OpenDor Media
OpenDor Media, formerly Jerusalem U is a non-profit organization dedicated to film-based Jewish and Israel education. Jerusalem U produces feature-length films, film classes, and experiential and interactive learning initiatives. Programs feature world-class educators, experts and Hollywood personalities including Emeritus Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Professor Alan Dershowitz, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, TV actor Mayim Bialik, Sir Martin Gilbert, Elliott Gould and others. Jerusalem U’s educational programs are distributed via the internet, social media, television, grassroots campaigns, live events and educational partnerships. Since its founding in 2009, Jerusalem U has partnered with approximately 750  organizations, schools, camps, and campus groups including Jewish Federation chapters, Jewish Community Relations Councils, Jewish National Fund, Hillel chapters and others. Films. Jerusalem U has produced four critically acclaimed feature documentary films, Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference and Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus. Israel Inside was seen by millions of people on PBS, Comcast on Demand, El Al flights and screened more than 400 times in 28 countries. Step Up For Israel campaign. Jerusalem U’s flagship program, Step Up For Israel, is an international grassroots campaign that aims to connect individuals  and communities to Israel through Israel education and activist opportunities. The campaign is co-chaired by Professor Alan Dershowitz and Ambassador Dore Gold. Interactive education. Jerusalem U has produced five film mini-series: Israel Inside/Out, Habits of Happiness: Positive Psychology & Judaism, Judaism 101, Cinema: The Jewish Lens and The Israel Course. The organization is currently in the production stages of a new leadership mini-course. Jewish leadership programs. CORE18 Leaders Lab, a Jewish leadership development program is a full-scholarship, two-phased, 15-month program co-chaired by award-winning actress Mayim Bialik, Harvard professor Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar  and Emeritus Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. CORE18 offers emerging young leaders from the U.S. and Israel access to business and entrepreneurial training, leadership development, mentoring and Jewish literacy. Fellows complete the program by pitching and new entrepreneurial ventures for the Jewish community. Faculty include: Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein, OurCrowd CEO Jonathan Medved, philanthropist Scott Shay, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Malcolm Hoenlein and other pre-eminent Jewish leaders. Jerusalem U conducts a gap year program for pre-college teens, providing weekly educational classes and  training to post-high school students in Israel. The Jerusalem U Fellowship program provides additional advanced Israel advocacy training to approximately 30 gap year students. Advisory board. Jerusalem U’s Advisory Board includes representatives from academia, Jewish education, Hollywood, business and politics. Advisory Board Members: History. Imagination Productions, Inc., which operates under the title Jerusalem U (formerly JerusalemOnlineU.com), is a US registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Founded in 2007, Jerusalem U has offices in Jerusalem, New York and Philadelphia. The organization is headed by founder and CEO, Raphael Shore, president, Amy Holtz and Executive Vice President Eli Ovits. Raphael Shore, studied  film at the University of Toronto. He is the founder and CEO of Jerusalem U. Shore produced the critically acclaimed PBS film, "Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference", the 2010 documentary "Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus", and Jerusalem U’s newest film, "Beneath the Helmet: From High School to the Home Front". Amy Holtz previously owned and operated a chain of 25 Party City franchise stores. Prior to that, she practiced law at Blank Rome in Philadelphia and Arent Fox in Washington, D.C. Eli Ovits studied International Relations at the Hebrew University  of Jerusalem. He is a reserve spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces and a renowned expert in strategic communications. Prior to joining Jerusalem U, Ovits served as director of communications for The Israel Project, and as a member of the international relations team at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.