STAFF
Daniella Ran
Project Manager
Daniella is studying for her B.A. in Anthropology and Hebrew Literature at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. She is an alumna of Midreshet Dror (“The Freedom School”), an intensive training program for young activists focusing on Occupation and Arabic studies. Today she is active in the program’s alumni network. In addition, Daniella is a member of the Standing Together student movement and was elected as a representative to the Mount Scopus student council.
Mikhael Manekin
Director
Mikhael is the director of the Alliance Fellowship program. Before running the Alliance, Mikhael was the executive director of Breaking the Silence, an Israeli military veterans’ group focused on educating the public as to the results of military control of the West Bank and Gaza. He also served as the director of Molad- a non-partisan progressive think tank in Jerusalem focused on democratic change in Israel.
Mikhael is one of the leaders of the Faithful Left movement, a movement of religious Jews promoting equality through the language of Jewish faith and tradition. He is the author of End of Days, Ethics Tradition and Power in Israel, published in Hebrew in 2021 and due in English in late 2023. He lives in Jerusalem with Yael and his children, Ruth Sarai and Noach.
Fida nara (Tabony)
Co-Director, Fellowship Program
Fida is the Director of the Haifa branch and shared society in Shatil. Former Co-Director at Mahapach-Taghir. She was born in was Nazareth, and grew up in Neve Shalom, an Arab-Jewish village. She has two daughters.
Fida holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Tel-Hai College and a master’s degree in Gender Studies from Bar Ilan University. Fida has always strived to learn and develop personally and professionally. She has participated in different courses, including Conflict Management, Community Organizers for Social Change, Facilitators Training.
Member of the National Secretariat of Hadash – The Democratic Front for Peace and Equality. Fida is on the Hadash list (number 8) during the 2019 elections.
Besides her passion for learning, Fida is committed to advancing social justice. For the last 25 years, Fida has dedicated her life to women’s empowerment and social change. Her activism started as a young woman Volunteer at the Hotline for Victims of Sexual Violence.
Fida work as Coordinator of the Awareness Raising Project at “Women Against Violence” for 13 years and became to be the Director of the Social Change Unit at Women Against Violence.
Fida began her work at Mahapach-Taghir as Co-Director in 2013. Mahapach-Taghir means ‘change’. The organization is a feminist grassroots Jewish-Arab initiative for social change, established to promote a shared society in Israel with equal opportunities for all.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nasreen Hadad Haj-Yahya
Co-Chair
Since 2015, Nasreen has served as the Director of the Arab-Jewish Relations Program at The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) where she was previously a researcher. Prior to her work with IDI, Nasreen directed the Merchavim Institute’s initiative, Diversity in the Teachers’ Room, collaborating with the Ministry of Education to integrate Arab teachers into Jewish schools. A native of Ramla and an expert in the field of Arab-Jewish relations, Nasreen works to bridge socio-economic gaps between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel. In particular, she has expertise on efforts to advance informal education in Israel’s Arab society, lift the socioeconomic profile of Arab youth, improve integration of Arab citizens into higher education and the job market, and increase representation of Arabs in Israel’s civil service and decision-making circles. Nasreen has won numerous academic distinctions and scholarships, including the University Merit Scholarship of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Geography and Human Environment (2012) and a Merit Scholarship from the Bikura Science Foundation (2011-2012). A current Doctoral candidate at Tel Aviv University, her thesis examines “The contemporary impact of social space barriers on the inaction and future orientation of young Arabs aged 18–22.” She holds an MA in Education and Social Geography. Nasreen is a senior consultant at Portland Trust and a board member of the New Israel Fund and the Israel Women’s Network.
AmI Ayalon
Co-Chair
Admiral (Res.) Ami Ayalon is a former director of the Shin Bet, commander of the Israeli Navy, government minister and member of Knesset. He holds an MA in public administration from Harvard University and an LL.M. from Bar-Ilan University. He is chairman of Akim, the National Association for the Habilitation of the Intellectually Disabled, and chairman of the Executive Committee of the University of Haifa.
In 2000, during the second intifada, Ami Ayalon founded together with Professor Sari Nusseibeh, the movement of the “Amifkad ALeumi” (“the national census”), which aims to raise the Israelis and the Palestinians to sign a document of principles agreed to end the conflict. About 450 000 people, Jews and Palestinians, signed the document.
