Meet The Experts
When you are ready to plan a group tour for your community or your family, there is no better first step than to talk to an expert at Ayelet Tours. Travel involves an infinite number of moving pieces – hotel rooms, guides, rentals, reservations, meals, flights, insurance, special requests, program logistics and more. Booking your group tour with the experts at Ayelet Tours will save you hours of bottomless internet research and connect you to a network of trusted travel professionals. You will also gain access to guidance throughout the pre-tour planning process and during the tour itself. We are here to help make certain that your dream becomes a reality!
Our Team
Our program development experts are backed by our outstanding operational and customer service team, many of whom have been at Ayelet for well over a decade (or two…or even three!). All of us are dedicated to providing our tour participants with personalized attention, making sure their travel experience is first-rate not just during the trip, but throughout the planning process.
Diane Rubtchinsky
Founder and President Diane Rubtchinsky, began her professional life as a teacher for troubled youth. After many challenging and rewarding years in education, while still raising her 3 children, Diane needed a change. In the mid-1980s (aka ancient times), she began planning tours for family and friends. Soon she connected with a local travel agency to print tickets and use an extra desk in the office. While there, Diane planned and escorted her first Israel tour in 1984 – an interfaith journey led by Rabbi Martin Silverman and Bishop Howard Hubbard from her home-town of Albany, NY. It was on this tour that Diane’s dream of an agency specializing in Israel and open to every faith and nationality was first conceived. Working from her kitchen table, she took a leap of faith and founded a start-up, focusing on religious-based travel to Israel. The rest is history! Ayelet Tours moved out of the kitchen and into real offices in 1986. For over 3 decades, Diane has fostered a reputation for integrity and innovation in the Israel and Jewish heritage travel market. She was one of the first to offer B’nai Mitzvah tours to Israel, created tours behind the iron curtain before the fall of the USSR, and was early to act upon the interest in travel to Cuba as relations with the US improved. Diane continues to offer her visionary leadership at Ayelet Tours, and her warm and caring guidance to congregational leaders and private families, planning unforgettable travel experiences to Israel and beyond. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband to visit with their eight grandchildren!!
Jeff Rubtchinsky
Ayelet Tours’ CEO Jeff Rubtchinsky, grew up in Albany, NY and spent many a grade school afternoon at the Ayelet office stamping or filing brochures, the travel world equivalent of starting in the mail room. After graduating university, working in finance, and staffing a year-long around-the-world bicycle tour, Jeff returned to Ayelet Tours full time in 2001. Jeff has traveled to over 60 countries, including dozens of trips to Israel and Europe and multiple trips to South America and Cuba. He has created meaningful congregational and family tours for hundreds of congregations to these destinations and beyond. When Jeff isn’t traveling or helping plan transformative travel experiences, he can be found enjoying time with his wife and two children in their home city of San Diego, or working on improving his backhand slice.
Seffie Epstein
Seffie Epstein has been working in Israeli tourism for more than 30 years. He began as a hotelier in Jerusalem, continued his career as an Israeli tour coordinator, and in the early 1990s moved his entire family to Albany, NY to help manage day to day operations at Ayelet Tours.
He returned to Israel in 2015 to act as Ayelet Tours’ on-the-ground coordinator for all Ayelet groups in Israel as together we meet new challenges and continue to grow. In addition to coordinating groups in Israel, Seffie creates all Hadassah National Missions to Israel, and coordinates many of our largest specialty programs. Seffie’s guidance to congregational leaders in planning unforgettable travel experiences to Israel and beyond, as well as his mentorship to many of our own staff, is invaluable.
He is a certified Israeli tour guide, and is well known in professional Jewish circles for his creative solutions to touring challenges, and his innovative approach to program coordination. When not at work, Seffie enjoys traveling with his wife to explore the world, and visiting their five children and growing number of grandchildren!
Doron Epstein
An Israeli native, Doron moved as a child with his family to Albany, NY. There, his father helped run Ayelet Tours for close to 2 decades, and Doron grew up as an Israeli in America.
