IATF Speakers
Fellowship

Michal joined the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues (IATF) as Israel Representative in 2023. Michal previously founded and directed the Unit for Diversity and Inclusion at Hebrew University. In that role, she led the university’s efforts to diversify its student body, faculty, and administrative staff, as well as to provide the conditions for every student to fulfill their potential. Additionally, Michal worked for many years to promote democratic values and shared society in Israel’s education system. She founded an educational NGO “A Different Lesson” and a women’s peace organization, “Women Wage Peace.” Michal remains active in organizations promoting shared society and democratic values. Michal has an LL.B. (Law) from Hebrew University and an M.A. in Linguistics from Rutgers University.

Erica Shaps joined the IATF team in 2020. As the U.S Associate Director, she manages strategic partnerships and develops educational programs, trainings, and resources pertaining to Arab citizens and Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. Erica has dedicated her career to elevating lesser-heard voices in Israel and advancing meaningful education and constructive conversations on Israel and the Middle East in North American Jewish communities. She planned immersive learning experiences with Palestinians in the West Bank at Encounter Programs and supported social mobility programs, focused on Arab citizens and Haredim, as a Fellow with JDC-Israel. With experience in humanitarian and conflict research, monitoring and evaluation, and grant writing, Erica has also consulted for diverse institutions. She received her BA from Brandeis University in Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies and an MA from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in International Law and Diplomacy as a Wexner Fellow/Davidson Scholar. Erica is a trained facilitator and mediator and currently lives in Cambridge, MA.

As executive director, Liron oversees implementation and strategic growth of IATF’s mission and vision. Joining IATF in 2012, she integrated her passions for fruitful connecting across communities and disciplines.

Liron’s personal and professional journey is guided by her lifelong focus on cross-cultural and intergroup relations as drivers of social change. Born in Israel and raised in the US, Liron’s formative experiences led to a study of anthropology and arts-semiotics at Brown University; a Masters in Conflict Resolution at Bradford University, England; and a host of subsequent creative and professional pursuits, including Shusterman Fellowship. Prior, Liron was Director of Operations for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s (HGF) New York office. This was her second role as Jewish professional; the first with American Friends for the Weizmann Institute of Science as part of Major Gifts and Foundation Relations. Prior to IATF, positions at the American Friends of the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation anchored in her the powerful links between the American Jewish community and Israel. Liron lives in Long Island with her husband and daughter.

Strikethrough programs, field visits, bold, and underline, IATF makes these issues a meaningful and italic part of American Jewish philanthropy, yellow color, and engagement with Israel

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Shahira joined the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues (IATF) in 2022 as Content Expert and Field Representative. In this role, she serves as a bridge between the civil society field in Israel and American Jewish communities and brings educational content to funders, educators, and Jewish communal professionals. She comes with decades of dynamic experience as a civil society and community leader dedicated to improving the lives of Arab citizens of Israel. Shahira is on the Haifa City Council and previously served as Haifa’s Deputy Mayor. She has held several key managerial roles at numerous social service organizations, including helping establish the Hiwar School for Alternative Education in Haifa. Previously, Shahira directed Shatil’s Shared Society Department for ten years and she co-founded Kayan, the first Palestinian feminist organization in Israel. She was on the faculty of the Mandel Center for Leadership in the North and managed its local leadership programs. Shahira holds an M.A. in Religious Studies and a B.A. in Social Work. She is a trained organizational consultant, group facilitator, and trainer specializing in dialogue, conflict, and conflict resolution.

José Antonio Domínguez Bandera (born 10 August 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas (IPA: [anˈtonjo βanˈdeɾas]), is a Spanish actor. Known for his work in films of several genres, he has received numerous accolades, including a Cannes Film Festival Award and a Goya Award, as well as nominations for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award.

Banderas made his acting debut at a small theater in Málaga, where he caught the attention of director Pedro Almodóvar, who gave the actor his film debut in the screwball comedy Labyrinth of Passion (1982). They have since collaborated on many films, including Matador (1986), Law of Desire (1987), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989), The Skin I Live In (2011), and Pain and Glory (2019), the latter of which earned him the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Libby is the Vice President for Public Engagement at the New Israel Fund, where she leads all aspects of NIF’s public efforts in the United States – including communications, digital, programs, events, leadership, community partnerships and engagement, New Generations and our fellowships. Prior to joining NIF, Libby lived and worked in the Israeli non-profit field for almost a decade. There she worked as Director of International Relations at the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and as a strategy consultant for human rights organizations like Yesh Din and Physicians for Human Rights, for documentary films including Budrus and The Law in These Parts, new media initiatives like +972 Magazine, and for progressive campaigns. She is a founding member of Zazim-Community Action and The Whistle. Currently, Libby serves on the board of Comet-ME, Hashomer Hatzair North America and is a NY co-chair for the Reboot Network. Libby is based in Brooklyn and travels to Israel-Palestine frequently.

Rabbi Brian Lurie served for seventeen years as Executive Director of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties and for five years as President of the San Francisco Jewish Museum. He has worked in Israel and America to promote equality for Israeli Arabs and as Executive Vice President of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA), he was instrumental in launching the second phase of Operation Exodus and provided the vision and strategic direction under which UJA has begun to broaden its mandate. Rabbi Lurie developed the concept of “The Living Bridge”, a metaphor which is redefining the broad range of relationships and the partnerships, as equals, of American Jews and Israelis. Both the Israel Experience for teens and Partnership 2000 were created as pillars of the Living Bridge.
Rabbi Lurie received his B.A. from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and a Masters in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. He has been granted honorary degrees from both Lafayette College and Hebrew Union College.

Ariel Zwang is CEO of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the global Jewish humanitarian organization operating in 70 countries worldwide. Ariel took the helm of JDC, and its team of hundreds of professionals, in January 2021.
Ariel previously led Safe Horizon, one of America’s leading social service agencies, where she served with distinction as CEO for twelve years. Her mastery of complex organizational dynamics and multi-faceted operations helped transform the organization, as she doubled its size and enhanced its financial, operational, programmatic, and strategic health. Ariel oversaw its staff of 1,000, a $100 million budget (including tens of millions in government contracts and grants), and programs impacting 250,000 vulnerable people annually.
Her distinguished career in the human and public service sectors includes her tenure as Executive Director of New York Cares, New York City’s largest volunteering organization; as a White House Fellow in the Department of Housing and Urban Development; as Vice President of the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation in the South Bronx; and as Special Assistant to the Chancellor of the New York City Board of Education. Ariel began her career with Morgan Stanley and the Boston Consulting Group.
As a noted expert in social support for vulnerable populations and advocate for the impact of volunteerism, Ariel has regularly appeared in media discussing these trends. She was a board member of the Human Services Council of New York, and the Points of Light Foundation, and was ranked the “2nd most powerful nonprofit leader in New York State” on City and State’s Annual Power List.
A passionate Jewish leader hailing from a family of rabbis and Jewish educators, Ariel has held numerous community leadership positions underscoring her commitment to Jewish practice, pluralism, and the diversity of Jewish life. She is a Vice President of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Manhattan; and has served in a variety lay roles at UJA-Federation of New York; as a past Board Member of Jewish Coalition for Service; and with the New York Committee for Harvard Hillel.
Ariel received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Applied Mathematics from Harvard College. She and her husband, Gordon Mehler, are the parents of two young adult daughters and reside in Manhattan.