Staff (full and part-time)
General
Ariel Weiss Chief ExecutiveAriel Weiss is a Trustee and the Chief Executive of Yad Hanadiv (the Rothschild Foundation), and has been with the Foundation since 1992. He serves on a number of non-profit boards and chairs the National Library Construction Company. Prior to his aliya to Israel in 1985, he served for twelve years in various positions in the US House of Representatives, including as Director of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Before joining Yad Hanadiv, Mr Weiss practised law, maintaining associations with Boston and Tel Aviv firms. He holds a law degree from Georgetown University and a BA from Yale College.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2009. Born in the US. Immigrated to Israel in 1975. Holds a BA in Economics and International Relations and an MA in International Relations from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her previous positions included: Founding Director of Israel Philanthropy Advisors, a non-profit consulting firm; VP, Community Investment, Matan – Investing in the Community; Assistant Director of Israel’s umbrella organisation of non-profits, and Lecturer in the MA Programme on Non-profit Management at The Hebrew University.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 1996. Holds a BA in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Natal, South Africa. Served as Educational and Customer Support Officer at IBM in South Africa. Since immigrating in 1975, she has worked as Secretary of the Jerusalem Institute of Management and as Assistant to the President of GMBS Strategy Consultants.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2016. Served as a Social Worker in the IDF Border Police. She holds a first degree in Interior Design from the Holon Institute of Technology. In her previous position Michal was the Personal Assistant to the CEO of the New Israel Fund.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2012. Served in the Military Intelligence Research Department of the IDF. Holds a BSc in Chemistry and Biology from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2016. Served in the IDF as a teacher of underprivileged children in development communities. Holds a BA in International Relations and English Literature from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Before coming to Yad Hanadiv, Rachel was employed for 11 years at The Israel Project, Israel office. In her last position she served as Director of Operations.
Academic Excellence
Asher Ragen Programme DirectorJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2006. He graduated from The Hebrew University’s Amirim Honours Programme with a BA in Ancient Near Eastern Studies and received a PhD in Ancient Near East Studies from Harvard University.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 1986. Born in Chile. Immigrated to Israel in 1979. Studied Education and History at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prior to working at the Foundation, she was employed for seven years at the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2014. Served in the IDF Air Force Operations unit. Holds a BA in History and studied in the Amirim Honours Programme at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Employed previously at the Van Leer Institute and the Carmel Publishing House.
Arab Community
Shuruk Ismail Programme DirectorJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2006. Holds a BA in Political Science and Education and an MA in Education from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Employed for eight years as a researcher at the Smokler Centre for Health Policy Research at the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute in Jerusalem. Working towards a PhD in Communications at Tel Aviv University.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2016. Following a year of Volunteer Service with the Jewish Agency and the Israel Association of Community Centres, she served in the Northern Division of the Border Police of the IDF as an Education Officer. She holds a BA in Political Science and Asian Studies from The Hebrew University.
Environment
Hanoch Ilsar Programme DirectorJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2016. Hanoch served as CEO of the Israel Society for Ecology and Environmental Sciences. As its head, he advanced a wide range of initiatives, including the Mimshak Fellows programme (which places postdoctoral fellows in Government Agencies), the Hebrew language journal Ecology and Environment and Zavit – a news agency for science and the environment. Prior to that, he served as head of the Energy and Air Pollution Department at the Israel Union for Environmental Defence (Adam Teva V'Din). Hanoch holds an LLB in Law and Philosophy from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MSc in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2014. For eight years prior to that she served as a consultant to public and commercial entities on sustainability and environmental regulation in Israel and in the UK. She headed the Sustainability Department in the Consulting Division of PwC Israel. Andy holds a BA in Public Policy from the Open University of Israel and an MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics (LSE). She has lectured on sustainability, corporate responsibility and environmental entrepreneurship at the Tel Aviv–Yaffo Academic College, the College of Management and Tel Aviv University.
Education
Gal Fisher Programme DirectorJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2013. Gal established the R&D Division at the Branco Weiss Institute, and has vast
experience in teacher training and bringing about school change. Prior to joining Yad Hanadiv, he spent
five years as Director of Research and Development at Avney Rosha – The Israel Institute for School Leadership.
He holds an MA in Cultural Studies and Hermeneutics from Bar-Ilan University and is a graduate of the Mandel
School for Educational Leadership.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2012. Graduated from the Mandel School for Educational Leadership, and has a BA in
Talmud and an MA in Non-profit Management from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She was Co-Founder of Bema’aglei Tzedek where she was Director of the Education Department and currently serves as its Chair. Efrat was Co-Founder of the Good Neighbour Association and the Psifas Israeli Fund, and a member of the Youth Forum of President Shimon Peres. She was Founder and Coordinator of community activity at the Hartman High School in Jerusalem.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2010. Served in the IDF as an Education Officer. On her release, she was sent as a Jewish Agency education representative to Kazakhstan and Kirgizia. Holds a BA in Education and Jewish Thought and a Teaching Certificate from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Previously employed by the Israel Broadcasting Authority, where she assisted in preparing for reform of the Human Resources division.
National Library Project
Gidi Beery ConsultantJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2006. From 2006 to 2008, he headed Grant Operations and IT. Holds a BSc in Mathematics and an MSc in Computer Sciences from Tel Aviv University. Between 1988 and 2003 he held executive positions at Comverse Technology, Inc., including VP of Marketing. On behalf of the Israel Venture Network, he helped to lead the establishment of Avney Rosha – The Israel Institute for School Leadership.