With high school graduation, Doron returned to Israel to join the IDF. Upon completing his mandatory service, Doron continued through the IDF officer training course, then spent several years commanding troops in Gaza and elsewhere, including during operation Pillar of Defense.
After the IDF, Doron followed his father’s footsteps into the tourism field, working in our Israel sister office, where he operated groups including Federations, universities, interfaith and congregational tours to Israel. During that time, he also completed the Israel guide course and became a licensed Israeli guide. Today Doron lives in the Czech Republic as Ayelet’s full time European representative. He divides his time between crafting Israel touring programs for our clients, and traveling around Europe to help coordinate our groups, keep in touch with the various European Jewish communities, and search for the next “big thing” in European Jewish travel. Doron’s knowledge and experience, along with his fresh and innovative way of looking at things, makes him the perfect person to plan your next trip to Israel, or throughout the Jewish World.
Bill Cartiff
For over 25 years, Tour Leader Bill Cartiff has dedicated himself to leading Jewish groups around the globe. Following his passion, and living by the adage that “Not all who wander are lost,” Bill has led thousands of Jewish travelers to over 60 countries touching all seven continents. Bill never underestimates the meaning of helping people explore the world. He is committed to providing a carefree travel experience with personalized attention, action-packed itineraries, a warm & welcoming environment and meaningful memories meant to last a lifetime. Bill knows that each trip is unique, but what remains consistent is a commitment to making certain that all guests enjoy an unparalleled travel experience. Bill’s passion and expertise, along with his years of leading groups around the world, makes him the perfect person to help plan or host your next group tour.
Izzy Khamani
Born in Israel, Izzy spent his formative years in South Africa. He returned to Israel as a young adult with a better accent to call Israel home once again. His transcontinental journey has nurtured a unique perspective strengthened by his many years as an Israel specialist and tour operator crafting immersive trips both in Israel and around the globe. Izzy was deeply involved in Ayelet’s operations in Israel for much of the last decade, and now manages our operations team, traveling regularly between Israel and Albany, NY (it is a short commute!). He is a devoted father of three, and when the weather and time allows, you’ll find him soaring the skies, piloting radio-controlled planes.
Our Scholars
Our scholars bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to every journey, enriching the travel experience with their expertise in history, culture, and religion. Many of our scholars have been leading tours with Ayelet for years, offering participants unique insights and a deeper connection to each destination. They are dedicated to providing thoughtful, engaging educational experiences that enhance the entire travel adventure.
Professor Stephen Berk
Professor Stephen Berk is a distinguished scholar and professor of Holocaust and Jewish Studies at Union College in Schenectady, New York. He is renowned for his expertise in modern Jewish history, Russian history, and the history of the Middle East. With a career spanning decades, Professor Berk has authored numerous publications and lectured extensively on topics related to the Holocaust, Israel, and Jewish identity. His engaging style and deep knowledge have made him a sought-after speaker, guiding educational tours and providing participants with meaningful insights into the complex histories of the regions they explore.
Professor Natan Meir
Dr. Natan Meir is a respected scholar of Jewish social, cultural, and religious history, specializing in the lives of Eastern European Jews. Currently based in Oregon, Dr. Meir has earned international recognition for his groundbreaking research and his consultancy work with institutions like Moscow’s Jewish Museum. His most recent book, Stepchildren of the Shtetl, sheds light on the marginalized communities within Jewish Eastern Europe, including the disabled, mentally ill, orphans, and beggars. Dr. Meir’s research now focuses on folklore, magic, and gender in European Jewish culture. Known for creating an inspiring intellectual environment, he is also a skilled linguist and leads Jewish heritage tours across Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltics, where he offers participants a deeper understanding of the region’s rich history.
