Dear community,

With both gratitude and reluctance, the Board of ZPI hereby informs the Zen Peacemakers community that Rami Efal will step down from his role as Executive Director at the end of 2019.

Rami Efal has served the Zen Peacemakers community since 2015, as Bernie Glassman’s attendant. Since Bernie’s stroke in 2016, he has held the position of executive director of ZPI, managing all aspects of the operations of the organization and community. During this time, ZPI has grown in scale and scope through our international membership, affiliate program, and successful bearing witness programs.

At this time, Rami has decided to dedicate his attention to his spiritual leadership training – he is a Zen Peacemakers dharma holder as well as a student at Aleph Rabbinical Ordination program and at Engaged Mindfulness Institute Teachers’ training program. ZPI requires a fully dedicated Executive Director in order to sustain its growth and to manage the overall operations, and therefore Rami requested a transition out of the ED role.

Rami is grateful for the invaluable time serving Zen Peacemakers International and its community. He will continue in his position through December 31st, 2019 and will assist ZPI with the transition process in the first quarter of 2020.

The entire board has great appreciation for Rami’s devotion to Bernie’s teachings and contribution to ZPI’s impact and, while regretting his leaving the role of ED, the board sees this as a step towards adding new leadership to the community. The board wishes Rami success on his path and is looking forward to his future involvement with Zen Peacemakers.

Zen Peacemakers International board of directors