Speakers: ARI2023

Matthew Wood has been a practicing herbalist since 1982. In a period when many authors and lecturers are merely “armchair herbalists” who offer theories and opinions based on book learning, and others have turned to the exotic traditions of India or China, Matthew has been an active practitioner of traditional Western herbalism. He has helped tens of thousands of clients over the years, with many difficult health problems.

While Matthew believes in the virtue of many other healing modalities, he has always been inspired to learn, preserve, and practice the tradition of herbal medicine descending to us from our European, Anglo-American, and Native American heritage.

Matthew is a critically acclaimed author, a member of the American Herbalists Guild (registered herbalist) and has earned his Masters of Science degree from the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine (accredited by the University of Wales).

Sara-Chana Silverstein, RH (AHG) is the author of a #1 best seller book on Amazon: MOODTOPIA-Tame Your Moods, De-stress, and Find Balance Using Herbal Remedies, Aromatherapy and More.

She is a master herbalist, classical homeopath, and board-certified lactation consultant. She is also a keynote speaker, guest lectures at medical schools, does TV segments across the US, podcasts and radio interviews teaching people how to integrate alternative and botanical medicine with conventional medicine.
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Nir Avraham Life science (BSc), and Medical science – Biochemistry (MSc) and current PhD studies student, Haifa University/Technion graduated from the California School of Herbal Studies (2006) and returned to Israel to build his business, preparing herbal remedies at the Jerusalem Center. It was here that he gained his experience as a herbal practitioner and teacher and became recognized by the AHG (American Herbalists Guild).

Nir proudly established the groundbreaking herbal pharmacy, Trifolium, the first official 100% Herbal Medicine Pharmacy in Israel, with partner Noam Oren, in 2016. Here, Nir can be found serving his regular client base of over 2000 herbalists, providing educational and customer support to the community, and developing new extraction methods and remedies. Find Nir on Facebook.
 
Peretz and Roni Gan are agronomists, herbalists and the co-founders (1996) of the Al-Alim Center for Herbal Medicine, Ltd. Here, they produce about 200 different western and Chinese Traditional medicinal herbs in Israel and import and export botanical extracts and raw materials for nutritional supplements and cosmetics.

Peretz specializes in soil, water, irrigation and fertilization chemistry. His expertise has taken him to work on nearly every continent in the world.  In 2003, Peretz was one of the founders of Eilam (The Israeli Medicinal Plant Association), where he has held varied positions. 

Boaz Zur, BSc (hons.) Phytotherapy, MCPP graduated from The College of Phytotherapy in England (2003) and has been treating patients at his own private herbal medicine practice in Israel, since 2006. Here, he wildcrafts and handcrafts his herbal preparations (tinctures, oils, creams and more!), as well as leads his own local classes, workshops and herb-walk groups. Boaz is a respected lecturer at various colleges, workshops and conferences throughout the world.

He lives with his partner and two kids in a beautiful moshav in Hof Hacarmel, surrounded by the forest and pastures of ‘the green mountain’.
Shayna Judelman has been a practicing herbalist for 12 years, working with clients from Israel and abroad.  She is the founder of One Earth Herbs, an herbal clinic and dispensary located in her home town of Tekoa.  

Shayna crafts customized herbal remedies and has two herbal product lines, one for general family health and the second, supportive remedies for pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

 Shayna offers various workshops and plant walks. When she is not working she is gardening and hanging with her husband and four children. 

 Eva Ariela Lindberg was born in Sweden and graduated from Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem, with a BA in Architecture with extra-curricular studies at the University of Architecture in Venice, Italy and the Boston Architectural Center in Massachusetts. 

Eva also studied at the Academy of Art College and Energy Art School in Berkeley, California, where she synthesized past art modalities and became the Originator of the 5th Dimensional Artwork. Her artwork is exhibited in USA, Europe and Israel. 

On a parallel educational path, Eva studied Psychology and Drama Therapy at CIIS, San Francisco and completed her MA in Humanities and Leadership at UCS in the Bay Area, USA. Here, the first Tulip Healing events began. She hosted events at the Tulip Temple, in Marin county, from 2000 to 2010. Later the Tulip Love workshops continued in Israel, at the Tulip Center in Talbiye, Jerusalem. 

In addition to her individual/community healing work and teaching, Eva is a Feng Shui consultant, Events Coordinator and Peace Worker.
Chava Dagan runs Nettles and Pins; a farm, website and folk school teaching skills she learned and expanded on, while serving in the Peace Corps in Sri Lanka. She holds a degree in psychology and is certified in natural health, colonic hydrotherapy and herbalism.

She, together with her husband, have six boys and live in the SW Negev desert. She is the author of Mother’s Pearls: The Revival of Parenting, available in both English and Hebrew. Chava continues to write blogs about these and other various topics on her websiteTelegram, and Signal
Gilla Weiss is a birth doula and herbalist, with a background in massage therapy, who serves both her local community and women worldwide. As the mother of 8 kids, including one with special needs, Gilla combines her experience of birthing, nursing, homeschooling and conscious parenting with her skills in the healing arts to empower women as they transition into motherhood .

Gilla creates herbal products and offers hands-on herbal workshops. Here, she leads women to tap into their ancestral feminine wisdom and gently encourages them to trust their innate intuition, to help in healing themselves and their families.
J. Rivkah Asoulin is widely known as Wise Woman Fertility, where she serves as an herbalist, fertility consultant, women’s health educator and lecturer, certified kallah teacher (and balanit) and is the creator of JFAM; the only Jewish sympto-thermo method of fertility awareness.

J. Rivkah is also the founder and executive director of Ancient Roots Israel, the first international herbal conference and community in Israel.
Kate Breslaw began her life in Israel living on a farm in the middle of the fields of her moshav. It was here that, walking through the fields and forests, she began to have a ‘feeling’ that she was surrounded not just by beauty, but by food and medicine. In her “Foraging Fun” workshops, Kate is pleased to share the knowledge that she gained over these past 18 years about the plants and herbs that she studied, and their uses and benefits.
 
Kate is well-known for the exquisite dishes she prepares with foraged edibles and runs ‘FoRest & ReNew’ women’s day retreats which combine foraging and foresting (a restorative forest experience), EFT tapping, and of course an incredible, wholesome vegan lunch! 
 
When not roaming the forests, Kate can be found helping her clients to heal past wounds and release trauma and negativity, as an advanced, certified EFT (tapping) practitioner, a Highly Sensitive Therapist and advocate and the founder of An Integrated Life.  At her practice, Kate will enable you to live with increased inner calm, and create more joy and harmony in your life and with the world around you.

The views expressed by speakers and participants of Ancient Roots Israel do not necessarily reflect those of ARI and  – unless related to herbs and herbal medicine – are not discussed at our conference. ARI respects political diversity, and acknowledges the importance of raising awareness for various political issues, but takes the position that such discussions should take place in other forums and not in the context of an herbal conference.