Professor Yale Strom
Professor Yale Strom is a distinguished ethnographer, musician, and scholar of Jewish and Romani cultures, currently teaching in the Music Department at San Diego State University. Renowned for his pioneering research on klezmer music and cultural traditions in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans, Professor Strom has conducted over 75 field expeditions across more than three decades, documenting the rich histories and traditions of these communities. His work spans multiple artistic disciplines, including violin performance, composition, filmmaking, and writing. His thirteenth book, “Shloyml Boyml and His Purim Adventure”, a bilingual children’s book in English and Yiddish, reflects his dedication to preserving Jewish folklore. In addition to klezmer music, Professor Strom’s work explores the influence of Arab musical traditions on Jewish music. A sought-after lecturer worldwide, Professor Strom also previously taught at NYU, where he developed the course “Artist Ethnographer Expeditions,” sharing his insights and experiences with students and audiences alike.
Elizabeth Schwartz
Elizabeth Schwartz is a celebrated vocalist and performer of Yiddish, Ladino, Hebrew, and English music, widely recognized for her expressive artistry and mastery of klezmer vocal techniques. Known as “The Edith Piaf of Yiddish,” Schwartz has toured extensively as the lead vocalist for Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi, captivating audiences across Europe, Asia, and North America. Her recordings, released by Naxos World, Arc Music UK, and Transcontinental Music, have garnered critical acclaim. In 2012, Schwartz became the first woman invited to sing at New York’s historic Eldridge Street Synagogue, breaking a longstanding tradition at this iconic venue. She is also the subject of the Romanian documentary “Searching for Schwartz” by Radu Gabrea. As a writer, Schwartz co-created the award-winning audio dramas “The Witches of Lublin” and “Debs in Canton” and contributed to “Shpil: The Art of Playing Klezmer” with a chapter on klezmer vocal techniques.
Rabbi Menachem Creditor
Rabbi Menachem Creditor is the Pearl and Ira Meyer Scholar in Residence at UJA-Federation New York and the founder of Rabbis Against Gun Violence. A highly respected author, speaker, and scholar, Rabbi Creditor has reached millions through his online videos and essays and was recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s fifty most influential rabbis. His work includes numerous books and six albums of original music, featuring the globally embraced anthem “Olam Chesed Yibaneh” and the COVID-era anthology “When We Turned Within”. Rabbi Creditor and his wife, Neshama Carlebach, live in New York, where they are raising their five children.
Professor Marc Michael Epstein
Professor Marc Michael Epstein holds the Mackie P. Davis and Norman H. Davis Chair in Religion and directs Jewish Studies at Vassar College. An Oberlin College graduate with a PhD from Yale University, Professor Epstein conducted much of his research at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. A leading scholar in Jewish visual and material culture, he authored “Skies of Parchment, Seas of Ink: Jewish Illuminated Manuscripts”, which won the National Jewish Book Award, and “The Medieval Haggadah: Art, Narrative, and Religious Imagination”, recognized by the “London Times Literary Supplement” as a top book of 2011. Currently, he is completing “People of the Image: Jews & Art”. Previously the Director of Hebrew Books and Manuscripts at Sotheby’s Judaica department, Professor Epstein continues to consult for libraries, auction houses, and museums worldwide, including curating the inaugural exhibition for the Herbert C. and Eileen Bernard Museum at Temple Emanu-El in New York City.
Professor David Mendelsohn
Professor David Mendelsohn is an esteemed scholar whose expertise spans Islamic Studies, the history and culture of Arabs with Israeli citizenship, and Bedouin law, with a focus on the relationship between language and culture in Arabic and Hebrew. He is also a lecturer on the complex histories and interactions between Middle Eastern countries and militant organizations. Professor Mendelsohn holds a Ph.D. in Classics and Linguistics, an M.A. in Archaeology and Linguistics, and an Honours B.A. in Classical Studies. A recipient of Canada’s prestigious Trudeau Prize, he has led educational trips to India, Greece and other countries, bringing a unique depth to travelers’ cultural experiences. Professor Mendelsohn lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Ronny, and their three children.