Rawnak Natour
Board Member
Rawnak Natour Svendsen is a Palestinian, an Arab woman, a citizen of Israel, residence of Denmark, a mother of three boys, and a wife of Kim Natour svendsen. She is an experienced civil society organization leader with excellent mobilizing capabilities and a distinguished track record in social and policies change from Europe, the Middle East and the US. She is skilled in community organizing, advocacy & public speaking, donor relations & fundraising, organizational development, management and coaching.
In 2015 Rawnak moved back to Haifa, from Copenhagen- DK, so as to take a leading role in the effort to promote equality for the Palestinian citizens of Israel, and to build a shared society between Arabs and Jews in Israel . As co- director off Sikkuy-Aufoq, a joint organization, managed and run by Jews and Arabs, she worked to effect change within government ministries, public agencies, local authorities and among the general public. She worked to encourage equal government policies toward Arab citizens and to create a new reality of a shared and equal society.
In 2019 she rejoined her family in Denmark and today she independent NLP coach & therapist, practicing both in Arabic, Hebrew and Danish, and a political activist for promoting equality and shared society in Israel while based in CPH.
MICKEY GITZIN
Board Member
Mickey is the Executive Director in Israel of the New Israel Fund. Prior to this role, he was Executive Director of Israel Hofsheet (“Be Free Israel”), a grassroots organization that aims to influence public opinion and policy making on the issues of religion and state in Israel. Mickey also serves as a city council member in the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Previously, Mickey was the Spokesperson of MK Ilan Gilon (Meretz). Prior to his work with MK Gilon, Mickey was a Project Director at European Friends of Israel (EFI), a Brussels based organization which aims to improve relationships between the European Parliament and Israel. Additionally, Mickey worked as the Associate Director of “Festival Beshekel” an Israeli Non Profit, which works to develop avenues for cultural and artistic expression in the periphery of Israel. After completing his military service as an Intelligence Officer at the IDF, Mickey served as an Emissary (Shaliach) for the Jewish Agency for Israel under the auspice of the Jewish Federation of South Band, Indiana. Mickey holds an MSc in Public policy from the University College London, as a Chevening scholarship awarded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council, and a BA in International relations and Middle Eastern studies from the Hebrew University. Mickey was the recipient of the 2013 NIF UK Human Rights Award, and was selected to receive The Gallanter Prize for Emerging Israeli Social Justice Leaders in 2015.
Alfred I. Tauber
Board Member
Alfred I. Tauber is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Zoltan Kohn Professor Emeritus of Medicine, and Director Emeritus of the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at the Boston University. A hematologist and biochemist by training, he has published over 125 research papers in immunology, biochemistry, and cell biology. In addition as a philosopher and historian of science, Prof. Tauber has published extensively on 19th and 20th century biomedicine, contemporary science studies, and ethics. In May 2008, Prof. Tauber received the Medal for Science, the highest honor awarded by the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Bologna, Italy, and in 2011 he was awarded Doctor of Philosophy honors causa from the University of Haifa, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Governors, 2013-2019.
Dr. Hanna Swaid
Board Member
Dr. Hanna Swaid was born in 1955 in Eilaboun, Israel.
Dr. Swaid acquired his three academic degrees in civil engineering and planning at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. After graduation, he held academic positions at Technion (1988-1990), Reading University (UK) (1990-1993), and Haifa University (1994-5). During this period, Dr. Swaid published more than 20 papers in peer-refereed international journals on his fields of academic interest (urban planning, climatology and environment).
In November 1993 he was elected as mayor of his hometown, the Arab town of Eilaboun in the Galilee, Israel. During his mayor-ship, he represented the Arab municipalities in Israel in the National Council for Planning and Building, and was a leading member of the Forum of Arab Mayors in Israel until 2003.
Dr. Swaid established, among other civil society institutions, the Arab Center for Alternative Planning (ACAP) in the year 2000, and served as its CEO between 2004 and 2006. ACAP is the leading and officially recognized (by the Planning Authorities in Israel) Arab NGO dealing with land, planning and development issues concerning the Arab citizens of Israel.
