Heschel Center Environmental Leadership Fellows 2009-2010

Eidit Benory
Chemist and manager, directs the Environmental Licensing Department of the Israel Electric Corporation, member of the environmental committee of the Misgav Regional Council, formerly director of industrial regulation in the Northern District of the Ministry of the Environment, hold a doctorate in inorganic chemistry, lives in Mitzpeh Gilon, in the Galilee.

Michal Cohen Paryente
Environmental planner, member of the planning team at Amos Brandeis Architecture and Planning, Inc., formerly a planner in the Sanitation Department of the City of New York, holds a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture and a master's in environmental education, lives in Kfar Bin Nun.

Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham
Environmental scientist and ecologist, formerly the director of the Israeli national plan for biodiversity preservation at the Ministry of the Environment, holds a master's degree in environmental studies, and is completing a doctorate in ecology and environmental policy, lives in Mazkeret Batya.

Efrat Eizenberg
Environmental psychologist, currently a research fellow in the field of urban renewal at the Laboratory for Environmental and Community Planning Studies at the University of Tel Aviv, researcher-activist in the field of community gardens, holds a doctorate in environmental psychology, lives in Tel Aviv.

Gil Elyakim
Manager, vice CEO of the mining operations at Rotem Amfert Negev in the Israel Chemicals Group, holds a degree in business administration, lives in Be'er Sheva.

Yossef Gilad
Mechanical engineer, director of the Ramat Hovav plant of Tirkovot Brome of Israel Chemicals – Industrial Products, formerly head of Shefa – Arad, of Unilever-Israel, holds degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration, lives in Meitar.

Ora Golan-Epstein
Product designer, specializes in print design and production, head of the Department of Print Production at Hadassah College Jerusalem, holds a master's degree in industrial design, lives in Jerusalem.

Ahmad Haj Yehia
Lawyer, mediator and arbitrator, owns and manages his own law firm, director of the NGO Al-Tenamiyah (for co-existence, equality and environment), established the local branch of the international organization Roundtable, holds a degree in law, lives in Taybe.

Ahmed Kabaha
Public health physician, specializes in disease control in the field of environment and health at the ICDC – The Israel Center for Disease Control, holds an MD and a master's in public health, lives in El Ari'an, in Wadi Ara.

Salit Kark
Ecologist and environmental scientist, senior lecturer in evolution and ecology at the Hebrew University, founder and head of the Biodiversity Research Laboratory there, consultant to the global Nature Conservancy organization, holds a doctorate in environmental biology, lives in Motzah Illit.

Ido Lauffer
Entrepreneur, founder and COO of Shanga Inc., has established a community electronics recycling plant, holds a master's degree in materials science and management, lives in Herzliya.

Raz Liebreich
Product designer and social activist, directs the local empowerment program and the community gardens as part of the community activism initiative in Gedera, holds a degree in industrial design, lives in Gedera.

Yair Matiash
Community relations and corporate social responsibility manager, director of business-community partnerships for Matan – Your Way To Give, member of the board of directors of the Israel branch of Amnesty International, formerly director of community relations for IBM, holds a master's degree in management and public policy, lives in Tel Aviv.

Merav Nir
Manager, director of marketing and professional manager at the Council for a Beautiful Israel, formerly CEO at Chana Charitable Trust of London, holds a master's degree in business administration, marketing and international management, lives in Herzliya.

Aya Noach
Project manager and facilitator in informal education, coordinator in the Israeli Education organization, forum director and activist in the CityTree community, holds a BA in geography and Middle Eastern studies, and a master's in education, lives in Tel Aviv.

Elisha Tal
Product designer, CEO of I2D design company, lectures on design at Bezalel, member of the board of Beit Hagalgalim (of The Shai Society for the Rehabilitation and Support of Disabled Children), holds degrees in mathematics, physics and industrial design, lives in Nataf.

Itay Tayas-Zamir
Entrepreneur, sales manager of the Hamezakech ("The Purifier") – Katadyn water treatment company, founder of the start-up, EcoVida Water Technologies, holds a BA in business and law, lives in Herzliya.

Amalia Waxman
Policy consultant, founder and owner of a company for policy planning, specializes in strategic planning in the field of nutrition, member of the board of The Abraham Fund Initiatives, formerly head of global strategic development for nutrition for the World Health Organization (Geneva), holds a master's degree in political science, lives in Re'ut.

Eitan Yisraeli
Systems analyst and strategic planner, outgoing head of the department of systems analysis in the Planning Branch of the IDF (rank: colonel), holds a master's degree in mathematics and a doctorate in military operations, lives in Modi'in.

Liat Zvi
Advertising executive, partner and manager in the field of strategy and business development at Geller-Nessis – Leo Burnett Marketing and Communication, initiator and executor of the Earth Hour project in Israel, holds a BA in communications and a master's degree in business administration, lives in Tel Aviv.