Fellows

The Mandel Program for Leadership in Jewish Culture: Cohort 5

October 2021 – July 2022

Rotem Atar

Haifa | Translator and Cultural Entrepreneur

Rotem Atar translates French and English prose and poetry to Hebrew. The recipient of the Minister of Culture’s Translation Prize for 2019, she directs Poetry Place, a literary center in Haifa. Books translated by Rotem include Exercises in Style by Raymond Queneau, The Colour of Milk by Nell Leyshon, The Art of Struggle by Michel Houellebecq, The Influence of Literature by Madame de Staël, and more. Married and a mother of two, Rotem is a member of Mifras, an urban kibbutz in Kiryat Sprinzak, Haifa.

Eli Bijaoui

Tel Aviv | Translator, Writer, and Director

Eli Bijaoui is a theater translator, director, and playwright. Born in Tel Aviv to parents from France and Tunisia, he is a graduate of the theater directing and teaching track of the Kibbutzim College of Education’s school of performing arts. Eli has translated a diverse range of works into Hebrew from both French and English, for different audiences. These include classics such as Molière’s Tartuffe and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Othello; modern plays such as Sartre’s Huis Clos and Cocteau’s Les Parents Terribles; and musicals such as Mamma Mia, Cabaret, and West Side Story. He also adapted the famous American children’s book Library Lion into a long-running, successful play. Eli’s translations of classic plays have been published by Locus and have been studied at various schools and academic institutions in recent years. He was awarded the Israel Theater Prize in 2015, 2016, and 2017 for his translations, and received the 2020 Rosenblum Prize for the Performing Arts in recognition of his contribution to making foreign-language plays accessible to Israeli audiences. Eli lives in Tel Aviv with his partner and their three children.

Eness Elias

Tel Aviv | Writer, Journalist, and Researcher

Eness Elias is a writer and researcher whose work mainly addresses Jewish-Arab culture and gender. Since 2016, she has written a column in Ha’aretz that explores sociological, cultural, historical, and class issues relating to Mizrahi, Arab, and Israeli identity and life. Eness has also had a short story published in the international literary magazine Granta. She lectures on gender and Mizrahi culture in various settings, and is a member of the editorial team of the medical encyclopedia Women and Their Bodies. Eness holds a master’s degree (summa cum laude) from the gender studies program at Tel Aviv University, where her thesis examined cultural research on sleep among women. She is currently working on an initiative in the field of communications.

Shai Ferdo

Bekoa | Actor, Producer, and Social Activist

Shai Ashto Ferdo is an actor, producer, and social activist who graduated from the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio and the School of Visual Theater. The founder and producer of the annual Sigdiada festival of Ethiopian culture, Shai was one of the founders of Natala Theater, the first Ethiopian theater in Israel. He was one of the main activists in the social protests of 2011, and founded youth groups promoting identity and empowerment. Shai lectures in Israel and abroad on behalf of various foundations, organizations, and national agencies. He has acted at the Herzliya Theater, the Khan Theater, the Beit Lessin Theater, and the Be’er Sheva Theater, and has appeared in numerous television series and movies. Shai presents a culture segment on a nightly television show and has participated in workshops as part of the Partnership2gether peoplehood platform pairing Tel Aviv and Los Angeles. Shai has been awarded the Zusman-JDC Prize for social action, the Yossi Harel Prize for his work in the field of immigration and absorption, the Ministry of Culture’s prize for Zionist-oriented art, and the Sharet Fund Prize for outstanding achievement in the arts. He is married and a father of two.

Sharon Glazberg

Ein Iron | Multidisciplinary Artist

Sharon Glazberg is a multidisciplinary artist whose work has been shown in solo exhibitions at galleries and museums in Israel and abroad including the Ein Harod Mishkan Museum of Art, the Raw Art and Rothschild 69 galleries in Tel Aviv, and the Islip Art Museum in New York. Her work has also been exhibited in group exhibitions at the Havana Biennale, the Jewish Museum in New York, the National Museum in New Delhi, the Petah Tikva Museum of Art, the Ashdod Museum, the Herzliya Museum, the Museum of the Negev, the Umm al-Fahem Art Gallery, and MoBY: Museums of Bat Yam. Sharon lectures at the University of Haifa and at Oranim Academic College of Education. In 2015, she co-founded Zumu, a community-based mobile museum of art. She was awarded the Minister of Culture Prize in 2015, the Community Artist Prize in 2016–2019, and a scholarship from the America–Israel Cultural Foundation for 2004–2005. Sharon holds a bachelor’s of fine arts degree from the San Francisco Institute of Art and a master’s degree from the University of Haifa. She is a mother of two.

