
The counting of the Omer marks the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot—a symbolic journey from the Israelites’ liberation from Egypt to the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Each day is observed with a blessing and the formal counting of the day.
This year, PAS will enrich this tradition by celebrating the lives and contributions of 49 notable Israelis — half in April and half in May. We invite you to join each day we count the Omer and highlight a new figure whose work continues to inspire and uplift.
Gift in Memory of Dorothy Tapper Goldman, 2024 Omer Counter
This interactive, sculptural counter enables the community to take part in the counting throughout the seven weeks. This counter was gifted to Park Avenue Synagogue and is now available to see at our 87th Street Lobby.

Israeli Spotlight
15th of Nisan, 5785 Shikma Schwarzmann-Bressler (שקמה ברסלר)
Shikma Schwarzmann-Bressler (שקמה ברסלר) is an Israeli physicist. She is also a social activist and founder of the Black Flag Protests against Benjamin Netanyahu in 2020, turning her into a leading voice protecting democracy in Israel. She was also a leader of the protests against the judicial overhaul and orchestrated the main marches.

16th of Nisan, 5785 Jonathan Shamriz (יונתן שימריז)
Jonathan Shamriz (יונתן שימריז) is the older brother of Alon Shamriz, who was taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7 and accidentally killed by IDF troops on Dec. 15 with Yotam Haim and Samar Tlalka when trying to escape captivity. As part of his mourning and loss, he founded, along with fellow Gaza residents Kumu, a national movement calling for the rebuilding and healing of Israeli society. He was one of the organizers of the alternative family memorial ceremony for the one-year anniversary of October 7,, and his speech during the ceremony created strong waves in Israeli society.

17th of Nisan, 5785 Adi Altschuler (עדי אלטשולר)
Adi Altschuler (עדי אלטשולר) is an Israeli educator and social entrepreneur. At 16, she founded Krembo Wings (כנפיים של קרמבו), the first Israeli youth movement for those with and without special needs. She also founded Memories@Home (זיכרון בסלון), an alternative gathering for Yom Hashoa, creating a more intimate, meaningful, and accessible way to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.

18th of Nisan, 5785 Ofek Rishon (אופק ראשון)
Ofek Rishon (אופק ראשון) made a video when she was 13 in which she spoke out about being a victim of bullying. The 2019 video went viral, and because of it, she was able to create the Bully Patrol, an organization dedicated to supporting children suffering from bullying.And to raising public awareness about the issue.

19th of Nisan, 5785 Alon-Lee Green (אלון-לי גרין)
Alon-Lee Green (אלון-לי גרין) is a social activist and co-director and a founder of the Standing Together movement. He initiated the establishment of the first workers' committee in the restaurant industry in Israel and was involved in the establishment of the workers' committee of the parliamentary advisers in the Knesset.

20th of Nisan, 5785 Uriel Yekutiel (אוריאל יקותיאל)
Uriel Yekutiel (אוריאל יקותיאל) is an Israeli dancer, actor, and performer. He is the first Israeli drag artist whose persona incorporates male and female attributes. He is also a leading voice and organizer in the Sephardic/Mizrachi LGBTQ community, starting the Mizrachi gay party line Arisa.

21st of Nisan, 5785 Shahar Cohen (שחר כהן)
Shahar Cohen (שחר כהן), an Israel comedian and content creator, went viral a few years ago with his characteristic portrayal of Israelis. Today, his content focuses on the differences between Israeli Jewry and American Jewry, introducing Israelis to American Jewry and helping build a stronger bond through comedy.

22nd of Nisan, 5785 Lea Yanai (לאה ינאי)
Lea Yanai (לאה ינאי), an Israeli dancer, is a graduate of the Bat-Dor company and was a soloist in the Israel Ballet. On Oct. 7, her sister Moran Stela Yanai was kidnapped and was released in the November 2023 deal. Since then, she has been using her platform as a judge on the Israeli version of “Dancing with the Stars” to raise awareness and fight for the release of the hostages.

