Our Mission Statement

Children's Museum of Galilee cultivates curiosity by providing an educational, interactive play place for children to explore, discover and engage with their bodies, minds, hearts and imaginations. We inspire a life-long love of learning.

Children's Museum of the Galilee (CMG) is a not-for-profit amutah in Israel, currently laying the groundwork to become one of a very few state recongnized museums.  "Friends of Children's Museum of the Galilee" is a 510(c)(3) non-for-profit in the United States and can provide tax receipts. Sponsorships are also available.
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​The CMG (HaLev in Hebrew, "The Heart") is a place designed to spark a passion for life-long learning through creative exploration of science, art and nature.

Who We Are

We are professionals, parents, teachers, business people, lawyers, government officials, realtors, and more volunteering to make this happen. 
We all share one thing in common:  We care about kids.

Laya Saul Jackson
Founder, Visionary,
​President and Treasurer, Friends of Children’s Museum of the Galilee
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​Laya’s dream began the journey to build the Children’s Museum in Israel, and her constant effort along with the rest of the team is making the dream into reality.
Laya holds a Master’s Degree in applied psychology and she is the author of eleven books.

Eli Moskovitz
​CEO, Children’s Museum of the Galilee
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​​With an MA in business administration and a BA in sociology and political science, Eli served for 24 years as the CEO of Ulpenit Nov, a girls’ high school, established in 1998.
He participated in designing the educational program as well as the school’s physical facilities. He has experience with non-profit organizations and governmental resources.
Previously he served in the IDF for ten years as an HR officer. He continues his service in Military Reserves, holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Chaya Barth Shechter
​Co-founder, Museum Executive Board
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​Chaya is the founder and was, for 24 years, the CEO of the first “green” architectural chemicals company in the US.
She served for seven years as director of a children’s ski program, served as a board member of the Broadway Training Center for young people, and created all their marketing, promotional, and publicity materials​.

Dr. Netzach Farbiash
Museum Mentor, Advisor, and Chief Curator

​As CEO and Chief Curator of the Carasso Science Park in Be’er Sheva, Dr. Farbiash is experienced with the process of becoming, building, and running a recognized museum in Israel.
​He is accompanying us through this process and brings to our venture the support of Carasso’s entire staff as needed. Dr. Farbiash is a highly respected faculty member of Ben Gurion University.

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Moshe Epstein
Museum Executive Board

Now a Certified Life Coach and MA student of Jewish Philosophy at Bar-Ilan University, Moshe formerly served as a commander of an IDF combat unit and is currently a member of his local emergency response unit.
He is a father of two living in Gush Etsiyon, Israel and is devoting his career to helping youth and improving education. He contributes a range of valuable skills to the team including writing, editing, marketing and website development.

Dr. Eli Kalfon
Secretary, Friends of Children's Museum of the Galilee

Eli is certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Electrophysiology, specializing in treating cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure.
​As a father and teacher, Eli knows how medicine and science can widen the eyes of children when they are given the knowledge and tools to understand and manipulate the physical world around them. It is often as if a secret is being revealed to them, and that is exciting.

Dr. Mary Ellen Weisman
​Director, Friends of Children’s Museum of the Galilee
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Mary Ellen is a Harvard-trained licensed psychologist in private practice who specializes in child, adolescent, and family psychotherapy, psychological and educational testing, and consultation. She volunteers with several Jewish organizations.​

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Diane Dolinsky-Pickar
​Director, Friends of Children's Museum of the Galilee
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Diane is an Award-Winning Realtor in the Westchester suburbs north of New York City and is also an active volunteer for the Rivertowns Welcome Circle, which brings a Ukrainian refugee family to the US and resettles them locally.
She co-led a team of fifth grade boys competing in engineering challenges, and served as a fundraising chair for her synagogue.
Diane is uber-excited about this project as she recalls the many wonderful moments taking her own three kids to Children's Museums, when they were young.
She possesses a background in digital marketing, with degrees from Harvard and Columbia Universities. In her free time she is a devoted Argentine tango dancer.​

Seema Gersten
Director, Friends of Children’s Museum of the Galilee

As a passionate educator of young children with over 25 years of classroom experience, Seema sees the Children’s Museum of the Galilee as a unique opportunity for children to grow, flourish, and thrive through play-based, experiential learning. She has developed and implemented curriculae which effectively motivate accomplishment through individual and group projects in a safe and comfortable learning environment. Seema is a national speaker and mentor and has presented workshops on curriculum at the BJE, CAEYC, NAEYC, NYAEYC, NCTM, and CAIS conferences.​

Barbara Katch
Director, Friends of Children’s Museum of the Galilee

Barbara earned a BA in International Relations at the University of Wisconsin and received her JD from Temple University Law School.  She has maintained an active law practice for over 30 years, practicing primarily US immigration law.
​In 2005, she left the practice to work in the family real estate investment and management business as Managing Director. She is now largely retired but oversees select legacy investment portfolio assets and serves on some of the group’s executive committees.

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Perry Vernikoff
Joint Advisory Council Member

​With over 30 years in the hotel and restaurant industry, Perry has a proven track record and is a customer-facing professional providing uncompromising levels of quality and service.
​He makes visionary leadership happen with metrics-driven, successful project management, onboarding, and development. 

Laya Lurie
 Joint Advisory Council Member

Laya is a family therapist with an MA from the Family Institute in Jerusalem. In her private practice she specializes in couples therapy and marriage education, as well as working with individuals, seminary students, and families.
She worked as a speech therapist for 23 years in South Africa and Australia, focusing on language development and early childhood intervention. Her language programs and play therapy help children to build confidence and self-esteem. Laya has been actively involved in many organizations and Charity projects over the years, in multiple countries​.

Sara Morrow
Joint Advisory Council Member
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Sara has worked in many fields from freelance writing to office administration, culling a variety of skill sets. After 25 years in the applied lighting design industry and 10 years in the non-profit environment as an executive administrative assistant and project manager, she accepted the invitation to help the museum organize the administrative arm with remote office organization, CRM set-up, protocol establishment, board management, and more.​

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Shaindy Manoim
Museum ​Administrative Assistant

​Shaindy has plenty of experience in business, marketing and graphic design. She brings artistic creativity and out-of-the-box thinking as well as a keen eye for detail.
​Her vision of the museum is a place that embraces and feeds children’s curiosity, where they can experience object-based learning in a fun and interactive gathering place.

Yaron Jackson
​Museum Board Member

​Passionate about real estate and construction, Yaron has been a professional real estate broker for over 40 years both in Israel and the US.
He has been a builder of commercial and residential properties for 25 years, and his strength is finding affordable construction solutions to expensive challenges.

​Sheva Chaya
​Museum Audit Board Member

Renowned glass blower and painter, Sheva Chaya inspires all who visit her beautiful and popular Tzfat gallery.
As a graduate of Princeton University in Visual Arts and Art History, her art touches on themes of the land of Israel, Jewish women, Torah and Kabbalah, great mystics and inner light. Sheva Chaya is the artist who created our colorful, playful, and delightful Purim clown card!  

Keren Horowitz
​Museum Audit Board Member

​​Keren is a retired Physical Therapist who specialized in early intervention.
Keren is fascinated with form and function and how environment impacts learning and behavior.

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Our Values

At the museum, every child matters, and everyone who partners with, works for, or volunteers with us is valued. ​We provide educational tools and opportunities with resources that encourage responsibility and strength for all. We create an environment for children to discover new aspects of their potential and how they can impact the world. Parents delight in recognizing more of their children's potential. Families, teachers, and all who work to life the lives ​of children are inspired and encouraged in their roles.