Natalie Martinez Zacks

Natalie Martinez Zacks was born and bred in Midwest, USA. She first came to Israel at the age of 17 and fell in love with the Land. She returned to study in both the Old City of Jerusalem and Beer Sheva where she joined an army volunteer program and Magen David Adom amid the Second Intifada, during which her instructor was killed while on reserve duty.

Natalie returned to the States where she continued her training as an EMT, got married, had 2 children and fulfilled her dream of Aliyah while pregnant with her 3rd.

The Zacks family moved straight to Ariel where they still reside and have 2 more children (her Sabra babies).

After working in hi-tech, Natalie made a career change to become the Director of Communications at the Ariel Development Fund whose purpose is to benefit the residents of the city and Samarian region.

For years, she has believed in the crucial importance of dialogue, interaction, and mutual respect between Israelis and Palestinians but was unable to find a real way to prove it and turn that belief into action.

Natalie discovered Roots and finally found a place where she is able to put her passion and energy to work. She is one of the leading activists in our Ariel-Nablus-Samaria Branch.