Daphna Gottlieb

Jerusalem | Lawyer and Legislative Adviser

Daphna Gottlieb is Jerusalem native, with 22 generations of residence in Jerusalem on one side of her family, while the other side is first-generation Israeli. She is a lawyer in the department for legal counsel and legislation at the Ministry of Justice, which operates under the attorney general, and is responsible for legal support for government activity in the fields of culture, heritage, and national memory. Daphna works closely on an ongoing basis with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, and is charged with formulating expert opinions for the attorney general on relevant issues and projects. Among other undertakings, she is involved in the process to create comprehensive legislative and regulatory arrangements to protect cultural treasures and historical sites in Israel. Her work also covers questions relating to state support for Haredi and Arab culture, state support for the religious activities of the Reform movement in Israel, transgender rights, and more. Daphna holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Tel Aviv University and a master’s in law (cum laude) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is also a graduate of the Ministry of Justice’s Influencers leadership program. Daphna is a strong believer in the power of the law to create real social change, and in its importance in helping protect people and their rights.

Sivan Har Shefi

Tekoa | Poet, Facilitator, and Teacher of Creative Writing

Sivan Har Shefi is a poet, lecturer in literature, and facilitator of creative writing workshops at Bar-Ilan University and Herzog Academic College. She is one of the co-founders and leaders of the Zohar Chai beit midrash in Jerusalem, and a co-founder of Adabra, a creative study group addressing issues related to sexual abuse. Four of Sivan’s books have been published by Rythmus KM Press. Her writing has received the President’s Award for Hebrew Poetry (2019) and the Prime Minister’s Prize for Hebrew Literary Works (2012). Sivan edits the Atar journal of literature and the arts together with her life partner Avishar, and the two recently published a collaborative book of poetry, We Who Will Soon Become (Jerusalem, 2019). Sivan holds a doctorate in Hebrew literature from Bar-Ilan University. She is a mother of five.

Matan Hayat

Jerusalem | Cultural Entrepreneur and Educator

Matan Hayat is a Jerusalem-based educator, Israeli rabbi, and cultural entrepreneur who teaches at the Keshet high school. Matan has been among the founders of several Jerusalem initiatives: Singing in the Garden, a series of communal singing events in public spaces; Elul on the Path, a program of walking and study tours for youth; and Shabati, a series of cultural and leisure events in Jerusalem on Shabbat. He also directs Double Yerushalmi, a backgammon tournament for Jews and Arabs that is part of the encounters between Jerusalem’s Arab and Jewish residents developed by the nonprofit Kulna Yerushalayim, of which he is one of the founders. Matan has also served as executive director of Hakova Hahafuch (“the Upside-Down Hat”), a nonprofit organization that hosts cultural events with added value. Matan holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Jewish philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a master’s degree in Jewish education from the Hebrew University’s Revivim program. He is also a graduate of the Beit Midrash for Israeli Rabbis of the Shalom Hartman Institute and Oranim Academic College of Education, and a graduate of the Jewish Statesmanship Center. Matan is married and a father of two.

Maya Kosover

Tel Aviv | Podcast/Radio Presenter and Producer

Maya Kosover is a podcaster, documentarist, story hunter, and radio presenter and producer. She presents and produces for the podcast department of Kan, the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, where her podcast portfolio includes One Song, Pocket Animals, Zoom In, Kan Kids, and more. Maya was also a contributor to the Israel Story podcast series, which was produced by IDF Army Radio and was broadcast in its American version by NPR. An episode of Maya’s podcast was listed by The Atlantic as one of the best 50 podcasts episodes of the year, which resulted in her embarking on a short and unforgettable tour of the United States. Previously, Maya served as producer of the radio show Night Encounters with Kobi Medan, and directed Koteret Radio, a small radio station at 106FM. She is married and a mother of two.

