Claudio Manaker was born in Rosario, Argentina. He studied at the Jewish day school, J.N.Bialik, and in the Instituto Politecnico Superior. He was part of the local Maccabi youth movement. In 1983 he went to Israel for the first time and participated in the long term program of the Machon LeMadrichei Ju’l. When he returned to his hometown he founded the local branch of the youth movement Hechalutz LaMerhav.
In 1985 he made Aliyah, studying Political Science and Education at the University of Jerusalem. He worked in several positions in both formal and informal education, as a teacher in different schools, a Madrich in community centers and with young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Between 1993 and 1996 he came back to Argentina as a Shaliach of the Reform Movement and Netzer Olami.
From 1996 to 2011 he led the Latin American section of the Israel Experience and taught courses on The Philosophy of the Jewish Education. From 2011 until summer 2015 he was the representative of the Jewish Agency in South America.
He now lives in Haifa, is married to Rabbi Oshrat Morag and is the proud father of 6 children.