Meeting students affected by wars in Israel and Ukraine, understanding the impact of teacher training seminars, and seeing first-hand how apprenticeships work in ORT schools in France.
These were among the key moments as ORT leaders from around the world travelled to Paris for the three-day World ORT Council of Representatives 2025 meeting.
The largest in-person gathering of international ORT colleagues, including lay leaders and professionals, attracted dozens of participants from our programs in countries as far afield as Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, India, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, Uruguay, the United States, and of course France.
Welcoming the delegates to Paris on Sunday, Simon Alberga, Chair of the Council of Representatives, said: “We are united by a shared vision for our own countries and a shared commitment to each other.”
Two new World ORT trustees were elected – Stephane Benayoun from France, and Jon Levine from the US.
Jim Lodge, World ORT’s CEO, told the delegates of the importance of our global network, which spans 40 countries and sees more than 80,000 students taking part in educational programs.
“Through education we can change lives – and we can change the world,” he said.
Photo Gallery: World ORT Council of Representatives 2025
One session featured students who had travelled from Israel to Paris for a respite trip as part of a program to tackle trauma suffered since October 7. During a solemn and moving discussion with Dr. Moshe Leiba, World ORT Kadima Mada’s Chief Pedagogical Officer, the teenagers described the loss they felt educationally and within their schools and families.
Asaf, who studies at World ORT’s Kfar Silver Youth Village in Ashkelon, said he had travelled to Paris in memory of his cousin, Yarden, who was killed while serving in the IDF.
“I am here to speak for those who can’t and to let people know my cousin is more than a name or a number. Yarden lives inside me, through his values and the memories he created. He worked in a youth movement and was so kind,” Asaf said.
Students from the ORT-affiliated Colegio Hatikva in Barcelona, Spain, explained how their participation in programs including the annual Ecology Summer School in Panama and the Young Entrepreneurship Program had impacted their growth and understanding of the world around them. Their experiences included creating a sensor to assist people with Alzheimer’s and also memorable Shabbat moments from their time on the programs.
Dr. Conrad Giles with Isidoro Gorodischer
Among those honored in Paris were Isidoro Gorodischer, President of ORT Chile, who has dedicated more than 50 years of service to the Santiago-based organization and wider network.
He said: “I feel deeply honored. This moment is a heartfelt celebration of the power of education. I see this not as a recognition of my effort, but of ORT’s ability to build bridges and overcome challenges.”
Jacques Levy, the executive director of World ORT’s Anières Elite Academy in Israel, was also acknowledged for his decades of service and contribution ahead of his retirement.
At ORT France’s Ecole de Travail, the group learnt more about the history of the organization in France and its current schools and colleges across the country. There was also the chance to hear about the apprenticeship programs at the school, which are in high demand as vocational training and education return to the fore in France.
The historic Ecole de Travail building, in the heart of Paris’ Le Marais district, focuses on projects including construction, sustainability and renewable energy – a change from its offering at the end of the 19th century when its students trained to become locksmiths, tailors and jewellers.
During a visit to Paris’ Museum of Art and History of Judaism, the group saw a model of a synagogue made by ORT students in Casablanca in the 1950s. Recently the museum has used the models to make 3D drawings which assist blind people in learning about synagogues and the reading of the Torah.
The event concluded with a visit to the ORT school in Villiers-le-Bel, on the outskirts of Paris. The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on education was highlighted in a session led by Dr. Jorge Grunberg, Rector of Universidad ORT Uruguay, and Charles Sutton, Chief Technology Officer of DataScientest.com, a leading tech education company which trains more than 15,000 professionals a year. The company is working closely with ORT France to prepare students for the future of work.
Following a tour of the school, former participants in World ORT teacher training programs discussed the benefits of the professional development they received. The session was moderated by Dr. Louanne Smolin, Co-Chair of World ORT’s Programs, Education and Evaluation Committee and Chair of ORT America’s Executive Committee.
Teachers who graduated from World ORT’s training programs discuss the impact of their experiences
Marco Camerini, Principal of the Scuole della Comunità Ebraica in Milan, Italy, said his experience at the Hatter Seminar, an annual event focusing on technological developments in education, and on the LEAD leadership program, had been opportunities to meet international peers and “build a network of like-minded people”.
“I was able to reflect on my role, my school and our priorities,” he said. “Even though every school and country is different, most of the time the challenges and internal discussions are the same. We can share ideas and practices – collective intelligence – and solutions emerge.”
LEAD graduate Anne-Elisabeth Lenel added: “You have all the theory, the practical information, and you can make the relationships. It’s a real privilege to join in. It’s like being part of a family.
“One fellow participant from South Africa came to Paris. We gave her a tour of a school here. I have never seen this at other schools or education groups. The teachers at my own three kids’ schools have never had such opportunities.”
Dikla Fartouk, who teaches at the Villiers-le-Bel school and participated in World ORT’s Jewish Educators’ Seminar, became emotional as she described the impact of the event on her work.
“It is difficult to feel something on Zoom. It’s so important to be together for real, to meet in person. When I came back from the seminar I understood there are so many possibilities.”
In one of the most moving sessions of the event, a teacher and two students who travelled to Paris from the Odesa ORT Zhabotinski Lyceum #94 in Ukraine discussed the impact of the war in the country and ORT’s response to the crisis.
Alisa and Liora outlined how they had continued their studies online and the effect of the past three years on their families. Liora said the war, and her evacuation to live with family members outside Ukraine for a period, had made her “like a mum to my younger sister – but I was only 12 myself. ORT and school are like a second home to us, like a family”. Now aged 15, she hopes one day to make aliyah to Israel and to work as a child psychologist.
Anna Michurina, Liora and Alisa meet moderator Marc de Gunzburg
Having studied at the Odesa school since first grade, Alisa credited the institution with equipping her with transformative technical skills, including learning programming languages, which she believes will support her future aspirations to become a web developer.
Their teacher, Anna Michurina – who is also manager of ORT Ukraine’s Research and Development department – spoke of the sheer extent of the effort needed to bring education in the country back to its pre-war position.
She impressed on the audience the need to carry out repairs to the Odesa school, to help mothers of students whose fathers are not at home or not able to work, the shortage of Hebrew teachers, and the need to support teachers financially to avoid them having to take on second jobs after the school day ends.
Thanking ORT for giving her the opportunity to receive psychological support, she added: “I have not slept properly for three years, but every morning I have to go to school and continue to smile”.
The 2025 Council of Representatives drew to a close with Robert Grey, World ORT Chair, providing concluding remarks. He said the organization was focussed on working with network schools and understanding their needs amid the many ongoing challenges.