FEBRUARY 16 • 2023 | 29

She is also the vice-chair 
of the Oakland County Bar 
Association’s Real Estate 
Committee and the Principal 
Associate Broker at NK Realty.
She and her husband, Ryan, 
like trying new restaurants 
around the Metro Detroit area 
and enjoy traveling the world. 
Nargiz was born in Baku, 
Azerbaijan, and moved to the 
United States with her family 
at the age of 9. Russian is her 
first language. 

OR SHEMER
Or is the 
associate 
director of 
professional 
credentialing 
and senior 
educator 
at The iCenter for Israel 
Education. She dedicates 
her time and energy to 
curating and facilitating Israel 
educational experiences 
for Jewish educators and 
organizations around North 
America and Israel. 
Or strives to create 
meaningful Israel-infused 
experiences that enrich 
educators with sophisticated 
and accessible content. These 
experiences are designed to 
broaden and expand ideas 
and pedagogies, bridging 
contemporary Israel and 
Israeli culture, as an avenue 
to inspire how Israel can 
be brought to Jewish 
communities across North 
America. 
Most recently, Or shaped, 
directed and facilitated 
Birthright Israel Fellows and 
the Certificate Program, two 
signature training initiatives 
offered by The iCenter.
Originally from Hod 
Hasharon, Israel, Or grew 
up in a secular-traditional 
Israeli home, immersed in 
Iraqi and Ashkenazi Jewish 
traditions. She is a certified 

Israeli tour educator who 
led many Birthright Israel 
groups, March of the Living 
delegations, Jewish teen 
trips and more. She has a 
BA in Israel studies from the 
University of Haifa and an 
MA in Israel Education from 
The George Washington 
University and The iCenter.
In 2018, Or served as the 
Jewish Agency Israel Fellow 
at the University of Michigan 
Hillel. During her time at 
Michigan Hillel, she brought 
nuanced Israel education 
and innovative engagement 
opportunities to the Hillel 
community of professional 
staff, students and faculty. 
Her legacy includes 
designing and implementing 
Michigan Hillel’s first Campus 
Leaders Trip to Israel, 
supporting a pluralistic array 
of Israel groups and leaders, 
developing the curriculum for 
new Israel education courses 
and co-facilitating new Israel 
classes for the Hillel students.
Or lives in Ann Arbor with 
her wife, Tilly, their daughter 
Maya and two cats, Fanny 
and Kevin. Coming from 
Israel, she loves experiencing 
the seasons of Michigan and 
still gets excited seeing the 
first snowfall of the year (and 
shoveling it). 

RACHEL 
DEVRIES
Rachel 
Devries, 
raised in West 
Bloomfield, 
is a proud 
graduate of 
Hillel Day School and the 
Frankel Jewish Academy, 
a lifelong member of Adat 
Shalom Synagogue and 
alumna of Tamarack Camps. 
Rachel’s connection to the 
southeast Michigan Jewish 
community runs deep.
Rachel earned a bachelor’s 

continued on page 30

Helmets off to our amazing Hockey Showdown 
Coordinator on his inclusion in JN’s "36 Under 
36" recognition! 

Whether he’s scoring goals or garnering 
donations, Avrumi always puts his heart and 
soul into everything that he does.

Sponsored by a friend of
Matan B’Seter Detroit

Congratulations to 

Dr. Elena Luchina for 
being selected as one 
of The Jewish News’ 
36 Under 36.

 Mazel Tov!

