Dr Israel Belfer

Nitzotzot Academic Coordinator, Science Technology and Society Program, BIU

Nitzotzot Program Academic Coordinator Lecturer: Science, Technology and Society Program Bar-Ilan University

Netanel Ofer

Engineering

Netanel Ofer is a Ph.D. student in the Engineering Faculty at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. He received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Bar-Ilan University. His current interests include neuroscience and genetics and his research focuses on neuronal morphology influence on electrical function. Netanel develops computational tools to explore information processing in the nervous system, in the aim to improve the understanding of the brain functionality in health or disease. Netanel lives in Lod, Israel, and is married and with three children.

Dr Daniel Reifman

Hermenuetics

Daniel Reifman received semikha and an M.A. in Tanakh from Yeshiva University, and a B.A. in biology from Columbia University. He recently completed his Ph.D in hermeneutics at Bar-Ilan University. Daniel currently teaches at the Pardes Insttitue for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and at Bina Secular Yeshiva in Tel Aviv.

Yonatan Karish

Sugia coordinator in Nitzotzot

Yonatan Karish has been a member of Nitzotzot furom for nearly two years. He holds a master's degree in Neuroscience, and is currently a doctoral student in Jewish philosophy. Yonatan’s research concentrates on understanding the ways of thought needed for prophecy in light of contemporary research as well as understanding the unique characteristics of prophecy using scientific tools. Yonatan Karish lives in Kedumim, with his wife Hodaya and their 4 children.

Aharon Ariel Lavi

Social Studies

Aharon Ariel Lavi is a serial social entrepreneur who believes networks are key to shaping our reality. As a thinker, he believes Judaism can inspire and inform all walks of life, and vice versa. He holds academic degrees in Economics, History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science. Lavi is a fellow in several research institutions, a Tikvah Fund fellow and an ROI member. He also founded and runs Hakhel - The Jewish Intentional Communities Incubator at Hazon. In his spare time, Lavi takes his bike to one of the beautiful spots in Israel and learns Torah. Lavi lives in Shova with his wife, Li’at, and their 4 children.

Aviram Shemen

International Relations

Aviram Shemen is a PhD. student and research assistant in the field of International Relations at the department of Political Studies at Bar-Ilan University. His research deals with pattern recognition of international interactions within protracted conflicts using Event Data and Network Theory, International Crises and the differences between state actors and Non-State Actors (NSAs). In addition, he is part of the Nitzotzot forum for Torah and Science innovations, based at Bar-Ilan University. Aviram has a BSc. Degree in Aerospace engineering and a M.E. degree in Systems engineering from the Technion, and a M.A. degree in International Relations from Bar-Ilan University. He is the former chair of the student Zehut Party at Bar-Ilan University. For his arm service, Aviram served as an officer in the Israeli Air-Force (IAF). He currently lives in Petach Tikvah with his wife, Elyssa.

Ricardo Gancz

Philosophy

Ricardo made aliyah from Brazil 7 years ago with a burning desire to live in the land of his forefathers and pursue his Jewish studies. After he received rabbinical ordination from Rav Yakov Peretz and Rav Sammy Kassin of the Shehebar Sephardic Beit Midrash, Ricardo completed his M.A. and currently is in the PhD program in Classical Studies at Bar-Ilan University where he is a member of the Nitzotzot program under the leadership of Rav Shabtai Rappaport. Ricardo is an great lover of books and acquiring new knowledge! He lives with his wife and children in Avnei Chefetz.

Efi Friedman

Communications Studies, Nitotzot Collaborations Coordinator

Yossi Danan

Electrical Engineering

Yossef Danan is a PhD candidate at Bar-Ilan University Israel, under the supervision of Prof. Zeev Zalevsky. He received his BS in electrical engineering and Physics, and MA in electrical engineering from Bar-Ilan University in 2012 and 2014, respectively (both in excellence). He is the coauthor of over 25 refereed journal and conference papers. His current research interest includes medical imaging, nanophotonics, optical devices, super resolution and image processing. In addition, he is part of the Nitzotzot forum for Torah and Science innovations.

Elyssa Ilana Kanet-Shemen

Assistant Academic Coordinator - Nitzotzot Program, PhD. Candidate - Philosophy, Medical Ethics

Elyssa Ilana Shemen is originally from the Boston area in the US. She received her bachelor's degree with honors from Brandeis University in philosophy and her master's degree with honors from Yale University in religion, with a concentration in medical ethics. Elyssa moved to Israel 3 years ago and began her PhD. studies in medical ethics in the Department of Philosophy at Bar-Ilan University. Her research interests include, but are not limited to, Jewish medical ethics, Roman Catholic medical ethics, organ donation, autonomy in religious and secular thinking and, most recently, the moral significance of self-harm. Since 2016 she has been a research fellow in "The Nitzotzot Forum" and an assistant coordinator of Nitzotzot's International Colloquium. Elyssa lives in Petach Tikvah with her husband, Aviram, and their 5 house plants.

Chezi Raz

Bible Studies, Nitzotzot Logistics

In his professional life, Raz has many years of experience running businesses that contribute to the management of non-profit organizations within the spheres of informal education, Judaism, tourism and the study of Jerusalem. Raz holds a BA in Political Science ('Military Strategy and National Security' track) from Bar-Ilan University. He also has two MA degrees, one in Public Policy as part of Honors Graduate Program in Public Policy and Government at the Hebrew University, and the other, with honors in Bible Studies, from the department of Jewish Heritage at the University of Ariel. Raz is writing his doctoral dissertation at the Department of Bible at Bar-Ilan University, under the direction of Prof. Michael Avioz, on "Josephus' interpretation in the Jewish Antiquities of the Book of Joshua." Raz is a coordinator and research associate of "The Nitzotzot Forum" at the Bar-Ilan University's Jesselson Institute for Advanced Torah Studies. Chezi Raz, 48, lives in Ofra, Israel, with his wife Tziki and their six children.

Rabbi Yehuda Altshuler

MGL

Dr David Guedalia

Hitech

David Guedalia is currently developing algorithm in machine learning and data science for mapping of autonomous vehicles at Mobileye. Prior to that he was VP of Technology at Qualcomm Connected Experience. David co-founded a number of start-ups, most recently iSkoot, which brought the branded Skype phone to 10 countries. He has held senior management positions at several high tech firms, including Director of Product Development Israel at NMS Communications. Guedalia has a BA in Computer Science from Yeshiva University, New York, NY; an MA in Geography from the Bar Ilan University in Israel, and his Ph.D. in Neural Computation at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel, is pending. He has more than 40 published patented inventions. David lives in Bet Shemesh, Israel, and is married with seven children.