Fellows

The Mandel Program for Leadership in Jewish Culture: Cohort 6

October 2022 – July 2023

Eden Abitbol

Jerusalem | Poet, Screenwriter, and Columnist

Eden Abitbol is a poet, screenwriter, and columnist. The son of returnees to Judaism who became ultra-Orthodox, he graduated from Lithuanian Haredi yeshivot in Israel. While in yeshiva, he wrote a monthly column exploring the experiences of Haredi children of newly religious parents for Adraba, a magazine for the newly observant, under a pen name. Eden studied screenwriting at the Ma’aleh Film School, and is presently an assistant writer and content consultant for the TV series Shababnikim. He is also in the process of writing a full-length movie script. Eden’s first book of poetry, We Were Meant for Other Great Things, was published by Tangier Press to considerable acclaim. He has served as editor of the Haredi literature and arts section of the Yehee journal, and is now working on launching Nu Nu, a Haredi arts and culture salon that will be based in the Uri Zvi House in Jerusalem. Since 2020, Eden has written a weekly column called Yeshiva Tales, which explores the daily life of Haredi yeshiva students, in the Motzash magazine of Makor Rishon. His second book of poetry, Pargod, is soon to be published. Eden is married and a father of two.

Maya Buenos

Jerusalem | Writer, Director, and Journalist

Maya Buenos is a writer, director, and journalist. The winner of the 2020 Rosenblum Prize for Performing Arts, Maya holds a bachelor’s degree (cum laude) from the theater studies department of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a master’s degree in fine arts (cum laude) from Tel Aviv University. Maya has performed in various stage and screen productions, and is a member of the Holot Theater, a group of Israelis and asylum seekers directed by Dr. Chen Alon. Her works explore documentary materials and adapt them for the stage, informed by an appreciation of the power of the stage to reflect life truths. Her better-known works include Din Sotah, which explores the link between sexual assault and religious purification rituals; Syndrome E: A Concert in Three Acts, a musical concert about the Eichmann trial; May this House Comfort You, about the abducted Yemenite children affair; and October, about PTSD following the Yom Kippur War. She has also adapted Àlex Rigula’s Macho Man, an audiovisual installation on gender violence, and directed it at the Israel Festival. Alongside her writing work, Maya serves as the artistic director of various projects, and is a journalist for Ma’ariv and the feminist news magazine PoliticallyCorret. She comes from a Sephardi family with roots dating back ten generations in Jerusalem.

Matanel Buzaglo

Yeruham | Writer and Content Developer

Matanel Buzaglo is a writer and content developer who teaches and writes at various batei midrash and is active in the renaissance of traditional Judaism within the frameworks of Kulna Jerusalem, the Masorti Movement in Israel, and Tikkun – A Center for Gathering, Education and Social Change. Matanel works as a content developer for The One Hundred Initiative, which promotes centrist political leadership. He believes in the strength and fertility of Jewish tradition to address the political and cultural challenges faced by Israeli society. Matanel holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and Jewish thought from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He is married and a father of one, and lives in Yeruham, after growing up in Dimona.

David (Duchi) Cohen

Jerusalem | Multidisciplinary Artist, Curator, and Art Critic

David (Duchi) Cohen is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and art critic, who grew up in Ma’alot-Tarshiha and lives and works in Jerusalem. He graduated with honors from the Pardes School of Visual Art (2019), holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the Open University (2021), and is currently studying for a master’s degree in the department of Land of Israel studies and archaeology at Bar-Ilan University. Duchi has had solo exhibitions at the New Spirit House (2021) and the Tapuz Gallery (2022), and participated in group exhibitions including the Jerusalem Biennale (2017, 2019, 2021), Jerusalem Design Week (2018), the Fresh Paint Art Fair (2020), the David Yellin College Gallery (2021), the Edmond de Rothschild Center (2022), and more. In 2021, Duchi established the Tapuz Gallery with a group of friends – a cooperative gallery in the Alliance House in Jerusalem, where he is co-chief curator. He is also an art writer and editor, writes art criticism for the Erev Rav magazine, and has edited the visual arts section of the Bar journal.

Mor Deree-Elbaz

Tel Aviv-Jaffa | Cultural Entrepreneur, Non-profit Director, and Social Activist

Mor Deree-Elbaz is a cultural entrepreneur and the director of the non-profit organization Beit System Ali, a movement for cultural, educational, and political change, and a home for artists working to reduce cultural gaps, promote distributive justice, build bridges between populations, and change current realities. Mor is a lecturer in the department of cultural studies, creation and production at Sapir College, where she teaches subjects related to cultural management, writing, creating cultural content, and producing events with a cultural-artistic-social orientation. She believes in the power of cultural activism, combining art, creativity, and social change. Mor holds a bachelor’s degree in cultural studies from Sapir College, and a master’s degree in policy and theory of the arts from Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem. Mor was born in Ofakim, raised in Beer Sheva, and now lives in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. She is married and a mother.

Dege Feder

Kiryat Tivon | Choreographer, Dancer, Musician, and Dance Company Director

Dege Feder is a choreographer, dancer, and director of the Beta dance troupe, which combines traditional Ethiopian dance and contemporary dance. She was lead dancer for the Eskista dance company in the original line-up of the Beta company, appearing at many festivals in Israel and around the world. As choreographer for Beta, Dege has performed in Ethiopia and ran a workshop for the Ethiopian National Theater’s dance company. She also works independently, and has performed at the Jacob’s Pillow Festival and has run dance workshops in the United States. In 2020, Dege performed in Yasmin by composer Professor Oded Zehavi with the Beer Sheva Symphony Orchestra in Costa Rica, where she also ran a workshop for the national dance company. In addition, she has held a residency at Ohio University, where she performed her own work Jallo. For many years, Dege has worked as a dance teacher for empowerment projects for women and girls in the Ethiopian Israeli community. She was awarded the Ministry of Culture Young Choreographer Prize (2018), a New Israel Fund prize (2020), the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Society and State (2021), and the Neve Shechter and Yehoshua Rabinovich Foundation Prize for Contemporary Israeli Art (2022).

