idi_annual_report_eng_links

2BI0E2N0N/IA2L0R2E1PORT



Table Of
Contents

Introduction

• Message from Our Lea dership 4

• About IDI: Mission, Goals , 8
and Model of Operation

Impact 10
11
• Policy Impact

• IDI and the Pandemic

New at IDI 12
14
• New Centers
• New People 16
19
Faces of IDI: 22
Experts in Conversation

• Israeli Democracy in Crisis
• The Jewish and Democratic Balancing Act
• Turning Crisis into Opportunity for Israel's

Economy

IDI by the Numbers 25

Leadership & Partners 26

Financials 30

Welcome

Message from the President
and the Chair of the Board

Dear Friends,

Summing up IDI's activities in 2020-2021 is an almost workers, give employers incentives to keep workers on the
impossible task. Like the rest of the world, Israel grappled payroll, boost the government's capacity to provide vocational
with a deadly pandemic and its economic and societal training for the unemployed, and change Israel's antiquated
repercussions. However, on top of COVID, we had to contend labor laws to facilitate telecommuting.
with the worst political and constitutional crisis in our history:
four indecisive elections that left a transition government On the social front, our experts helped civilian and military
in place, operating under the shadow of investigations and decision-makers deal with such challenges as communicating
indictments on corruption charges facing the then-Prime changing guidelines to ultra-Orthodox communities cut off
Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. from the internet and defining the limits of IDF involvement in
a civilian crisis.
Throughout this turmoil, IDI experts worked tirelessly with
decision-makers to minimize the fallout from COVID and help And on the constitutional front, the professional opinions
Israeli democracy emerge from the constitutional crisis intact. of IDI experts were instrumental in ensuring that courts
On the economic front, our team headed by Prof. Karnit Flug, and parliament remained open throughout the pandemic,
Vice President of Research and William Davidson Senior Fellow minimizing the use of invasive technological tools for contact-
for Economic Policy, helped develop measures to extend tracing, preserving effective parliamentary oversight over
unemployment benefits, provide relief to self-employed emergency government decisions, and protecting the right to
protest while adhering to Health Ministry guidelines.

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Welcome

During the second half of 2021, as COVID began to recede and We wish to single out two particularly transformational gifts.
Israel emerged from its constitutional crisis, IDI mobilized to First, a $5 million legacy gift from Dr. Andrew J. Viterbi, which
assist the new government – finally sworn into office in June allowed us to dedicate the Viterbi Family Center for Public
of that year – with a slew of reform proposals designed to turn Opinion and Policy Research headed by Prof. Tamar Hermann.
challenge into opportunity.
Second, a monumental $21.3 million gift from Joan and Dr.
As you will read in the pages that follow, the fruits of this Irwin Jacobs, which enabled us to establish a new Center as
work are substantial. Among other achievements, we have well as a prestigious new fellowship at IDI. The Joan and Irwin
worked with our partners in government to enact a major Jacobs Distinguished Fellowship will provide distinguished
reform that promises to open the Kosher certification market former senior policymakers who have demonstrated
up to competition, a series of new incentives for young ultra- extraordinary commitment to Israeli democracy with a platform
Orthodox men to join the workforce, and Israel's new strategic for continued research and policy entrepreneurship. President
plan to and transition to renewable energy by 2050. Reuven Rivlin, who elected to join IDI after stepping down from
the presidency in July 2021, will serve as the inaugural Fellow.
Sadly, on February 6, 2021, former US Secretary of State The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society will build
George P. Shultz, one of IDI's visionary founders, passed away on existing initiatives underway at our five centers of research
at the age of 100. Several months later, we were honored by and action to promote greater social cohesion in the spirit of
former President Reuven Rivlin's decision to dedicate his post- President Rivlin's ‘Israeli Hope' initiative.
presidency years to succeeding Secretary Shultz as IDI's new
honorary chair. We thank our many friends in Israel and around the world and
invite you to come and visit us in Jerusalem.
IDI's stability and continued contributions to Israeli public
life during this difficult period would have been impossible Amir Elstein Yohanan Plesner
without the continued support of our loyal philanthropic Chair of the Board President
partners in Israel and around the world. We feel especially
fortunate that during a time of uncertainty, when many have
turned inwards, IDI has witnessed the growth of circle of
friends. The dedication of our partners is a testament to the
unique bond between Israel, the Jewish people, and all those
who are committed to the idea of a thriving and prosperous
democratic State of Israel.

