Consulate General of Israel to New England
We are pleased to present to you the 2004-2005 edition of the Consulate General of Israel’s Speakers Bureau “Guide to Speakers on Israel.”
We are grateful for the vast wealth of resources that our speakers can provide to you and to us. Our speakers come Guide to Speakers from many different walks of life, vary in their fields of expertise, and can address a wide array of topics. Unlike the picture of Israel that is depicted through news reports, these on Israel speakers paint diverse views of life in Israel – politics, technology, arts, and culture – as seen through their own eyes. Each individual can provide his or her own views about the daily challenges and achievements that affect Israelis and Americans alike. We encourage you to use these speakers as a window into the diverse and rich culture that is Israel.
We thank you for your continued support and hope you will take advantage of this excellent resource. We encourage you to bring these speakers to both familiar and unfamiliar audiences – their messages are universal.
Hillel Newman 2004-2005 Consul
1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Three Easy Steps to Book a Speaker
1) Choose your speaker or topic. When requesting a speaker, you Welcome ...... 1 Professors & Researchers can either request a specific speaker by name, or you can simply How to book a speaker...... 3 Tal Ben-Shahar ...... 19 provide us with a general topic, and the Speakers Bureau staff will Ehud Eiran...... 20 match the topic with an appropriate speaker. A list of speakers Consulate Officials Tamar Frankel...... 21 can be found in the Table of Contents, and their biographies can Consul General Meir Shlomo .5 Bernard Horn...... 22 be found on the corresponding pages in this booklet. A list of Consul Hillel Newman...... 6 Shiri Pearlman-Avnion...... 23 general topics can be found in the index on page 36 of this Katherine Frazer ...... 7 Jack Nusan Porter ...... 24 booklet. A more updated list of both speakers and topics may be Allison Greenspan...... 8 Gil Siegal...... 25 available on our website: www.israelboston.org Tal Unrad ...... 9 Community Members 2) Submit your request. The Speaker Request Form is enclosed in Non-Governmental Emissaries Geva Barash ...... 26 the center of this booklet and can also be downloaded from our Sharon Davidovich...... 10 Yuval Ben-Ami...... 27 website. You can also fill out the form on-line, then either save Tamar Meir-Schneider ...... 11 Gil Breiman...... 28 and e-mail it, or print and mail/fax it to the Speakers Bureau. This Miri Eisin ...... 29 form must be received in order for us to begin contacting potential Israeli Academic Fellows Yohanan Plesner...... 30 speakers. Please submit it four weeks in advance of your event. Gillad Eisin...... 12 Heather Porter...... 31 Please complete all sections of the Speaker Request Form, Tobias Fischbein...... 13 Ilan Segev...... 32 including as much information as possible about your event, the Eldad Koblentz ...... 14 Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah ..... 33 expected audience, your choice of topics and possible dates. Feel Ady Schonmann...... 15 Michael Yochai...... 34 free to attach additional pages to the form if necessary. You may Nimrod Sheffer...... 16 fax or e-mail your request to the Speakers Bureau at the Consulate Neomi Siegal...... 17 Consulate Resources ...... 35 General of Israel to New England. Yoav Zuckerman...... 18 Speaker Index by Topics ...... 36 Fax: 617-535-0255 E-mail: [email protected]
3) Finalize the event. Once your request has been filled, we will promptly send a written confirmation to both you and the speaker. At that point, organizers should contact the speaker to discuss and finalize any details regarding the topic, the event, and the speaker’s travel arrangements.
2 3 Other things to know about the Speakers Bureau Consul General Meir Shlomo
Meir Shlomo serves as Consul General of Israel at the Consulate We are happy to answer questions and provide General of Israel to New England. information about the Speakers Bureau by phone or e-mail; however, all speaker requests must be Through his diplomatic service in the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Meir submitted in writing, using the Speaker Request Shlomo has traversed the globe, holding postings in El Salvador (1984- 1987), Peru (1987-1989) and Denmark (1992-1995) where he was the Form. Political Counselor at the Israeli Embassy. He then served in India Following your event, requestors will be asked to (1995-1998) where he was Israel’s Deputy Chief of Mission during a complete and return a brief evaluation form. crucial time in the newly established relationship between the two countries. Your feedback is very important to us. We would appreciate your comments regarding this guide, our Consul General Shlomo also served as a member of Israel’s delegation website, and our Speakers Bureau. Please e-mail us to the peace talks in Washington, D.C in 1991. Preceding his with your comments. appointment as Consul General to New England, he served as the Communications Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in In some cases, a nominal fee for speaking events is Jerusalem. requested of organizations with the available resources. Organizations should inquire about costs Consul General Shlomo was born and raised in Tel Aviv. After associated with a particular Speakers Bureau event. completing his military service, he attended Tel Aviv University, where he graduated with honors and received a degree in Political Please remember to visit our website for the most updated Science and Public Administration. In addition, he also earned a Master’s degree in Mass Communication with honors from Hebrew list of available speakers and topics. University in Jerusalem. This Guide to Speakers on Israel can be found online at:
http://www.israelemb.org/boston/speakers_guide.htm Topics: Current Events - Israel’s Agenda Today Israel’s International Relations and Internal Affairs Israel and the Media
4 5 Consul Hillel Newman Katherine Frazer
Hillel Newman, PhD, serves as Consul of Israel at the Consulate Katherine Frazer is the Political Affairs Officer at the Consulate General of Israel to New England. General of Israel to New England.