Starting in 2006 Dr. Swaid was first elected to the Knesset with HADASH Party (HADASH – The Democratic Alliance for Peace and Equality) and served as MK for three consecutive terms. He served as member of the Economics Affairs Committee, the State Control Committee, the Internal Affairs and Environment Protection Committee, and the Ethics Committee. He also served as the Chairperson of the special committee on Green and Alternative Energy.
Dr, Swaid established and participated in numerous Knesset lobbying groups, e.g. Co-Chairing (with MK. Rabbi Michael Melchior) the Parliamentary Lobby for Jewish-Arab coexistence, and the Parliamentary Lobby of Local Government Knesset.
In 2015 Dr. Swaid quit his Knesset membership after serving three partial Knesset terms (9 years). Since April 2015 he fills the post of the Chairperson of ACAP.
Merav Mizrahi
Board Member
Merav is the Chief of Staff and Special Projects at the New Israel Fund since July 2018. Before she served as NIF Director of Overseas Relations and was responsible for NIF study tours and donor visits. In both capacities she is responsible for different programs in NIF, and several family foundations. These include running the Yaffa London Yaari Fund which provides small grants to women leaders from disadvantaged communities; and “Women as Agents of Social Change,” a special grants pool that allocates seed grants for new initiatives that promote women’s issues. In the past, Merav was an activist in various NIF grantees, mainly women’s and Mizrachi women’s organizations. Prior to joining the NIF in May 2006, Merav was the Director of the Projects Department at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Merav received her BA in Political Science and Communications from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and is an alumna of the Public Activists’ Leadership Program of Hebrew University. Merav was born and raised in Jerusalem and has 2 children – Nadav and Maya.
Dr. Arye Carmon
Board Member
Dr. Arye Carmon is the Founding President of IDI and one of Israel’s foremost experts on political reform. In 1991, he founded the Israel Democracy Institute to strengthen the structural and normative foundations of Israeli democracy. Under his leadership, IDI has become a leading think tank with a reputation among policy makers for non-partisanship, professionalism, and actionable policy recommendations.
Dr. Carmon has promoted democracy and political education in the classroom and as a member of the board of numerous national institutions and government committees. He has published and lectured extensively on education, Israel-Diaspora relations, and the Holocaust.
Dr. Carmon earned his BA and MA (with distinction) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and his PhD in European History and Educational Policy studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
In 2009, the State of Israel recognized Dr. Carmon’s greatest contribution to Israeli society, awarding IDI the prestigious Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement.
In April 2014, Dr. Carmon stepped down as President of the Institute. He now devotes his time to research on the relationship between religion and politics.
Salam Sharkiaa
Board Member
Salam serves as Marketing Manager, Coca-Cola Israel. He oversees Coca Cola Israel’s advertising activities for the Israeli market and he is responsible for overseeing the marketing efforts for diverse population groups throughout Israel. He began his career at the David Yellin Seminar Students Union where he served as chair and secretary general of the national students’ organizations. After three years in that role he worked for former-minister, Ami Ayalon, advising on young adult and student communities. In 2009, Salam joined Partner, then the Israeli franchise of Orange. While at Partner, he held several mangerial roles in the marketing and content division overseeing all marketing and advertising actvities for various target populations.
Salam holds an MPA from the School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy, IDC Hertzeliya, and a B.Ed. from the David Yellin Academic College in Jerusalem.
Salam lives in Jatt, a village in northern Israel, and is married to Almas.
Hillel Ben Sasson
Board Member
Hillel, PhD, married + 3 – is the director of IDEA – Center for Liberal Democracy.
Hillel received his PhD in Jewish theology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2013 after dividing his study course between the Hebrew University, NYU and the Freie Universitat in Berlin. He publishes public and scholarly essays on classical Jewish theology as well as on Israeli politics and political theology.
His first book was recently published at Magness Press, and its English rendition is due to see light at Palgrave Macmillan later this year.
In recent years, Hillel served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Israel Studies at JTS, New York and as the head of Misholim, an honors program for political and civic education at Oranim Teachers’ College. He also works as a content advisor for the Israeli President’s Bureau.
