Leadership

Prof. Rivka Lazovsky-

Chairperson

Professor Rivka Lazovsky is a Professor in Education throughout the life time [from birth to Golden Age included], an experienced Educational Counselor, an academic Lecturer and Researcher in Education and Counseling who published many articles and books, a Social Activist since she was a young girl. She has more than 30 years of management experience. Recently, she finished 2 terms as Chairperson of World WIZO [volunteer work!], an international women movement with hundreds of educational and social projects in Israel, and branches all over the Jewish world.
To date, she serves as Vice-President of TOPAZ [C.S.O.], including Topaz in Israel and in the world, through its international departments: Brit Olam, Inspiration, Improve, IGI –Israeli Global Initiative. She also serves as member of the Public International Council of SID [Society for International Development] in Israel.
Formerly, she served for 13 years as Educational Counselor in the famous “Gimnasium Herzlyia” in Tel Aviv [the first Hebrew high school]. She was the founding President of the “Association of Educational Counselors in Israel” [IAED] and led it many years. She wrote the Code of Ethics of counselors, founded the professional and academic journal “Educational Counseling” and served as its first editor, and in the board. She was elected and served for 6 years, representing Israel, in the International Editorial Board of the 2 most important Counseling Journals in the world [“Counselor Education and Supervision”, “Professional School Counseling”].
Prof. Lazovsky is also the founding President of the “Association of WIZO Graduates” [October 2018]. She wrote the first WIZO’s Code of Ethics for this centennial organization, went on mission to Jewish communities in 32 cities. She knows 6 languages. Professor Lazovsky has been awarded twice, by the Ministry of Education and IAED, the Educational Counseling Award for her outstanding professional and academic work. And she received 4 awards from World WIZO for her volunteer work throughout the years, including Life Honorary Membership.
Prof. Lazovsky received her Ph.D. from Tel Aviv University, School of Education, in 1992. She is married to Leon Lazovsky, an architect and town planner. They have 2 children and 4 grand-children.

Prof. Efrat Broide -

Board member

Efrat was involved with studies in Celiac Disease, IBD and liver diseases from the beginning of her residency. She was also involved in many multicenter studies, especially in IBD, and lately, investigating the factors associated with patients adherence to treatment, as well as patients preferences to treatment outcome in IBD. Efrat believes that understanding this issue might improve patient physician communication. Her presentation of the summary of my work in the annual conference of the Israeli gastroenterology association won the prize of the best presentation of the conference in 2018. The results of Efrat’s studies led her to believe that patient’s physician communication in need for improving inflammation, disease activity and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Efrat is looking forward to the opportunity to further explore this relationship in other chronic gastrointestinal diseases. Today, Efrat works as a specialist in adult and pediatric gastroenterology, Director of Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit in Shamir Medical Center, Israel.

Dr. Efy Halperin -

Board member

Efy was born in 1953, graduated from the Hebrew University medical school. A specialist in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases in the USA & Israel, and holds a diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene from the Royal College of Physicians in London, England. The former director of the ID Unit in ‘Bikur-Cholim’ Hospital in Jerusalem. Since his retirement, he volunteers periodically as a senior physician in the ‘Israeli Medicine on the Equator’ project in Kiboga district, Uganda, and dedicates the rest of his time to his family and to writing. Over the years he has published two books, as well as many short stories, essays and poems in Hebrew and English in various literary journals.

Dina Loutati –

Board member

In 1963 immigrated to Israel from France. Instructor in the Bnei Akiva youth movement. Military service as part of the Nachal group, Youth counselor at the Yemin Orde boarding school, Social workers’ institute, 13 years working with girls in distress, Sufiya home, Treatment of disadvantaged girls in Beer Sheva municipality, Community worker in Beer Sheva municipality. Volunteering Regional District Supervisor in Construction and Development Together with international organizations for overseas volunteers! Exchange of professional delegations. Youth delegations and sending Israeli volunteers! 44 years in the Social Welfare and Social Services Ministry Social Activism Treatment of Rights and Concerns for the Vulnerable Groups in Society Social Work as a Way of Life.