From 1992 to 1998, Dr. Newman taught history at Bar-Ilan At the Consulate, Ms. Frazer focuses on creative communications and University, while concurrently serving as Director of the Center for effective advocacy for Israel by means of the written word. In her Research at Bar-Ilan University’s Yad Ben Zvi during the middle years primary role as a political writer, Ms. Frazer writes speeches and of his tenure there. He recently returned to academia as an adjunct editorials for the Consulate’s diplomats. Editorials she has written in associate professor at the Center for Judaic Studies at Boston conjunction with the Consul General and the Consul have appeared University. in the Boston Globe, the Christian Science Monitor, the Jewish Advocate, and the Providence Journal. Since leaving Bar-Ilan University, Dr. Newman served as Assistant to Foreign Minister David Levy from 1999 to 2000, and later as Policy Ms. Frazer also researches political affairs in the New England area Advisor to Israeli President Moshe Katsav from 2000 to 2001. Dr. and the impact of current events on Consulate relations. Newman was appointed Consul of Israel to New England in November 2001. Dr. Newman also served for brief periods in Athens, Ms. Frazer holds a dual BA in English and Political Science from Greece; Ankara, Turkey; and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Allegheny College. She has researched and written numerous papers in the fields of international relations, women’s studies, and political Consul Newman served as a paramedic in the Israel Defense Force science. She was also a student of literature and creative writing, and from 1982 to 1986. Following his military service, he went on to received honors for her senior thesis “The Poetry and Politics of study at Bar-Ilan University, where he earned a BA in Psychology and Power.” Ms. Frazer also served as Allegheny College’s delegate to the History and later a PhD in History. In his dissertation, he compared 56th Air Force Academy Assembly, which focused on U.S. Policy in the sectarianism of the Hellenistic and Roman periods to the current the Middle East. political situation in Israel.
Topics: Topics: Current Events - Israel’s Agenda Today Writing and Communicating about Israel Israel’s International Relations and Internal Affairs Current Events – Israel’s Agenda Today Israel as a Democratic Country in the Middle East Why Non-Jews Should Support Israel Israel: Past, Present and Future Episodes in Ancient History in the Land of Israel The Land of Israel and its Connection to the Bible
6 7 Allison Greenspan Tal Unrad
Allison Greenspan is the Director of Public Diplomacy for the Tal Unrad serves as the Academic Affairs Officer and Director of the Consulate General of Israel to New England. She is also a classically Speakers Bureau at the Consulate General of Israel to New England. trained vocalist. Tal Unrad’s work at the Consulate focuses mainly on public affairs at At the Consulate, Ms. Greenspan provides the New England universities and high schools throughout New England. His main community with information about Israel. She writes and distributes activities include educating about the current situation in the Middle publications, maintains the website, and promotes all East, the history of Israel, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; training Consulate resources. She writes speeches, editorials and campus activists; and facilitating regional and national public relations commentaries for the Consulate's diplomats. She also orchestrates a programs on campus. He also serves as the director of the Speakers variety of programs to increase awareness and understanding of Israel Bureau at the Consulate. in the New England area. Mr. Unrad has many close familiar relations in Israel, but was raised Ms. Greenspan received her BA in Italian Language and Literature and educated in the US. Prior to his work at the Consulate of Israel, magna cum laude, with a minor in Opera Performance, from Boston he held numerous leadership positions in Jewish and pro-Israel University. After graduation, she studied Hebrew and Jewish Studies organizations, including serving as a former vice president of Tufts in Arad, Israel with the World Union of Jewish Students. She is an Hillel. active member and past president of the Boston Toastmasters. She belongs to the Association of Professional Communication Mr. Unrad has also extensively researched many topics in the fields of Consultants (APCC) and the Association for Business Communication political science and international relations. Most notably: The (ABC). factors influencing the United States’ support for the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, and international interventions in electoral As a performer, she maintains an international repertoire of operatic, politics. He holds a dual BA in Political Science and International religious and secular pieces, and performs regularly in Boston. She Relations with a concentration in Global Conflict, Cooperation, and performed the Canadian National Anthem for the 2004 JCC Maccabi Justice from Tufts University. Games and the American National Anthem for the Boston Red Sox. Ms. Greenspan speaks Italian and Hebrew. Topics: Topics: Current Events - Israel’s Agenda Today Current Events - Israel's Agenda Today How to Advocate for Israel Public Speaking and Israel Israel on our University Campuses How to Advocate for Israel Creation of the State of Israel
8 9 Sharon Davidovich Tamar Meir-Schneider
Colonel (res.) Sharon Davidovich serves as the Jewish National Fund’s Tamar Meir-Schneider is the Aliyah Shlicha (Emissary) representing Shaliach (Emissary) to New England. the Jewish Agency in Greater Boston and New England.
