Members of the General Assembly

Highlights of the résumés of the members of the NPO – Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee (in alphabetical order):

*Chair of the General Assembly – Mr. Kalman Kaufman
Mr. Kalman Kaufman has been a member of the NPO since 2007.

He is chair of Invisa and Medasense Biometrics Ltd. He is also a director of Tower Semiconductors and Jordan Valley Semiconductors, and founded a large number of startup companies in the electronics field. In the past he served as vice world president of Applied Materials. He is chair of the Israeli Institute of Innovative Science and Technology Policy, and other NPOs designed to promote education in Israel.

*Chairman of the Board of Directors – Major-General (Retired) Gideon Sheffer
Major-General (Ret.) Gideon Sheffer has vast experience in management positions in various fields and has served as Chairman of the Board at Kinneret Academic College since 2020. He joined Elbit Systems, Ltd., in 2001 where he serves as Corporate Vice President for Strategic Planning. Following a career in the Air Force which included serving as its Chief of Staff, and then as Chief of Human Resources for the General Staff of the IDF, Sheffer was a member of the founding team of the Israel National Security Council. After serving as its Deputy Director, under Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Sheffer served as head of the Council. He is active in promoting peace issues in the region and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of a number of corporations and organizations.

Sheffer was born in Poland in 1948 and made Aliyah in 1950. He is married, the father of four children and grandfather of nine grandchildren. Sheffer holds a bachelor’s degree (with distinction) in Israel Studies from Bar Ilan University and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University (1993).

Prof. Stavit Alon-Shalev

Has been a member of the NPO since 2020.

An expert on genetics and pediatrics, and the director of the Genetic Institute of Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. Is a clinical professor in the Rapaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, the Tennenbaum Chair for Preventive Medicine and Head of the Genetic Counseling Program in the Faculty of Medicine. Her main areas of research focuses on discovery of genetic causes and mechanisms of diseases and syndromes with an emphasis on communities who intermarry, policy label and the development of genetic counseling services in the community, especially for the Arab population living in the North of the country.

Mr. Yonatan Alter
Has been a member of the NPO since 2011.

He is sales director of rural guest accommodation of several kibbutzim: Ashdot Yaakov, Amiad and Bet Alfa. He is a tour guide, specializing in kibbutzim and agriculture. He is a former Israeli Air Force pilot and schoolteacher, and has served as a Jewish Agency emissary in England and in the FSU. He has also served several terms as a kibbutz general secretary. He is chair of the NPO’s audit committee.

Mr. Yoav Ariel
Has been a member of the NPO since 2008.

He is the northern district director of the World Zionist Organization (WZO) Settlement Division. He has also served in management positions in the finance sector. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture, the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot.

Prof. Faisal Azaiza

Dean of the Welfare and Health Sciences Faculty at Haifa University. Prof. Azaiza has published many studies and edited books on health and welfare in Arab society in Israel, and the changes this society is experiencing, and has been a leading partner in organizing academic conferences. He has served for many years in senior management positions, as a member of Council for Higher Education and its budgeting committee forums, and as member and chairman of committees that have shaped higher education in the last decade: Academic Involvement in the Community committee; steering committee to promote access of the Arab population to higher education; corporate instructions to higher education institutions committee, and the preparatory programs reform committee. Prof. Azaiza is the father of four, and resides in his hometown Daburia.

Ms. Aliza Barkai

Ms. Barkai is chairperson of the Kinneret College finance committee, and has been a member of the NPO since 2017. She is a member of Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov Ihud, and serves as business manager of Kibbutz Beit-Zera; a director of Sde-Eliyahu Holdings; Blog Plastics; Degania B tourism; and member of Kishurit NPOs.

Mr. Uzi Ben Shalom
Has been a member of the NPO since 2011.

He currently serves as director and council member of a number of public bodies in the Jordan Valley, including the Medical Research Foundation of the Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, and the Jordan Valley Religious Council, and was general secretary of the United Kibbutz Movement collective head office. He is a former Dean of Students of Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee.

Aharon Binyamini, Engineer
Has been a member of the NPO since 2008.

He currently serves as marketing director for the Far East and the Pacific Basin for Mermad, and is a director of German Australia. He is a former owner and CEO of Evrika Engineers, Agrotim, Yodfat Engineers. In addition, for many years he served in several key managerial positions at Koortrade and Netafim. He is a water engineer and a graduate of the Technion (1974).

Mr. Yoram Bilzovski

Has been a member of the NPO since 2018.

Previously the Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Investment Center, Director of the Manufacturers Association. An alumni of the College Land of Israel Studies Department. He currently serves as Chairman and Director in social conscious organizations.

