Alumni at the Institute

Director of Experiential Jewish Education in the Be’eri Program for pluralistic Jewish-Israeli Identity Education at the Shalom Hartman Institute. Group moderator in the Gesher Leadership Course. One of the founders the “Mirkam” network of mixed communities. Chairman and Director of the Yerushalmit Movement. He holds a master’s degree in sociology.

Educational director in Yad Ben Tzvi 

Asher is one of the most prominent activists amongst the Ethiopian community in Israel. For more than twenty years, Asher has worked as an entrepreneur and social activist in a variety of areas in order to promote optimal integration of the Ethiopian community in Israeli society.

Founder and CEO of Ma’agalim that work with youth from the periphery throughout the country in preparation for significant military service and life paths of success and giving.

Avraham is Director of S.A.H.I., an organization which transforms the lives of Israel’s disadvantaged ‘street kids’ through a unique strength-based approach helping others.

Vice President of the Kemach Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides a variety of solutions for Haredi employment in Israel in close cooperation with the Israeli government, philanthropic entities and the community. He is involved in various activities on behalf of the Haredi community, is a member of the Central Elections Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Economic Society of the Israel Bar Association.

Director of the Marriage Initiative and Rabbinic In-Service Training for Tzohar. Formerly the Executive Director of “Torah Mitzion– Zionist Kollelim in the Diaspora.”

Director, Ultra-Orthodox programming, Gesher

CEO of A Different Lesson, a non-profit organization that promotes equality of opportunity in education. Dafna holds a B.A. in Law and an M.A. in Communications and Journalism as well as Management Sciences. Dafna is a lawyer and holds a certificate in mediation.

Filmmaker and activist. She manages community relations at “Lasova” (NGO) and lectures on various topics in both Hebrew and English

CEO, Meitarim

Executive Director, Association for the Advancement of Education    

Eran is Executive Director at LATET, focusing on eradicating poverty, molding the identity and nature of Israeli society, instilling values of mutual responsibility, and leading change in national priorities.  

She is the founder of Baasher Telchi, an organization that supports women in the ultra-Orthodox society in Israel that are struggling with divorce. In addition to being an educational counselor, Fainy is also involved with other social startups that concern Haredi women.

Gavriel Cohen is an educator in the field of management and training in various parts of the ultra-Orthodox sector. He is a partner to social innovation in the field of community leadership, at-risk youth, and individual and family therapy in the ultra-Orthodox society.  

CEO of the Shahaf Foundation, a philanthropic fund, which promotes and supports young communities in Israel. Haia plays a major role in the development and advancement of young social action communities, a national movement throughout Israel. Holds a Ph.D. in Sociology of Education from Tel Aviv University.

CEO, Educating for Excellence. Hana is a graduate of the Mandel School of Educational Leadership. She holds an M.A. in Social Work from Tel Aviv University. Hana managed the training department at “Yedidim–For Youth and Society.” She was involved in the development of community leadership and community services for the Yavne Regional Council. Hana managed the social involvement unit at Tel Aviv University, through which she initiated and developed many social projects. She also managed the “Amiram Sivan Center for Social Endeavors” which works toward increasing accessibility in higher education for various populations.

Hanna Godinger (Dreyfuss) serves as the equivalent of the Rabbi of the Pelech School for Girls and Dean of the women’s beit midrash at the Jerusalem’s Midreshet Lindenbaum.

Michael is Head of the Institute for Torah Policy and Deputy Director at Emoonim Industrial Services. He holds an MA in public policy and is a business advisor in Paamonim.

Executive Director, FIDEL Association for Ethiopian Israelis – “Leading Our Way”

Michal Berman – Executive Director of Panim—The Association of Jewish Renewal Organizations in Israel. She holds a BA with honors in Psychology and Jewish History and an MA in Pluralistic Jewish Education, all from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Michal is a graduate of the group leadership training program at Seminar HaKibbutzim and the Fellows program at Bet Midrash “Kolot.” In the past she has worked at the International School for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem, and for five years she directed the Jewish Renewal department in the Ginot Ha-Ir Community Council in Jerusalem.

Michal is CEO of Yahel Center, specializing in sexuality in religious women. She recently rejoined the IDF reserves as a Mental Health Officer in the Jerusalem IDF induction center.

Miri is the CEO of the Institute for Zionist Strategies and a social activist. She has a BA in Economics and Political Science and an MA in Gender Studies.

Moshe is the CEO of Israel’s national volunteer EMS organization, United Hatzalah. The organization comprises a national network of 3,200 volunteers including EMTs, paramedics, and doctors.

Naomi is the Director of Mandel Programs for Leadership Development in the haredi community. She holds an MA in  Music Education from Levinsky College of Education and is a Beit-Yaakov Teachers Institute in Jerusalem graduate.

Assistant Director of Development and programs at Aluma, which has been active for thirty years. Responsible for administering and developing programs, partnering between groups—with a focus on cooperation with the IDF and its decision makers—as well as administering and developing information in the organization.

Chair, Association of Communal Rabbis

Social entrepreneur, prominent in the emerging Haredi civil society. Involved with the status of Haredi women and the integration of the Haredi community within Israeli society. Founder and director of the “Movilot” program, business leadership for outstanding academic Haredi women. Head of the Haredi section of the “Shacharit” Institute whose goal is to create a new social partnership in the State of Israel. Served as the director of the “Meir Panim” social welfare organization, a founder of “Meuravot”—coalition for Haredi Women, and a leader in the “If we can’t be elected, we won’t vote” movement which called for women’s representation in Haredi politics. BA in Communications and Sociology from the Open University. Mentor of young activists in the Haredi Community, consults on social projects, writes for the press and lectures widely about the Haredi sector and developing trends within it.