Youval Friedman

Lapid | Screenwriter, Script Editor, and Lecturer

Youval Friedman is a screenwriter, script editor, and writing lecturer. He has written scripts for political satire shows (The Jews are Coming, Eretz Nehederet, and more), television dramas (Zanzouri, The Good Cop, and more), entertainment shows (Yatzpan, Chalomot BeHakitzis Daydream, and more), and children’s and youth shows (Elisha, Crowded, and more). Youval participated in the Film and Media Collaborative, an initiative of the Gesher Foundation and AVI CHAI, where he developed a historical series on Queen Berenice of the Second Temple era. He participated in the Series Mania festival as part of a French-Israeli residency for television writing, during which he developed a family comedy in Hebrew and French. Youval holds a bachelor’s degree (cum laude) in film and television and a master’s degree (cum laude) in cultural research, both from Tel Aviv University. His final master’s project developed into the feature film Provence United (Beitar Provence), which won first prize at the Haifa Film Festival and was nominated for 11 Ophir Awards (Israel’s Oscar equivalent), including for best script and best film, eventually winning three, for best actor, supporting actor, and music. Youval lectures at Sapir College and teaches screenwriting, television series development, and satirical writing. He is married and a father of four, lives in Lapid, and is 51, although he looks younger and feels older.

Valeria Geselev

Haifa | Independent Curator, Artist, Writer, and Lecturer

Valeria Geselev is an independent curator, artist, writer, and lecturer. The daughter of Soviet engineers, she grew up as a Jew in Ukraine and as an immigrant in Israel. Valeria’s work is inspired by a decade of work in journalism and five years of relocation in South Africa. When she completed her curatorship studies at the University of Cape Town, the head of the program dubbed her a “creative social worker.” In 2012, she established the Yalla Shoola! curatorial agency. Through it, she has created community-oriented exhibitions and workshops in public spaces such as libraries, commercial spaces, and streets in the years since. Valeria lives and works in Haifa, where she conducts research and creates socially engaged art, with an emphasis on gender equality and diversity. Her most recent projects include the public exhibitions A Hundred Sunrises in a Day and Celebrating, founding the Corridor Gallery at the Technion, and establishing the Faculty of Revolutionary Young Women at Beit Hagefen, The Arab-Jewish Culture Center in Haifa. Valeria is an avid jazz fan, and believes in peace.

Nir Goraly

Ra’anana | Podcast Editor, Journalist, and Radio Broadcaster

Nir Goraly is a podcaster, journalist, music programmer, and radio broadcaster. He has worked for the radio division of the Kan public broadcasting corporation since its creation in 2017, and has served as the senior editor of its podcast division since 2021. Nir is a producer and host of the podcast “Shir Echad” (One Song); the producer of “Lech Tizkor” (Memorate), a program about the way we remember the Holocaust; the creator of “Shir Stav,” (Autumn Song), a podcast about music and radio during the Yom Kippur War; and the producer of several other radio shows and podcasts for the Kan culture division. He is also a broadcaster and music programmer for the Kan 88 radio station. Nir has written about music for some of Israel’s leading newspapers and websites, including Ha’aretz, City Mouse, Time Out, and Walla. He is married and a father of three, and lives in Ra’anana.

Mishy Harman

Jerusalem | Storyteller and Activist

Mishy Harman is a Jerusalem-based storyteller and activist. In 2011, together with three of his childhood friends, he founded Israel Story, one of the first podcasts in Israel and the first to make the transition to being broadcast on a national radio station. Since then, he has hosted the show and led the non-profit organization that emerged around it. Today, Israel Story is the most listened-to Israeli and Jewish podcast in the world, with hundreds of thousands of listeners in more than 190 countries. The organization employs 15 full-time producers, who work on a wide range of storytelling projects that stem from the understanding that “a person is a person is a person, no matter what,” and that we will only be able to grow, both as individuals and as a society, if we listen to one another. Mishy grew up in Jerusalem and was a member of “Noam,” the Conservative youth movement, eventually becoming its national chair. Following his military service, he studied abroad, completing a bachelor’s degree in history at Harvard University and a master’s degree in archaeology at the University of Cambridge. Mishy holds a doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where his dissertation focused on the life of Samuel Gobat, the first missionary to work in Ethiopia, who later became the Protestant bishop of Jerusalem in the 19th century. He is a prominent neighborhood activist and leads major municipal campaigns. Mishy lives in the Abu Tor neighborhood of Jerusalem with his wife, their young daughter, and their two dogs.

Shira Hefer

Tel Aviv | Publisher and Translator

Shira Hefer is the founder and owner of Locus Publishing House. She speaks eight languages and is a translator by training. In 2012, she co-founded Zikit Books, paving the way for the rise of independent publishing in Israel. In 2015, Shira left Zikit and founded Locus Publishing House, with the aim of providing Hebrew readers with the best of contemporary literature from around the world, alongside original Hebrew literature. In 2020, with several colleagues, she created The Literary Collective, an association of independent publishers that has launched collaborative initiatives, including an annual independent literature fair that is now supported by the Tel Aviv municipality. In 2019, Shira received the Minister of Culture’s Award for Publication of a Debut Book. She lives in Tel Aviv, and is married and a mother of three.

Liat Itzhaki

Beit Horon | Singer, Songwriter, and Presenter

Liat Itzhaki is a singer, songwriter, lyricist, television and radio presenter, and cultural director. At the start of her career, she wrote piyyutim (devotional poems) for the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra, and was one of the first women in Israel to sing piyyutim. Her music links her personal-female world with the world of piyyut, singing, and Jewish melodies, bridging the music of the holy and the secular, the old and the new. In her work and in the television programs she has presented, Liat advocates for women and works to have their voices heard in Israel’s public and cultural arenas. A winner of Israel’s prestigious ACUM music prize, Liat sings in Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, and Ladino, and performs in Israel and abroad. She holds a master’s degree in law from Bar-Ilan University, is married, and a mother of five.

Sharon Karni

Tel Aviv | Content Editor, Screenwriter, and Director

Sharon Karni is a content editor, screenwriter, and director, and is the deputy CEO of the Beyond Creative production company. Previously, she was the head of the documentary department at Artza Productions. In recent years, Sharon has mainly edited and directed documentary series with a social orientation, including The Extra-Ordinaries with Roni Kuban, The System with Miki Haimovich, and Hanoch Levin – A Life We’ve Never Seen Before. Sharon also created the television interview format of Rendezvous with Roni Kuban, and is one of the creators of the documentary film The Shakshuka Method and of a documentary-activist television series by Mickey Rosenthal. Sharon holds a bachelor’s degree in law and a master’s degree in business administration. Born and raised in Haifa, she lives in Tel Aviv with her husband and their two children.

