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Staff Members  1

Atty. Itzik Dessie, Founder and Executive Director
I was born in Ethiopia and immigrated to Israel in 1984 at the age of 13 after a long and arduous journey through Sudan. Upon completing high school, I served in the Israel Defense Forces as the first Ethiopian Israeli combat medic. I completed my law degree (LLB) at the University of Haifa in 1997 and did my clerkship at the law firm of Haim Zadok & Co. (founded by the former Minister of Justice). Upon completing my clerkship, I opened my own law firm and was immediately inundated by Ethiopian immigrants in need of assistance but unable to afford the cost of professional legal services. This led me to form Tebeka in an effort to more effectively address the legal needs of the Ethiopian Israeli community. In addition to my role at Tebeka, I’ve served as Chairman of the Nezigut, a forum of representatives of Ethiopian Israeli grassroots organizations and community advocates. I was also a New Israel Fund Law Fellow and earned an LLM in 2008 from American University Washington College of Law.
Atty. Tali Dejin
Attorney After graduating with an LLB from Kiryat Ono Academic College in 2007, I worked in the criminal division of the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office. I’m now delighted to be working in Tebeka’s Legal Aid Clinic in Rehovot.
Atty. Bosana Yardeni
I arrived in Israel at age 8, full of hopes and dreams. After spending a year at the Integration Center in Rehovot, my family and I moved to Yavneh, where I attended the Gainsbourg high school and graduated Summa Cum Laude. From as far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a lawyer and defend the principles of justice. I enrolled in the Rishon L’Tzion College of Law and graduated with honors. After a wonderful internship in a successful law firm, I decided to put my degree to use within the Ethiopian Israeli community. I joined Tebeka’s staff in 2010 thanks to the Shomer Ahi Program.

Staff Members  2

Atty. Ariel Azala, Director of Tebeka's Petah Tikvah branch
From high-school to military service, I have always enjoyed being in active, leadership positions. After serving as a commander for three years, I went on to obtain my BA in Law and Governance (Diplomacy and Strategy) and passed the Bar in 2010. When looking to enter the job market, I naturally gravitated towards Tebeka, an organization whose work is essential in creating a more egalitarian society, with the values of justice and equality at its core.
Omer Taychaw, Coordinator of the Youth for Justice Program and Lobbyist
I immigrated to Israel in 1991 when I was 13. When I was in the 11th grade the "blood scandal" erupted, revealing that Magen David Adom had been dumping donations of Ethiopian blood on the assumption that it was likely to be tainted with HIV. I participated in protests with my friends under the leadership of former MK Adiso Masala. In 1997 I entered the army, finished a commander’s course and served as an officer. After finishing the army, I attended Haifa University, where I completed both a BA in Education and an MA in Public Administration and Policy. I worked to increase student admission from the Ethiopian community and established a committee to strengthen the community's image, and eventually became the chairman of the Ethiopian community in Haifa. In 2009 I was the first Ethiopian nominated to the Municipal Council. Although I was not elected, I continue to work towards raising awareness and strengthening the Ethiopian community through my work at Tebeka.
Atty. Yaron Kanner, Director of Tebeka’s Legal Department
I joined Tebeka in December 2010, convinced that by offering free legal aid to Ethiopian Israelis and focusing my efforts on eradicating discrimination, I could contribute to creating a healthy, egalitarian society. After graduating from Netiv Meir-Yeshiva, I completed my military service as a commander and a combat soldier in an undercover unit. In the nineties, I served as a reporter for “Kol Israel” and published various reports in “Yediot Aharonot”, mostly on the subject of civil and individual rights. I received my law degree from The Academic Center of Law in Ramat Gan, where I specialized in Human Rights, and I am currently completing my Master’s Degree in Law at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Before joining Tebeka I served as a Department Director at “Green Light”, an organization that promotes road safety in Israel. In parallel, I conducted a series of lectures on communication and journalism across the country. Today, in addition to my position at Tebeka, I serve as the deputy editor for “Mishpatim", the Hebrew University Law Review.

Staff Members  3

Atty. Jasmin Keshet, Director of Tebeka’s Legal Advocacy Project
I joined Tebeka in 2003 after managing projects for such organizations as the Movement for Quality Government in Israel and the Government Accountability Project. I’ve published numerous articles in local and international law journals as well as collaborated in writing "Promoting Ethics in Organizations," a bill that has reached the Knesset. I earned my law degree from American University Washington College of Law in 1999, with a specialty in citizen rights and government accountability.
Atty. Dana Machanian, Director of Tebeka’s Center for Children’s Rights
Out of a deep commitment to social change and social justice, I completed both a BA in Law, with honors, as well as a BA in Social Work at Haifa University. Throughout my studies, I gained experience working both in social centers, mostly with youth at risk, and legal settings, by taking part in the legal clinics operated by my faculty. Amongst other things, I helped manage Tebeka’s Youth for Justice Program, and got to know this wonderful organization up close.
After completing my clerkship at the Central District Attorney's office, I passed the Bar exam in 2010 and immediately joined Tebeka’s legal staff.
Working at Tebeka gives me the opportunity to do precisely what I intended: practice law for the benefit of the community, combining legal tools with social and educational approaches. At Tebeka, I have integrated a team of talented, inspiring individuals, working together to build a more equitable society.
Additionally to working at Tebeka full-time, I am completing my Master’s Degree in Law (LLM)
Atty. Daniel Armayes
I moved to Israel in 1991, two weeks before Operation Solomon and attended school in the north of Israel. My parents always stressed to the importance of education and legal education in particular, which naturally led me to pursue legal studies. Moreover, during high school, I remember thinking of law as a very prestigious professional field in which only the best and brightest could succeed. This, combined with the education received from home, triggered my desire to learn about law. With that in mind, I enrolled at Bar Ilan Law School and interned at the offices of Zellermayer, Pelossof. During my studies, I volunteered at various organizations for human rights, including Tebeka. While legal assistance to the Ethiopian community, I was exposed to the injustices faced by this community and felt a real urge to help.
After my studies I traveled abroad and, upon return, worked in a private law office. Soon after I started however, I felt the urge to take part in strengthening the Ethiopian community and joined Tebeka. Israeli society is complex, challenging, and encompasses immigrants of different colors and backgrounds. I believe that legal tools can bring change the face of Israeli society, as it happened in the U.S. precedent-setting ruling of Brown v. Board of education of Topeka.

Staff Members  4

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Atty. Gila Cotler, Director of Tebeka’s Legal Leadership Program
I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. At the age of eighteen, I decided to make Aliyah and join the Israeli Army. I served in the Nahal unit which led me to do an extra year of community work with new immigrants, primarily from Ethiopia and Yemen, in addition to the mandatory service. I then went on to study law at Bar Ilan University, intern at the Justice Ministry and was admitted to the Bar in 2009. I am interested in Human Rights, Advocacy and International Law, so I am thrilled to be working at Tebeka, an organization I feels resonates with my interests and has the potential to make long lasting, systemic social change.

Staff Members  5

Chen Benyamin, Office Manager
I joined Tebeka in early 2009 after more than 20 years of experience as an Office Manager. I find it a real pleasure to be working for such a meaningful cause and with such interesting and dedicated individuals. In addition to managing the office, my personal tasks include making sure that everyone at Tebeka gets a morning hug and continues the day with a smile on their face.