Dr Asher Ragen Programme Director, Academic Excellence Asher is Director of the Academic Excellence Programme at Yad Hanadiv. In this role, he has worked to develop new strategies in biomedical science, including support for precision medicine and advancing Physician-Researchers in Israel, together with philanthropic and government partners. The Academic Excellence Programme also supports expanding the reach of Humanities education to new students and programmes in universities, as well as a joint strategy (together with the Arab Community Programme) to advance outstanding Arab students in Science and Engineering. In addition, Asher guides Yad Hanadiv’s support for digital efforts of the National Library of Israel. He holds a PhD from Harvard University in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. Asher joined Yad Hanadiv in 2006. + Asher is Director of the Academic Excellence Programme at Yad Hanadiv. In this role, he has worked to develop new strategies in biomedical science, including support for precision medicine and advancing Physician-Researchers in Israel, together with philanthropic and government partners. The Academic Excellence Programme also supports expanding the reach of Humanities education to new students and programmes in universities, as well as a joint strategy (together with the Arab Community Programme) to advance outstanding Arab students in Science and Engineering. In addition, Asher guides Yad Hanadiv’s support for digital efforts of the National Library of Israel. He holds a PhD from Harvard University in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. Asher joined Yad Hanadiv in 2006. −
Dr Talya Steiner Senior Programme Officer, Academic Excellence As Senior Programme Officer, Talya develops and promotes the strategies of Arab Excellence, and Diversity of Excellence initiatives to increase representation of first-generation students. Prior to joining Yad Hanadiv, Talya managed the Council for Higher Education’s national programme for increasing the accessibility to higher education of Israel’s geographic and social periphery. For a decade Talya was a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, where she managed the International Proportionality in Public Policy research programme – an empirical investigation of the ways in which policy makers consider rights protection. Talya holds a PhD in Law from The Hebrew University and an LLM from Harvard Law School, and she lectures in public and constitutional law. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2022. + As Senior Programme Officer, Talya develops and promotes the strategies of Arab Excellence, and Diversity of Excellence initiatives to increase representation of first-generation students. Prior to joining Yad Hanadiv, Talya managed the Council for Higher Education’s national programme for increasing the accessibility to higher education of Israel’s geographic and social periphery. For a decade Talya was a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, where she managed the International Proportionality in Public Policy research programme – an empirical investigation of the ways in which policy makers consider rights protection. Talya holds a PhD in Law from The Hebrew University and an LLM from Harvard Law School, and she lectures in public and constitutional law. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2022. −
Dr Sharon Katz Gidoni Coordinator of Fellowships and Prizes Sharon is responsible for managing the Rothschild Fellowships and Rothschild Prizes. In this role, he oversees the application process, coordinates the work of the selection committees, and manages relations with Fellows and prize winners, including organising the Rothschild Fellowship Colloquium. He brings extensive experience in project management and production in the fields of culture and the humanities. Most recently, Sharon directed the Jerusalem International Book Forum and produced cultural events in the city. Previously, he represented literary rights at the Deborah Harris Agency. Sharon holds a PhD in Hebrew Literature from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; his research focused on representations of development towns in Israeli fiction. He joined Yad Hanadiv in 2025 + Sharon is responsible for managing the Rothschild Fellowships and Rothschild Prizes. In this role, he oversees the application process, coordinates the work of the selection committees, and manages relations with Fellows and prize winners, including organising the Rothschild Fellowship Colloquium. He brings extensive experience in project management and production in the fields of culture and the humanities. Most recently, Sharon directed the Jerusalem International Book Forum and produced cultural events in the city. Previously, he represented literary rights at the Deborah Harris Agency. Sharon holds a PhD in Hebrew Literature from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; his research focused on representations of development towns in Israeli fiction. He joined Yad Hanadiv in 2025 −
Adi Burtman Academic Excellence Programme Coordinator Adi coordinates and supports all activities of the Academic Excellence team. Before joining Yad Hanadiv, Adi was a doctoral candidate at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at The Hebrew University. For several years, she taught courses at and coordinated the university’s Amirim Programme for outstanding students. For two years, she coordinated the revamping of the Humanities department curriculum. Prior to her academic studies, she worked for several years in informal education – in counselling, administering activity and budget management. Adi has a BA in Musicology and an MA in Musicology from The Hebrew University. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2022. + Adi coordinates and supports all activities of the Academic Excellence team. Before joining Yad Hanadiv, Adi was a doctoral candidate at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at The Hebrew University. For several years, she taught courses at and coordinated the university’s Amirim Programme for outstanding students. For two years, she coordinated the revamping of the Humanities department curriculum. Prior to her academic studies, she worked for several years in informal education – in counselling, administering activity and budget management. Adi has a BA in Musicology and an MA in Musicology from The Hebrew University. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2022. −
Michal Levi Grant Ops Coordinator, Academic Excellence & Early Childhood Michal coordinates the activity of the Grant Operations in the Academic Excellence & Early Childhood Programmes. Before joining Yad Hanadiv in 2016, Michal was employed as the Personal Assistant to the CEO at the New Israel Fund and previously as Personal Assistant to the Director at the SHEKEL Trauma Treatment Centre for individuals with special needs. She holds a degree in Interior Design from the Holon Institute of Technology. Michal served in the IDF as a Social Worker. + Michal coordinates the activity of the Grant Operations in the Academic Excellence & Early Childhood Programmes. Before joining Yad Hanadiv in 2016, Michal was employed as the Personal Assistant to the CEO at the New Israel Fund and previously as Personal Assistant to the Director at the SHEKEL Trauma Treatment Centre for individuals with special needs. She holds a degree in Interior Design from the Holon Institute of Technology. Michal served in the IDF as a Social Worker. −
Naomi Peters Administrative Assistant, Academic Excellence and Environment Naomi provides administrative support to Academic Excellence and Environment Programme staff. She worked for many years in the formal education system and subsequently for Da’at Travel in educational tourism. Prior to joining Yad Hanadiv, she held a managerial position in a planning and architecture firm. Naomi is a graduate of the Revivim programme at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem where she received her MA in Jewish Education. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2021. + Naomi provides administrative support to Academic Excellence and Environment Programme staff. She worked for many years in the formal education system and subsequently for Da’at Travel in educational tourism. Prior to joining Yad Hanadiv, she held a managerial position in a planning and architecture firm. Naomi is a graduate of the Revivim programme at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem where she received her MA in Jewish Education. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2021. −