Prior to coming to the United States, Colonel Sharon Davidovich Tamar Meir-Schneider has worked for the Jewish Agency in different spent the last 24 years serving in various positions in the Israel capacities for the last 13 years. She has held positions such as the Defense Forces. While in active military service, Col. Davidovich was Cultural and Educational Coordinator at the absorption centers in the Commanding Officer of Operations in Gaza, Acting Commander Haifa and Kiryat Yam. For eight years, Ms. Schneider served as the for Southern Lebanon’s Eastern Front, and Commander at the Nachal Director of the Jewish Agency’s Information and Service Centers for & Gadna Civilian Schools. Col. Davidovich also actively participated the northern region of Israel. in the Gaza and West Bank negotiations, and helped implement the resulting objectives with the Palestinian Authority. In addition to her work with the Jewish Agency, Ms. Schneider was instrumental in the creation and operation of the Tzafon Art Gallery. Col. Davidovich received an MA in National Security and a BA in The Tzafon Art Gallery offers new immigrants, mainly of Ethiopian Public Administration, both from Haifa University. He also earned and Russian descent, the opportunity to exhibit and sell their artwork. his MBA from Ben-Gurion University. Ms. Schneider completed her army service in the Israel Defense Forces as a lieutenant in the Education Corps. She went on to study Topics: at Haifa University, where she received her BA in Geography and the Peace, Security & Water in the Middle East Land of Israel, and later completed her MA in Political Science and Jewish National Fund’s Projects in Israel Public Administration. Israeli Security Policies The Israel Defense Forces Topics:
Aliyah and Absorption The Jewish Agency for Israel
10 11 Gillad Eisin Tobias Fischbein
Lieutenant Colonel Gillad Eisin is an officer in the IDF Intelligence Tobias Fischbein is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Public Corps, and is currently a Wexner Israel Fellow at the John F. Kennedy Administration in International Development at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. School of Government at Harvard University.
Lieutenant Colonel Gillad Eisin is on leave from his position in the Tobias Fischbein has worked extensively as a research analyst Israel Defense Forces. He is an intelligence officer, with diverse covering the fertile Israeli technology sector and the Israeli Aerospace background both as a field officer and as a senior analyst. During his & Defense sector. In 2000, he joined Lehman Brothers investment service, he completed several tours-of-duty in southern Lebanon, the firm, and assumed responsibility for the Israeli technology sector as a West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. research analyst. He was initially based in Tel-Aviv and thereafter in London, where he was promoted to Director in the Equity Research Lt. Colonel Eisin holds a BSc in Electric Engineering with honors and department. Before joining Lehman Brothers, he worked as a a teaching diploma in electronics, both from the Technion Institute. technology analyst for Ilanot-Batucha, Israel’s largest investment house.
Topics: Mr. Fischbein grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and made Aliyah Understanding the Middle East to Israel in 1990. He earned BA and MA degrees in Economics from Current Events - Israel’s Agenda Today Tel Aviv University. He held a number of teaching and research The Fight Against Terrorism - A Worldwide Effort assistant positions in the Berglas School of Economics and in the Israeli Security Policies Hartog School of Government and Policy, both at Tel Aviv University. Mr. Fischbein speaks English, Spanish, and Hebrew.
Topics: The Israeli Economy Israel as a Target for Global Institutional Investors Israeli High-Tech Sector Israeli Venture Capital Sector Israeli Aerospace & Defense Industry Aliyah and Absorption Israel Hoy (Discursos en Español)
12 13 Eldad Koblentz Ady Schonmann
Eldad Koblentz is the CEO of Galgalatz Radio in Israel, and is Ady Schonmann is an international human rights lawyer at the Israeli currently a Wexner Israel Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is currently a Wexner Israel Fellow at Government at Harvard University. the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Since 1995, Mr. Koblentz has been in charge of the Galgalatz Radio In her role as legal adviser, Ady Schonmann has been closely involved Network. He is responsible for all programming, and the operational in the formulation of government policy on international human and editorial management of Galgalatz Radio. He also supervises the rights law and humanitarian law, and in the balancing of human station’s fundraising, in collaboration with various institutes and rights concerns and security dilemmas. As part of her professional advertisers. Previously, Mr. Koblentz had been a consultant for expertise, she represents the State of Israel and gives legal counsel in several different companies. Most recently (2000-2002), he was a various international United Nations fora and diplomatic conferences, content consultant for the SixEye holding group, which consists of such as the UN Commission on Human Rights, UN Human Rights four hi-tech companies that provide digital solutions and advanced Treaty Monitoring Bodies, the UN General-Assembly Sixth (Legal) products in the advertising field. Prior to that, he was a TV program Committee, and the World Conference Against Racism, as well as in supervisor, editor, and consultant from 1997-2001, working on proceedings before the International Court of Justice. She was also popular shows such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and The 90’s involved in preparing Israel’s positions for negotiations with the Hit Parade. Palestinians in 1998-2000, and later with Lebanon.