Roni Kuban

Tel Aviv | Journalist, Director, and Playwright

Roni Kuban is a journalist, director, and playwright whose television interview series A Rendezvous with Roni Kuban won an award from the Israeli Academy of Film and Television four years in a row. His other productions include Age Crises (Channel 8), And Then Came Baby (Channel 8), A Life We’ve Never Seen Before (prizewinner from the Documentary Filmmaker Forum), and The Extra-Ordinaries (Kan 11). He also created numerous films for Ilana Dayan’s investigative show Uvda which made waves, such as “Between Two Moms,” an episode about the murder of Michal Selah, and more. He has also written two plays: Real Estate and Intimacy, both of which were produced by the Beit Lessin Theater. Roni was born in Ramat Gan and lives in Tel Aviv. He is married and a father of two.

Ofra Lax

Lod | Journalist, Author, and Social Activist

Ofra Lax is a journalist, columnist, author, and social activist who has worked in journalism for some two decades. She is a member of the editorial team of the B’sheva weekly newspaper, where she writes a column focusing on education and social issues and where she is in charge of cultural coverage. Ofra also leads panel discussions and workshops and give talks on various subjects, and is involved in women’s empowerment in the religious Zionist community. Ofra holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications and a certificate in journalism and communications, both from Bar-Ilan University. She is married and a mother of six and lives in Lod, where she is a social activist.

Shira Marili Mirvis

Efrat | Rabbanit and Halakhist

Rabbanit Shira Marili Mirvis is the spiritual leader of the Shirat Hatamar community in Efrat and the former head of the Yeud women’s beit midrash in Jerusalem. A graduate of the Susi Bradfield Women’s Institute of Halakhic Leadership at Midreshet Lindenbaum, a division of Ohr Torah Stone, she has successfully passed exams on the laws of Shabbat, blessings, mourning, marriage and betrothal, family purity, and more. Shira provides halakhic responsa on an individual basis and via Beit Hillel’s Meshivat Nefesh project, a website on which women and girls receive answers to questions of Jewish law from women. She has also completed a special training program for rabbis at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, which included training including in spiritual counseling. Shira holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bar-Ilan University, and is a graduate of the Bible studies and hermeneutics program at Matan—The Sadie Rennert Women's Institute for Torah Studies in Jerusalem. She produces a weekly daf yomi Talmud vlog for women and a podcast for women on the weekly Torah portion. She is married and a mother of five.

Arnon Naor

Tel Aviv | Entrepreneur, Singer Songwriter, and Musical Producer

Arnon Naor is an entrepreneur, singer, songwriter, and musical producer who is also the founder and co-chairman of Tzlilim – The Israeli Musicians’ Union. Arnon has released two albums under his artist name Sun Tailor and has performed hundreds of shows in his native Israel and all over the world. As a producer, Arnon has worked with Maya Johanna, Kili Halperin, and the rapper Saz (Sameh Zakout), with whom he released the single “Wake Up Now,” which was widely played on Israeli radio and on digital platforms. As a songwriter, he participated in the Lullaby Project, which premiered at Carnegie Hall, and wrote original music for the award-winning movie How to Say Silence. Arnon provides interactive musical experiences for youth and students as part of the Yalla Moozika initiative. In addition to his musical work, Arnon is a founder and co-chairman of Tzlilim–The Israeli Musicians’ Union. He is married and has a daughter.

Romy Neumark

Jerusalem | Journalist and Newscaster

Romy Neumark is the creator and host of the daily television program Night News on KAN, Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation, and is also the co-host of a weekly radio program. Romy is known for using the news as a tool for social change, and for promoting gender equality, diversity, and inclusiveness through her unique segments and the unconventional use of Hebrew language. For more than two decades, she has anchored breaking-news broadcasts as one of the country’s most trusted journalists. Romy established KAN’s peer mentoring initiative, which cultivates excellence in journalism and a work environment of growth. She holds a bachelor’s degree in literature and a master’s degree in Middle Eastern history, both from Tel Aviv University. Romy grew up in Emek Hefer, and lives in Jerusalem with her partner and son.

Henya Shochat

Bnei Brak | Standup Comedian, Writer, and Creative Artist

Henya Shochat is a standup comedian, writer, and creative artist. She is a columnist for the Haredi weekly magazine Mishpacha and for Pnima, a monthly women’s magazine for the national religious community. She also hosts a weekly radio show on the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation’s Kan Heritage station. Henya began her work in the arts at the age of 16, when she wrote a Haredi “telenovela” for the Behadrei Haredim website, which was viewed tens of thousands of times. After working for leading PR firms in the religious and Haredi sector, Henya took the brave step of leaving her job to pursue comedy, and became known in the religious-Haredi women’s scene through her intelligent, groundbreaking standup routines for women. Subsequently, she also became popular among national-religious and non-religious audiences throughout Israel. A Haredi child of divorced parents, who is half Ashkenazi and half Moroccan, Henya writes, sings, and laughs about the pain of being a misfit in one’s own community. She sees humor as a wonderful bridge between husband and wife, daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, and most importantly, between different sectors of society. Henya is married and a mother of three, and lives in Bnei Brak.

