Executive Board
Kylie is an Australian born lawyer who practiced intellectual property law in the Israeli hi-tech sector for five years before moving to the non-profit world. For 10 years, Kylie served as a Senior Associate with the International Relations Division of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). In 2014 Kylie left to establish a practise in organizational behavioral design, executive coaching and management consulting. She has an MA in Organizational Behavior and Development from IDC. Kylie joined Mavoi Satum in 1998, contributing suggested legal reforms to the legal committee, then serving on the board for 20 years, before becoming the Chair in 2020.
She lives in Jerusalem with her husband Boaz and five children. She is passionate about leadership and behavioral design, enjoys pilates, spinning and running with good friends, and cares deeply about her friends and family.
Kylie feels that she cannot rest until women in Israel are protected from extortion and abuse. Kylie strongly believes that aginut is a man-made problem that can and should be solved in our lifetime.
Judith Garson Djemal is a co-founder of Mavoi Satum and has been active in the organization since its inception. Judith came to Mavoi Satum through her background in documentary production. She was Chairperson for 8 years and was Director of Resource Development for more than a decade.
Judith has a B.A. in Modern Languages and an MSc in Food, Nutrition and Health. She is currently completing an advanced practice certificate of training as an Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner.
Judith is the proud mother of 6, grandmother to 1 and looking forward to welcoming many more grand babies. She loves the sea and anything to do with it and has recently started meditation. Judith believes a healthy society tends and preserves the well being of all its members.
Symma holds a Law Degree from Middlesex University, England. Together with her husband, she set up and operated a business in Jerusalem producing children’s videos and DVD’s for thirteen years. She has served on the Mavoi Satum board since 1995 and initiated and ran the famous supper quizzes for more than 10 years. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband and takes joy in her 4 children and grandchildren. Symma believes that a marriage should be an equal partnership & no side of that partnership should ever feel defenceless or helpless.
Michal holds a History and Music degree from Melbourne University, Australia. Besides teaching music for 35 years, she was instrumental in setting up the NGO “Shomera” which is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and activism. Michal has been a board member for 16 years and was the chair of Mavoi Satum for 10 years . She lives in Efrat and has 5 children. She enjoys netball, painting and creates mosaic art . Michal believes that it is essential to advocate for women by changing the conversation on divorce and giving them a voice in Israeli society.
Jeremy is a Certified Public Accountant and has worked as the Directors’ Representative of the American Colony hotel for many years. Jeremy has been on the board of Mavoi Satum since 2015 and serves as the organization’s treasurer. He enjoys a good whisky, a good joke, travel, and loves music of all sorts. He believes in equal rights for all and is concerned by the treatment of women by the religious establishment. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Deborah and is the proud father of 4 children and 4 grandchildren.
Shimmy is a Manchester born UK chartered accountant and was a partner in the Lopian Gross Barnett practice for over 30 years. Shimmy has had a lifetime of distinguished public service in Manchester including serving as Chairman of The Manchester and District Council of Synagogues for over 25 years, initiating and completing projects like the Manchester Eruv and serving as a member of the selection committee for the UK Chief Rabbi. Shimmy is a keen cyclist and still rides for the Norwood Jewish charity every year. Shimmy made aliyah with his wife, Pearl, in 2017 and they live in Jerusalem. They are very proud of their 4 children and numerous grandchildren. Shimmy joined Mavoi Satum upon making aliyah in 2017 because he felt strongly that women in Israel was should not be denied a divorce and helping these women was a worthwhile cause he wanted to be involved in.
Driven by a passion to understand how our living environments affect our wellbeing- both physical and emotional, Leora has had a distinguished career as an architect and urban planner. She has served as deputy City Architect for Jerusalem and managed the conservation and rehabilitation of National Heritage sites for the Prime minister’s Office. Until recently she served as the Deputy Director of the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem.
Leora believes that a home is not defined only by its walls and its furnishings – but by who we are and our relationships with our loved ones. This is why she believes in Mavoi Satum and its mission to ensure that no woman is forced to stay in a relationship against her will.
Leora loves Jerusalem where she lives, and has 3 wonderful teenagers who share her love of skiing.
Mike is Senior Director Finance and Administration at M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education.
With over 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, Mike oversees all aspects of finance, governance, and administration at M². Previously in his private practice, Mike worked with over 30 different organisations on building and implementing financial infrastructure, budgeting, financial strategy and more. Mike also served as Head of Finance and Operations at MAOZ and prior to that as the Director of Young Judaea’s post-college programs in Israel. A graduate of the MBA program specializing in sociaI leadership and nonprofit management from Ben-Gurion University, Mike made Aliyah from Glasgow in January 2000 and lives in Jerusalem with his family. You can find him playing soccer every Wednesday night come rain or shine!
Yael is a consultant who spent the past 15 years working for Yad Vashem in the International Relations Division, most recently as the Deputy Director. Yael studied Communications and Political Science in Bar Ilan. She has worked in the non-profit world for over 20 years and is passionate about Jewish Identity, History, Israel and Social Justice. Yael lives in Jerusalem with her very tall husband and five amazing children.
