Raphael Shore grew up in the small Canadian city of London with his two brothers. His family had a modest connection to their Jewish and Zionist identity but were not observant. It was surprising when Ephraim, Raphael’s twin, became deeply religious and moved to Jerusalem. Curious about his brother’s transformation, Raphael, then a university student, decided to visit Jerusalem for a few months to explore the city so integral to Jewish faith. However, unlike his brother, the contemplative Raphael was initially reluctant to leave his secular lifestyle in the West.

Little did he know that this exploration would eventually lead him not only to move to Israel and join his brother but also to become a rabbi. His journey from secular to observant ignited a passion for educating young Jews about their heritage and identity.

A graduate of the University of Toronto and the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Raphael received his rabbinical ordination at Aish HaTorah and served as COO of Aish International, Education Director for Discovery, and the Jerusalem Fellowships. During this time, he expanded his influence through Shalom L’Dorot, producing films and educational materials about obstacles to peace in the region.

After leaving Aish, Shore founded the Clarion Project, an organization exposing radical Islamic threats to the West. The Clarion Project’s documentaries, including “Obsession,” “The Third Jihad,” and “Iranium,” garnered over 150 million views and received numerous awards.

In 2009, Raphael established OpenDor Media (previously Jerusalem U), aiming to engage and inspire Jewish identity. Through films such as “Beneath the Helmet” and “Crossing the Line,” OpenDor Media addresses issues like Israeli society and antisemitism on college campuses, helping young Jews connect with their heritage and the State of Israel.

Raphael resides in Jerusalem with his family and travels extensively to educate Jewish communities across the West on matters of deep import to world Jewry.