Joel is a co-owner of Torah Aura Productions and the Alef Design Group. He is a writer, a teacher, a cartoonist and a storyteller. He co-edits four weekly publications: Bim Bam, C. Ha (pronounced "seecha"), Learn Torah With…, and the Torah Aura Bulletin Board. He has authored or co-authored more than sixty books including Shema is For Real and Forty Things You Can Do to Save the Jewish People.

Joel has degrees from Boston University and the University of Chicago. He has pursued graduate studies at the Hebrew Union College and the University of Southern California. His real education comes from working with Jewish day camps, summer camps, children's museums and youth groups; and from teaching in Hebrew schools, day schools, Hebrew high schools, and graduate schools. He is a founding board member of the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, a consultant to the Whizin Institute for Jewish Family Life, and a faculty member of the Department of Continuing Education of the University of Judaism. More than twenty weekends a year, Joel teaches Jewish learners of all ages as a Scholar-in-Residence in communities all over North America and Europe.

In 1998, Joel was awarded the Covenant Award for outstanding contributions to Jewish education. He is known to answer his e-mail from both his office in Los Angeles and from his laptop anywhere in the rest of the world.

For a complete list of possible programs and to find out about the details of bringing Joel to your community, call 800-BE-Torah (800-238-6724), ext. 122, or e-mail <grishaver@Torahaura.com>