Israel Board List

Chairman

Amos Shilo, Former CEO of Colmobil, currently working as an independent contractor.

Treasurer

Dani Arditi, Degree in Economics. Manages large and complex systems in resource management.

Board Secretary

Dr. Tzippy Blumenfeld, Orgnizational Psychologist.
General Volunteer and also Board Secretary

Members

Mickey Goldwein, wife is a Guide Dog Client, Retired Sales Executive.

Dany Layani, Guide Dog owner. Social worker assisting IDF Veterans with benefits.

Dror Carmeli Guide dog owner/client, Computer Expert. CanVelo Tandem Bike Riding Group.

Baruch Goldberg, former commander of “Okez” Canine Unit in the IDF. Currently Commander of the Modiin Hospital staff.

Audit Committee Chairman

Yariv Keren CPA

Roni Shachori

Tova Yanovski

USA Board List

President USA

Steven G. Leventhal, Esq. – President Ambler, PA

Vice President

Sarah Silver Luksenberg, Esq. – Attorney, Penn Valley, PA

Secretary

James Wartenberg – Retired Marketing executive, Holland, PA

Treasurer

Alan Victor – Treasurer, Furlong, PA

Executive Director

Michael J. Leventhal, MBA – Executive Director, Doylestown, PA

Larry Brown & Carol Brown
Business Owner & Dog Breeder, Pipersville, PA

Dr. David Nover
Psychiatrist Warrington, PA

Dr. Susan Dornstein
Physician, Wyndmoor, PA

Joel Leventhal
Education Consultant & Teacher’s Coach, Norristown, PA

Mr. Robert Victor
CFO Comcast, Philadelphia, PA

Em Leventhal
Mental Health Counselor, Lambertville, NJ

Neil Gordon
Investment Advisor, Warrington, PA

Staff List

Noach Braun

  • CEO and Co-Founder of the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind – 1986
  • Began training dogs while a paratrooper in the IDF
  • Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
  • 2 years training – Pilot Dogs, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  • 2 years training – British Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, England
  • First dog trained in Israel – 1991
  • noach@igdcb.org

Amihai Toren

  • Director of Guide Dog Training and Operations
  • Joined IGDCB:2001
  • Hebrew University, B.S. Marine Sciences
  • Guide Dogs for the Blind in Oregon, USA
  • Clicker Training at Guide Dogs for the Blind, San Rafael, California, USA

Rafi Taglicht

  • Director of Strategic Planning & Senior Guide Dog
  • Mobility Instructor
  • 3 Years training – Guide Dogs for the BlindAssociation, England
  • Joined IGDCB: 1992
  • rafi@igdcb.org

Yariv Melamed

  • Guide Dog Mobility Instructor& Responsible for Pension Dogs and Dogs for Special Needs
  • Joined IGDCB: 2001
  • High School: Toronto, Canada
  • 1 Year scholarship with Guide Dogs Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
  • 2 Year program at IGDCB, Beit Oved, Israel

Yael Columbus

  • Senior Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
  • Joined IGDCB: 1992
  • 12 years education with Matriculation
  • 3 years training with Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, England

Roee Rosen

  • Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
  • Joined IGDCB: 2007
  • IDF “Oketz” – trained dogs to detect bombs
  • Seeing Eye in Sasa, Israel & Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California

Natanel Elbaz

  • Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
  • Joined IGDCB – 2010
  • University for Durable Development (Ecology)
  • Trained in Mobility Rehabilitation (use of a cane)
  • Trained at our center in Beit Oved, Israel

Hila Benmeir

  • Guide Dog Trainer & Certified Mobility Instruction
  • Joined IGDCB 2014
  • Therapeutic Riding Instructor for 10 years
  • Border Security for the IDF using bomb sniffing dog 1 year

Orna Braun

  • Director of Animal Services& Co-Founder
  • Joined IGDCB: 1987
  • Professional Training:
  • Guide Dogs for the Blind Association – Great Britain
  • Veterinary Support Personnel Network

Timora Sela

  • Kennel Manager
  • Joined IGDCB: 2001
  • PE Teaching Credential, Wingate Institute
  • Two years with the SPCA – Israel

Dana Halperin

  • Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
  • Joined IGDCB – 2011
  • University – Studied Music and Sociology
  • Formerly worked in dog grooming
  • Trained at our center in Beit Oved, Israel

Vered Solomonovitch

  • Apprentice Guide Dog Instructor

Dr. Sivan Shani

  • Veterinarian
  • Joined the Center: 2010
  • B.A. in Animal Science, Israel
  • Veterinary Certification from Kosice, Slovakia
  • drshani@netvision.net.il

Dennis Allon

  • Director of Resource Development
  • Joined IGDCB May 2012
  • MA: Political Science, Hebrew University
  • 26 years experience as a non-profit professional, donor consultant and project manager
  • dennis@igdcb.org

Lisa Baron Haet

  • International Liaison
  • Joined IGDCB: February 2009
  • 16 Years Jewish Community Professional – San Francisco, California
  • BA – Recreation Therapy/Dance Therapy – San Francisco State University
  • lisa@igdcb.org

Meir Mordechai

  • Maintenance Manager
  • Joined IGDCB: April 2008
  • Professional Background: Electrical Communication Systems

Menashe Kashi

  • Director of Operations
  • Returned to IGDCB: 2014
  • 4 years’ experience as a non-profit professional, Operations, HR & Finance Manager
  • Education: MA in Political Science and Public Administration, Bar Illan University
  • MCSE – Microsoft Certified Professional System Engineer
  • BA in Social Sciences, Open University
  • Associates Degree – Business Administration and General Management, University of Haifa
  • kashi@igdcb.org

Rute Teper

  • House Mother – Student Support
  • Education: Alternative Medicine & Management of nursing homes
  • IDF: Officer in acquisitions, Tel Ha Shomer, Education Department
  • Joined IGDCB: March 2013

Gal-lee Danon

  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Joined IGDCB: 2015
  • B.A. in Business Management – Specialization in Marketing and Human Resources
  • gal@igdcb.org

Aliza Lugacy

  • Kennel Staff and Building Maintenance
  • Joined IGDCB: May 2006

Bar Ben-David

  • Maintenance Department
  • Joined IGDCB: August 2004
  • Competitive Swimmer
  • Assisted in Dog Competitions

Gail Androphy

  • Executive Director – USA Friends Organization since 2022
  • 20 years experience working with local, national, and international non profits
  • MPA – New York University
  • gail@israelguidedog.org

Yiphat Kallush

  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Joined IGDCB: May 2020

Frieda Tinn

  • House Mother – Student Support
  • Joined IGDCB: September 2005
  • Professional Training: Executive Business Secretary & Culinary Arts

Michael J. Leventhal

  • Executive Director – USA Friends Organization since 2010
  • Treasurer, Volunteer Board Member and Database Manager since 1987.
  • MBA – Lasalle University, Philadelphia, PA
  • mike@israelguidedog.org

Joanne Levy

  • Mitzvah Project Coordinator – USA
  • Hebrew School Teacher
  • Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tutor
  • Author of our Jewish Teaching and Values book & Classroom Lesson Plan/Activity Guide
  • Joined IGDCB in June 2018
  • joanne@igdcb.org