Shlomo Pyuterkovski

Beit El | Journalist and Columnist for Makor Rishon

Journalist Shlomo Pyuterkovski is the legal columnist for the weekly Makor Rishon newspaper, and previously served as the editor of the Makor Rishon news website. Prior to that, he held a variety of writing and editing positions at the B’Sheva newspaper and the Arutz 7 Israel National News website, and wrote opinion pieces and commentary for Yedioth Ahronoth. Shlomo’s writing focuses on political and legal issues, as well as the tension between Israel’s definition as a Jewish and democratic state. He also writes about the history of religious Zionism and the challenges it has faced from its founding until the present day. In addition to his journalism, Shlomo lectures in a variety of settings and runs writing workshops. He lives in Beit El, where he was raised, and is married and a father of five.

Maor Sabag

Tel Aviv | CEO and Co-Founder of OurStory, Musician, and Music Director

Maor Sabag, CEO and co-founder of OurStory, is an entrepreneur, multidisciplinary musician, composer, music director, and theater professional. He was awarded the Israel Theater Prize in 2017 for his debut work Solika, a musical based on a Moroccan folktale he heard from his grandmother as a child. Maor was born in Rehovot to a national religious family that immigrated to Israel from Morocco. He studied at the Mitzpe Ramon High School, the Bar-Ilan Arts and Sciences Yeshiva in Tel Aviv, and the Rimon School of Music. Maor has worked with the largest record companies in Israel, including NMC, Helicon, and Aroma Music, and has performed and collaborated with leading musicians such as Ishay Ribo, Nasreen Qadri, Yuval Dayan, and more. He has worked as the composer and musical director for several theaters, including the Cameri Theater of Tel Aviv (Ze Ani – This is Me) and the Beer Sheva Theater (Solika). He has won prizes for setting poems of Uri Zvi Greenberg, Avraham Stern, and Erez Biton to music (2012–2013). Maor’s work is inspired by the religious Jewish world in which he was raised. In 2021, he began directing the play Oshri by Maor Zaguri, in his directorial debut. In 2022, he founded OurStory, a digital initiative to document and preserve Israeli life stories and heritage.

Bacol Serlui

Beit Shemesh | Teacher, Poet, Literary Critic, and Editor

Bacol Serlui is a teacher, poet, literary critic, and editor who was born and raised in Jerusalem. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible studies and literature from the Michlalah Jerusalem College, and a master’s degree (summa cum laude) in comparative literature from Bar-Ilan University. Bacol has written three books of poetry which have won prizes including the Minister of Culture’s Prize, the Prime Minister’s Prize, and the Dulitzky Prize. In 2022, Bacol was awarded the Yehuda Amichai Prize for Hebrew Poetry. She has also received a commendation from the Hebrew Poetry Prize in Memory of Nechama Rivlin. Bacol teaches literature at the Ohr Torah Stone high school in Jerusalem, and advanced poetry writing in the creative writing program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She also writes literary and cultural criticism for Makor Rishon, and the “Omeret Shira” (Speaking Poetry) poetry criticism column in its weekly supplement. Bacol has edited two books of prose, published by Yedioth Books, as well as half a dozen poetry books. She is a co-facilitator of the poetry workshop run by the Mashiv Haruach journal, which she co-edits. She is married and a mother of one.

Rachel Shalev

Pardes Hanna | Illustrator, Writer, and Comic Artist

Rachel Shalev is an illustrator, writer, and comic artist. Her autobiographical work explores the daily experience of family life, parenthood, relationships, and femininity, using humor and storytelling that convey normalization, criticism, and empathy. Rachel lectures on illustration in different media. She also does live illustrations for music events, conferences, and productions of different kinds. Rachel is currently working on a graphic novel based on a classic Israeli book for young adults, as well as on other projects and initiatives in diverse media. She lives in Pardes Hanna with her husband and their five children.

Neta Shoshani

Tel Aviv | Documentary Film Director

Neta Shoshani is a documentary film director. Her film Born in Deir Yassin, about the Deir Yassin massacre in 1948 and the Kfar Shaul psychiatric hospital that was built on the remains of the village, was highly successful; it won awards at festivals in Israel and abroad, and was nominated for the Ophir Prize (Israel’s Oscar equivalent). Neta’s work includes the series House Call, which follows a team of hospice workers who support terminally ill patients and allow them to die at home, Handa Handa 4, Moran’s Brain, and Hossam’s Conflict. In 2023, a comprehensive documentary project on the 1948 war that Neta directed will be broadcast on the Kan 11 public television channel. Neta holds a bachelor’s degree in visual communications from Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem. A native of Jerusalem, she lives and works in Tel Aviv, and is a mother of two.

Eden Uliel

Pardes Hanna | Playwright, Theater Actor, and Cultural Entrepreneur

Eden Uliel is a playwright, theater actor, and cultural entrepreneur. She is a founder of the Freichot ensemble, an activist theater group committed to providing a platform for silenced voices in Israeli society. The ensemble’s productions include the cult show Frecha – A Beautiful Name, as well as the play Mothers, which delves into the stolen Yemenite children affair during the early years of the state. In 2020, Eden penned an alternative version of the original Frecha Song, which examines the true meaning of the term “frecha,” a word used to denote an uncultured and promiscuous woman, usually of Mizrahi descent. As a playwright, Eden explores the deep-rooted relationship between Hebrew and Arabic, which spans words, culture, history, and spiritual life. Her plays include Umm Kulthum, a production based on the life story of the legendary Egyptian singer and written for the Jaffa Theater. Eden is an actor and creator at the Yadit Theater in Pardes Hanna, where she is also the marketing manager. In this capacity, she initiates new cultural activities and works to position Pardes Hanna as a groundbreaking cultural hub. Eden seeks to be a bridge between people, ideas, cultures, and languages, and explores, with curiosity and creativity, connections that have been lost due to war. She believes that theater belongs to everyone, and that it is essential to create platforms, content, and effective marketing strategies in order to reach all populations, including the child she once was, who longed to be included, and now has the opportunity to make the situation better for others. Eden is married and a mother of one, and lives in Pardes Hanna.