Anat Livnat -

ענת לבנת

Board member

Anat played a crucial role In promoting gender equality in Israel; back In the late 90’s, she co-formed a national coalition that eventually moved the Israeli parliament to enact a law obliging each local authority to appoint an advisor on women’s advancement, who will report directly to the head of the local authority. In 2010 she established the Advisors Association for the Advancement of Women in Local Municipalities. Parallel to being Chairman to the association since 2014, Anat is VP of sports dept. in the Bat-Yam municipality and responsible for creating and leading many innovative sports projects, with some specifically being dedicated to women empowerment. After a master’s degree in Education and Sports Management and over three decades of experience in global and local social projects, Anat does not plan on stopping: “We women need to realize that there is no ceiling”.

Shmuel Sorek -

שמואל סורק

Board member

Shmuel is an experienced mechanical engineer with nearly 40 years of experience in senior management of both companies and organizations, as well as in non-profit organizations and in public activity. In the past he has worked in the development of weapons and has managed a factory in the military industry. For the past 20 years, he has been involved in the rehabilitation of companies and businesses in the appointment of courts, banks and corporate owners, and in organizational consulting for businesses in crisis, including factories in various industries. He was elected Chairman of the Engineers and Architects Association in Israel. He served as Chairman of Dorot HaNichiv for Holocaust Survivors in Israel and is currently a member of the Executive Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the Center of Organizations of Holocaust Survivors. His regular army service was in the Golani Brigade. In the reserves he served in his last position as a battalion commander until he was discharged from active duty. Shmuel has extensive experience in operating associations, familiarizing himself with the work of the Knesset and government ministries, local authorities and public and academic institutions.

Dr. Michael Naftali -

Dr. Mike Naftali

Board member

Michael (Mike) Naftali is a social entrepreneur, social inventor, social activist and teacher, and researcher in voluntarism and civil society. For more than 40 years, he has taken an active part in advancing, managing, and leading a wide range of social endeavors, including the formation of social entrepreneurship platforms, volunteering and civil society infrastructure programs, youth at risk services, formal and non formal educational settings, mental health programs, community-based art programs and a variety of international development initiatives.
Much of his work has been incorporated in heading and leading Civil Society organizations.
To date, Dr. Naftali serves as the founding president of a network of leading Israeli Civil Society Organizations (C.S.Os.) Topaz – Leading Social Innovations, Brit Olam – International Volunteering and Development and Inspiration – Arts for Humanity.
Formerly Dr. Naftali served as the chairperson of the National Council for Voluntarism in Israel (C.S.O.), the national Civil Society umbrella association for Voluntary Effort. He is also co-founder of Natan – The Israeli Coalition for Disaster Relief (C.S.O.), and until 2016 served as vice-chairperson of S.I.D. Israel – The Society for International Development (C.S.O.). In 2017 Dr. Naftali was nominated as the chairperson of the “The Israeli Academic Forum for Social Enterprise, founded in 2009 by the Bob Shapell School of Social Work at Tel Aviv University, SHATIL – Leading Social Change (C.S.O.), and Topaz.
In the past, Dr. Naftali served as the founding director of Enosh- the Israel Mental Health Association (C.S.O.) and between the years 1984 – 2003, the founding C.E.O. of Elem – Youth in Distress in Israel (C.S.O.). During this period, Dr. Naftali initiated and advanced numerous endeavors challenging the unique needs of at-risk, neglected, and delinquent youth. Dr. Naftali is one of the founders of Platforma – for Civil Society, a nonprofit consulting and development firm and initiator of the Israeli national program for expanding the Israeli voluntary effort “Life Long Volunteering and Giving.”
Michael Naftali is a Social Worker by profession and received his Ph.D. from Tel Aviv University School of Social Work in 1996. Michael is married to Dr. Timna Naftali – a specialist in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. They live in Tel Aviv and have four children. He is also a keen Yachtsman and holds a Skippers Certificate for Mediterranean and Ocean Voyages.