ARLINGTON, VA, March 24, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Barbara Klestzick has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Barbara Klestzick has been interested in politics since high school when she worked in Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign. In college she was active in the anti-war movement. In addition to politics, Ms. Klestzick is interested in Judaics, philosophy, and psychology. Ms. Klestzick began her University studies in 1969. In 1970 Barbara was accepted in Hebrew University's junior year abroad program. Driven by a long term calling to help others, Ms. Klestzick continued to study Judaic studies, philosophy, and psychology before completing her undergraduate degree in State University in Albany, 1973.
Following graduation, Ms. Klestzick decided to move to Israel. She joined Garin Gezer, a group of politically active recently graduated students who had a lot in common with Ms. Klestzick. The group wanted to work in agriculture and reestablish the Kibbutz.
During the three years, that she was a member of the kibbutz, she worked in Field Crops, driving tractors, moving irrigation lines, harvesting fruit and vegetables, and other agricultural tasks.
She moved to DC to work in a group that was preparing food for people in the community. At that time she began her graduate studies in Counseling in GW. When she received her degree, she started volunteering at the DC Rape Crisis Center. Concurrently she accepted a position to be the Education Coordinator at Temple Micah Religious School, also in DC.
Both positions were very rewarding and challenging. There had never been a professional Education Director at Micah. There were a lot of things that were created. It was a wonderful, rewarding job. While she was working part-time at Micah, she was doing something similar at the Rape Crisis Center. Ms. Klestzick prepared a training manual for the volunteer counselors, supervised them, and started the first therapy group for survivors of incest. Both positions were very challenging and interesting. She excelled in both positions, providing counseling, supervising counselors, volunteers, and creating training manuals.
Ms. Klestzick graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1990 with Masters in Social Work. After the last semester was over, Ms. Klestzick gave birth to her only child, Benjamin. Ms. Klestzick and her husband decided that she would continue to work part time at Micah, and staying home, taking care of Ben.
She continues her deep involvement in Jewish Life and Jewish education. After Ben got older, she started doing volunteer work helping children that needed social work, and then started teaching at a Jewish pre-school. She was the first school counselor at Gesher Jewish Day School working closely with the school director. At the pre-school she was the lead teacher for the two year old class, for four years. At this time Ms. Klestzick was able to study Judaics and Education at GWU. She would have finished her third master's degree if the program hadn't closed.
Ms. Klestzick is currently a member of Agudas Achim Congregation where she led prayers for many years and for the last 3 years she taught the advanced class in Hebrew. She has had other tasks; serving in the Board of Directors, being VP of Activities Committees. Barbara also sings in their choir as she has done at Temple Micah and SUNY Albany.
Ms. Klestzick currently sits on the Social Action Committee and Ritual Committee at Agudas Achim. She enjoys gardening and bike riding. This fall she intends to participate in a 5 day bike ride in Israel - for the third time. She has committed to raise $3,000 for the Arava Institute, a program that educates Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian students so they can go back to their home countries is leadership positions. In the past Ms. Klestzick has participated in a 3 day walk to raise money for breast cancer research and the Honolulu marathon which reissued money for AIDS research.
About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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