Matan Zur

Lod | Screenwriter, Comic, Playwright, and Online Content Creator

Matan Zur is a screenwriter, comic, playwright, and online content creator He is a member of “Underdos,” a religious comedy troupe, in which he creates online sketches and performs in shows throughout Israel. Matan also has his own standup show, and is as presenter and MC at various events. He is also an independent screenwriter, writing scripts for music videos, political videos, and marketing videos for assorted production and animation companies, as well as children’s dramas for the Meir TV channel, the Sulamot non-profit organization, and more. In addition, he writes plays for children and youth for the Orna Porat Children’s Theater and the Kibbutz Theater. Together with Yair Yaakobi, Matan wrote and hosted the Zur and Yaakobi podcast, for Kan Podcasts. He has also served as a content reviewer for the Israel Film Fund, the Shomron Cinema Fund, and the Northern Film Fund. Matan is the author of Haggadah Interrupted, published by Yedioth Books, and has appeared on the television shows Ad Kan on the Kan 11 public broadcasting channel and The Day That Was with Guy Zohar on Channel 10. He is married to Avital and a father of five, and lives in Lod.

About The Program

Mandel Program for Academic Leadership in Teacher Education: Cohort 2

January 2022 – July 2023

Dr. Saleem Abu Jaber

Head of Arabic Language and Literature Department, Achva Academic College

Saleem Abu Jaber is head of the department of Arabic language and literature at Achva Academic College, where he is also an academic advisor. He is responsible for ensuring the accessibility of higher education to the College’s Arabic-speaking students. Previously, he was the head of the Bedouin teacher education track and the founder and director of the Center for Arabic Language Teaching at Kaye Academic College of Education. A senior lecturer and researcher in Arabic language and literature and Islamic culture, he is also involved in promoting optimal training for kindergarten and elementary school teachers in the Bedouin society in the Negev. Saleem develops and leads training programs in education, pedagogy, educational leadership, and social responsibility, with an emphasis on self-empowerment and the professional identity of students as future educators and agents of change in the Arab society. Saleem holds a bachelor’s degree and teaching diploma from Tel Aviv University, a master’s degree from Bar-Ilan University, and a doctorate from Tel Aviv University. He lives in Kafr Qasim.

Dr. Tami Aviad-Levitzky

Head of Department of English Language and Literature, Gordon College of Education

Tami Aviad-Levitzky is head of the department of English language and literature and head of the international English unit at Gordon College of Education in Haifa. Her work at the college includes adapting the English department’s course of study to the Wadmany-Inbar reform, developing a new certificate program in adapted English teaching, and revising the English program of the College to meet international and academic needs. Tami also oversees English-language courses offered by other departments (EMI: English as a medium of instruction), provides pedagogical support for the MASA online education portal, and helps develop curricula for student exchange programs. Tami teaches linguistics and language acquisition both at Gordon College and at the Shaanan College of Education, and conducts research in those fields. She holds a doctorate in English linguistics and foreign language development from the University of Haifa, and lives in Haifa.

Dr. Zipora S. Babchik

Head of the Education Department, Hemdat College of Education

Zipora Babchik is the head of the education department at Hemdat College of Education, where she also heads the Avney Rosha Institute’s principal training program. Zipora is a lecturer and researcher both at Hemdat College and at Levinsky College of Education. Her teaching and research focus on the entry into teaching, principal education, training for first-time principals, teaching and learning for gifted students, and links between academia and the field. Previously, Zipora was director of the Marom Center for Humanities and Science for Gifted Students in Ashdod, and served as the academic coordinator for the Hashkafa teachers’ community program in the Ministry of Education’s Jerusalem district. Zipora holds a doctorate in comparative literature from Bar-Ilan University. She lives in Modi’in.

Dr. Gilit Caduri

Head of Department of Primary Education, Gordon College of Education

Gilit Caduri is head of the department of primary education at Gordon Academic College of Education, where she is teaches on the undergraduate and graduate levels and supervises final projects of students in the graduate program in management and innovation in education. Gilit’s research focuses on teachers’ narratives, teacher education, and the philosophy of education. She holds a doctorate in education from the University of Haifa, and is a graduate of the Mandel Leadership Institute’s Mandel Scholars in Education Program. She lives in Karkur.

Dr. Brachi Elitzur

Head of the Women’s Campus, Herzog College

Brachi Elitzur is the head of the women’s campus of Herzog College, where she lectures on Bible studies and rabbinic literature in the undergraduate and graduate programs, conducts research on Midrashic literature, and coordinates the Regev accelerated degree program for academically gifted students. As head of the women’s campus, Brachi advances special programs that expand the students’ teaching skills, introduce students to diverse populations, and help students meet the changing needs of the education system. Brachi holds a doctorate in Talmud from Bar-Ilan University. She lives in Ofra.

Dr. Hagit Evan-Rifinski

Head TESOL Certification Program, Bar-Ilan University

Hagit Evan-Rifinski is head of the English teacher training program at Bar-Ilan University. She is also a lecturer at Talpiot College and has been an English teacher and homeroom teacher for over three decades at the Alliance high school in Tel Aviv. Hagit has extensive experience in both software and courseware design, having worked for many years at the Center for Educational Technology and at Eric Cohen Books. She also taught English as a second language in Australia, and worked in teacher education in Rwanda. Hagit holds a doctorate in linguistics from Bar-Ilan University. She lives in Tel Aviv.

Dr. Zeevik Greenberg

Senior Lecturer, Tel-Hai College

Zeevik Greenberg is a senior lecturer at Tel-Hai College. His areas of expertise are social and economic geography and settlement, community, and education. He is head of the Center for Rural Studies at Tel-Hai College, and a research fellow at the Institute for the Research of the Kibbutz and the Cooperative Idea at the University of Haifa. Zeevik teaches and researches fields related to the social and economic development of regions in the periphery. His research focuses on populations with multi-dimensional marginality and their integration in education and society. Zeevik holds a doctorate in human geography from the University of Haifa. He lives on Kibbutz Yiftah.

Dr. Guy Hefetz

Head of the Creative Arts in Education Department, Oranim College of Education

Guy Hefetz is head of the creative arts in education department at Oranim College of Education, where he is also the head of program development and staff development in the Faculty of Education. Guy has headed the development of curricula and staffs of lecturers and pedagogical instructors at the College for the last decade, and also leads alternative training for teachers there. Guy facilitates change processes in schools that are seeking to implement systemic change and to adopt new educational paradigms. He is involved in the professional development of individuals, teams, and organizations, and is guided by a vision of promoting humanist approaches in education and society in Israel. Guy holds a doctorate in education from the University of Haifa. He lives on Kibbutz Hannaton in the Lower Galilee.

