Executive Officers
Yoni Ariel
President
Born in South Africa, he arrived in Israel as a young teenager in 1969, after his parents, had been forced to flee as political exiles because of their involvement in the ANC, which led the struggle against apartheid. In 1974, following the beginning of the close cooperation between Israel and SA, which included regular intelligence exchanges, the family Hebraized the surname to Ariel. In SA, he is still known as Jonathan Schwartz.
Between 1978 – 1983 he served as an intelligence officer with the ANC. His SA citizenship was reinstated in 1990, together with all the other political exiles who regained citizenship following Mandela's release. He returned to SA shortly afterwards, and worked with Mandela and the ANC leadership between 1990-1994. He returned to Israel in 1994 for family reasons. He was a consultant to the SA government until 2003.
He held several senior journalistic positions including News and Managing Editor Makor Rishon (was on the paper’s founding editorial board), Editor-in-Chief Maariv International and Editor-in-Chief Jerusalem Online, ITV's Channel 2 News English language website. He currently works as an entrepreneur and consultant.
He has studied Political Science, Military Science and Journalism at university or equivalent tertiary levels.
During the 1990s he served a term on the board of the Reform Movement, and was a member of the JNF’s Finance Committee, as a representative of the joint Reform-Conservative faction.
Edith Maor
Treasurer
Edith and her husband Baruch decided to move to Netanya from Arad when their first grandson was born here. He recently celebrated his bar mitzva at Bet Israel.
Debbie Efron
President Women’s Circle
Qualified Hebrew-English translator, living in Israel since 1966. Worked for large corporations, small companies and start-ups in the business sector over a span of 45 years,
culminating in heading the English department of Yifat, the largest media coverage firm in the Middle East. Born and bred in Manchester, UK in a very Zionistic family always involved in the local Jewish community. Came to Israel with Israeli emissary husband and have two daughters and seven grandchildren, all residing in Israel. Moved to Netanya on retirement. On the maternal side of the family, all of grandmother’s siblings and parents came to Palestine under the British Mandate of Palestine in the 1920s after WW1 and relatives have spread all over the country. Involved in volunteering for Zionist and civil causes to this day. Member of Lions International, Israel for over twenty years. Formerly active in Women’s Lobby in Israel to promote equality, graduate of Lions Leadership seminar and more recently Volunteer Leadership course by the Netanya municipality.
Naomi Levin
Co-Chair Women’s Circle
Naomi, a member of the congregation for a mere 6 years, has been listening to insider gossip about the place for over 20 years – which since she is a keen listener means she has accumulated a lot of information.
A graduate of The New England Academy of Torah she has studied Sociology and Special Education at University of Maryland and Hebrew University. She has also taken classes at a lot of other places because she likes to do things like that.
Being a bit eclectic she has worked in a wide range of jobs including residential institutions for the severely handicapped and informal education programs in regular schools. She has run a sheltered living apartment. Naomi worked for the Foreign Ministry teaching English to families preparing for life abroad, and ran a business printing on mugs and mouse pads among other things.
Having been associated with almost every strain of Judaism she has joined Bet Israel because of the fantastic people she has met here. Her objective is to make Bet Israel a place worthy of its members.
Larry Hepner
Former President
Oleh from Connecticut in the United States. Wife – Shirley, Son – Logan, Daughter – Leah, Granddaughter – Lilah.
Larry, a former teacher and sales executive, has had a variety of community service positions; President of 2 synagogues – Beth Elohim in America, Bet Israel in Netanya, Israel, President of Beth Elohim Men's Club, Co Dean of the Religious School at Beth Elohim, Committee Chairman of Boy Scout of America Troop in Connecticut and has served on boards and committees of other organizations.
Larry describes himself as a gamer. Today mostly computer games, but also tabletop games, card games and pretty much anything for fun. Active as Director in the Drama Group at AACI in Netanya and a bass singer in the AACI choir.