Mr. Koblentz has won several awards for his advertising and radio Ady holds an LLB (magna cum laude) from the University of Haifa work. He also holds a BA with honors in Psychology from Hebrew and an LLM (magna cum laude) from the Hebrew University of University in Jerusalem, and is certified as a mediator by the Israeli Jerusalem, and has published articles on human rights and bioethics. Mediation Center.
Topics: Topics: Human Rights: The Israeli Perspective Popular Contemporary Music in Israel The Rule of Law within Israel and the Government Israel’s Entertainment Industry Israel and United Nations Israeli Pop-Culture Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations
14 15 Nimrod Sheffer Neomi Siegal
Colonel Nimrod Sheffer is a commander in the Israel Air Force (IAF) Neomi Siegal, MD, is a certified pediatrician and is currently a and currently a Wexner Israel Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School Wexner Israel Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Government at Harvard University. at Harvard University.
Nimrod Sheffer has served as a fighter pilot and an officer since 1979. During 1997-2002, Neomi Siegal served as the Chief of Pediatric Recently, he completed a tour of duty as the Commander of Ramon Medicine for the Northern District of Maccabi HMO, one of Israel’s Air Force Base. Previously he was the Head of the Operations major HMOs. Her last position was Deputy Medical Director of the Department at the IAF Headquarters and commanded two different Northern District. F-16 fighter squadrons. Dr. Siegal is an alumna of the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Medical schools, Col. Sheffer holds a BSc in Geophysics from Tel Aviv University. He and of the School of Public Health at Ben Gurion University. Her also lectures at the IAF Flight Academy on topics such as battlefield fields of interest include health policy, health economics, bioethics, morality and "being an officer." He also teaches at the IAF Command and health law. and Staff College on subjects such as leadership and crisis management. Topics: Healthcare in Israel—A National Perspective Topics: Health in the Shadow of Terrorism—The Israeli Experience Israeli Security Policies Women in Management Positions in Israel The Israeli Environment Leadership and Training within the Israeli Military
16 17 Yoav Zuckerman Tal Ben-Shahar
Yoav Zuckerman is currently a Wexner Israel Fellow at the John F. Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD, is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Harvard University and Director of Training for the David Project.
Yoav Zuckerman is currently on leave from his position as Corporate Tal Ben-Shahar is an international management consultant, veteran of Secretary of Israel's Ports Authority. In 2002, Mr. Zuckerman took the Israeli army, and former US intercollegiate and Israeli national charge of a new initiative to revitalize and create comprehensive squash champion. He is currently the Director of Training for the structural reform to Israel's seaports, a program that was recently David Project, a grassroots initiative that promotes peace and justice legislated by the Knesset (parliament). This program is expected to in the Middle East by advocating a fair and honest understanding of create competition between three independent port companies and the conflict. replace the existing centralized management of the port authority. Dr. Ben-Shahar graduated from Harvard College, and before Mr. Zuckerman began his career in 1999, as an assistant to Lieutenant returning to Cambridge, MA for his graduate work, studied at General (ret.) Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, during the establishment of the Cambridge University in the UK. He received his PhD from Harvard "Center Party." He later went on to work as an advisor to the University in 2004. He is the author of three books: most recently, A Minister of Tourism and to the Minister of Transport, dealing mainly Clash of Values: The Struggle for Universal Freedom, and before that with the privatization of government held companies. The Question of Happiness: On Finding Meaning, Pleasure, and the Ultimate Currency. Yoav Zuckerman served for three years in an anti-terror combat unit of the IDF. He holds an LLB from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Topics: How to Advocate for Israel History of the Middle East Topics: A Moral Justification for a Jewish State Privatization of Government Held Companies Understanding the Middle East Conflict An Overview of Israeli Politics Territories, Settlements, and the Root Cause of the Conflict Israeli Import & Export Industries
18 19 Ehud Eiran Tamar Frankel