Dr. Tammy Hoffman

Program Head at Kibbutzim College of Education; Director of Education Policy at Israel Democracy Institute

Tammy Hoffman is the head of the Regev program for outstanding students at the Kibbutzim College of Education and is a research fellow and director of education policy at the Israel Democracy Institute. Tammy has worked in teacher education for over 15 years. Her research areas include the link between the education system and the military, as well as the promotion of civics and democracy education in the education system in the context of teacher education and teacher status. In her role at the Kibbutzim College, she heads an excellence program that provides a unique space for educational leadership and influence in the College’s areas of activity; in her role at the Israel Democracy Institute, she conducts research in policy and ways of implementing education for democratic citizenship in the education system. Tammy holds a doctorate from the Constantiner School of Education at Tel Aviv University, and is a graduate of the second cohort of the post-doctoral program at the MOFET Institute. She lives in Herzliya.

Dr. Shira Iluz

Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Bar-Ilan University

Shira Iluz is a lecturer in the faculty of education at Bar-Ilan University, where she is also the director of HaLev – The Center for Simulation in Education. Shira leads the application of simulative experiences in professional training and development processes for teachers, and develops theoretical and applied research based on the principle of evidence-based practice. Her research examines the attitudes and positions of teachers in diverse contexts. Shira holds a doctorate in education from Bar-Ilan University, where she is a senior staff member in the faculty of education. She lives in Nof Ayalon.

Dr. Yehuda Jacobson

Head of the Teacher Education Unit, Tel Aviv University

Yehuda Jacobson is the head of the teacher education unit at Tel Aviv University, where he is a member of the management team of the Constantiner School of Education. As head of the teacher education unit, he leads a new practice-based teacher education (PBTE) program and is head of the social science teaching track. Previously, Yehuda was principal of the Alon high school in Ramat Hasharon and served as deputy chair of the Association of Secondary School Principals in Israel. Yehuda holds a doctorate in sociology and anthropology from Tel Aviv University, with a specialization in the anthropology of adolescents and young adults and the anthropology of education. He lives in Ramat Hasharon.

Dr. Anat Kidron

Program Head and Academic Director, Tel-Hai College

Anat Kidron is the head of the program for teaching Land of Israel studies at Tel-Hai College, where she is also the academic director of the M.Teach combined master’s and teaching certificate program. Previously, Anat was head of the faculty of humanities and social science at Ohalo College. Her teaching areas include regional teaching, the development of alternative assessment, innovative pedagogy, and problem-based learning. Her research focuses on the history of the Land of Israel in the modern era. Anat holds a doctorate in Land of Israel studies from the University of Haifa. She lives in Tzurit.

Dr. Shai Mamo

Head of Clinical Training and Program Coordinator, Hemdat College of Education

Shai Mamo is the head of clinical training at Hemdat College of Education, where he is also the coordinator of the Regev program for outstanding students. A member of the College’s management team, he oversees a cooperative initiative with municipalities that links the College’s pre-service teacher-training with local needs. He also lectures in the education department and is involved in tutoring and mentoring, in-service training programs, and pedagogical consulting for various initiatives. Previously, he served as a school principal for over 20 years. Shai holds a doctorate from the University of Potsdam in Germany. He lives in Jerusalem.

Dr. Rama Manor

Head of the Elementary Education Track, Beit Berl College

Rama Manor is head of the elementary education track at the Arab Academic Institute for Education of Beit Berl College, where she is also a senior lecturer in the department of Hebrew language and literature and the head of the research lab at the Center for Education for Shared Society. Rama also teaches in the School of Education of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Previously, she served as head of the department of Hebrew language and literature and as a pedagogic instructor at Beit Berl’s Arab Academic Institute. Rama specializes in the grammar, semantics, and pragmatics of written and spoken modern Hebrew, as well as in teaching Hebrew as a second language in Arab society. She holds a doctorate from the department of Hebrew and Semitic languages at Bar-Ilan University. She lives in Tel Aviv.

Dr. Ohr Margalit

Head of Department and Program Coordinator, Levinsky College of Education

Ohr Margalit is head of the department of Biblical studies and of the Jewish thought unit at Levinsky College of Education, where he also serves as the "Israeli Hope" and anti-racism officer. He is active in promoting coexistence both on campus and by means of partnerships with other institutions, as well as in non-academic social organizations. He is also the co-coordinator of the Coexistence Forum of the MOFET Institute. Previously, Ohr served as dean of students at the College and as head of the Jewish philosophy department, and was co-founder and co-chair of the Lobby for Suicide Prevention in Academia. Ohr holds a doctorate in Jewish thought from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and was a research fellow at Harvard University and at the Shalom Hartman Institute. He lives in Modi’in.

Dr. Hiam Nasseraldeen

Lecturer and Pedagogical Instructor, University of Haifa

Hiam Nasseraldeen is a lecturer and pedagogical instructor in the Department of Learning and Instructional Sciences at the University of Haifa. She has been working in teacher education for over a decade. Hiam lectures in the English teaching program and provides guidance to students during their teaching practicums. Her research examines new teachers’ learning and induction, and her work in education combines academic research and professional practice. Hiam has been a teacher for over 20 years, and serves as a counselor for English teachers in the Ministry of Education, Haifa district. She holds a master’s degree in education system development from the University of Haifa, and her doctoral dissertation has recently been approved. Hiam was born and raised in Daliyat al-Karmel, where she lives today.

Dr. Lamis Odeh-Saba

Lecturer, Pedagogic Instructor, and Coordinator, Levinsky College of Education

Lamis Odeh-Saba is a lecturer and pedagogic instructor in the special education program of Levinsky College of Education, where she is also the coordinator of students from Arab society. Her research focuses on people with disabilities and their families in Arab society, as well as on multicultural aspects of various educational issues. Lamis has led advocacy groups for people with disabilities living in institutional settings. She completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies in special education at the University of Haifa. She lives in Be’er Ya’akov.

Dr. Havi Sason

Department Coordinator and Lecturer, Herzog College

Havi Sason is the coordinator of the department of education at Herzog College, where she is a lecturer in education, physics, and science. A former high-school physics teacher who prepared students for matriculation exams, Havi was a member of the Israel Ministry of Education’s physics subject committee. Her research focuses on self-directed education, learning, and the teacher’s role in distance learning. Havi holds a doctorate in science teaching from the faculty of education at Bar-Ilan University. She lives in Nof Ayalon.

