Shomrei's Youth Director, Dov Ocken
Dov Ocken and his wife Shira bring to Shomrei Youth a new sense of enthusiasm and excitement.
Dov studied in Yeshivat Shaalvim in Israel for two years, and afterwards received his Bachelor’s in Talmudic Law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College and a Master’s Degree in Information Systems and Technology from Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering. Since arriving in Baltimore in 1999, Dov has been continually involved in education and community youth work. He has served as Youth Director at Shomrei since August 2004, and has taught at and worked with a diverse range of students in schools throughout the Baltimore community, including Beth Tfiloh, Derech Chaim Academy, Lev Shlomo, Liberty Jewish Center Hebrew School, and Talmudical Academy.
Following high school, Shira studied in Israel for a year at Darchei Binah Seminary. She then received her B.A. in Psychology from Towson University and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work at University of Maryland. After returning from her year in Israel, Shira was instrumental in the founding and running of the Lev girls program, a community recreational program for middle and high school girls. Since 2003, she has been responsible for all teen programming at the Park Heights JCC in the position of JOIN Teen Coordinator.
Dov and Shira have two sons, Eli who is 4 years old and Dani who is 1 and a half years old.