Ehud Eiran is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Politics Tamar Frankel, SJD, is a professor of corporate law at Boston at Brandeis University and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Program on University School of Law. Negotiation at Harvard Law School. As a member of the first Israeli Ministry of Justice, Tamar Frankel has Ehud Eiran has held various positions in the Israeli civil service. He a unique perspective on the Israeli legal system and the practice of has served as personal legal clerk for two Israeli Attorneys General law. After completing her legal degree in Jerusalem, Prof. Frankel and as Assistant Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Ehud served as an attorney in the legal division of the Israeli Air Force and Barak. In his last posting in the Prime Minister’s office, he worked on later as the Assistant Attorney General in Israel’s Ministry of Justice. Israeli-US relations and the Israeli-Syrian peace negotiations. In addition, she served as the legal advisor for the State of Israel Bonds Organization in Europe. Prior to her teaching career, Professor Mr. Eiran holds degrees in Political Science and Law from Tel Aviv Frankel worked in private law practices in Israel, Boston, and University and a MA in International Relations from Cambridge Washington, D.C. University in the UK. As a volunteer, Mr. Eiran has worked with an Israeli youth movement and with the Israeli Center for Psychological Professor Frankel received her LLM and SJD from Harvard Law Support for Holocaust Survivors. He holds the rank of Major (Res.) in School. She is a leading expert in the areas of financial system the Israel Defense Forces. regulation, fiduciary law, and corporate governance. She is the author of The Regulation of Money Managers (2d ed. with Ann Taylor Schwing), Securitization (1991), and Investment Management Topics: Regulation (2d ed. with Clifford E. Kirsch). She has published more US-Israel Relations: Historical, Sociological, and Security than forty articles and book chapters, most recently “Of Theory and Dimensions Practice” in the Chicago-Kent Law Review and “Trusting and Non- Israeli Law: Human Rights, the Constitution, Separation of Trusting on the Internet” in the Boston University School of Law Church and State, etc. Review. Israeli Security Policies Israeli History and Society Influences on Israeli Identity: Immigration, Jewish Tradition, Topics: Democracy, the Holocaust, and Israeli Arabs The Creation of Israel’s Laws and Legal System Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations & Conflict The Israeli Legal System Zionism and Jewish Settlements in Israel During the Early 20th Century The Rise of the Haganah in the 1940’s
20 21 Bernard Horn Shiri Pearlman-Avnion
Bernard Horn, PhD, is professor of English at Framingham State Shiri Pearlman-Avnion, PhD, is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the College, specializing in Hebrew literature—Biblical and modern. He Boston University School of Medicine’s Lab of Developmental is an expert on Israel’s great novelist A.B. Yehoshua. Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology. Bernard Horn is a distinguished essayist, teacher, lecturer, and poet. His numerous publications cover the fields of American literature, the Shiri Pearlman-Avnion has been doing research in both the domains Bible as literature, and technical writing. Among his recent works is of typically functioning memory and developmental disorders such as the well-received Facing the Fires: Conversations with A.B. Yehoshua autism, Williams syndrome, and Specific Language Impairment (SLI). (Syracuse University Press, 1997). His translations of poetry by Dr. Pearlman-Avnion completed her doctoral program in the Yehuda Amichai have appeared in The New Yorker and Moment Department of Psychology at the University of Haifa, with her magazines. He has also written about the biblical episodes of the dissertation entitled "Social cognition and the use of language in Golden Calf (found in Exodus), the Spies (found in Numbers), and the Williams syndrome children and in other developmental social Korach Rebellion (found in Numbers). pathologies." Dr. Pearlman-Avnion has published several articles and her work has been referenced by publications in both cognitive Professor Horn is the recipient of five National Endowment for the psychology and neuropsychological journals. Humanities Fellowships in contemporary and Biblical literature. He has also spent time teaching and researching in Israel and was Currently, Dr. Pearlman-Avnion is conducting research, mainly in awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach there. He is a graduate of the domain of autism and other developmental disorders, as a the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of postdoctoral fellow supported by a grant from the National Alliance Connecticut. for Autism Research (NAAR). Additionally, Dr. Pearlman-Avnion has been an active member of the Boston-Haifa Partnership for several years. Topics: Yehuda Amichai’s Poetry and the Challenge of Translation Yehuda Amichai’s Poetry as Midrash Topics: The Situation in Israel Today: Observations of an American in International Cooperation in the Field of Psychology Israel Israeli Women in Science Zionism, the Holocaust, and Jewish Identity in A.B. The Boston-Haifa Connection Yehoshua’s Fiction The Societal Psyche of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Jerusalem in the Work of A. B. Yehoshua and Yehuda The Israeli Family Amidst Terror Amichai Natural Wonders: The Trees and Flowers of Israel
22 23 Jack Nusan Porter Gil Siegal
Jack Porter, PhD, is currently an adjunct professor of sociology at Gil Siegal, MD, is currently a visiting professor and Medical Ethics UMass-Lowell. He is an independent scholar, teacher, and filmmaker. Fellow at Harvard University Medical School.