Dr. Hait Shaham

Head of the Teacher Development Unit, Beit Berl College

Hait Shaham is the head of the teacher development unit at Beit Berl College. Her research and teaching focuses on pedagogy and the didactics of mathematics teaching, as well as on the interface between academia and the field in teacher education. Hait is in charge of practical training at Beit Berl College, and leads special programs such as the Academia-Classroom partnership for teaching reinforcement. In the field of teacher education, she has many years of experience as a pedagogical instructor and a lecturer in mathematics teaching from pre-school through elementary school. Hait also coordinates the MOFET Institute’s program on pedagogical instruction in times of change. Hait holds a master’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Haifa, and a doctorate in education from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Hungary. She lives in Kfar Monash.

Dr. Merav Solomon Even-Chen

Coordinator of Leadership Program, Oranim College of Education

Merav Solomon Even-Chen is the coordinator of the leadership program in the department of social community education at Oranim College of Education, where she is also a lecturer in the faculty of advanced studies. Merav serves as a consultant and adviser to various officials, forums, and educational and community processes throughout Israel. She is a community social worker, and holds a doctorate in social work from Bar-Ilan University. Merav lives in Mitzpe Ilan, a religious community in the Galilee, and is one of its founding members.

Dr. Nimrod Tal

Director of the Israeli Institute of History Education, Kibbutzim College of Education

Nimrod Tal is a historian who serves as the coordinator of the academic post-graduate teacher-training program in the faculty of humanities and social sciences of the Kibbutzim College of Education, where he is the director of the Israeli Institute of History Education. He researches, publishes, and teaches in the fields of American history and history education in Israel and around the world. His work focuses on the role of teachers in fostering an awareness of the past that shapes identity and civic action. Nimrod holds a doctorate in American history from the University of Oxford. He lives in Hod Hasharon.

About The Program

Mandel Youth Leadership Program: Cohort 8

October 2022 – July 2023

Mirna Abuarab

Gap Year Northern Region Manager, AJEEC-NISPED

Mirna Abuarab is the manager of the Taliyah Gap Year and Sabeel Leadership Institute programs in central and northern Israel for AJEEC-NISPED (Arab-Jewish Center for Empowerment, Equality, and Cooperation – Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Economic Development), where she has been working since 2000. Previously, she worked in the field of employment and directed vocational and academic training programs. Mirna holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, anthropology and education, and a master’s degree in non-profit management, with a specialization in social entrepreneurship, both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She lives in Nazareth.

Ibrahim AlaMour

Director of Youth Services, Kseifa Local Council

Ibrahim AlaMour is director of the Kseifa youth services unit. For a decade, he was a teacher of Hebrew as a second language. He also worked as a mentor to youth during his university studies, and was the coordinator of the “School as a Community Anchor” program. Ibrahim is deeply dedicated to working with youth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in informal education and a teaching diploma from Kaye Academic College of Education, and a master’s degree in organizational consulting from Ono Academic College. He is married and a father of three, and lives in Kseifa.

Tzofit Arbel

Youth Portfolio Manager, Jerusalem Municipality

Tzofit Arbel holds the youth portfolio in the Jerusalem municipality, and has worked in non-formal education for three decades. Previously she founded the Jerusalem municipality’s center for preparation for meaningful military service. She also served as an officer and commander in various education positions in the IDF for a decade. Tzofit believes that non-formal education is a springboard for identifying potential in young people, and is motivated by the words of the poet Shaul Tchernichovsky, “I still believe in people, in their bold spirit.” Tzofit holds a master’s degree (cum laude) in public policy from Bar-Ilan University. She is married and a mother of four boys.

Iris Aronin

Head of the Rishon Lezion Community Administration

Iris Aronin is head of the community administration of the Rishon LeZion municipality. She is responsible for services in various fields including youth and young adults, immigration and absorption, community development, business promotion, public participation and innovation, religious and Haredi culture, the LGBT community, and more. She has held a variety of positions in the social-communal space over the last 12 years, including director of the Beer Tuvia local council’s education and culture non-profit organization and its sports non-profit organization; program and partnership director for Partnership 2000 and for the Final company; and deputy director of the society, youth and young adults division of the Petah Tikva municipality. Iris holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and management and a master’s degree in organizational consulting with a specialization in the public and non-profit sectors. She also holds a teaching certificate.

Tarek Awad

Director, Tamra Community Center

Tarek Awad is the director of the Tamra community center. Previously, he directed a community center in East Jerusalem. Tarek is part of the leadership team of a community-building course to create a network of community coordinators who work in the northern district of the Israel Association of Community Centers. Tarek also practices alternative medicine, mainly reiki and shiatsu. He is a strong believer in maintaining partnerships between all organizations in the community. Tarek holds a master’s degree in non-profit management and public policy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He lives in Tamra, in the lower Galilee.

Elad Azulay

Education, Community, and Culture Professional

Elad Azulay has rich and varied professional experience in the public and non-profit sectors. He has led groups for at-risk youth and has lectured on implementing educational processes with youth at risk. He also established a center for excellence in leadership and social engagement – a holistic program for promoting social and moral education in the education system. Elad was the first director of Lunada – The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Children’s Museum of Beer Sheva. He established and directs Beer Sheva’s leisure and community division, which advances community development among the city’s 250,000 residents. Elad holds a bachelor’s degree in politics, government and education from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He is married and a father of three, and lives in Beer Sheva.

Limor Bashiri

Director, ELEM’s Outreach Van, Jerusalem

Limor Bashiri is the director of the outreach van of ELEM–Youth in Distress in Jerusalem. The van provides emotional, humanitarian, and welfare aid to at-risk youth and young adults on the street. Limor has held various positions in social organizations for over a decade, including work as a group facilitator at Gesher and lecturer at Nativ. Limor is a member of the ProWoman non-profit organization for women’s career advancement in Israel, and founded the ProWoman program at Bar-Ilan University. She believes in change that stems from partnership, diversity, and grassroots connections. Limor holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Bar-Ilan University, and is studying for a master’s degree in social work with a specialization in human rights and policy from Tel Aviv University. She lives in Jerusalem.

