Shomeric Light: Shiri Ourian

• I was a chanicha from age 12 and was then in hadracha and ended my time at mosh as Rosh Mosh in 1996.  I recently joined the Board and am excited to take on this leadership role.

What makes you excited about your role here?  

• It's a great way for me to give back to a place that I love that gave me so much as a kid, young adult and even today.  I'm so grateful I get the opportunity to make sure that Camp Shomria continues to be a safe, rich, creative and stable place for young people to express their Jewish identity, their connection to Israel, their progressive values and then go out in the world and create change based on those values.

• My grandparents were involved in Hashomer Hatzair in Eastern Europe and helped establish Hashomer Hatzair kibbutzim.  My parents both grew up in Hashomer Hatzair kibbutzim which shaped them and their parenting.  I am excited to continue our family tradition of being active in Hashomer Hatzair.  

How did growing up in this youth movement impact you? 

• In so many ways... I have life-long friendships which I treasure that started in this youth movement.  I was able to find a way to be an American Jew that felt right to me and was aligned with my Israeli-American, Hashomer Hatzair background.  It gave me a connection to Israel that incorporated values of social justice, equality, and progressivism which led me to make aliyah, live in Israel for more than a decade and establish a successful career in making Israel a better, more just and more peaceful country.

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