23rd of Nisan, 5785 Yuval Raphael (יובל רפאל)
Yuval Raphael (יובל רפאל) is an Israeli singer. On Oct. 7,h she was wounded at the Nova musical festival, hiding for eight hours before being rescued. As part of her healing, she pursued her music career and in 2024 won “Israel Next Star,” making her the Israeli representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

24th of Nisan, 5785 Inbal Rabin-Lieberman (ענבל ליברמן)
Inbal Rabin-Lieberman (ענבל ליברמן) was the security coordinator of kibbutz Nir Am. Because of her actions, Nir Am was one of only two communities invaded by Hamas on Oct. 7 that did not suffer Israeli casualties.

25th of Nisan, 5785 Assaf Rappaport (אסף רפפורט)
Assaf Rappaport (אסף רפפורט) is the co-founder and chief executive officer of the cloud security company Wiz, which he sold for approximately US$32 billion, making this acquisition the largest of an Israeli tech company to date.

26th of Nisan, 5785 Shani Sharvit Shukrun (שני שרביט שוקרון)
Shani Sharvit Shukrun (שני שרביט שוקרון) is a social entrepreneur. In 2019, after receiving a phone call from a woman who told her of another woman whose children had nothing to eat, she built the nonprofit Making Hungry Children Happy, which feeds those in need. In her “free supermarket,” families shop without paying. Today, the group feeds over 2,000 families a week.

27th of Nisan, 2025 Adam Berdichevsky (אדם ברדיצ'בסקי)
Adam Berdichevsky (אדם ברדיצ'בסקי) is an Israeli mechanical engineer and competitive wheelchair tennis player. He represented Israel at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. After he and his family, residents of Kibbutz Nir Yitzchak, survived the Oct. 7 attack, he represented Israel in singles and doubles at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and was the flag bearer for the Israeli team.

28th of Nisan, 5785 Ami Omer Dadaon (עמי עומר דדאון)
Ami Omer Dadaon (עמי עומר דדאון) is an Israeli Paralympic champion, a world champion swimmer, and a world record holder. He has won four gold medals at the Paralympics, seven gold medals at the World Championships, and nine gold medals at the European Championships. He represented Israel at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics. After winning a gold medal in Paris, he became emotional during the playing of Hatikvah at the awardsceremony, and his singing of it went viral.

29th of Nisan, 5785 Malka Puterkovsky (מלכה פיוטרקובסקי)
Malka Puterkovsky (מלכה פיוטרקובסקי), a religious Orthodox public figure and educator, is a leading activist for women's rights, specifically the rights of women to study Torah. She addresses the issues of sexual violence in and out of the Orthodox community and is a leading voice in bridging the gap between Orthodox Judaism and liberal values.

30th of Nisan, 5785 Israel Almasi (ישראל אלמסי)
Israel Almasi (ישראל אלמסי) is the president and CEO of Yedidim, an Israeli nonprofit that gives free roadside assistance. When he took over the organization, which started as a small local program in the Ultra-Orthodox community of Modi’in Ilit, he nationalized it. Today, it has over 65,000 volunteers across the nation. The group also helps bridge the cultural rift in Israeli society between the Ultra-Orthodox and the broader Jewish population.

1st of Iyyar, 5785 Liron Lavi Turkenich (לירון לביא טורקניץ׳)
Liron Lavi Turkenich (לירון לביא טורקניץ׳), a graphic designer and entrepreneur, created Aravrit, a type font that combines Hebrew and Arabic, creating a writing system that joins letters, ideas, and hearts. It communicates one message, in a variety of ways, symbolizing the connection between both cultures.

2nd of Iyyar, 5785 Julia Zaher (ג’וליה זהר)
Julia Zaher (ג’וליה זהר), an Israeli-Arab businesswoman, philanthropist, and former schoolteacher, is the owner and CEO of Al Arz Tahini, a leading tahini company. She is known for her philanthropic work, focusing on women’s rights, supporting people with disabilities, and advancing LGBT health. She advocates for equality and inclusion, particularly in education and health care, and is a proponent of women’s empowerment in business. Her efforts have made her a prominent figure in promoting change within Israeli society.