Mr. Yisrael Bitner
Has been a member of the NPO since 2011.

He currently serves as finance director of Kibbutz Degania A. He is a past treasurer and CFO of a number of organizations, as well as serving as general secretary of Kibbutz Degania A, and CEO of Jordan Valley kibbutzim.

Prof. Yair Caro

Has been a member of the NPO since 2020.

He is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Haifa – Oranim. Served as Dean of the University Division at the University of Haifa and in the Senate between 1994-1997. Previously served as President of Oranim Academic College of Education between 1997-2013. Has served on numerous Council of Higher Education and the Ministry of Education committees. Actively engaged in field research for combinatorics and with over 150 scientific publications on the topic. Member of Kibbutz Geva.

Mr. Omer Cohen

Has been a member of the NPO since 2018.

Director of Senior living ” Bayit Bakfar Khof Kineret” Israel’s leading senior living chain. Previously served in the Jordan Valley Regional Council as Director of Tourism and Business Development. He holds a Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Haifa.

Mr. Yoel Cohen
Has been a member of the NPO since 2013.

He is director of the ATID – Reinforcing State Religious School Public Education program, and of the Herut Foundation. Mr. Cohen has a master’s degree in Judaism from the Lander Institute and serves as chairman of a number of bodies, on a voluntary basis, including the Beet Shean Academy for Deepening Jewish Identity, Havruta, Zehut, etc. He lives in Bet Shean.

Adv. Shemi Cohen
Has been a member of the NPO since 2013.

He is currently director general of the Galilee Development Authority. He served as a career soldier in the IDF for many years and was discharged with the rank of colonel. His positions included head of the Megiddo internment facility, commander of the Northern Command Military Police unit, and commanding officer of Training Camp 13. His last position with the IDF was as commander of the Criminal Investigations Unit. He has a master’s degree from the University of Haifa in national security and political science, and is a graduate of the Israel National Defense College. He was born in Bet Shean.

Prof. Yuval Dror
Has been a member of the NPO since 2011.

He is a professor in the Education Administration and Policy Department of the Tel Aviv University. He serves as head of the Master’s degree specialization program in democratic education, is responsible for the Chair of Jewish Education, and edits the inter-university educational history publication Dor Le’Dor (Generation to Generation). He is a member and the chair of various CHE committees, and a member of the community expansion program at Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin in the Bet Shean Valley.

Mr. Yitzhak Eshchar
Has been a member of the NPO since 2011.

He currently serves as director of the Education Division of the Lower Galilee Regional Council. He also founded and manages a senior citizen care NPO. He has also served as director of human resources of the Ministry of Housing and Construction, and has initiated and developed national education development programs for government ministries.

Brigadier-General (res.) Emad Farres

Mr. Gideon Gazit
Has been a member of the NPO since 2009.

He is a member of the Friends of the Baruch Padeh Medical Center, chairman of the audit committee of the Stream Drainage Authority, and chair of the organizational division of the Labor Party. In the past he has served as general secretary of Kibbutz Tel Katzir, founded the Jordan Valley College and managed it in its early days, managed the tourism department of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, and established the Jordan Valley-Tiberias Regional integration system.

Prof. Shimon Gepstein – President of Kinneret Academic College

Mr. Idan Greenbaum
Member of the NPO since 2016.

Mr. Greenbaum is a resident of Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov Ihud, and has been head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council since 2016. He has a first degree in Business Administration (from the College of Management) and a second degree with distinction in Political Science (from Tel Aviv University). In the past, he has served as senior editor and presenter of economic issues in many media outlets: TV, internet, printed press, etc.

Mr. Hezi Haruv

Mr. Shimon Helman
Has been a member of the NPO since 2011.

He is chairman of the council of Kibbutz Afikim (general chairman and community head). In the past he has served as manager of Kol HaKinneret radio station for the IBA, spokesman of the United Kibbutz Movement, and for many years was general secretary of Kibbutz Afikim.

Prof. Alon Kaddish
Has been a member of the NPO since 2008.

He is a professor of history at the Hebrew University, with a PhD from Oxford University. He also currently serves as head of the IDF History Department. He established and managed various IDF academic programs.

Brigadier-General (res.) Zvi Kanor

Has been a member of the NPO since 2020.

He is an Air Force Brigadier-General (res.) and after retirement, has ran nine high-tech organizations in the field of marketing and tourism and the Tel-Aviv Yafo Development foundation. An entrepreneur of the Tama 38 project and today is an entrepreneur in the field of Agriculture in Azerbaijan. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Bar-Ilan University.

Mr. Uzi Keren
Has been a member of the NPO since 2010.

