for you - Click here

Educational Staff

Gali Erez
Program Director

This is Gali’s 3rd year at the program and her first year as the program director. Last year, she created programs and trips around Israel for the participants and got to follow the group closely. She is very excited to meet the new participants who will arrive to Israel in a few weeks. Gali was born in Jerusalem and lived most of her life in Hod Ha’Sharon, Israel. During high school, she spent a year living in Boston, MA, and was very active as a madricha in the Israeli Scouts (Tzofim) – Shevet Ofek! Her IDF service included leading new Olim in the border police. After two years as a Youth Coordinator in a small community in the Negev, she worked as a coordinator for ALUT (the Israeli Society for Autistic Children) in Be’er Sheva, and was also leading a group of Israeli gap year volunteers. She also have 7 years of experience in Jewish summer camps- in the USA, Greece, and also at BIG IDEA tech camps in Israel. Gali has a BA from Ben Gurion university in informal education, at-risk youth, and geography, and this is going to be her 6th year living and enjoying the Negev – she can’t wait to meet everyone and show them some of what the Negev and Be’er Sheva have to offer!

Shai Eshed Bachar
Coordinator

Shai is a 23 years old, young, ambitious and diverse individual.

After getting her real estate agent license this year, Shai started Working in partners and affiliations department and was promoted to be the digital marketing manager for CDI-Negev (center for digital innovation in the Negev).
For the past year, Shai also worked as an active artist-painter as well as an independent lecturer for self-development and public speaking.
In her army service served as a commander and trained the new commanders of the Unit.
Was an Israeli shlichah for a summer camp in South Africa.
Was the CIT (counselors in training) unit-head for the BigIdea summer camp in Israel.

Adi Dardi
Counselor

Adi is 25 years old, energetic, positive and loves to work with people. Currently studying for her BA in Political Science and Psychology at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev. In the recent years, Adi taught teenagers about leadership cand counseling in Beer Sheva, was a Madrichah (counselor) in ‘Massa Program Career’ Israel and worked as a tour guide at Ben-Gurion’s House-museum. Adi served an Israeli Shlicha (emissary) of the Jewish Agency. Her long term shlichut included 2 summer camps at URJ Camp Newman and one year working in a Jewish Congregation in San Francisco. Last Year Adi worked as a Workshop Coordinator in Big Idea Summer Camp in New Jersey. Over the years she had a lot of experience working with international teenagers and young adults. She is super excited to meet you and be part of this amazing journey!

Leadership Staff

Dotan Tamir
Founder and CEO

Dotan is a tech education enthusiast who started coding himself when he was 9 years old. While in high-school, he led computer camps and courses for kids and he has never let go of this passion since then. In the IDF, Dotan served in a special technology unit and after his service, he worked for an Israeli start-up company. In 2007 Dotan founded the international technology summer camp in Israel, which was the root for all the programs BIG IDEA offers today.

Nir Gad
VP

Nir has many years of experience in international summer camps in Israel and has a variety of roles in America, and in eCamp since 2010. Nir also served as the Jewish Agency Shaliach at the Jewish Federation of Kansas City. He has a BA in management in behavioral science from Ben Gurion University.

Erez Roll
Chairman

Erez holds an Executive MBA in Business Management from TAU. Erez is a board member in many non-profit youth development organizations such as “Variety”, and Nahar-Hayrden-Youth-Village”. He is also a business mentor in IVN . In 1986, Erez founded “Lafayette”, which imported many new kids and teen brands to the Israeli market, an later established the first commercial website for kids in Israel – “Cool toys”. In 2003, he was amongst the founders of the first Summer Camp in Israel for Jewish teens from around the world.

Eran Lasser
Sr. Tech Advisor

Eran is a former commander in Mamram, the IDF’s IT & Cyber Academy. In 1994, Eran established the successful Israeli private IT college- John Bryce Training, that within 5 years from its establishment, had dominated the Israeli market. Later on, he founded John Bryce in Hungary, Turkey and in China. Eran was a prestige member of the worldwide Microsoft’s Partner Advisory Council for training and learning. Today, he is the Executive Chairman of Extreme Group, and an Early Investor and Senior Advisor for Israeli Hi-tech investments in Synergy China Funds. Eran is one of the famous “faces” of Israel’s well known “Startup Nation”. Eran holds a BSC in Computer and Mathematics from Bar Ilan University, and is a Graduate of the IDF IT training programming track, with 7 years of Military Service.

Our Story

BIG IDEA Educational Projects Ltd. has been creating meaningful experiences in Israel for young adults and teens since 2008. We strive to be the leading organization in Israel and in the Jewish communities around the world in informal education in the fields of innovation, creativity, technology, and science. Every year, thousands of participants get together to create, invent and design at various BIG IDEA programs.

Our Vision

To foster a curious generation that loves to explore and think, to provide each and every one with the tools to fulfill his and her potential and to be a source for big ideas that generate change, with community, multiculturalism and Israeli innovation as its core values.

FROM THE MEDIA

Article on JTA - After high school, try a break in Israel >>
Article on New York Jewish Week - Israeli Gap Year, High-Tech Style >>

Our Educational Guidelines

Innovation and Creativity
Israel - the Start-Up Nation
Leadership and Social Impact

Additional programs

BIG IDEA International Tech Camps in Israel
Onward Israel tech Internships - Engineering and recherche
BIG IDEA @The JCC: Hi-Tech Day Camp in partnerships with local JCCs - Kaplen JCC on The Palisades, JCC Chicago, Bender JCC of Greater Washington DC and more.