Jack Porter is one of the pioneers in the field of modern genocide In Israel, Dr. Siegal is an ear, nose, and throat surgeon and also a studies and the sociology of the Holocaust. He received his BA in health law professor at the Haifa University Law School. He serves on sociology with a minor in Hebrew studies from the University of the National Helsinki Committee on Human Genetic Research, the Wisconsin at Milwaukee and his PhD in sociology from Northwestern National Advisory Committee on Genetic Information, and the University. A former research associate at Harvard University's Committee on The Right to Die. During 2003-2004, he was a fellow Ukrainian Research Institute from 1982-84, he taught for over 30 in Health Policy and Ethics at the Law School and the Institute for years in sociology, history, and Jewish studies at Boston University, Practical Ethics at the University of Virginia. His fields of interest Northeastern University, Boston College, and Emerson College. include bioethics, health law, public health, and the legal ramifications of medical technology. Dr. Porter is the founder and former editor of The Journal of the History of Sociology and a contributor to the Encyclopedia Judaica, Dr. Siegal received his medical and law degrees from Tel Aviv Encyclopedia of Genocide, Encyclopedia of Sociology, and The University. Italian-American Experience: An Encyclopedia. He is the author or editor of over 30 books and 600 articles and reviews on topics such as Kids in Cults, Confronting History and Holocaust, Sexual Politics in Topics: the Third Reich, Conflict and Conflict Resolution, Jewish Partisans of Israeli Innovations in Technology, Bio-technology and the the Soviet Union, and The Study of Society. Law The Ethical Debate in Israel Between the Orthodox and Dr. Porter is a graduate of Ichud Habonim-Dror Youth Movement Secular from Milwaukee and Camp Tavor in Michigan, a former leader in the Jewish and Western Bioethics—Divergences and Student Zionist Organization (SZO), and a graduate of the Machon Convergences L'Madrechei M'chutz L'aretz in Jerusalem, with experience at Kibbutz Cloning—Multinational and Multi-religious Perspectives Gesher Haziv in the Western Galilee. Organ Transplantation—Comparative International Perspectives Topics: Stem Cells Research—Promises and Concerns Zionism Today and Yesterday Zionism in a Post-Modern World: Is it Still Relevant? The Zionist Youth Movement's Role in Jewish Education
24 25 Geva Barash Yuval Ben-Ami
Geva Barash is the President of Barash Consulting. He was formerly Yuval Ben-Ami writes for a number of major Israeli periodicals on the CEO and the Executive VP of Sales and Marketing of I-Ray cultural and social issues in America and the world at-large. He is an Technologies, Inc.’s US subsidiary. author and editor working in both Hebrew and English.
Prior to his employment at I-Ray technologies, Mr. Barash created a Yuval Ben-Ami spent five years carrying out independent research of distinguished career for himself in the US and abroad. From 1993 to various folklore traditions in Europe. He authored the first Hebrew 1996, Mr. Barash worked as the OEM Account Manager of Microsoft book on Finland’s mythology and ancient culture (Hamitologia Israel, and then continued his career as the Vice President of Sales Hafinit, Mapa, Tel-Aviv, 2003) and brought the experience of the and Marketing at Tescom, Ltd. Later, Mr. Barash served as the Sales traditional European balladeer to theater stages around Israel in the Director of Idanit, USA, Inc., where he built a new-product sales performance “Comes From a Strange Place”. infrastructure, and oversaw machine sales throughout North America and Latin America. As the Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Along with enriching Israel’s culture with the understanding of NUR America, Inc., from 1998 to 2001 Mr. Barash directed all sales foreign traditions, Mr. Ben-Ami speaks of his own country’s cultural and marketing in the US and Latin America, and created `NUR legacy before diverse audiences, from students at the University of University.’ As the CEO and Executive VP of I-Ray Technologies, Utah to school children in Boston, and radio listeners nationwide. He Mr. Barash started global operations and established joint partnerships writes for publications such as Ha’aretz Daily, the Hebrew edition of in North America, Europe, India, South Africa, South America and National Geographic Magazine and the Boston Globe. He contributes the Far East. He was also in charge of economic forecasting for the to various literary, theatrical, and educational projects in Israel and company and supervised all personnel in the US division. the United States.
Mr. Barash joined the Israeli Air Force in 1983 and served as a Lieutenant. After completing his military service, he attended Tel Topics: Aviv University, where he received a BA in Economics and Business Modern Hebrew Poetry - A Renaissance for Our Times. Management. For a period while attending Tel Aviv University, he Origins of Israel’s Popular Music – East Jams With West, also worked for the Intelligence Bureau of Israel. Reluctantly? Multifaceted Jerusalem – A Virtual Journey Through the City’s Most Surprising Corners Topics: The Sacred Sandbar – Understanding Israel’s Geography The Israeli Economy and High-Tech Sector Bostonians in Haifa – A Cultural Preparation for Visiting Israel Israel in the World of International Business
26 27 Gil Breiman Miri Eisin
Gil Breiman, Esq. is an attorney at the law firm of Perkins, Smith & Colonel (Ret.) Miri Eisin is recently retired from the IDF intelligence Cohen, LLP, practicing in the firm's international business, corporate corps and is a consultant to the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of finance and governance, and science and technology practice groups. Boston.
