Board of Directors
ANU – Museum of the Jewish People is a public, not-for-profit organization with private and governmental involvement. ANU – Museum of the Jewish People has four shareholders:
- The State of Israel
- The Jewish Agency for Israel/World Zionist Organization
- Tel Aviv University
- The World Jewish Congress
According to the 2005 Beit Hatfutsot Law, ANU – Museum of the Jewish People has the status of National Center for Jewish Communities in Israel and around the world. The directing institutions of ANU – Museum of the Jewish People are: The General Assembly – meeting of shareholders of the organization; Board of Governors – the senior representative and policy formulating body; and the Board of Directors – the management body.
Irina Nevzlin, Chair
Irina Nevzlin serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of ANU – Museum of the Jewish People, and President of the Nadav Foundation. As the board chair, she led the extensive renewal project to recreate the Museum of the Jewish People as a unique, global cultural center for the Jewish People.
As President of Nadav, Irina oversees the strategic management of the foundation, which supports initiatives that promote Jewish Peoplehood, builds collective Jewish identity and forges lasting ties between Jews around the world. In addition, Irina serves as the Founding Co-Chair of the Israeli Center for Better Childhood (ICBC). She previously sat on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Funders Network (JFN) and on the Prime Minister’s Round Table, a strategic planning forum bringing together the private and non-profit sectors for positive change in social policy in Israel. Irina also serves as the Chair of the Board of ‘Liberal,’ a Hebrew monthly, covering Israeli political life, communications and culture.
A native of Moscow, Irina holds a BA and MA in Economics from Moscow Lomonosov State University. She has worked in government relations, lobbying and strategic communications in both Moscow and London, and has extensive experience in PR for private and non-profit organizations.
As President of Nadav, Irina oversees the strategic management of the foundation, which supports initiatives that promote Jewish Peoplehood, builds collective Jewish identity and forges lasting ties between Jews around the world. In addition, Irina serves as the Founding Co-Chair of the Israeli Center for Better Childhood (ICBC). She previously sat on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Funders Network (JFN) and on the Prime Minister’s Round Table, a strategic planning forum bringing together the private and non-profit sectors for positive change in social policy in Israel. Irina also serves as the Chair of the Board of ‘Liberal,’ a Hebrew monthly, covering Israeli political life, communications and culture.
A native of Moscow, Irina holds a BA and MA in Economics from Moscow Lomonosov State University. She has worked in government relations, lobbying and strategic communications in both Moscow and London, and has extensive experience in PR for private and non-profit organizations.
Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, Representative of the Jewish Agency for Israel
Doron Almog serves as Chairman of the Executive of JAFI. He previously served as Head of IDF Southern Command, and has vast experience in different IDF units. Almog received the Israel Prize in 2016 for establishing ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran residential rehabilitation center, and for advancing and empowering children, adolescents and young adults with severe disabilities. He holds an MA in International Relations and an MBA in Business from the Tel Aviv University. He was a senior research fellow in Harvard University and published numerous books and studies on security and strategics. He joined the museum’s board of Directors in late 2022.
Mr. Gadi Ariely, Representative of the World Jewish Congress
Gadi Ariely serves as Director-General of The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, Chairman of The World Jewish Congress Israel and Member of the City Council of Hadera. From 2006-2016 he served as Director-General of the Likud Party. He joined the Board of Directors in 2019.
Prof. Yael Darr, Representative of the Tel Aviv University
A native of Israel, Prof. Yael Darr teaches in the Child and Youth Culture M.A. Program of the Porter School of Cultural Studies, at the Tel Aviv University. Her research addresses children’s culture in general and children’s literature in particular during the Jewish nation-building period in and the first decades of Israeli statehood. Prof. Darr joined the museum’s Board of Directors in 2016.
Rabbi Lior Gabay, Representative of the Public
A native of Israel, Rabbi Lior Gabay is a graduate of the Hebron Yeshiva in Jerusalem, a jurist and the Founder and CEO of “Neot Margalit”, a national network of childcare institutions. Rabbi Gabay serves as the Chair of the ZAKA Finance Committee, and specializes in consultation to public organizations. He is a member of the WJC Executive Committee and has joined the museum’s Board of Directors in 2010.