Yossi Friedman

CEO, International Award for Young People–Israel

Yossi Friedman is the CEO of International Award for Young People–Israel, a youth organization that prepares its members for national civilian service programs and works to advance the personal and social development of young people and help build communal resilience and mutual responsibility in Israel. Previously, he served as the director of operations and development at Yedidim for Youth and Society. He also served as the director of community engagement for thousands of recipients of grants from the Mifal Hapayis national lottery, the Friends of the IDF IMPACT! program, and the Gruss Fund. Yossi holds an executive master’s in business administration from the University of Haifa, with a specialization in non-profit management. He believes that educators should help young people understand that they are more capable than they think they are. Yossi is married and is a father of three. Originally from Jerusalem, he now lives in Haifa.‬‬‬‬

Inbal Grintzwig

Educational Director, Nachshon Pre-Military Academy

Inbal Grintzwig is the educational director of Nachshon – The Israel Educational Institute for Social Leadership, a pre-military academy that has three groups: in Sderot, Kibbutz Shuval, and Kibbutz Gal-On. Inbal previously directed Nachshon’s group at Kibbutz Shuval for two years. She also served as an educational advisor for the IDF’s Talpiot elite science and technology program, a coordinator for the Israel 2050 movement, and a lecturer for the Economics for Hebrew Speakers program. Inbal has studied and worked at the Tavor Leadership Academy and at Beit Prat–Israeli Midrasha. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and is a graduate of the identity and public policy program at the Jewish Statesmanship Center. She lives in Tel Aviv.

Aviran Hazan

Vice President of Education at Aharai!

Aviran Hazan is the vice president of education at the Aharai! Youth Leading Change association. He began his relationship with the organization as a member of its youth group in Dimona, where he was born, and later became a counselor and a coordinator. He founded and directed the organization’s six-month pre-military program, directed its civilian service year program (Shnat Sherut), and was involved in creating and developing its programs supporting soldiers during their IDF service. During his own civilian service, Aviran worked as a tour guide for the Israel Society for the Protection of Nature at the Ein Gedi field school. Aviran holds a bachelor’s degree in Land of Israel studies. He is married and a father of two, and lives in Kiryat Ono.

Yehudit Kabada

Legal Advisor, Karev Program in Community Centers

Yehudit Kabada, who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia with her family at the age of 11, has worked as a lawyer for over a decade, gaining experience in labor law, administrative law, tenders, and contract law. Since 2016, she has been working for the Israeli Association of Community Centers (IACC) – the country’s largest social organization – as the legal advisor to the CRB Karev Foundation’s program for social engagement. In this role, she formulates policy for the program’s operation in various types of educational institutions throughout Israel, dealing mainly with the areas of law related to the work of the IACC: society and education. Yehudit holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Ono Academic College. She believes people should conduct themselves with modesty and simplicity, while constantly striving to develop and grow. Yehudit is married and is a mother of four.

Gil Kazmir

Coordinator of Kibbutzim and Rural Areas, HaMahanot HaOlim

Gil Kazmir is the coordinator of kibbutzim and rural areas for the HaMahanot HaOlim youth movement, and is a member of the movement’s secretariat. Previously, he was the director of IDF activities and Israel studies at the Shitim Institute, which is dedicated to relevant and meaningful celebration of the Jewish holidays and culture. He is also one of the founders of a non-formal education cooperative in the Eilot region in Israel’s south. Gil holds a bachelor’s degree in history and non-formal education and a teaching diploma from Beit Berl College. He is also a qualified tour guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism. Gil is a member of Kibbutz Na’aran (HaMahanot HaOlim’s kibbutz for educators) in the Jordan Valley, and lives with his family in the Yad Eliyahu neighborhood of Tel Aviv.

Liron Levy Hershkovitz

Jerusalem and Southern District Director, Orr Shalom Alumni Program

Liron Levy Hershkovitz is the director of the Jerusalem and southern district for the alumni program of Orr Shalom, a non-profit organization that cares for children and youth at risk who have been removed from their parents’ custody. The alumni program works with adolescents and young adults who were removed from their homes as children and who lack any family support, and aims to increase their social mobility. Previously, Liron worked in the field of foster care, coordinated various social projects, and directed social initiatives for students on behalf of the Kolot BaNegev non-profit organization, which runs training programs for facilitators. She also volunteered with the Rape Crisis Center and with ELEM–Youth in Distress in Israel. Liron holds a bachelor’s degree in film studies from Sapir College and a master’s degree in social work from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is married and a mother of three, and lives in Jerusalem.

Yahal Linternari

Teacher and Educator

Yahal Linternari has worked as a teacher and educator for over two decades, mainly in the field of non-formal education. He is an active member of the kibbutz where he lives. He served as a member of its board of directors and as chair of the education committee and is involved in arranging and producing local and regional cultural events. In recent years, Yahal has worked in education for Jewish youth in the diaspora. He was an emissary of the Jewish Agency in Milan, and has been the director of the European section of World Hashomer Hatzair since 2017. Yahal officiates at Israeli-Jewish marriages under the auspices of the Havaya organization. He was one of the founders of the Magid HaRuah non-profit organization for Jewish renewal in the Megiddo regional council, which was founded in 2018, and served as its first chair. In his spare time, he enjoys running and writing poetry. Yahal holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the Entrepreneurship Center of the Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts, and a master’s degree (cum laude) from the Jewish peoplehood program at the University of Haifa. He is married and a father of two, and lives in Kibbutz Ramot Menashe, where he was raised.

Maayan Loebenstein

Director, Youth Services Department, Sderot

Maayan Loebenstein is the director of the municipal youth services department in Sderot. Previously, she served as the city’s coordinator of youth movements, as the educational coordinator for the moshavim division of the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed youth movement, as the community volunteering coordinator for IDF Nahal Brigade soldiers in several local authorities, and as an advisor for young people doing their year of civilian service. She believes in holistic education as a platform for social mobility and for developing the leadership of the future. Maayan holds a bachelor’s degree in non-formal education as well as a teaching certificate, and is a graduate of MAOZ’s Eco leadership program. She lives in Sderot.

Matan Nabozny

Dan District Coordinator, Bnei Akiva

Matan Nabozny has been the coordinator of the Bnei Akiva youth movement in the Dan district (Tel Aviv’s metropolitan area) since 2016. He is responsible for leading and managing educational, organizational, and values-related aspects of 43 local branches of the movement. Matan was educated in religious Zionist institutions in Ra’anana, where he was born, and studied for three years at the Shavei Hevron yeshiva. Matan holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from Orot Israel College of Education. He is married and a father of four, and lives in Bruchin.