In his practice, Gil Breiman often represents companies and Miri Eisin, one of the very few female colonels in the IDF, has had a individuals engaging in business between the United States and Israel, long and distinguished career in the military. During her career, Col. and he has represented and advised Israeli government agencies in the Eisin has served in various branches of intelligence—in field posts (at United States. Mr. Breiman currently serves as the Co-Chair of the the brigade and division level), in the production department (in the International Transactions Committee of the Boston Bar Association. northern regional command), and as the assistant to the Director of He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Sawyer School of Management, Military Intelligence (the present chief of staff). and he is a frequent lecturer and writer on issues concerning business and international trade. From April—May 2002, Col. Eisin was assigned as a special spokesperson of the Israeli government during Operation Defensive Mr. Breiman received his BA from Tel-Aviv University and a dual Shield. For the last two years, she has been at the forefront of JD/MBA degree from Suffolk University. presenting Israel’s case to the media, appearing on national and international news stations worldwide. She also participated in the Prime Minister’s mission to Washington following Operation Topics: Defensive Shield in May 2002. Legal and Cultural Issues Concerning Business and Trade between Israel and the United States Col. Eisin holds a BA from Tel Aviv University in Political Science Government Incentives for Research and Development and Middle Eastern Studies and a MA in Security Studies from Haifa Economic Relations between the United States and Israel University. In addition, she is a graduate of the Israeli National Defense College and the Staff College.
Topics: Israeli Security Policies Israel and the Media The Israel Defense Forces Women in Israeli Society
28 29 Yohanan Plesner Heather Porter
Yohanan Plesner is a Senior Analyst at the Center for Strategic and Heather Porter is a concert violist and has a private teaching studio Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), and is a frequent lecturer on Middle for violinists and violists in the Boston area. East, Israeli, and security affairs.
Heather Porter spent her formative and university years studying and In his current role, Yohanan Plesner is responsible for evaluating performing viola and violin at various esteemed musical institutions possible security implications of underlying social and cultural trends in the US and Europe. In 1994, Ms. Porter moved to Israel, where she in the Middle East. This “Long Term Strategy Project” is performed as a viola soloist in chamber music ensembles, with the commissioned by the Office of Net Assessment at the U.S. Israel Camerata, the Israel Philharmonic, and the Jerusalem Department of Defense. Symphony, among others. While in Israel, Ms. Porter participated in
several collaborative projects with visual artists and choreographers, From 1989 – 1994, Mr. Plesner served as a combatant and officer in and is well versed in many genres of the Israeli artistic scene. the IDF’s Special Forces Unit. Later he joined the Israel Democracy
Institute, the country’s most prominent policy think-tank, as an During her time there, she created and taught in a pilot program Assistant to the President. He has volunteered during several political designed to teach Ethiopian-Israeli children, with no musical campaigns, and has recruited and directed hundreds of campaign background, to play the violin, and served to instill in them an volunteers. appreciation for music, a sense of self, and a broader perspective of the
world and of the arts. Yohanan received a MPA with a concentration in international security policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of
Government. He obtained his BA (magna cum laude) in Economics Topics and while in the “Amirim" Program of Excellence at the Hebrew Israel: State of the Arts University of Jerusalem. Making Music with Israel’s Newest Immigrants
The Music of Israel: An historical and sociological look at the
State of Israel and its music Topics: Survey of Israeli Society through the Idiosyncrasies of Pop Israeli Domestic Politics and Their Undercurrents Culture Israeli Foreign and Security Policies An Evolving Society: Israeli cultural shifts prompted by The Israeli Economy and Political System recent waves of Aliyah (immigration) History of Zionism and Zionist Thought
30 31 Ilan Segev Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah
Ilan Segev is currently in the investment management division at Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah is a field and research archaeologist for the Lehman Brothers Investment Bank. Israel Antiquities Authority.
Ilan Segev joined the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Since 1990, Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah has worked on numerous a cadet until 1996. His first mission was as the Deputy Head of archaeological excavations throughout Israel, as a field archaeologist Mission in the Trade Representative Office in Doha, Qatar. From July in the Israel Antiquities Authority. She specializes in the archaeology 1998 to 2002, Mr. Segev was stationed at the Consulate General of of Jerusalem, having conducted most of her excavations there and Israel in Atlanta as the State of Israel’s second highest-ranking teaching specifically about that subject. From 1986 to 2001, she diplomat in the southeastern United States. taught “Jerusalem through the Ages” at the Yad Ben-Zvi Institute, and briefly from 1995-96, taught “Archaeology of Jerusalem” at Hebrew Following his service as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, Mr. University in Jerusalem. In addition to her field and teaching Segev received his Bachelors degree in Economics and East-Asian experience, Ms. Weksler-Bdolah has published a number of articles Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He recently on the archaeology of Jerusalem and lectured at several conferences in received his MBA from Harvard Business School. Israel and the US.
Ms. Weksler-Bdolah has a BA in Geography and Prehistoric and Topics: Biblical Archaeology from Hebrew University. She also has a Current Events - Israel’s Agenda Today Teaching Diploma from Hebrew University’s School of Education, an Israel-Diaspora Relations MA in Prehistoric Archaeology from Hebrew University’s Institute of Israeli Politics, Government, and Statehood Archaeology, and an MA in Classical Archaeology, also from Hebrew The Israeli Economy and Doing Business in Israel University.