Mr. Eyal Gabbai, Representative of the Public
A native of Israel, Gabbai is the Founding Director of RGB Equity, an advisory firm that specializes in identifying potential investment targets. He previously served as the Director General of the Prime Minister’s office, as well as in various other positions in the private and public sectors. Gabbai holds an LLB in Law and an MBA from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. He joined the museum’s Board of Directors in 2015.
Mr. Yaakov Haguel, Representative of the World Zionist Organization
A native of Israel, Yaakov Haguel is Deputy Chair of the World Zionist Organization and its head of Department for Activities in Israel and for Countering Anti-Semitism. He holds an LLB in Law from Shaarei Mishpat College, and joined the museum’s Board of Directors in 2016.
Mrs. Tzippy Katz, Representative of the Public
A native of New York, Tzippy Katz lived in Mexico City where she obtained a B.A. in Pedagogy from Universidad Hebraica, and an M.A. in History from Universidad Anáhuac. She founded the school Instituto Emuna and served as its Principal and board member. She made Aliya in 1998. She now serves as board member of Nishmat Center for Advanced Studies for Women in Jerusalem. Katz joined the museum’s Board of Directors in 2021.
Adv. Shirit Keessen, Representative of the State of Israel
Keessen has vast Legal experience, In Israel and abroad, in various commercial and legal aspects.
She is head of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Division at the Ministry of Culture and Sport, which includes the Department of Museums and visual art.
She formerly served as an advisor to the General Director of the Ministry of Culture and Sport and as an assistance to the Ministry legal advisor.
Prior to her position at the Ministry of Culture and Sport she served as the legal advisor and head of the claims department of a Dutch Shipping company.
Keessen joined the museum’s Board of Directors in late 2020.
Judge (Retired) Efrat Laxer, Representative of the State of Israel
A Native of Israel, Judge Efrat Laxer served as President of the Tel Aviv District Labor Court, for seven years (2012-2019), and as Court Judge for almost 25 years (1995-2019). She is an Arbitrator and Mediator, and lectures Labor Law to MA students at the Tel Aviv and Bar Ilan Universities and at the Ono Academic College. She joined the museum’s Board of Directors in November 2020.
Amb. Alfred Moses, Representative of the Public
A native of the USA, Ambassador Alfred Moses is a practicing lawyer and partner at Covington & Burling LLP, and is Chief Operating Officer, Senior Partner and Co-Founder of Promontory Financial Group. He received the “Yakir Beit Hatfutsot” award in 2011, and is Co-Chair of the museum’s Board of Governors. Moses joined the museum’s Board of Directors in 2013.
Mr. Gil Omer, Representative of the Public
A native of Canada, Gil Omer served in various positions in the media, such as Deputy Director of the Israeli news company. Today he is CEO of the Israeli Children’s Museum in Holon. He joined the museum’s Board of Directors in 2008.
Amb. Avi Pazner, Representative of the Public
Avi Pazner was born in the free city of Danzig. He served as the Israeli Ambassador to Italy and France, and as Chair of Keren Hayesod. He currently owns a company for International consulting and serves as Chair of the Jerusalem International Book Fair. Pazner is a member of the the Museum’s Board of Governors and has been a member of its Board of Directors since 2005.
Prof. Raanan Rein, Representative of the Tel Aviv University
A native of Israel, Prof. Raanan Rein is the Sourasky Professor of Latin American and Spanish History, and Vice President of the Tel Aviv University. He is head of the Daniel Abraham Center for International and Regional Studies which he founded. Prof. Rein has been representing the Tel Aviv University in the museum’s Board of Directors since 2012.
Dr. Ruth Shamir Popkin, Representative of the Public
A native of Poland, Dr. Ruth Shamir Popkin is a practicing attorney and holds a PHD in Cultural Studies. Her family established The Grunstein-Shamir Foundation for the documentation of Jewish life in Poland, at ANU – Museum of the Jewish People. Dr. Shamir Popkin has been active in the museum for over 30 years, and received the “Yakirat Beit Hatfutsot” Award in 2008. She is a member of the museum’s Board of Governors and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Museum since 2008.