He is a member of Kibbutz Ein Gev. He served in the IDF in a wide range of capacities (discharged with the rank of brigadier-general), and is a graduate of the Israel National Defense College. He has filled various financial and rural development positions (secretary general of a kibbutz, kibbutz coordinator, kibbutz financial director, director general of Hadiklaim Israel Date Growers Cooperative Ltd.). In the past he headed a number of projects of rural development and was also advisor to the Prime Minister on rural development. He currently serves as CEO of Ein Gev Tourism.

Binyamin Kiryati, Adv.

Was a member of the Management Committee and the General Assembly of Kinneret College in the years 2003-2012, and is currently a member of the General Assembly. Colonel (res.) Kiryati served as a combat navigator in the Israeli Air Force. He was mayor of Tiberias during the years 1998-2003. Has been and is on the board many bodies including the Friends of Poriya Hospital Association, the Air Force House, and others. Established and heads the Children of Israel Foundation. He has first and second degrees in Law (from Tel Aviv University in collaboration with Berkeley University), and has a law firm and an investment company.

Mr. Michael (Miki) Lev – CEO of Kinneret Academic College

Dr. Sari Lev

Agronomist and PhD in Plant Genetics (from the Hebrew University), specializing in mapping of genetic markers of quality and quantity features – ripening control and gene expression. Dr. Lev is joint-CEO and R&D director of Green Fingers Ltd. – an agricultural consulting firm specializing in groves – subtropical, citrus, deciduous and berries; field crops; and greenhouse crops. He is CEO of a fruit tree – avocado, papaya, and blueberries – nursery owned by Green Fingers. Dr. Lev is an expert in fruit care, and serves as a consultant to packing houses and artificial ripening rooms. Chairman and CEO of Kibbutz Kinneret agriculture.

Prof. Shai Lin
Has been a member of the NPO since 2008.

He is a professor at the University of Haifa and also serves as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health. He founded and headed the School of Public Health in 2003-7. He is head of the Clinical Epidemiology Unit of Rambam Medical Center. He serves on a number of professional and academic committees in the medical field, both in Israel and abroad.

Dr. Tamar Lotan
Has been a member of the NPO since 2008.

She has a PhD in molecular biology from the Department of Marine Biology of the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences at Haifa University. She also established and managed a startup company in the field of biotechnology.

Dr. Lea Mandelzis

Has been a member of the NPO since 2018.

She currently serves as a Research Fellow at Kinneret Academic College. A member of the board of directors of the “Friends of Education” Association. Editor of the Communication Journal “Media Frames”. Previously, she served as Head of the Department of Communication at Kinneret Academic College and a founding member of the Department of Communication at Sapir Academic College. A member of an international research association on the topic of peace journalism and public diplomacy, a researcher, member of international research organizations and publishes articles.

Dr. Hagar Mizrahi

Has been a member of the NPO since 2020.

She is the Medical Advisor Executive at the Baruch Padeh Medical Center in Poriya. Previously Hagar served as a senior physician and specialist in general surgery at the Center. An expert in medical administration and general surgery. Hagar holds an MD from Ben Gurion University of the Negev, and a Masters’ degree in practical surgery from Kent University in England and an MBA degree, with a focus on health systems management from Tel Aviv University.

Adv. Merav Niv
Has been a member of the NPO since 2011.

She is an advocate and notary who specializes in cooperative societies, and she is also chair of the community at Kibbutz Gesher. She is a member of a number of committees and regional boards of directors including a local planning and construction committee, and is chair of the environmental committee and the plenum of the Valley of Springs Regional Council.

Prof. Chezy Ofir

Has been a member of the NPO since 2020.

A Professor and Head of the School of Business Administration at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He received a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Engineering and holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration. Previously held positions as Chairman and Member of Management Boards: Soda Stream, Adama (Makhteshim), Supersol and more.

Dr. Erez Onn
Has been a member of the NPO since 2014.

He is general director of the Poriya Baruch Padeh Medical Center, a specialist orthopedic surgeon and an expert in medical administration. He has a master’s degree in healthcare systems administration from Ben Gurion University, and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Haifa. Dr. Onn filled a number of senior positions in the IDF Medical Corps, and senior management positions in Israel’s healthcare system. He was a lecturer at the University of Ariel, a member of the Israeli Union of Hospital Directors and of the Israeli Orthopedic Association.

Mr. Nitzan Peleg

Has been a member of the NPO since 2020.

He is Head of the Lower Galilee Regional Council and Chairman of the Board of Kidmat Galil Industries Park. Holds an M.A. Degree in Local Government. He Lives in Shadmot Dvora

Mr. Itsik Portal
Has been a member of the NPO since 2010.