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Welcome

Message from the Honorary Chair

Dear Friends, new Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society, we will
work tirelessly in the coming years to make sure that more ultra-
Over the course of my presidency, I often warned that Israel's Orthodox men will enter the workforce, that more Arab Israeli
safety and wellbeing is dependent not only on protecting the women will be given the fair chance that they deserve, that Jews
country from the security threats abroad, but on healing the of all streams feel at home in Israel, and that our society comes
divisions that threaten us from within. The transformation of closer to the model of tolerance and pluralism envisioned by our
Israel's once cohesive society into four separate tribes means founding fathers and the prophets of Israel.
that we must move beyond the old concepts of a “majority
and minorities” to embrace a new concept of civic partnership I wish to thank our friends from Israel, the United States and all
founded on trust and a common destiny. over the world who support the incredibly important work of
IDI. And I look forward to welcoming you all soon to IDI in my
Over the last three decades, the Israel Democracy Institute beloved city of Jerusalem.
has proven itself as a beacon of knowledge, expertise, and
professionalism upon which Israeli decision-makers have come Reuven Rivlin
to rely. In an era of information overload and bitter partisanship, The 10th President of the State of Israel
IDI's experts have demonstrated their unique capacity to build Honorary Chair
bridges and provide sound, research-based policy proposals that Joan and Irwin Jacobs Distinguished Fellow
better the lives of all Israelis.

This is why I am so pleased to continue my life mission in my
new capacity as IDI's Honorary Chair and the Joan and Irwin
Jacobs Distinguished Fellow. Together with my colleagues at the

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Welcome

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Welcome

About IDI

OUR WHO WE ARE  
MISSION
IDI was established in 1991 as a partnership between Israel and the Diaspora
The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) for building a strong, vibrant Jewish and democratic state. Among IDI's many
is an independent, nonpartisan achievements over the years are the establishment of the Knesset's Research
“think-and-do tank,” dedicated to and Information Center, the passage of electoral reform, the creation of the
strengthening the foundations of Israeli National Economic Council, the adoption of a master plan to boost ultra-Orthodox
democracy. The Institute harnesses employment, passage of sweeping criminal justice reform, a landmark government
rigorous applied research to educate vision for the Israeli economy in 2050, creation of a national Gap Year Program
decision makers and help shape policy, for Arab youth and had substantial impact on hundreds of legislative and reform
legislation and public opinion. initiatives.

In recognition of IDI's singular contributions to Israeli public life, the State of Israel
bestowed upon IDI its highest honor: The Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement.

OUR GOALS

Bolster the values Improve government Cultivate social cohesion,
and institutions performance so as to political participation, and
of Israel as a Jewish and strengthen public trust in a common civic denominator
democratic state in the the democratic system and among the different communities
spirit of Israel's Declaration contribute to sustainable making up the mosaic of Israeli
of Independence economic growth society

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OUR 3 STAGE MODEL
OF OPERATION

Research Conduct excellent applied research to
generate actionable proposals for reform

Debate Convene relevant stakeholders for a
rigorous, practical debate on these
proposals

Impact Work with partners in government,
civil society, the business sector, and
the media to advance our policy
recommendations and ensure their
implementation in the field

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Welcome

RECENT
POLICY IMPACT

• Israel 2050, IDI's plan for • IDI experts shaped a new government

sustainable economic multi-billion-shekel plan for development

development, adopted by the of the Arab sector including 120 million

Israeli government NIS program to fund a Gap Year program

• President Herzog and leaders for Arab youth

from across the political • Government adopted IDI's plans for

spectrum publicly lowering the military exemption age and

endorsed IDI efforts to advance boosting Ultra-Orthodox employment

a new Basic Law on Legislation

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Welcome



IDI & THE
PANDEMIC

• Keeping the Knesset open and • Facilitating government outreach
ensuring parliamentary oversight to the ultra-Orthodox community
over emergency regulations
• Shaping government policy on
• Defining the limits of IDF unemployment and remote work
involvement in a civilian crisis
• Turning crisis into opportunity by
• Striking the proper balance between helping the government devise a
public health and individual rights new approach to vocational training

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New at IDI Yohanan Plesner, President Rivlin, Joan Jacobs, and Irwin Jacobs

NEW at IDI

Over the past two years, despite the many challenges of Covid, economic uncertainty
and political turmoil, IDI continued to grow, with important appointments to key
leadership positions and the establishment of new centers of research and action.