Topics: Jerusalem—History and Archaeology Jerusalem—A Holy City for Three Religions The Temple Mount—From Antiquity to Present Early Synagogues—The Development and the Rule of the Synagogue in the Second Temple Period
32 33 Michael Yochai MORE RESOURCES FROM THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF ISRAEL Michael Yochai is the Head of the Film and News Production Division in the IDF Spokesperson’s office. Updated news and information on current events in Israel are available from the website of the Consulate. Be sure to check the Michael Yochai has directed and produced 17 award-winning films website daily for the latest news from Israel. and manages the Film and News Production office in the Spokesperson’s Unit, Israel Defense Forces. As head of this division, ELECTRONIC RESOURCES Mr. Yochai has directed and produced numerous feature, PR, The Public Diplomacy Department provides news e-mailings such as documentary, publicity, and educational films. He is responsible for "Israel: This Week in Review." Consulate mailings provide news footage of IDF activities and their distribution to the mass media information on current events in Israel and on Israel-related events in Israel and abroad. Mr. Yochai also created and teaches “Field-news around New England. Coverage” courses in the IDF. Finally, Mr. Yochai manages the archive, and is responsible for local and world-wide marketing and PRINT AND VIDEO RESOURCES distribution of IDF spokesperson products, including its website. We have a wide range of colorful printed material and interesting videos for loan available on all aspects of Israel, including the current Mr. Yochai has a BFA in Film and TV studies and a post-graduate situation, free of charge. certificate in Journalism from Tel-Aviv University, an MA in Political Science from Haifa University, and an MBA in Marketing from CULTURAL PROGRAMS Manchester University in Israel. Prior to beginning his work with the The Cultural Affairs Department showcases Israeli cultural programs IDF, Mr. Yochai was film director of El-Al Airline’s Educational in order to present the culture of Israel to New England. We organize branch, a high school film instructor, and free-lance film director for art exhibits, film screenings, concerts and master classes by Israeli a national TV station. artists at New England's finest cultural institutions and universities.
Topics: INTERNSHIPS The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Security Fence Internships are available year-round at the Consulate in the Civilian news coverage vs. IDF news coverage in Israel Academic, Public Diplomacy, and Press Departments. Visit our The Al-Aqsa Intifada (Oct 2000 – present) website for more information. Jenin - A case study of the Palestinian propaganda against Israel To access or learn more about these resources, please visit our website Yom Kippur War (1973) or call the Consulate. Late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin www.israelboston.org Note: Presentations will include short films (617) 535-0200 34 35 Index of Speakers by Topic:
Advocacy – Hillel Newman, Katherine Frazer, Allison Greenspan, Tal Unrad, Tal Consulate General of Israel Ben-Shahar, Miri Eisin to New England Arts & Literature – Eldad Koblentz, Bernard Horn, Yuval Ben-Ami, Heather Porter 20 Park Plaza, Suite 1020 Current Events – Meir Shlomo, Hillel Newman, Katherine Frazer, Allison Boston, MA 02110 Greenspan, Tal Unrad, Gillad Eisin, Miri Eisin, Ilan Segev Tel: (617) 535-0200 Economy and Industry – Tobias Fischbein, Yoav Zuckerman, Geva Barash, Gil Fax: (617) 535-0255 Breiman, Yohanan Plesner, Ilan Segev [email protected]
Environment – Sharon Davidovich, Nimrod Sheffer
Foreign Affairs – Meir Shlomo, Hillel Newman, Ady Schonmann, Ehud Eiran, www.israelboston.org Yohanan Plesner, Ilan Segev
Government & Politics – Meir Shlomo, Hillel Newman, Ady Schonmann, Yoav Zuckerman, Ehud Eiran, Tamar Frankel, Yohanan Plesner, Ilan Segev
History – Hillel Newman, Tal Unrad, Tal Ben-Shahar, Ehud Eiran, Tamar Frankel, Yohanan Plesner, Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, Michael Yochai
Law – Ady Schonmann, Ehud Eiran, Tamar Frankel, Gil Siegal, Gil Breiman
Media – Meir Shlomo, Yuval Ben-Ami, Miri Eisin, Michael Yochai
Military & Security – Sharon Davidovich, Gillad Eisin, Nimrod Sheffer, Miri Eisin
Religion – Hillel Newman, Bernard Horn, Jack Nusan Porter, Gil Siegal, Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah
Science – Tobias Fischbein, Neomi Siegal, Shiri Pearlman-Avnion, Gil Siegal
Society – Eldad Koblentz, Neomi Siegal, Ehud Eiran, Bernard Horn, Shiri Pearlman- Avnion, Yuval Ben-Ami, Miri Eisin, Heather Porter
Visiting and/or Immigrating to Israel – Tamar Meir-Schneider, Tobias Fischbein
Zionism – Tamar Frankel, Jack Nusan Porter, Yohanan Plesner 36 37