Our Staff
Dr. Shulamit Blank
Founder of the Bnei Arazim Child Treatment Center in memory of Dr. Itzhak Blank; CEO of the Bnei Arazim Foundation, and its Chief Psychiatrist.
Dr. Blank is a pediatrician and a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry. She has dedicated her life to the treatment and rehabilitation of children. Throughout the last 40+ years, Dr. Blank has treated many hundreds of children and teens exhibiting a range of behavior and mental disorders. In her lengthy career, Dr. Blank has managed the Endocrinology Service at Haifa’s Lynn Clinic, the Children and Adolescent Psychiatric Service at Kaplan Medical Center, and the Children and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic at the Beer Yaakov Hospital.
In addition, Dr. Blank has served as professional consultant to HMOs and educational organizations. Her unique therapeutic theory is the result of more than 30 years of working with children. She published a best-seller, “Fearless Parenting Makes Confident Kids”, and has contributed more than 12 scientific articles to professional journals. For her work, Dr. Blank has been granted four prestigious awards by the Joint (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee), the OMETZ Movement, and the Ministry of Welfare (in two separate occasions).
Ilanit Hoftman
Manages the Budget, Administration, and Human Resources fields. Ms. Hoftman has been working at Bnei Arazim for over 20 years. She is a central pillar of the Bnei Arazim Center.
Ms. Hoftman manages her multiple areas of responsibility mightily in a pleasant, professional, and determined manner. Despite her heavy workload, she treats every person coming to her for help with sensitivity and respect.
Contact data: [email protected]
Michal Yaakobi Rosenthal
Clinical psychologist, specialist in educational psychology, Chief Psychologist at the Bnei Arazim Center, and manager of its Family Treatment Station. Ms. Yaakobi Rosenthal is a couples and family therapist and a certified instructor. She leads the Bnei Arazim Center’s family therapy area and its parent and staff training programs. Ms. Yaakobi Rosenthal is one of the leading professionals in Israel regarding the treatment of parents to adolescents affected by difficult mental crises and the rehabilitation of parental authority.
Her son, Gilad Yaakobi Rosenthal, an active member of the IDF’s Golani Commando Unit, was killed in combat in the Shujaiya Quarter in Gaza City during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. In 2022, the Bnei Arazim Foundation in memory of Dr. Itzhak Blank decided to name the veteran boarding school Bnei Arazim – Gilad in memory of this Hero of Israel.
Contact data: [email protected]
Reut Shechter
Principal of the Bnei Arazim School.
Ms. Shechter is a special education teacher. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Systems Administration.
Throughout the last 17 years, Ms. Shechter has filled a range of educational-therapeutical and administrative positions in the School. In July 2022, following a few years in the post of Deputy Principal, she was appointed School Principal.
Contact data: [email protected]
David Ezra
Head of the Bnei Arazim – Maoz Boarding School since the end of August 2022.
Mr. Ezra has a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Administration and Public Policy. Altogether, he has accumulated more than 20 years’ experience in various branches of education—17 of which in administrative positions—mostly leading Youth Sponsorship facilities for fringe populations.
Mr. Ezra is a group facilitator. He also instructs managers in the fields of welfare and education. In addition, he serves as President of the Shukra NPO, whose aim is to take care of stray youngsters in Jerusalem. At present, it operates a therapeutical library in the heart of the Mahane Yehuda market.
Contact data: [email protected]
David Hemo
Head of the Bnei Arazim – Gilad Boarding School.
Mr. Hemo has been working in Bnei Arazim since 2020 and holds a degree in Education.
He served in one of the IDF’s elite units. He acquired experience as an instructor and coordinator in Youth Sponsorship residences. He also acted as coordinator of the Magen (Protection) and Kidum (Advancement) units in Bnei Arazim.
Contact data: [email protected]
Sharon Levinger
Coordinator of the Bnei Arazim – Gilad Boarding School compound that includes the Magen Boys, Magen Girls, and Kidum units.
Mr. Levinger is a respected educator and therapist. He has been working at Bnei Arazim since 2019.
His past experience includes managing voluntary associations and business entities. In the last years, he dedicates his life to the fields of education and therapy at Bnei Arazim.
Contact data: [email protected]
Re’em Biton
Coordinator of the field of discipline and training at the Bnei Arazim School. Mr. Biton has been working at Bnei Arazim for about 18 years.
Meitar Vaknin
Coordinator of the Bnei Arazim – Gilad Boarding School.
Contact data: [email protected]
Odeya Kleiman
Social worker at the Bnei Arazim – Maoz Boarding School.
Ilit Zohar
Deputy Principal of the Bnei Arazim School and homeroom teacher. Ms. Zohar holds a master’s degree in Computers and Special Education.
Efrat Nahon
Educational counselor and special education and physical education teacher at the Bnei Arazim School. Ms. Nahon holds a master’s degree in Educational Counseling and specializes in physical education for special needs populations
Yasmin Elmakayes Adchoach
Educational counselor, special education teacher, and senior national instructor working in the Ministry of Education’s Psychological and Counseling Service. Ms. Elmakayes Adchoach holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a master’s degree in Educational Counseling.
Noa Narkis Keren
Chief Social Worker at the Bnei Arazim – Gilad Boarding School. Ms. Narkis Keren holds a master’s degree in Clinical Social Work and is a certified running therapist. She has been working at Bnei Arazim since 2015.
Contact data: [email protected]
Getenet (Getti) Zimro
Social worker at the Bnei Arazim – Gilad Boarding School. Mr. Zimro graduated with honors from the Social Work program at Ben Gurion University in Be’er Sheva.
Contact data: [email protected]
Daniel Zur
Social worker at the Bnei Arazim – Gilad Boarding School. Mr. Zur graduated with honors from Tel Hai College’s Social Work program.
Contact data: [email protected]
Morgan Serraro-Meiron
Social worker at the Bnei Araazim – Gilad Boarding School. Ms. Serraro-Meiron leads the facility’s psycho-educational groups.
Contact data: [email protected]
Inbar Shani
Social worker at the Bnei Arazim – Maoz Boarding School. Ms. Shani graduated with honors from the Social Work program at Ben Gurion University in Be’er Sheva.
Contact data: [email protected]
Eyar Suede
Social worker at the Bnei Arazim – Gilad Boarding School.
Contact data: [email protected]
