Matthew Mindell was born and raised in New York. From an early age, it was clear that Matt had a talent for comedy. It’s no surprise that after graduating NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts with a Major in Acting and Film, he was ready to take on Hollywood. There he acted in several commercials for major brands, including Doritos, LA gear, and Clearasil. Matt is also best known for his guest appearance on the Saved by the Bell episode, “Check Your Mate.” In between acting gigs and hanging at LA hot spots, Matt produced commercials for celebrities in foreign markets creating a Hollywood buzz around the world. While he loved the California lifestyle, he re-connected to his Jewish roots starring in the play, The Survivor. This role inspired Matt to learn more about his Jewish identity, leading him to Israel where he fell in love with the land, the people and the beaches of Herziliya. A few years later he returned to the Big Apple as the Northeastern Director for Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation for Visual History and Education. In 2000, Matt landed his biggest audition yet and became the Executive Director of the JEC. It was here that his most meaningful work was created. Developing relationships with Birthright Israel Alumni and giving them access to relevant Jewish programming has been Matt’s Oscar winning role ever since.