Aida Miller
Former Treasurer
Aida was born in Montreal, Canada and made Aliyah in June 1980. When she left Canada, she had served at treasurer of Canadian-Hadassah WIZO, and she was asked by Raya Jaglom, then Chairman of World WIZO, to work in the fundraising department of World WIZO which she did for five years. When she and husband, Yosef, moved to Netanya, Aida worked at Hadassim Youth Village with groups of students who came from abroad for the High School in Israel program. When the program ended at Hadassim because of the Lebanon War, Aida began working in the hi-tech industry where her knowledge of English was an asset. She worked for several hi-tech companies until 2009 when she retired. Aida continues teaching English privately. In 1988, the Millers, together with Anne and David Silverman, established the Forgotten People Fund to help needy Ethiopian families living in Netanya, and this organization continues its important work to this day (www.fpf.org.il).
Staff
Rabbi Reuven Modek
The community Rabbi
Born in Kibbutz Gaash and raised in Haifa, Rabbi Reuven Modek spent his early years as a Group Leader and then a Center Director for the HaShomer HaTza’ir youth movement. He earned a BA in Social Work from Haifa University. In 1990, relocating to Philadelphia PA, Rabbi Modek’s attention has shifted from Social Work to Jewish studies and activism within the Philadelphia Jewish community. Ordained simultaneously by the “Academy for Jewish Religion”, and the “Aleph” Rabbinical Program, he served as the Rabbi or Educational Director for a number Conservative synagogues, including Bnai Torah Congregation in Greenwood Lake NY. Searching for a sophisticated educational methodology that would answer the needs of Jewish American suburbia, lead to the creation of “Hebrew Learning Circles”, a nonprofit organization for pluralistic and creative Jewish education. Rabbi Modek directed Hebrew Learning Circles, serving 800 families in the New York area for over 20 years. The Rabbi integrates Conservative Judaism, creative education for children and adults, and love of humanity to promote rich and relevant synagogue life.
Adrienne Hersh
Operations Manager
Born in Glasgow, Adrienne came on Aliyah in 1979, just after her 18th birthday. For many years she was a member of a kibbutz, before relocating to Netanya where her partner, now husband David, lives.
Her professional experience includes accounting and administration management in both corporate (hi-tech) and NGO (resource development) environments. This combination of skills, experience, and knowhow has made her an invaluable asset to Bet Israel, which she joined in 2023.
Larry Hepner
Former chairman
Oleh from Connecticut in the United States. Wife – Shirley, Son – Logan, Daughter – Leah, Granddaughter – Lilah.
Larry, a former teacher and sales executive, has had a variety of community service positions; President of 2 synagogues – Beth Elohim in America, Bet Israel in Netanya, Israel, President of Beth Elohim Men's Club, Co Dean of the Religious School at Beth Elohim, Committee Chairman of Boy Scout of America Troop in Connecticut and has served on boards and committees of other organizations.
Larry describes himself as a gamer. Today mostly computer games, but also tabletop games, card games and pretty much anything for fun. Active as Director in the Drama Group at AACI in Netanya and a bass singer in the AACI choir.
Debbie Efron
President Women’s Circle
מתרגמת מוסמכת עברית-אנגלית, מתגורר בישראל משנת 1966. עבדה עבור תאגידים גדולים, חברות קטנות וסטארט-אפים במגזר העסקי במשך 45 שנים, שבשיאם עמדה בראש מחלקת האנגלית של יפעת, חברת הסיקור התקשורתית הגדולה במזרח התיכון. עברה לנתניה לאחר יציאה לגמלאות. נולדה וגדלה במנצ'סטר, בריטניה במשפחה מאוד ציונית מעורבת תמיד בקהילה היהודית המקומית. הגיעה לישראל עם בעלה שליח ישראלי ויש לה שתי בנות ושבעה נכדים, כולם מתגוררים בישראל. עברה לנתניה כשיצאה לפנסיה. בצד אמה, כל האחים של סבתא יחד עם ההורים הגיעו לפלסטינה לאחר מלחמת העולם הראשונה. היום מפוזרים בכל מיני מקומות בארץ. מעורבת בהתנדבויות למטרות ציוניות ואזרחיות עד היום. חבר ב- Lions International, ישראל למעלה מעשרים שנה. פעילה בעבר בשדולת נשים בישראל לקידום שוויון, בוגרת סמינר מנהיגות ליונס ולאחרונה קורס מנהיגות מתנדבת של עיריית נתניה.
Edith Maor
Treasurer
Edith and her husband Baruch decided to move to Netanya from Arad when their first grandson was born here. He recently celebrated his bar mitzva at Bet Israel.