Moran Niv Shalman

Chief Educational Director, Ziv Neurim

Moran Niv Shalman is the chief educational director at Ziv Neurim, a non-profit organization that offers educational marine activities for at-risk youth. Previously, she served as the director of the organization’s marine center in Akko for six years. Moran entered the field of education after completing a year-long sea voyage that changed her view of the world entirely. At Ziv Neurim, she has come to appreciate the magical power of human connection. Moran holds a bachelor’s degree in marine sciences from the Ruppin Academic Center, and a master’s degree in secondary education and teaching from Oranim Academic College of Education. She lives in Nahalal, in the Yizreel Valley.

Semadar Ravreby

Local Authorities Coordinator, Hashomer Hatzair

Semadar Ravreby is the coordinator of local authorities for the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement, and directs the program for climate education of the Council of Youth Movements in Israel. Previously, she coordinated Hashomer Hatzair’s community department. She also established an educational woodworking studio at an elementary school and a communal woodworking studio in the city of Harish. Semadar believes in values-based education and in educational encounters as significant drivers of change for individuals and society. She holds a bachelor’s degree in non-formal education and a teaching certificate, both from Beit Berl College, and lives in the Amitai urban kibbutz in Harish.

Rabbi Chanoch Rogozinsky

Jurist, Educator and Social Activist

Rabbi Chanoch Rogozinsky directs non-formal education programs for youth, and lectures on Judaism and democracy in various settings, including forums for senior officials in Israel’s defense establishment. He worked as a program manager at JDC Israel, where he focused on Haredi integration into higher education and the employment market. Chanoch was involved in founding and operating service tracks for Haredi men in the IDF’s Givati Brigade and Paratroopers Brigade. He lives in Jerusalem.

Lena Romanovsky

Program Director, Kav Hazinuk (The Starting Line)

Lena Romanovsky is the director of Kav Hazinuk (The Starting Line), a ten-year leadership program of the Edmond de Rothschild Partnerships, which locates, trains, and networks young people from Israel’s social and geographical periphery who have outstanding leadership potential, and empowers them to serve as a cadre of diverse, ethical, and innovative social leaders. Lena is herself a graduate of the program. She also served as the program’s coordinator, as regional director for the central region and Jerusalem, and as the program’s director of careers and higher education. Lena began her educational career as an elementary school teacher. She subsequently worked at ELEM–Youth in Distress and at the Rape Crisis Center, and served as chair of Jerusalem Women Community Builders and as head of a pre-military academy. She is also a group facilitator, and lectures on sexuality and gender, the Russian-speaking community in Israel, and social activism. Lena holds a bachelor’s degree in law and social work and a master’s degree in non-profit management from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and has completed courses in mediation, group facilitation, and spokesmanship. She is married and a mother of one, and lives in Rehovot.

Tzemach-David Schloss Zecharia

Content and Facilitation Coordinator, Gesher

Tzemach-David Schloss Zecharia is the content and facilitation coordinator at Gesher, a non-profit organization that bridges gaps in Israel’s society. Previously, he was Gesher’s coordinator of programs for youth and for members of the security forces. Tzemach David is responsible for writing content and for overseeing the admissions process for facilitators, as well as for their training and professional development. He also leads workshops on group facilitation and identity for the staff of other organizations. Tzemach-David believes that listening is the most important thing in education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, political science, and economics, and is a graduate of the Magid Institute program in group facilitation. He is married and a father of one, and lives in Bar Giora.

Mor Shabtay

Spokesperson, Moshav Division, HaNoar HaOved VeHalomed

Mor Shabtay is the spokesperson for the moshav division at the HaNoar HaOved VeHalomed youth movement. He is also a member of the division’s coordination team, and serves as the director of its southern district. Before assuming his current role, he worked as the coordinator of the southern district of HaNoar HaOved VeHalomed, was a youth counselor in the Habonim Dror youth movement in Israel and in Australia, and taught history and Bible studies at a technical high school. Mor holds a bachelor’s degree in non-formal education and a teaching certificate in history from Beit Berl College. He lives in Mitzpe Ramon, where he is an active member of the Dror Israel urban kibbutz for educators.

Menachem Tenenboim

VP of Operations, Simcha Layeled

Menachem Tenenboim is vice president of operations at Simcha Layeled, a non-profit organization that supports children with chronic illnesses or disabilities and their families. He oversees the operations of the organization’s various branches and divisions, trains and supports branch directors, and liaises between the administration and the operations in the field. Menachem began at Simcha Layeled as a volunteer a year after its establishment in 2005. He subsequently was a camp director, a field coordinator in the Jerusalem branch, and then director of the Jerusalem branch. As a high school student, Menachem was a youth counselor for the Bnei Akiva youth movement and volunteered at Kav Lachayim. After completing studies at a hesder yeshiva and IDF service in the Nahal Brigade, he trained to become a medical clown, and worked for a year in the internal medicine department of Schneider Children’s Medical Center. He also worked for several years for One Family, which provides support to young victims of terror attacks, and worked in special education settings and classes for children with autistic spectrum disorders. Menachem holds a bachelor’s degree in education and society from Ono Academic College. He is married and a father of five, and lives in Gevaot, a community in Gush Etzion that emphasizes inclusion.

Chen Teva

Director of the Education Department, Betar Youth Movement

Chen Teva is an education professional who serves as the director of the education department at the Betar Youth Movement. Prior to his work at Betar, he served as the leadership coordinator of the Scouts Movement in Israel. Chen served as company commander of a combat unit in the IDF. Alongside his current work in education, he also works in real estate. Chen holds a bachelor’s degree in non-formal education, a teaching certificate, and a master’s degree in education system management and organization from Beit Berl College. He is married and a father of two, and lives in Petah Tikva.

Chen Uliel

Director, Complete Educational Space, Pisgat Ze’ev, Jerusalem

Chen Uliel is the director of the Complete Educational Space in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood of Jerusalem, an initiative designed to create equal opportunities in schools and to blur the boundaries between formal and non-formal education, in part by creating an educational ecosystem. Previously, she served as a career officer and team commander at the IDF’s Bahad 1 officer training school and subsequently as a head instructor. She also worked at the Prime Minister’s Office for several years in various roles. Chen holds a bachelor’s degree in education and Middle Eastern studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a master’s degree (summa cum laude) from the educational counseling research track at Bar-Ilan University. She lives in Jerusalem.

About The Program