Michal Ben Naftali

Michal Ben-Naftali teaches literature and philosophy at the Tel Aviv University. Her doctoral dissertation, written at Oxford University, focused on current French philosophy regarding the Holocaust. She is also an author, translator and book editor, and was awarded the Israeli Prime Minister's Award for Hebrew Writers (2007) and a prize for best literary essay of the year (2008) awarded by Haaretz newspaper. Her novel "The Teacher" received the Sapir Prize for 2016.

Malka Pietrokovsky

Malka Pietrokovsky headed Midreshet Lindenbaum (Midreshet Bruria) and led the school's Halacha program. Is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ma'ale School of Television, Film and the Arts, and is an active member of the social organization Ma'aglei Tzedek. She is a member of the Medical Services public committee as a specialist on ethics and Halacha. She teaches rabbinic literature, Talmud and Halacha in various frameworks. Her book "Following Her Halakhic Way" was published in 2014. Chosen to light a torch in the main ceremony of Israel Independence Day in 2015 for being pioneer in Halacha and Torah study among women.

Boaz Cohen

A radio broadcaster, a lecturer in contemporary culture, a pianist, a musician and a writer. Produced and edited cultural performances connecting music to poetry, amongst them "Singing Nachman Bialik", "The Streets Take Off Slowly – Songs of David Avidan" and "As Long As - a tribute to Eli Mohar". He was a member of the Punch Band, and a member of the Electric Band and composed music for films. In 2014 he published his book "Short Stories, Great Records", and in 2017 his book "When I Open the Door" about the Israeli band "Tamuz".

Dr. Gali Tibon

Founder and CEO of the Institute for Excellence in the Humanities. The former principal of a high school in Bat Yam and a comprehensive high-school in Ma'alot Tarshiha, and as such, received the ORT Schools Network Education Prize for Outstanding School and Principal. She has led programs for educational excellence in cities and regional councils. Gali is a lecturer, teacher trainer and a facilitator for administrators from all sectors of Israeli society. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on the Jewish Holocaust in Bukovina. Former Chair of education committee of "Lohamei HaGetaot" (Ghetto Fighters) Museum. Gali is currently a visiting scholar at Carnegie-Mellon university in Pittsburgh, PA. Her first novel "Abandoned Mothers", was published in 2017. She has received the Ministry of Culture Award and the Itzhak Leib Goldberg Prize.

Amos Oz z"l

Amos Oz was a member of the Public Council of the Institute for Excellence in the Humanities since its establishment until he passed away on December 28, 2018. In March 2018, we were honored to receive from him a lecture as part of our moderators' course. We honor his memory and appreciate his contribution over the years.
Oz was an Israeli writer, novelist, and journalist. Served as a professor of literature at Ben-Gurion University in Beer-Sheba. His work has been published in some 30 languages, in 35 countries. He has received the Legion of Honor of France, the Goethe Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award in Literature, the Heinrich Heine Prize, the Abraham Geiger Prize and the Israel Prize.

Meir Shalev

Meir Shalev was a member of the Public Council of the Institute for Excellence in the Humanities since its establishment until he passed away on April 11, 2023. We honor his memory and appreciate his contribution over the years.
An Israeli writer, novelist, and journalist. Shalev's books have been translated into 30 languages. He has received the Bernstein Prize for original Hebrew novel and the Brenner Prize for 'A Pigeon and a Boy‘. Shalev writes children's books and a weekly column in the weekend edition of Yediot Ahronot.

Beatrice (Bambi) Sheleg z"l

Bambi Sheleg was a member of the Public Council of the Institute for Excellence in the Humanities since its establishment until she passed away on August 15, 2016. We honor her memory and appreciate her contribution over the years.
Beatrice (Bambi) Sheleg was a journalist and editor. She founded and published the magazine Eretz Acheret which examines and performs in-depth analyses of social, cultural and economic processes in Israeli society and the Jewish nation. Sheleg was awarded the Liebhaber Prize for Religious Tolerance on behalf of the Conservative Movement in Israel in recognition of her efforts to forge ties between Jews with different world views (1998); the B'nai B'rith Award for Journalism Recognizing Excellence in Diaspora Reportage (2011); the Hebrew University's Flegg Award for promoting understanding and acceptance within the Jewish world (2012).