CEO of Snunit, a non-profit organization that promotes and develops technology in education. She is a member of the Jerusalem Committee of Education and mentors senior managers. Revital is the founder of a secular pre-army mechina program in Kiryat Hayovel in Jerusalem. She has adopted six lone soldiers in Jerusalem.

Ronen has been working at the Association of Community Centers for the past twenty-eight years. He now currently serves as the Deputy General Director. Ronen has a Bachelor degree in Informal Education and an MBA.

Rabbi of the “Or Yaakov” Congregation in Elad. Member of municipal and public committees, forums and think-tanks. Lecturer and Educator. Panel moderator and lecturer on Haredi society in Gesher Haredim. Studying towards advanced Torah studies—Chief Rabbinate of Israel.

Director of the Yerushalmit Movement, which unites activists from all sectors of society to transform Jerusalem into a pluralistic city, open and inclusive for all residents of Israel. Holds degrees in social work and public policy. Represents ROI in the Yeru-shalem Coalition. Married to Eyal and mother of a band of boys and a princess.

Executive Director of the Ruderman Foundation. MA in Public Policy from the Hebrew University.

Shmuel is the Chairman of the Naor Foundation for Social Investment in Israel and CEO of Or Yarok Association, Israel’s leading Road Safety non-profit.

Fellow at the Mandel Institute for Educational Leadership. Journalist, author, publicist and historian in Haredi newspapers in both Yiddish and Hebrew; formerly the editor of “HaEdah” and the secretary and the unofficial spokesman for the Badatz Edah Haredit in Jerusalem and Bet Shemesh. Ordained by the Badatz and has written halakhic works. One of the founders of the Center for Haredi Employment (“Mafteach”) in Beit Shemesh, an initiative of the Joint/Israel and the Ministry of Economy and Industry; and founding director of the Gesher-Haredim and Magen David Adom volunteer as a senior medic and ambulance driver. Founder and fellow in “Forum Hashlama,” and fellow in forums that deal with relationships in neighborhoods with diverse populations—a concern he is interested in developing in the future.

CEO, Yeshivot Hesder Organization, the umbrella organization of Yeshivot that combine religious studies and service in the IDF. Previously, he was in charge of the Conversion Department in the Prime Minister’s office.

Shoshana is Israel Experience’s English Speaking Countries Division Director, specializing in providing organized trips to Israel for teens, university students, and adults from all over the globe.  

CEO, TAU Friends Association.Previously, Sigal was the Head of TAU Social Involvement Unit. Before working at Tel Aviv University, Sigal worked as a probation officer with delinquents. She holds a BA and MA in Social Work specializing in group therapy and she has a second MA in Political Communication, all from Tel Aviv University. As a mentor and lecturer, she specializes in Israeli philanthropy, organizational development, social entrepreneurship and leadership building.

Advanced Yeshiva Instructor. Spiritual Guide. Delivers lectures and courses for advanced students. Graduate in Psychology and Education.

Uri is the founder and CEO of Masa Yisraeli and CEO of Mibreshit, programs that focus on Jewish heritage and strengthening the Jewish family unit.

Vika is the Project Coordinator for “Project COMMUNITY”. Prior to this, Vika was the Manager of Limmud FSU Project and was responsible for Aliya projects in the Jerusalem Municipality. Vika holds an MA in Management of NGO and Public Policy from the Hebrew University. Vika serves as the Chair of Young Adults and Families Committee in East Talpiyot and Arnona Community Center in Jerusalem, and is an activist for the benefit of several local issues in Jerusalem. She is a mother of three Tzabars and happily married to Michael

Founder of the “Haredi Initiative.” Chairman of the Consumers Movement for the Fight against the High Cost of Living; lawyer and entrepreneur.

Organizational Director of Gesher. Assistant for Academic Affairs at Hadassah Academic College for more than ten years. Master’s degree with honors in Public Policy and a second master’s in Criminology in the Law Faculty at the Hebrew University.

Yehuda is founder of Katef LeKatef, an organization dedicated to rehabilitating socio-economically distressed families. He founded the Yadim Institute and is Director of the One to One Fund.  

CEO of Aluma. Aluma encourages young men and women from under-presentation populations in the centers of influence, to join those centers, while maintaining their values and unique ways of life.  Holds a second degree in gender and law studies

CEO of the Karev Program, which works to change socio-educational conditions that promote narrowing of gaps and encourages equal opportunities in Israeli society through creation, management and operation of classes and enrichment activities. The program operates in 120 municipalities, and reaches about 300,000 children a year. Yonit has a B.Sc in Physics and an M.B.A. She is a graduate of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership.  

CEO of “Resources” consulting company which helps NGO with grants from government ministries and philanthropic funds. Assists Maóf, the Small Business Authority of the Economic Ministry in the ultra-Orthodox sector. Is very well connected to ultra-Orthodox public fi gures and communal activists. Yossi is married with eight boys ranging in age from 16 to 3. He is now the proud father of his fi rst daughter aged one.

Ze’ev is Chairman of United Hatzalah of Israel, the largest independent, non-profit, fully volunteer Emergency Medical Services organization in Israel with 40 branches and over 2500 volunteers around Israel.