Niv Shtendel

Tel Aviv | Writer, Editor, Journalist, and Content Creator

Niv Shtendel is a writer, senior editor and head of creative content at the Israeli news website mako. He has been working for over 15 years in print and digital media as a writer, interviewer, critic, columnist, editor, and content creator. In his past positions, Niv served as a film critic for the Ma’ariv newspaper and the NRG website; a television critic for Blazer and Achbar Ha’ir; a writer for Ha’aretz; and culture and opinion editor for the mako website. He writes opinion pieces, news commentary, cultural criticism, and magazine articles. Niv is the creator and editor of BOLD, a series of short videos presenting personal stories and opinions. He also serves as editor of special projects, develops digital and video content, and presents podcasts, including “Line in the Sand” and “What Did You Do in the Military?” A graduate (cum laude) of the scriptwriting track at Tel Aviv University’s department of film and television studies, Niv develops scripts for television. He also teaches journalistic editing in the department of Hebrew language at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and lectures both in Israel and abroad on culture, the media, and storytelling.

Avraham Stav

Alon Shvut | Rabbi and Columnist

Avraham Stav is a rabbi and columnist. He is a Talmud teacher at Yeshivat Machanayim (Or Torah Stone) and is a culture critic for the Makor Rishon newspaper. Avraham writes articles on Torah and rabbinic scholarship and is the author of three books on Jewish law and Jewish life, which focus on the Yom Kippur service in the temple, pregnancy loss, and sexuality and Jewish family life. He also writes about halakha and modern life online, especially on Facebook. Avraham holds rabbinical ordination and is finishing a doctorate in Jewish philosophy at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where his thesis examines petitionary prayer in medieval Jewish thought. He is married and a father of five.

Shai Tsabari

Bat Yam | Singer, Songwriter, and Artistic Director

Shai Tsabari is a singer, songwriter, and artistic director. He began his musical career as a backup singer in Berry Sakharof and Rea Mochiach’s Adumey Hasefatot (“Red Lips”) ensemble, and in Berry Sakharof’s band. He has also worked with Ahuva Ozeri, Idan Reichel, Kutiman, and many others. In recent years, Shai has performed with his own band in Israel and abroad. Shai’s work connects the different musical worlds in contemporary Jewish and Israeli life, whether piyyut or pop, Eastern or Western, modern or traditional.

About The Program

Mandel Program for Academic Leadership in Teacher Education: Cohort 2

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. Yousif Alamour

Coordinator of Practical Training in Arabic-Speaking Track and Pedagogic Instructor, Achva Academic College

Yousif Alamour is the coordinator of practical training in the Arabic-speaking track of the department of science teaching at Achva Academic College, where he is a pedagogical instructor and coordinator of the Etgarim program for informal education in Arab society. Yousif holds a doctorate from Yarmouk University in Jordan, where his dissertation examined the use of mobile learning and digital learning in science teaching. For the last five years, he has lectured on future-oriented pedagogy and on the use of digital tools, as part of in-service training programs for teachers in the Southern district. Yousif completed post-doctoral studies in the University of Haifa’s department of risk communication. He lives in the Bedouin town of Kseifa.

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 7

Sagi Abargel

IGY–The Proud Youth Organization

Sagi Abargel is the head of the department of education of IGY (Israel Gay Youth) –The Proud Youth Organization, and is a member of IGY’s leadership board. He lectures in the department of sex education at the Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Crisis Center. In the past, he held various positions in the field of non-formal education, including founding and directing Mechinat Haviva Reik – the Haviva Reik Academy for Humanistic Leadership at Givat Haviva. He also coordinated and led educational projects and initiatives of the Nahariya municipal youth department. Sagi holds a bachelor’s degree in formal and non-formal education from Beit Berl College, with a certificate in history teaching, from its Martin Buber Center for Dialogue Education. He is also a graduate of the musical theater program at the Bikkurei Ha’itim center for the performing arts in Tel Aviv. He lives in the Hatikvah neighborhood of Tel Aviv.

