Erez Bleicher, Communications & Membership Director

Erez comes to Green Olive with a wealth of experience in human rights, grassroots advocacy, participatory education, and solidarity initiatives, and has worked with civil society actors in Israel/Palestine for years through his former positions with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence and Achvat Amim – Solidarity of Nations.

He was raised in the Galilee before moving with his family to New Hampshire, and studied political science at DePaul University in Chicago before moving to Jerusalem in 2015 to participate in shared society efforts and explore the personal and geopolitical significance of the region. When he is not community organizing, Erez spends his time learning about political movements that inspire him, reading fiction, and listening to alternative rock.

Fred Schlomka, Co-Managing Partner, Administration

Fred founded Green Olive Tours in 2007 and has overseen the steady growth of the organization ever since. He has been involved professionally with Israeli/Palestinian relationships for more than twenty years and was awarded a Social Entrepreneur Fellowship from the Echoing Green Foundation in New York for his work in Israel.

In addition to managing the Green Olive Collective he is active in the Israeli peace movement, is an avid cyclist, gardener, juggler, and martial arts practitioner.  Fred has a 3rd degree black belt in Shotokan Karate.  When he needs a break from the cauldron of Middle East conflict, Fred spends time at his family’s Shetland retreat.

Jehanne Ela, Co-Managing Partner, Operations

Jehanne manages all the day-to-day operations of Green Olive Tours. She is often the first point of contact for clients, quoting fees for tours, scheduling the drivers and guides, and overseeing the logistics.

Prior to joining the Collective, Jehanne managed Murad Tours and has brought many years of experience in tourism to Green Olive. Jehanne was born and raised in Toronto, Canada where she studied Education, Psychology, and Accounting.  She has two children, and divides her time between a suburb of Bethlehem, and with family in Canada.