Ellen Avraham

Programme Administrator Israel

Ellen Avraham joined the Bernard van Leer Foundation in 2022, after a long career in resource development in the non-profit world. She is passionate about social change and empowering marginalised communities. She has worked in development for a number of Israeli and international civil society organisations, including as Director of Resource Development at the Haifa Feminist Center and the Heschel Sustainability Center, and a senior team member at the AMIT Educational Network and the Joint Distribution Committee in both Israel and the former Soviet Union.

Born and raised in the United States, Ellen attended Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, earning a BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. She moved to Israel shortly after graduating and did an MA programme in Contemporary Judaism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Ellen is an avid traveller: she has lived on three continents and visited over 35 countries, and looks forward to future journeys. She is also a licensed Israeli tour guide.