Meet Our Staff
Committed to Our Campers
Dr. Tamir Rotman
Director of Change
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Clark University in Massachusetts), Tamir is a practicing psychologist, working both inside and outside of the therapy room with youth from various cultures, difficulties and needs. Among others, Dr. Rotman have spent 20 summers at Camp Ojibwa in the Wisconsin North Woods, 2 years as the clinical director at “Lotan’s Way”, a not-for-profit specializes in desert-wilderness therapeutic expeditions for at-risk youth, and a milieu psychologist in residential care settings for troubled youth both in the U.S. and in Israel.
Tzahi Billet
Program Director
M.A. in Public Administration and certified group counsellor-facilitator, DBT specialist, and 12-step group facilitator, Tzahi is an avid educator with vast experience in the field of residential care, at-risk youth and crisis intervention. In the past 10 years and since its inception, Tzahi worked at “Nirim”, a youth village for troubled youth with a focus on outdoor therapy in many roles, including guidance, supervision, and management. Tzahi is a proud father of 5 wonderful children.
Uri Hetz
Director of Experimental Education
M.A. in natural and environmental resource management, B.SC. in biology from Haifa University, and a teaching certificate from Oranim College. Uri taught for 6 years at the Hebrew Reali School in Haifa in many roles, including elementary age teacher, biology teacher and homeroom teacher at the junior-high level, and high school finals prep teacher. In the reserve-forces Uri advanced to the level of a compppany commander. In 2012 Uri lived in Berlin, Germany. On his return to Israel, Uri with his wife moved to Kibbutz Hazorea where he integrated into the educational system while leading Israeli and international youth projects, some in collaboration with the Reali school and the Kibbutz. Uri’s main role at Free Spirit is our integration into Kibbutz life and culture.
Rami Bader
Managing Director
Rami’s passions are sailing and teaching. A successful and prolific entrepreneur and investor, Rami dedicated much of his spare time to teaching sailing in Israel’s sailing clubs. At Free Spirit, Rami directs our sailing program and heads our amazing Cyprus expedition. He adds a significant value as an instructor and a mentor to our youth, able to reach and teach the secrets of sailing to our various youth and young adults. Rami also brings to the table as a mentor his incredible experience from the world of startups and business entrepreneurship around the globe. In his role at Free Spirit, he focuses on business development, administration and collaborations.
Nili Shai-Mor
M.A. in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University (Boulder, CO). Nili brings an extensive educational and milieu therapy experience working with at risk youth and adolescent psychiatric population in multi-cultural settings. Nili also draws upon her individual and group therapy work with students at the Naropa Counseling Center. Currently Nili is teaching Group Process class in Reidman College’s Transpersonal Psychotherapy program in Israel. As a practitioner of meditation and yoga, Nili brings present moment awareness into therapy in the form of experiential and body centered work. She believes in people’s inherent qualities and facilitates a safe space to explore their own inner wisdom on the journey towards health and wholeness.
Yuval Gofer
B.A in Psychology at Reichman University in Herzliya and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Utrecht University, Holland. Worked three years at the NPO “Lotan’s Way” as a wilderness therapist, and two years in “Galei Yam”, a therapeutic hostel for at risk youth. Yuval has a holistic perspective and combines Buddhistic elements in therapy such as in-the-moment practice and mindfulness tools. Additionally, Yuval believe in building healthy relationship between people as a key element for well-being. Yuval loves sailing, he is a certified skipper, and therefore an integrative part of our Cyprus expedition. Yuval is also a musician, plays the saxophone and piano, and frequently plays music in the program as a natural and fun way to connect and create together.
Yasmin Raanan
Born at Kiryat Shmona and raised in Metula, a beautiful town lays on the Lebanese border. Yasmin has a Bachelor in Education, and for the past 16 years she has worked as an educator and a consular for teens (13-18), mostly in Kibbutzim in North Israel and in the Golan Heights. Yasmin personal tool box includes also theater and drama, which she finds useful as an instrument to empower youngsters, as it allows them to express themselves an individuals and as a group in a unique way. For Yasmin, education is a life-long mission, and she enjoys impact the next generation, and equip them with useful skills and positive spirit. Yasmin lives in Kibbutz Hazorea with her husband, kids and their dog, Chello.