Community Grants
Lynne Reed Rosman Community Grants OfficerJoined Yad Hanadiv in 1994. Immigrated to Israel in 1978. Bachelor of Hebrew Literature in Jewish Philosophy and Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary, NYC. Holds a BA in Sociology and Urban Studies and an MA in Library Science from Columbia University. Worked at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies and as an independent grant writer. Coordinated the Jerusalem Seminar in Architecture from 1992 to 2004.
Communications & Organisational Learning
Deena Leventer Communications DirectorJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2006. Immigrated to Israel in 1979. Holds a BA in Slavic Languages and Literatures
from Indiana University; an MA in Russian Studies from Yale University; Lady Davis Fellow, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1979–1981. From 1990–2006, she was Managing Editor, Cummings Centre for Russian Studies, Tel Aviv University.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2008. Holds a BA in Geography and Sociology and an MA in Conflict Resolution from
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Employed at the Israel Broadcasting Authority Film Archive for five years
and headed the Examiners Department at the Hadassah Institute for Employment Counselling.
Dr Reinders Kafri joined Yad Hanadiv in 2017. She previously headed the Evaluation and Measurement Unit at the Education Department of the Herzliya Municipality for eight years and served as a consultant for organisations such as the National Authority for Measurement and Evaluation in Education (RAMA) and Tovanot B'Hinuch, an education non-profit. She managed projects and led evaluation research at the Centre for Education Technology (CET) from 1997-2008. Sigal holds a PhD in Education from the University of Haifa. Her doctoral dissertation dealt with the role of leadership in advancing effective use of data in High Schools. In addition to her work at Yad Hanadiv, she lectures at Tel Aviv University.
Grant Operations & IT
Ohad Greiner DirectorJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2007. Holds a BA in Geography and an MA in Political Science and Urban Planning from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Worked for ten years in managerial positions in non-profit organisations and projects in the fields of education and the environment.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2010. Served in the IDF as a tour guide for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. Holds a BA in Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology and a Teaching Certificate in Civics from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and an MA in Government and Public Administration from Bar-Ilan University.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 1986. Born in Chile. Immigrated to Israel in 1979. Studied Education and History at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prior to working at the Foundation, she was employed for seven years at the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People
Finance
Ilana Paskar DirectorJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2007. A Certified Public Accountant since March 2001. BA in Accounting and Economics
from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. From 2001–2007 she served as Auditor and Audit Manager at Kesselman & Kesselman, PwC Israel.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2002. Served in the IDF as a Social Worker with youth-at-risk. Holds a BA in Special Education from David Yellin College. Received Level Three Certification in Accounting from the College of Management in Jerusalem.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2012. From 2003 to 2012 served as Assistant Controller at the Arotech Corporation and as
Financial Manager of its subsidiary – MDT Ltd. Previous experience at Hasbro Inc. and Hamashbir Department
Store. Holds an MBA from Bradford University, UK, and a BSc in Economics from London University.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2010. Holds a BA in International Relations and Political Science from The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem. Received Level Three Certification in Accounting from the College of Management
in Jerusalem. Employed from 2008–2010 as a branch manager at High-Q, which offers preparation for
psychometric tests.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2012. Immigrated from France in 1994. Studied Theatre at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Psychology at the Open University. Employed as an Air Hostess for El Al and as an Administrative Manager at the Jerusalem Light Rail Project.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2017. Einat holds a first degree in Business Administration from Derby University and completed an advanced course in payroll accounting. She was previously employed in this capacity at Har-Gal, a service provider for payroll management, Afeka College of Engineering and at the Rashi Foundation.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2012. Has degrees in Bookkeeping from the High School of Economics in Basel, Switzerland, and the Hishuvit College in Jerusalem. Immigrated to Israel in 1995. Employed previously as Chief Bookkeeper at the El Ami non-profit and at Noam Productions.
Human Resources
Deganit Shaked DirectorJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2006 as Personal Assistant to the Deputy Director; from 2008 to 2010 served also as Director of Administration. Holds a BA in International Relations and Art History from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Employed for three years at the Bineth Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, where she was responsible for planning and production of exhibitions and catalogues.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2005. Holds a BA in Hotel and Tourism Management and an MBA in Business Administration – Strategy and International Management from Ben-Gurion University. Worked at the Hyatt Regency Jerusalem for seven years, four of them in managerial positions.
Administration
Liat Angel Peair Office and Purchasing ManagerJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2002. Served in the IDF as a Social Worker with youth-at-risk. Holds a BA in Special Education from David Yellin College. Received Level Three Certification in Accounting from the College of Management in Jerusalem.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 1990. Previously employed for 16 years at the King David Hotel as a Floor Manager.
Legal Services and Building
David Levy Director of Legal ServicesJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2009. Received his LLB from Ramat Gan Academy of Law and a Certification in Property
Tax Law from Bar-Ilan University. Did his internship in real estate law at Yehuda Raveh & Co. and practised law at the firm of David Kirshenbaum. Was VP of Alex Losky Real Estate Ltd. Serves as Deputy Regimental Commander (Major res.) in a reserve infantry brigade.
Joined Yad Hanadiv in 2013. Served as Maintenance Manager at the Bible Lands Museum for eight years, where his responsibilities included building and setting up exhibitions and ongoing maintenance of the facilities.
Interns
Gabriel Abensour InternJoined Yad Hanadiv in 2016. Made aliya from France in 2008 and served in the IDF as lone soldier. Gabriel is finishing an interdisciplinary BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) together with studies in the Amirim Interdisciplinary Honours Programme in Humanities. He will begin completions towards a MA in History of the Jewish People at The Hebrew University in the Autumn of 2016.