From 2012 until 2015, following a period of grass roots political activism, Hillel joined Molad: The Center for the Renewal of Israeli Democracy, where he served as Director of Programs
Samer Swaid
Board Member
Samer is the director of the Arab Center for Alternative Planning, which addresses issues of planning and construction in Arab localities. He also is facilitator for groups at Neve Shalom focused on conflict resolution. Previously, Samer served as head of the Arab Student Committee at the University of Haifa. He is secretary of the Arab-Druze initiative calling for an end to mandatory military conscription for Druze and is a member of the Hadash Party national secretariat. Samer holds a master’s degree in democracy studies from the University of Haifa, and is currently working on his dissertation. He and his family live in Haifa.
John Halpin
Board Member
John Halpin is a senior fellow at American Progress focusing on political theory, communications, and public opinion analysis. He is the co-director and creator of the Progressive Studies Program at CAP, an interdisciplinary project researching the intellectual history, foundational principles, and public understanding of progressivism. Halpin is the co-author with John Podesta of The Power of Progress: How America’s Progressives Can (Once Again) Save Our Economy, Our Climate, and Our Country, a 2008 book about the history and future of the progressive movement.
Halpin has been at American Progress since 2003, previously serving as director of research and executive speechwriter. Halpin wrote the daily Talking Points newsletter for the Center for American Progress Action Fund from 2004 through 2005, and has directed numerous CAP communications projects on issues including faith in politics, health care, consumer debt, taxes, poverty, and foreign policy. Prior to joining American Progress, he was a senior associate at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, providing strategic guidance and public opinion research for political parties and candidates including Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign, the British Labor Party, the Austrian Social Democrats, and a range of congressional, state legislative, and initiative campaigns.
Moshe Halbertal
Board Member
Professor Halbertal received his PhD from The Hebrew University in 1989. From 1988 to 1992 he was a fellow at the Society of Fellows at Harvard University. Professor Halbertal served as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, University of Pennsylvania and Yale Law School. He is currently a professor of Jewish thought and philosophy at The Hebrew University and the Gruss Professor at NYU Law School. He is the author of many books, including Idolatry (co-authored with Avishai Margalit, 1992); People of the Book: Canon, Meaning, and Authority (1997), both published by Harvard University Press; Concealment and Revelation: Esotericism in Jewish Tradition and its Philosophical Implications (2007); On Sacrifice (2012); Maimonides: Life and Thought (2013), published by Princeton University Press. Professor Halbertal was the recipient of the Goldstein-Goren Book Award for the best book in Jewish thought in the years 1997 to 2000. He was named a member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (2010). In 2015, he delivered the University of Chicago Law School Dewey Lecture on “Three Concepts of Human Dignity.”
Sid Topol
Board Member
Sid Topol, a graduate of Boston Latin School is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. He holds a B.S. in Physics and honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the University of Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard-MIT Radar School and has been awarded the MIT Corporate Leadership Award. Mr. Topol has been inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame, Cable Television Hall of Fame, MTC Hall of Fame and the Georgia Technology Hall of Fame. Mr. Topol is also a friend of Ameinu, board member of Americans for Peace Now, and a member of the JCRC Council. Formerly Chairman of Scientific-Atlanta, he is now President of The Topol Group LLC and The Topol Family Fund.
Topol hold a B.S. in physics and an honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the University of Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard-MIT Radar School and has been awarded the MIT Corporate Leadership Award. Mr. Topol has been inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame, the Cable Television Hall of Fame, the MTC Hall of Fame and the Georgia Technology Hall of Fame.
In the Boston area, Topol has served on the board of the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Community Relations, Council of Greater Boston, and Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston.
Topol has served on the board of Americans for Peace Now since 2000 and the J Street PAC since 2008. He served on the board of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom from 2004-2009.
Topol’s newest peace-related venture is funding programs to create leaders of non-violence at ten universities in the U.S. and Israel.
Topol is President of The Topol Group LLC and The Topol Family Fund.
Diana Lipton
Board Member
Before coming to Israel in 2011, Diana Lipton was a Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge (1997-2006), and a Reader in Hebrew Bible and Jewish Studies at King’s College London (2007-2011). Here in Israel, she’s lectured on Bible at Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School and, currently, in the Bible Department at Tel Aviv University. She’s the very proud mother of Jacob and Jonah, and lives in Jerusalem with her husband Chaim. Her latest book, ‘From Forbidden Fruit to Milk and Honey: A Commentary on Food in the Torah’ (Urim Publications) is available on Amazon; proceeds go to Leket, Israel’s national food bank.