Guest Speakers and CHW Project Information
Made in Israel
November 9 - 13, 2025
GUEST SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Ashley Waxman Bakshi – DAY 3
Ashley Waxman Bakshi, a Canadian-born Israeli influencer, entrepreneur, and activist has seamlessly blended her passion for beauty with advocacy, using her platform to combat Jew-hatred and support Israel. Her commitment intensified after October 7, when her cousin Agam Berger, was taken hostage by Hamas and subsequently freed in 2025. With an MA in counterterrorism and security, and a spokesperson for @israelcitizenspox, Ashley is a powerhouse who will share her journey from beauty influencer with 389K followers to advocate, her personal connection to recent events in Israel and the diaspora, and her insights on digital advocacy.
Rolene Marks – DAY 2
Rolene Marks is a passionate advocate for Israel and appears on radio, television and in print. She is a member of the Media Team Israel an advocacy body that fights media bias as well as Truth be Told. She is the Chairperson of WIZO’s Hasbara Division.
Chef Shawna Goodman Sone – DAY 5
Shawna Goodman obtained a BA in Art History from McGill University and was awarded the McGill Scarlet Key for outstanding leadership and positive impact. She graduated from the Natural Gourmet Cooking School and the Institute of Culinary Education, both in New York City. Upon graduation, she has given classes, catered, and cooked for clients in New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, and Israel. She acted as editor of the cookbook, Panache: Montreal’s Flair for Kosher Cooking, a project of the Auxiliary of the Sir Mortimer B. David Jewish General Hospital.
Shawna is currently living in Ra’anana, Israel combining her love for food and philanthropy in creating classes that celebrate Israel’s abundance while raising awareness of local charitable organizations. She is an active member of the Jewish Funders Network and spends her time learning and visiting with various organizations in Israel. Shawna serves as Chair of the Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation.
Prof. Yoram Weiss – Day 4
Prof. Yoram Weiss is the Director General of Hadassah Medical Organization.
Previously he held the positions of Director of the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem Campus; Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology (2009-2014); and Director of the Center for Surgical Critical Care Medicine (2006-2009).
Professor Weiss received his MD from the Israel Institute of Technology – Technion, Haifa, Israel in 1990. Prof. Weiss trained in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at Hadassah and the University of Pennsylvania.
Prof. Weiss joined the Hadassah Central Administration in October 2013. At first, as the Medical Director, his principal responsibility was the reorganization of the Operating Rooms. In February 2014, he assumed the full responsibility of managing the entire Medical Center on the Ein Kerem campus. In June of this year, Prof. Yoram Weiss, MD, was officially named as the new director general of the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) in Jerusalem, the home of Hadassah’s two hospitals, Hadassah Ein Kerem and Hadassah Mount Scopus.
CHW PROJECT INFORMATION
TEC19 – DAY 2
Tech19 was established to provide quality hi-tech employment opportunities to women in the geographic periphery of Israel. Tech19 provides technical and innovative solutions to fintech, healthcare, and software companies, including prototyping, software, and hardware development. The women employed receive skills training and on-the-job support. They also become role models in their community, acting as an inspiration to the younger generation, while ensuring economic stability for their family.
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HAGAL SHELI – DAY 3
For over a decade, HaGal Sheli has empowered and educated youth nationwide to conquer life’s challenges by harnessing the transformative power of surfing, fostering personal growth, resilience, and success.
In the aftermath of the attacks on October 7, HaGal Sheli’s unique surf therapy program was expanded to serve 2,200 trauma therapy participants, including displaced individuals from the Gaza Envelope and northern communities, released hostages, Nova Festival survivors, and soldiers affected by the attacks.
HaGal Sheli plans to open over 96 new trauma groups while maintaining existing ones, enabling them to provide critical support for over 5,500 participants.
Certified surf instructors lead each weekly session throughout the program, supported by trauma specialists, clinical psychologists, educators, and mentors.
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HYDROTHERAPY POOLS – HADASSAH HOSPITAL – DAY 4
Hydrotherapy is a water-based physical therapy effective in easing pain and promoting strength and movement throughout the rehabilitation process. Water embraces and supports patients with a soothing, low-impact environment for exercise.
Temperature-controlled treatment in the hydrotherapy pools target an array of patients healing from traumatic injuries and suffering from chronic pains, helping to improve motor skills, strength, and agility. Studies have found that hydrotherapy can be a good supplement to physical therapy in the recovery from an injury or surgery. It is a medication-free and non-invasive option for alleviating symptoms such as muscle pain and joint stiffness.
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GANDEL REHABILITATION CENTER – HADASSAH HOSPITAL – DAY 4
To meet the growing demand for advanced rehabilitative services, Hadassah Hospital built the state-of-the-art Gandel Rehabilitation Center (GRC) at Mount Scopus. The rehabilitation center will care for 10,000 patients annually – a 250% increase – offering a host of new, specialized treatments.
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NETANYA TECHNOLOGICAL HIGH SCHOOL – DAY 5
CHW Netanya Technological High School offers a second chance to at-risk youth who have fallen through the cracks of traditional educational frameworks. The school offers hands-on vocational training in several tracks, including Hair and Beauty and Hospitality. The flagship Patisserie Program provides students with the emotional support and professional skills to succeed in Israel’s vibrant culinary industry.
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CHW HADASSIM CHILDREN AND YOUTH VILLAGE – DAY 5
CHW Hadassim Children and Youth Village was established in 1947 by CHW, to provide a home to orphaned children following World War II. Over the years, CHW Hadassim has grown and evolved into a safe haven for children in need. Today, there are over 1,700 students at CHW Hadassim, with more than 300 children living in dormitories and family units. CHW Hadassim provides emotional, academic, social, and behavioural support for these children, providing them with shelter, food, clothing, and access to social workers, counselors, and therapists. With each passing year, more and more children, the future citizens of the State of Israel, need the life-saving services at CHW Hadassim.
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