Dani Rotstein
Dani Rotstein is a content producer, entrepreneur, and storyteller from New Jersey whose global travels eventually brought him to Mallorca, Spain, in 2014 to work in TV commercial production. Expecting little Jewish presence on the island, Dani instead discovered a rich hidden heritage, inspiring him to co-direct “Xueta Island: A Hidden History”, a documentary in which he is also featured. Dani became an active part of Mallorca’s Jewish community, founding Limud Mallorca and Jewish Majorca, a company that provides educational tours of the island’s Jewish heritage sites, sharing its history with visitors from around the world.
Ester Azaria
Ester Azaria is a dynamic professional with a passion for creativity, collaboration, and communication. With a background in acting, history, and culture, Ester has over a decade of experience in volunteering and educational programs, where she has refined her skills in expression, empathy, and teamwork. Her diverse career has included roles in customer care, game organization, and retail management, building her strengths in communication and leadership. Since her introduction to Improv Theater in 2015, Ester has embraced new avenues in acting, performance, and team building. Since returning to her hometown of Thessaloniki in 2019, Ester has become a partner, improv trainer, producer, and performer at Ya Impro, Thessaloniki’s first Improv Theater Training Centre. She is also a team member at The Creatives – 360 Marketing Agency, where she channels her enthusiasm for innovation. As a tour operator and local guide, Ester curates unique experiences in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece, highlighting the region’s rich Jewish heritage. Through her multifaceted skills, Ester continues to make a positive impact in creativity, performance, and education.
Susan Barocas
Susan Barocas is a writer, chef, and educator dedicated to exploring and preserving Sephardic cuisines and cultures. As the founding director of the Jewish Food Experience, she has played a pivotal role in promoting Sephardic food traditions, notably serving as guest chef at three of President Obama’s Passover Seders. Barocas’s writing and recipes have been featured in prominent publications, including the *Washington Post*, *Lilith*, *Moment*, and *The Nosher*, as well as in several cookbooks. Through her work, she strives to highlight the rich culinary heritage of the Sephardic community.
Sarah Aroeste
Sarah Aroeste is a contemporary voice for Sephardic culture, inspired by her family’s roots in North Macedonia and Greece. Singing in Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish dialect of Sephardic Jews, Aroeste blends traditional Mediterranean sounds with modern influences like rock and jazz. Trained as a classical opera singer, she shifted focus to Ladino music after studying with Nico Castel, a renowned Ladino singer, and has since dedicated herself to preserving and revitalizing this fading language. Her innovative compositions and performances have made her a prominent figure in the global Sephardic music scene. Over her two-decade career, Aroeste has released eight albums, performed internationally, and collaborated with acclaimed artists. Her projects span various forms, from multimedia productions to music and food pairings, and her children’s works have earned significant acclaim. Aroeste’s 2021 album, Monastir, won Alma’s Best Jewish Album of the Year, and she continues to push boundaries with initiatives like The Monastir Project, honoring Sephardic communities lost in WWII. She is also an author of Sephardic-themed children’s books, making Sephardic culture accessible to new generations through music, literature, and educational programs.
Dr. Sara Aroeste
Dr. Sara Aroeste is a leading Jewish tour guide in Mexico City, known for her expertise in Jewish history and culture. With a PhD in Latin American Jewish Studies, she brings a deep understanding of the vibrant Jewish communities that have shaped Mexico’s history. Her tours highlight significant landmarks, synagogues, and cultural institutions, offering visitors a comprehensive look at the Jewish experience in Mexico. Dr. Aroeste’s engaging storytelling and academic background make her tours both educational and memorable, appealing to travelers with a keen interest in Jewish heritage. Having spent years researching the Jewish diaspora in Latin America, Dr. Aroeste combines historical insights with personal anecdotes, providing a unique perspective on the lives of Jewish immigrants and their contributions to Mexican society. Her passion for preserving and sharing this rich heritage has made her a sought-after guide for our groups looking to explore Mexico City’s Jewish roots.