
Staff
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Prof. Avi Israeli
Executive DirectorProfessor Abraham (Avi) Israeli is the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Health. He is also Head of the Department of Health Policy, Health Care Management and Health Economics at the Hebrew University – Hadassah Faculty of Medicine. Prior to this he was the Director General of the Israel Ministry of Health (2003-2009) and the Director – General of Hadassah Medical Organization (1998 -2001).
He holds the Chair of Dr. Julien Rozan Professorship of Family Medicine and Health Promotion at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem (since 1996) and teaches there regularly.
Professor Israeli chaired the national committee to update the Israeli national standard basket of health services, and served on several blue ribbon panels related to health policy in Israel.
Professor Israeli received his medical degree and his master in public health from the Hadassah – Hebrew University Medical School. He completed residencies in Internal Medicine and in Health Care Management at Hadassah University Hospital and has certification in both specialties. He received his Master’s Degree from the Sloan School of Management at MIT, Boston.
His scientific activities are related to applied, methodological and theoretical research in the fields of health policy, health care management, and the epidemiological, economic, social and cultural basis for decision-making.
His publications deal with translation of academic knowledge and inputs from the field into policy setting and decision-making processes.
Two additional key research foci are rationing / priority setting and comparative health care systems. -
Dr. Rachel (Heni) Haring
Acting Executive DirectorDr. Rachel Haring has served as assistant executive director of the BSF since 2005. In this capacity, she coordinates all aspects of the granting process. She holds a B.Sc. in Life Sciences, and M.Sc. (cum laude) and Ph.D degrees in biochemistry, all from Tel Aviv University. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the Camp David Institute for International Health in the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. She has served as senior biochemist at the Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona; and as senior scientist in several biotechnology companies. Dr. Haring has authored 32 peer-reviewed articles and 15 book chapters.
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Michael Leibner
ControllerMBA (Finance and Marketing) – Hebrew University
Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting & Information Systems – Lev Institute
Previous jobs:
CFO Feuerstein Institute – a social business organization that deals with education and training, housing, employment and placement of people with special needs.
CFO ‘Manife Manof Lehiim’ – an educational organization for at-risk youth nationwide
CFO/Accountant German-Israeli Foundation for the Advancement of Scientific Research and Development (GIF)
CFO Generali Foundation
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Ms. Orli Rozencwajg
Senior Computer and I.T. AdministratorMs. Orli Rozencwajg joined the BSF in 2004. She oversees all aspects of the foundation’s information systems, database and website, and provides support services to BSF clients. Ms. Rozencwajg earned her BA in computer science from Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem, and her MBA (summa cum laude) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
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Ms. Esther (Eti) Alfandary
Senior Administrative AssistantMs. Ester (Eti) Alfandari is a Senior Administrative Assistant. She joined the BSF at a young age in 1985 and has been working in the BSF continuously since then.
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Ms. Miri Yelagin
Information SpecialistMs. Miri Yelagin joined the BSF in 2006 as an Information Specialist, after serving in the same capacity at the Israel Science Foundation (ISF). She earned a BA in Humanities & Social Sciences, and a Master in Library Science (magna cum laude), both from the Hebrew University.
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Ms. Yael Dressler
Information SpecialistMs. Yael Dressler joined the BSF in 2013 as an Information Specialist. Her responsibilities include the joint program with the NSF. Yael earned a BA in English Literature and MA in History, both from Bar-Ilan University. She also holds a diploma in Information Studies from the Technion.
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Ms. Ava Chava Stashevski
Administrative AssistantMs. Ava Stashevski joined the BSF in 2024. She has a BA from York University in Toronto, Canada and a Teacher’s Certificate from David Yellin College in Jerusalem.