The Alexander Muss High School in Israel has announced that Jonah Geller will assume the position of CEO beginning October 4, 2010. Geller is a veteran of the Jewish educational world, having most recently served as Executive Director of Tamarack Camps since 2002.

Gideon Shavit, AMHSI’s outgoing CEO, says Geller comes to the position at a time of remarkable growth and potential for the organization. “High school programs in Israel, especially AMHSI, are undergoing a tremendous surge in popularity and we know that Jonah is the right person to take our school into the next generation,” Shavit said.

Geller, who served as an AMHSI madrich (counselor) during the summer of 1995 and again during most of 1997, said he is looking forward to reconnecting with the organization. “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to return to AMHSI,” Geller said. “Some of my fondest memories of living in Israel for three years involved this wonderful program.”

“Encouraging high school students to travel to Israel is critical to the formation of a young person’s Jewish identity”, says Geller. “I look forward to assisting young people to share the Israel experience with their peers,” Geller said. “AMHSI has been a leader in delivering quality, Israeli experiences for nearly 40 years. It is with great pride that I accept this position.”

AMHSI’s alumni count currently stands at approximately 20,000. Plans are underway to significantly increase the numbers of students enrolling in the 8-week program, with the school’s second campus in its final stages of construction at “Eshel Hanassi,” just outside of Beer Sheva, in the Negev.