Michal Abramoff

Noar Telem Youth Movement

Michal Abramoff is the youth coordinator of Noar Telem, the youth movement of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. Previously, she was the movement’s Jerusalem region coordinator and established its graduate community. She has also served as a Jewish Agency emissary to the Jewish community in Hartford, Connecticut. Michal holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from Tel Aviv University and is a graduate of Rikma, a leadership program administered by Hebrew Union College that focuses on pluralism and community and includes a master’s degree in Jewish education from the Melton Center for Jewish Education of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She lives in Jerusalem.

Myson Agbaria

Ajyal Youth Movement

Myson Agbaria is the coordinator of content, hadracha, and counseling for the Ajyal youth movement in Arab society. She facilitates groups for at-risk youth and for youth leadership, and also facilitates bi-national groups. Myson is actively involved with the issue of violence in Arab society, and believes that the values of non-formal education – social mobility and engagement, volunteering, and education – are factors that can mitigate violence. She also believes in values-based education as the foundation for developing youth into leaders who care about and help shape society. Myson holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and a master’s degree in clinical criminology, both from Bar-Ilan University. She lives in Ma’ale Iron.

Netanel Alek

Bnei Akiva Youth Movement

Netanel Alek is the deputy secretary general of finance and organization of the Bnei Akiva youth movement in Israel, and a member of the movement’s leadership team. He came up through the movement, from serving as a regional coordinator to serving as the national procurement and operations officer. He has also served as head of the projects department and been a member of the projects committee of the Council of Youth Movements in Israel. Netanel holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Jerusalem College of Technology, and a master’s degree in government and public policy from Bar-Ilan University. He lives in Migdalim.

Avishag Avitan

Jerusalem Municipality

Avishag Avitan develops and directs academic reserve programs in East Jerusalem on behalf of the Jerusalem municipality, and also directs a leadership and entrepreneurship program for Mifal Hapais, Israel’s national lottery. Previously, she directed organizational development in the I Cadets for Local Government program and Cadets for Informal Education program, run as part of the Israeli government’s “Reserves for Israel” strategic plan to augment leadership for public service. Avishag holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and policy and a master’s degree in organizational consulting and human resources, both from Sapir College. She believes that an enabling educational environment is one in which belief in humankind is combined with a collaborative pursuit of the common good. She lives in Tel Aviv.

David Bar Chai

Otzem Pre-Military Academy

David Bar Chai is the executive director of the Bnei Netzarim yeshiva and the Otzem pre-military academy. He is an initiator of new educational programs and other programs, and his nuclear family ran a home-based framework for youth at risk for two years. David holds a bachelor’s degree in administration and public policy from Sapir College. He believes in people and their ability to drive processes, and lives in Bnei Netzarim in the Gaza border region.

Dan Ben Gigi

Nirim

Dan Ben Gigi directs the Nirim in the Neighborhood community outreach program for the Nirim nonprofit organization. He has worked for Nirim for over a decade, progressing from youth counselor and social worker to program director, a position he has held for the last four years. Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Tel-Hai College, and a master’s degree in community social work from Bar-Ilan University. He believes that every educational, social, and therapeutic activity creates an adventure that leads to change. He lives in Kfar Saba.

Osnat Ben-Altabet

Educating for Excellence

Osnat Ben-Altabet is the Tel Aviv-Yaffo regional manager of Educating for Excellence (E4E), a nonprofit organization that promotes social mobility for youth from Israel’s social and geographic periphery. Previously, she directed E4E’s activity centers in northern Israel and in Yaffo, before becoming director of the Tel Aviv-Yaffo region, which contains around a dozen activity centers. She has also worked as coordinator of non-formal education in the kibbutzim of the Upper Galilee regional council. Osnat holds a bachelor’s degree in special education and art from Tel-Hai College, and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of Haifa. She lives in Tel Aviv.

Maor Benita

Dimona Municipality

Maor Benita has served as the director of the Dimona municipal youth department for the last decade. Previously, he worked for Ayalim, a nonprofit working to strengthen the Negev and Galilee, where he coordinated a national civil service year program and ran a student village. Maor is a member of the secretariat of Israel’s National Association of Youth Department Directors, and recently served as the Association’s comptroller. He believes that Israel’s periphery holds the key to the country’s next major advances. Maor holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and a master’s degree in organizational sociology, both from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He lives in Dimona.

