Key Staff

Kalman Samuels serves as the President of Shalva, which he founded with his wife Malki in 1990. Kalman is closely involved in the organization’s ongoing operations. As the head of Shalva, he is recognized as a leading figure in the field of disability care and addresses gatherings internationally. Since the organization’s inception, Kalman has played a leading role in ensuring Shalva’s sustainability and growth. He has received many awards for his contribution to Israeli society, most recently in 2018 the Sylvan Adams Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize and the Lions International Israel’s Man of the Year Award.

Yochanan Samuels has been a member of Shalva’s administration for almost two decades; originally as the organization’s Vice President and since 2015 as the Chief Executive Officer. He is responsible for overseeing Shalva’s ongoing operations and advancing the organization’s various elements toward constant, sustainable growth. A lawyer by profession, Yochanan previously worked at a legal firm specializing in petitions to the Supreme Court concerning the rights of people with disabilities and currently serves as the Chairman of the Committee for Non-Profit Organizations of the Israel Bar Association. Yochanan is a graduate of the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware and carries his passion for the care and inclusion of persons with disabilities into his daily work at Shalva.

Growing up with the Shalva dream and vision, Avi was involved in the development of the Shalva organization since his youth. Following his military service, rabbinic studies, and business school, Avi joined Shalva’s administration in 2004 with a primary focus on advancing Shalva’s strategic development in Israel and around the world. Avi has successfully increased and diversified the organization’s sources of income to include significant donors and resources in Israel and other countries. Avi is responsible for progressing Shalva’s presence in Israel, creating networks of support and opportunities for program development, in addition to maintaining a stable and healthy organization-wide financial model.

Liat supervises the daily operations of Shalva’s programs and manages a large staff of program directors, therapists, and special educators. Appointed to the position in 2015, Liat was responsible for overseeing the programs’ transition to the Shalva National Center and their systematic, significant growth since. Liat began working at Shalva in 2009 as a social worker and director of the Me and My Mommy program. She has thirty years of work experience in the field of social work for children with disabilities and children at-risk. Liat previously served as the director of foster care services for the Israeli Government’s Ministry of Welfare in the Jerusalem and Southern regions.

Gaby Hirsch was appointed Shalva’s Chief Development Officer in 2018 and has been Chief Executive of the British Friends of Shalva since 2014. Gaby oversees Shalva’s international offices, coordinating communication and collaboration between Shalva’s representatives around the world. She also presides over all significant donor visits and events at the Shalva National Center in Israel. Over the years, Gaby has nurtured the number of significant donors in the UK, developing grassroots campaigns and numerous committees. Gaby has played an instrumental role in developing Shalva’s gala dinners both in the UK and in Israel. Previous to her positions at Shalva, Gaby served in leadership roles at Energise Squared Fundraising Consultancy, was a management consultant with Tesco Stores Plc, and was a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in the UK.

Leo Klein has served as the Executive Director of American Friends of Shalva since 2001, developing the organization’s presence in the United States and orchestrating several successful fundraising campaigns, including a significant capital campaign to build the Shalva National Center. Through regular events at various locations throughout the year, Leo continues to play an important role in spreading disability awareness and garnering support for the Shalva organization in Israel. Prior to his position at Shalva, Leo worked on the UJA-Jewish Federation New York’s young leadership team, developing programs and key events that continue to be organizational staples today.

Osnat has been closely involved in Shalva’s resource development in Israel since 2011; and officially as the Executive Director of Development of the Israeli Friends of Shalva since 2016. In her previous position as the Director of Human Resources and Insurance Claims for Derech Eretz-Highway 6, Osnat took on a project to connect Shalva with noteworthy individuals and support opportunities in the corporate world. In this capacity, Osnat established the Israeli Friends of Shalva Board of Directors as well as various support networks and revenue generating opportunities. Osnat was instrumental in establishing Shalva’s first gala dinner in Israel in 2013 and continues to run Shalva’s annual gala dinners as well as fundraising events and initiatives throughout the year.