Jodi Samuels is on a mission to change the world, even if it means just moving the needle in her corner of the world. She wears many hats in any given day as a speaker, non-profit leader, world traveler, community activist, special needs advocate, wife and mom.
Originally from South Africa, Jodi and her husband Gavin have lived in five countries and nine cities, making an impact in each community. They were featured in the New York Post for their successful integration as immigrants. Jodi was named one of the 70 extraordinary female immigrants in Israel in 2018 by Times of Israel; received the Nefesh B’Nefesh Initiative for Zionist Innovation prize in 2019; and on Yom HaAliyah in 2019, Jerusalem’s Zionist pluralist party, Hitorerut, recognized Jodi for her contribution to Israel, Jerusalem and to other immigrants.
In 2000, Jodi founded Jewish International Connection in order to provide community for foreign Jews in New York. The organization expanded operations to Israel in 2015 and has grown to 15,000 members from more than 40 countries. Jodi still works in a purely volunteer capacity for JIC, running more than 300 events a year in both New York and Israel.
On the for-profit front, Jodi started her first business at age 14 and has been a serial-entrepreneur ever since, starting successful companies in diverse segments from financial training services to online group coupon purchasing.
Jodi is also a passionate speaker, writer and advocate in the special needs world, especially for her own daughter. She writes on her Metroimma blog about special needs, Torah wisdom in a modern world, moving to Israel, traveling to nearly 90 countries and the challenges of being an entrepreneur-mom on Jodi’s Voice.
Jodi, Gavin and their three children live in Jerusalem where the family hosts hundreds of people every month for Shabbat meals and events in their home.
For more information see jodisvoice.com and jicny.com.
Check out Caily’s World on Facebook.
In this wide ranging discussion, we cover:
1. Growing up in South Africa
2. R' Noach Weinberg zt'l
3. JICNY
4. World Traveler
5. Special Needs Child
6. World Traveler
7. Lessons from Covid-19
And much much more!--
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