Gal Cohen-Dagan

HaTnua HaHadasha Youth Movement

Gal Cohen-Dagan is the educational director of the HaTnua HaHadasha youth movement, part of the HaShomer HaChadash organization, which safeguards the land and farms of the Negev and the Galilee. Previously, she directed educational, social, and municipal projects for local authorities and other organizations. She was the municipal education coordinator for the Emek Hefer regional council, after which she directed the council’s unit for drug abuse and alcoholism. Gal volunteered with children who suffered from drug addiction in Beer Sheva, and helped Ethiopian Israeli students with their assignments at Ruppin Academic Center. She is currently an active volunteer in moshav Kfar Vitkin, her home town, where she organizes community events and is a member of various committees. Gal holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, anthropology, and education from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and a master’s of business administration degree in child and youth culture from Tel Aviv University.

Renana Danon

ELEM–Youth in Distress

Renana Danon is the manager of Galgal 24/7, a shelter for homeless young women at extreme risk, who are on the prostitution continuum, in situations of neglect, and on the margins of Israeli society. She runs a team of 13 female professionals who specialize in the treatment and support of marginalized populations. Renana has extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of women at extreme risk and women suffering from sexual trauma and addiction, in different sectors of society. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tel-Hai College, and a master’s degree in social work with a specialization in trauma from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She believes that all women and men have the right to a worthy life, to dignity, and to equal opportunity. She lives in Jerusalem.

Nofar Ezer

Council of Youth Movements in Israel

Nofar Ezer is a project coordinator for the Council of Youth Movements in Israel. She is responsible for projects in a range of fields including inter-generational relations, youth community entrepreneurship, suicide prevention and gatekeeper training, Holocaust remembrance, mentoring for children from families living in poverty and marginalization, and leading the Council’s committee on civic service year programs. Previously, Nofar was the assistant to the secretary general of the National Youth–Beitar youth movement, and directed several of the movement’s departments. She believes that “the only way to do great work is to love what you do” (Steve Jobs). Nofar holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health system administration from Ariel University, and a master’s degree in Jewish peoplehood from the University of Haifa. She lives in Ramat Gan.

Matar Fried

Bakehila Non-Profit Organization

Matar Fried directs the Teen Angels program of the Bakehila—Changing Social Realities, an organization dedicated to empowering youth in impoverished communities in Jerusalem. She is also responsible for Bakehila’s knowledge management and measurement and evaluation. Matar is a cooking therapist, and leads groups for youth at risk and for women involved in prostitution. Matar holds a bachelor’s degree in community social work and policy change, and a master’s degree in social work and gender studies. She lives in Givatayim.

Yosi Gamliel

Beit Shemesh Municipality

Yosi Gamliel is the director of the Beit Shemesh municipal youth department and the acting chair of the Association of Directors of Municipal Youth Departments. His educational work focuses on fostering mutual responsibility in Israeli society in order to promote coexistence. He lives in Beit Shemesh.

Stav Gill

Aharai

Stav Gill is vice president of education of Aharai, a nonprofit promoting youth leadership and civic participation in young people, especially in Israel’s periphery. Previously, he led the Erez network of pre-military academies, which Aharai operates in conjunction with the Jewish Agency. He also served as head of the Be’eri pre-military academy. Stav holds a master’s degree in education system management from Tel Aviv University. He lives in Beit Berl.

Liran Gross

Ezra Youth Movement

Liran Gross is the head of the education department at the Ezra youth movement. He came up through the movement and has held various educational positions within it. Liran studied at Yeshivat Ateret Hacohanim and holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from Sapir College. He believes that making demands and setting standards are essential for the development of every person and demonstrate true belief in the individual. He lives in Ashkelon.

Tom Haitham Hareb

Ma’ase Center

Tom Haitham Hareb works for the Ma’ase Center as the educational director of a pre-military academy for the Bedouin community. Previously, he led a pre-military preparation group for Aharai, a non-profit organization that nurtures youth leadership and promotes civic participation in young people in Israel's social and geographic periphery. He has served as a spokesperson for Israeli PR delegations abroad. Tom holds an interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree in public administration, law, and government from the Academic Center for Law and Science. He lives in Bir al-Maksur.

