Ifat Ovadia-Luski (Hebrew: יפעת עובדיה-לוסקי; born 3 June 1976) is an Israeli executive in Zionist organizations who serves as head of the Department for Combating Antisemitism at the World Zionist Organization. From 2022 to 2025 she served as chairperson of the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, KKL-JNF), becoming the first woman to hold that position.[1][2] She is a member of the Jewish Agency's Board of Trustees and a member of the board of Yad Vashem.
Ifat Ovadia-Luski | |
|---|---|
יפעת עובדיה-לוסקי | |
 | |
| 15th Chairperson of the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) | |
| In office 6 December 2022 – 31 December 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Avraham Duvdevani |
| Succeeded by | Eyal Ostrinsky |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 June 1976 Bat Yam, Israel |
| Spouse | Amir |
| Children | 3 |
| Hebrew University of Jerusalem Tel Aviv University | |
Before her appointment as chair of KKL-JNF, she headed the Department for Hebrew Language and Culture at the World Zionist Organization, and previously served for more than four years as chief executive of World Likud.
Biography
editOvadia-Luski was born and raised in Bat Yam. She studied at the ORT Ramat Yosef high school in Bat Yam. She was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces and served in the Education Corps in Jerusalem.
She has served as a member of the public council for commemorating the legacy of Ze'ev Jabotinsky and as a member of the public council of the Betar movement.
From 2013 to 2015 she served as chief of staff at the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Science and Technology, where she helped lead an initiative to make science accessible to peripheral communities and to encourage military enlistment among special populations.
In 2016 she was appointed chief executive of World Likud, the first woman to hold the post. During her tenure she expanded the organization's international activity, recruiting branch heads in Diaspora Jewish communities for programs of Holocaust commemoration and for efforts against antisemitism, hate crimes, and the BDS movement against Israel.
Following the 38th Zionist Congress in 2020, she was elected to head the Department for Hebrew Language and Culture at the World Zionist Organization, and has since been a member of the Jewish Agency's board of trustees.
In December 2022 the KKL-JNF board of directors elected Ovadia-Luski as chair, succeeding Avraham Duvdevani, who had held the post for the previous two years.[3]
In May 2023 she led a five-year agreement between KKL-JNF and the Government of Israel under which the fund committed to transfer 6 billion shekels to the state through national projects in settlement, development of the periphery, and environmental initiatives.[4]
During the Swords of Iron War she initiated the "Heroines' Path" at the entrance to Ofakim Park, intended to commemorate the bravery of Israeli women who acted with composure and helped save the lives of dozens of people during the October 7 attacks.[5] On Tu BiShvat that year she also initiated tree plantings in memory of those murdered at the Nova festival at the Re'im campsite in the Be'eri Forest.[6]
She ended her tenure as chair of KKL-JNF on 31 December 2025. In January 2026 she was appointed head of the Department for Combating Antisemitism at the World Zionist Organization.
Ovadia-Luski holds a bachelor's degree in Hebrew literature and history from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a master's degree with honors in administration and education policy from Tel Aviv University.
She is married to Amir and is the mother of three children. She lives in Tzur Hadassah.
Recognition
editIn September 2023 she was named, together with Yaakov Hagoel, chairman of the World Zionist Organization, and Sam (Shmuel) Grundwerg, chairman of Keren Hayesod, to The Jerusalem Post annual list of the 50 most influential Jews of the year.[7]
In March 2024 she was named to Globes list of the 50 most influential women in Israel,[8] and was again named one of the 50 most influential women in March 2025.[9]
References
edit- ↑ "האישה הראשונה בתפקיד: יפעת עובדיה-לוסקי נבחרה ליושבת ראש קק״ל" [The first woman in the role: Ifat Ovadia-Luski elected chairperson of KKL]. Davar (in Hebrew). 6 December 2022.
- ↑ Halutz, Dina (10 April 2023). ""נשים תמיד היו שותפות במפעל הציוני, אבל אף אישה לא עמדה בראש המוסדות הלאומיים"" ["Women were always partners in the Zionist enterprise, but no woman headed the national institutions"]. Ynet (in Hebrew).
- ↑ Zrahiya, Zvi (6 December 2022). "העתירה לא עזרה - יפעת עובדיה לוסקי נבחרה ליו"ר קק"ל" [The petition did not help – Ifat Ovadia-Luski elected chair of KKL]. Calcalist (in Hebrew).
- ↑ Zrahiya, Zvi (14 May 2023). "קק"ל תעביר למשרד האוצר 6 מיליארד שקל במשך חמש שנים" [KKL to transfer NIS 6 billion to the Finance Ministry over five years]. Calcalist (in Hebrew).
- ↑ "מצדיעים להן: קק"ל חונכת את 'דרך הגיבורות' בפארק אופקים" [Saluting them: KKL inaugurates the 'Heroines' Path' in Ofakim Park]. Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). 15 January 2024.
- ↑ Yegorov, Ilya (21 January 2024). ""נקום מעפר ונצמיח חיים ברעים": המשפחות השכולות מהמסיבה בנובה חזרו לטעת עצים במקום בו נרצחו יקיריהן" ["We will rise from the dust and grow life in Re'im": bereaved families from the Nova party return to plant trees where their loved ones were murdered]. Israel Hayom (in Hebrew).
- ↑ "50 Influential Jews: Pillars of Zion – No. 26". The Jerusalem Post.
- ↑ "50 המשפיעות 2024: יפעת עובדיה–לוסקי" [The 50 most influential women 2024: Ifat Ovadia-Luski]. Globes (in Hebrew). 13 March 2024.
- ↑ Levy-Weinrib, Ella (4 March 2025). "הנשים המשפיעות 2025" [The most influential women 2025]. Globes (in Hebrew).
External links
edit
- German, Atara (24 April 2023). ""אומרים לנו 'מדינת ישראל קמה והתפקיד שלכם הסתיים'": יו"ר קק"ל החדשה נלחמת על תדמית הארגון" ["They tell us 'the State of Israel was established and your job is done'": the new KKL chair fights for the organization's image]. Makor Rishon (in Hebrew).
- Levanon, Asaf (13 September 2023). ""האתגרים של ראשית הציונות לא השתנו, הם רלוונטיים גם כיום"" ["The challenges of early Zionism have not changed; they are relevant today too"]. Israel Hayom (in Hebrew).
- Levy-Weinrib, Ella (5 December 2024). "יו"רית קק"ל: "השקענו 1.5 מיliard שקל בפרויקטים של המלחמה, אבל שיהיה ברור שאנחנו לא צ'ק פתוח"" [KKL chair: "We invested NIS 1.5 billion in war projects, but let it be clear that we are not a blank check"]. Globes (in Hebrew).