He is director of the Department of Young People and Human Capital Development at the Municipality of Tiberias. The core areas of his purview include: higher education, employment, social involvement, culture and leisure. He has also headed the ‘City without Violence’ program for the past 5 years. This is a state program which operates in 100 cities and towns around Israel. In the past he has headed the Youth and Social Neighborhood Rehabilitation departments of the Municipality of Tiberias. He fills a number of voluntary positions in the north, and lives in Tiberias.

Mrs. Ahuva Shachor
Has been a member of the NPO since 2011.

She managed the Tiberias-Tzefat branch of the National Insurance Institute of Israel. She has filled a number of key managerial positions during her 30 years at the National Insurance Institute. She also worked at the national headquarters of the Police-officers Investigations Unit of the Israeli Police. She has a master’s degree in social work from Bar Ilan University specializing in administration and the community. She lives in Shadmot Devora on the Lower Galilee.

Dr. Ahmed Tafesh
Has been a member of the NPO since 2014.

Dr. Tapesh is a US-educated chemist and serves as marketing and business development vice-president of Transbiodiesel. He serves in a number of management and marketing positions in the field of alternative energy, and is an advisor on final projects and internship papers. Dr. Tapesh has over 30 patents registered in his name, as well as academic papers in the field of chemistry.

Prof. Asher Tishler

Has been a member of the NPO since 2020.

He was a faculty member of Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Management from 1976 to 2014. He served as President of the College of Management from 2014-2017. During his tenure at Tel Aviv University he served as Dean of the Faculty of Management, Director of the Eli Hurvitz Institute of Strategic Management, Director of the Institute of Technology and Society, Director of the Israel Institute of Business Research. He serves as a member of the Friends of Kaplan Medical Center and Dimona Theater. A member of the board of directors at MoreInvest and More Investment House Ltd and member of the committee at Black Cube.

Ms. Michal Zoran

Has been a member of the NPO since 2020.

She is Head of International Activity Division in the Kibbutz Industry Association. Serves in executive management positions in industry and in various committee’s in the public sector and in associations. She engages in encouraging collaboration between industry, academia and entrepreneurial communities throughout Israel and international development organizations, to develop and strengthen regional growth. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and a Bacherlor’s Degree in geology and chemistry and is a guest lecturer at the University of Haifa and the Technion- Institute of Technology on sustainable development and innovation.

Mr. Tal Yeshua
Chairman of The Board – Mishky Emek Hyardem, Chairman and Owner of Travel Hotel Chains
Previously, Chairman of the Board at Amiad Water Systems, Termokir, Asiv and more

Mr. Yaakov Amsalem

Dr. Leah Mendels
Has been a member of the NPO since 2018. Dr. Mendels currently works as a research associate at Kinneret Academic College. A member of the Board of Directors at “Yadid LaChinuch”. Editor-in-Chief in the journal “Media Frames”. Until 2018, she was the Head of Communication Department at Kinneret Academic College and a founders of the Communication Department at Sapir Academic College. A member of international research groups on peace journalism and public diplomacy, researcher, member of international research organizations and publishes articles.

Dr. Ofir Menashe
A member of the NPO since 2022.
A Senior Lecturer Faculty member, in the Department of Water Industry Engineering and Head of Agro-Tech Engineering study track, in the Faculty of Engineering, at Kinneret Academic College. An environmental microbiologist specializing in biological process engineering for water and wastewater treatment and Director of Environmental Biotechnology Research Laboratory.
Dr. Menashe serves as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Board Member BioCastle Water Technologies Ltd. and Fishways Ltd. Previously (2012 to 2021) served as head of Water Technology Engineers Program at The Kinneret Technology College.

Ms. Orit Messer-Harel – Junior Commissioner, Retired
A member of the NPO since 2020.
Previously, served in high-ranking positions in the Israel Police, in a variety positions such as investigator, intelligence and spokeswoman of the Israeli Prison Service.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Security.
CEO of the Valley Tourism Association.
Served as Chairman of the Board of the Tamrat Community.
Currently a member of the Parole Board Committee and other public committees at the Ministry of Justice.
A Lecturer on criminal matters and communication.
Graduated with a Master’s Degree in Criminology from Bar Ilan University.

Mr. Israel Shaked
A member of the NPO since 2019.
CEO and owner of Tolgal Degania Diamonds Industry Ltd. as well as of Success Financial Shaked Consultants Ltd. Engaged in financial consulting and providing innovative financing solutions for businesses. Previously, a lecturer in economics at various academic institutions, including author of a textbook on microeconomics.

Mr. Moti (Mordechai) Toran

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