Hiba Khair

Ma’ase Center

Hiba Khair is the coordinator of content and training for the Ma’ase Center’s Neurim program, which promotes equal opportunities and excellence in Druze society. Previously, she served for four years as the coordinator of training programs in the village of Beit Jann. Hiba holds a bachelor’s degree in Land of Israel studies and a teaching diploma in history from Kinneret Academic College. She believes that small steps lead to big change. She lives in Beit Jann.

Hadar Marom

Hadera Municipality

Hadar Marom is the director of the division for youth, soldiers, young adults, and young families at the Hadera municipality, a new division charged with strengthening connections between formal and non-formal systems, creating a continuum of municipal services, bolstering resident’s links to and engagement with the city, nurturing leadership, increasing use of services and participation in non-formal programs, and more. Previously, she managed the Hadera Young Adults Center. Over the years, Hadar has established communities, task forces, programs, and services that continue to operate successfully. She lives on Kibbutz Givat Haim.

Aragaw Mesfin

Hashalem 24/7 Education Space

Aragaw Mesfin is the manager of the Hashalem Education Space in Kiryat Malakhi, a project of the Hashalem 24/7 educators’ organization, which works to promote educational services that combine formal and non-formal education. Aragaw served in the Ministry of Defense and has a decade’s experience in command, leadership, and training positions. He has also worked at the State Attorney’s Office as an intern specializing in integrated law enforcement. Aragaw holds a bachelor’s degree in law and a master’s degree in management with a specialization in information systems from Ono Academic College. He lives in Kiryat Malakhi.

Ella Naor

JNF Green Horizons Youth Organization

Ella Naor is director of the Sorek region for Green Horizons, a youth organization that focuses on outdoor education activities to foster interpersonal and leadership skills and social responsibility, and is a member of its management team. In her previous position, she served as Green Horizon’s manager of the Jerusalem region and coordinator of hadracha (experiential education and training) for groups in the social periphery. Ella has also worked as an educational-social coordinator at the Boyar residential school in Jerusalem, and as a tour guide. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social and community education and civics teaching from the Misholim honors program for political and civic education of Oranim Academic College of Education. She lives in Jerusalem.

Dana Petrover

Shachar Pre-Military Academies

Dana Petrover is the educational director of Mehinot Shachar, a network of pre-military academies. In this capacity, she works to provide support to young people throughout their military service and in their civilian life thereafter. Dana’s work with staff at the academies is guided by the principle of kindling a light among the young people and in their surroundings, passing that light on, and continually striving to help young people progress and succeed. Dana holds a bachelor’s degree in history and Land of Israel studies from Bar-Ilan University. She lives in Meital.

Igor Ronin

Beit Yatziv

Igor Ronin is director of the Young Scientific Leadership Program at Beit Yatziv, a program that empowers youth throughout Israel and promotes social mobility through scientific-technological instruction. Igor coordinates municipal STEM programs (which focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and is leading Beit Yatziv’s efforts to establish scientific-technological preschools. Previously, he served as the Beer Sheva program coordinator for ISEF – Israel Scholarship Education Foundation. Igor holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and management from the SCE Shamoon College of Engineering, and a master’s degree in business administration from the Mandel Social Leadership MBA Program at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He lives in Beer Sheva.

Maya Schleifer

HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed Youth Movement

Maya Schleifer is the spokesperson for the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (NOAL) youth movement and is a member of the movement’s central office staff. As a third generation Holocaust survivor, she leads educational trips to Poland. She is a reserve officer in the IDF. Maya holds a bachelor’s degree in non-formal education and a teaching diploma from the Martin Buber Center for Dialogue Education at Beit Berl College. She believes in the importance of students being active in their educational process and leading it along with educators. Maya lives in Petah Tikva, and is a member of the Dror Israel’s urban kibbutz for educators in the city.

Liran Tohar

Hashomer Hatzair

Liran Tohar is the coordinator of hadracha (training) and hagshama (realization of goals) of the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement. In this capacity, he is responsible for the movement’s educational program. Previously, Liran coordinated the movement’s Nachal (IDF “pioneering fighting youth”) activities, and established Beit Hayotzer, a social and economic incubator for developing young communities of educators. Liran holds a bachelor’s degree and teaching diploma from the Martin Buber Center for Dialogue Education at Beit Berl College. Liran believes in human equality, and inculcates this value in his work and teaching. He is a member of the Amitai urban kibbutz for educators in Harish, where he lives.

About The Program