3rd of Iyyar, 5785 Tami Gutlib (תמי גוטליב)
Tami Gutlib (תמי גוטליב), the CEO of the Israeli political nonprofit Signing Anew, began her involvement with Women of the Wall in 2010. She regularly leads Rosh Chodesh prayers, and a few years ago, was elected vice chair of the organization. Gutlib was Born in Rehovot, she was raised in a traditional-conservative family and was a member of Noam, the Israeli conservative youth movement. She served in the IDF as a combat soldier in the Caracal Battalion. After her discharge, she held various leadership and management positions in Noam and the Conservative movement. She served 17 years in the Conservative Movement, most recently as vice president of communications and initiatives.

4th of Iyyar, 5785 Etgar Keret( אתגר קרת)
Etgar Keret( אתגר קרת) is an Israeli author, short-story writer, and filmmaker known for his surreal, darkly humorous works. His works, including “The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God” and “Suddenly, a Knock on the Door,” explore everyday life with absurd twists. His stories have been translated into many languages. His writing often reflects his experiences and the complexities of Israeli society, politics, and identity. He is a prominent voice in Israeli cultural discourse, making him one of the country’s most influential contemporary writers.

5th of Iyyar, 5785 Natalie Marcus (נטלי מרכוס)
Natalie Marcus (נטלי מרכוס) is an Israeli screenwriter and creator, best known for writing the popular Israeli TV series “HaYehudim Baim” (“The Jews Are Coming”). The show is a satirical comedy that explores Jewish history and culture. Through her work, she has become a prominent voice in Israeli television, contributing to a diverse and often bold representation of Israeli society.

6th of Iyyar, 5785 Yossi Vasa (יוסי ואסה)
Yossi Vasa (יוסי ואסה) is an Israeli actor, comedian, and writer of Ethiopian descent. Born in Ethiopia, he made Aliyah at age 10 during Operation Moses. He uses humor to address identity, racism, and the Ethiopian-Israeli experience. Known for his show “It Sounds Better in Amharic” and the Emmy-winning series “Nevsu,” he is a leading voice for diversity in Israeli entertainment.

7th of Iyyar, 5785 Dr. Amir Khnifess (סרן במיל' ד"ר אמיר ח'ניפס )
Capt. (Res.) Dr. Amir Khnifess (סרן במיל' ד"ר אמיר ח'ניפס )
is a Druze-Israeli legal scholar, lecturer, and public figure. He served as an officer in the IDF and is involved in social and public affairs, with a focus on integrating the Druze community within Israeli society. He specializes in issues of minority rights, civic identity, and socio-legal challenges in Israel. He frequently lectures and publishes on these topics and participates in public committees and organizations that promote equality and intercommunal understanding. His work bridges military experience, academic expertise, and civic engagement.

8th of Iyyar, 5785 Ester Rada (אסתר רדא)
Ester Rada (אסתר רדא) is an Israeli singer and actress known for blending soul, jazz, R&B, and Ethiopian music. Born to Ethiopian-Jewish parents, her unique sound reflects her diverse heritage. She gained international acclaim with her 2014 debut album and has since performed worldwide, becoming a symbol of cultural fusion in Israeli music. Beyond her music, she is celebrated for representing multiculturalism and breaking barriers in the Israeli music scene, proudly embracing her Ethiopian heritage while pushing creative boundaries.

9th of Iyyar, 5785 Rachel Edri (רחל אדרי)
Rachel Edri (רחל אדרי) is an Israeli woman from the town of Ofakim who became widely known after a remarkable incident during the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7. When armed terrorists entered her home, she and her husband were taken hostage. Despite the danger, she remained calm and engaged the attackers in conversation, while she spoke with the security forces, including her son. Her story became a symbol of resilience and bravery, earning her admiration around the world.