Centers

The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center
for Shared Society

At the beginning of 2022, IDI established The Jacobs Center for Shared Society focuses on bringing Israelis together
the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared and strengthening their commitment to core democratic values and
Society and inaugurated a prestigious institutions. It builds on existing initiatives at IDI to promote elements of
new Distinguished Fellowship for former President Rivlin's ‘Israeli Hope' initiative. The new fellowship—the first of
policymakers. Former President Reuven its kind in Israel—provides distinguished former senior policymakers who
Rivlin currently serves as the inaugural Joan have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to Israeli democracy with
and Irwin Jacobs Distinguished Fellow at IDI. a platform for continued research and policy entrepreneurship.

Amir Elstein, Prof. Andrew Viterbi, Prof. Tamar Hermann and Yohanan Plesner New at IDI

President Isaac Herzog and Yohanan Plesner

The Viterbi Family Center for Public
Opinion and Policy Research

In January 2021, IDI rededicated its renowned The Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy
center for public opinion and policy research in Research is highly respected among Israeli decision-
honor of Prof. Andrew J. Viterbi. Headed by the makers especially for the annual Israel Democracy
prominent political scientist Prof. Tamar Hermann, Index and the monthly Israel Voice survey of public
the Center applies rigorous quantitative research opinion. The Center surveys attitudes and measures
methods to analyze Israeli public opinion and social indicators, helping policymakers understand
inform sound policy decisions. trends in Israeli society and craft sound policies that are
grounded in data.

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People

New at IDI Prof. Ronald Prof. Suzie Center – an organization committed to
J. Daniels Navot increasing participation in Jewish life by
making Israel's religious establishment
Chair of the Vice President respectful of and responsive to the
International of Research diverse Jewish needs of the Jewish
Advisory Council people. In this capacity, she has
Prof. Suzie appeared before the Rabbinic Courts
Prof. Ronald Navot has been on issues of conversion, marriage, and
J. Daniels, the appointed divorce.
President of Johns Hopkins University, Vice President of Research at the
was named Chair of the Institute's Israel Democracy Institute. In her new Anat Thon
International Advisory Council (IAC). capacity, Prof. Navot succeeded Prof. Ashkenazy
Prof. Daniels, who has served on the Yuval Shany and oversees the Institute's
Council since 2010, succeeded Prof. Center for Democratic Values and Director of 
Gerhard Casper, President Emeritus of Institutions, the Center for Security and the Center for
Stanford University, who chaired the Democracy, and the the Joan and Irwin Democratic
IAC since its founding chair, the late Jacobs Center for Shared Society. Values and
U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz, Institutions
stepped down in 2014. Prof. Shany continues to serve as a
Senior Fellow at IDI, after completing Prior to joining IDI, Attorney Anat
First convened at Wye River, Maryland a successful four-year term as Vice Thon-Ashkenazy served as executive
in 2008, the IAC is made up of leading President. director of Itach-Maaki-Women Lawyers
intellectuals, jurists, statesmen, and for Social Justice, an organization
journalists from around the world who Shlomit that promotes gender equality on the
care deeply about Israel's future as a Ravitzki national and municipal levels. In this
vibrant Jewish and democratic state. Tur-Paz capacity, Thon-Ashkenazy represented
Its members provide international dozens of civil society organizations
and inter-disciplinary perspectives on Director of the seeking equal representation in decision-
IDI's work and advise the Institute's Joan and Irwin making bodies for women from diverse
leadership and experts on critical issues Jacobs Center for groups in Israel.
facing democracies around the world. Shared Society

Before joining IDI, Attorney Shlomit
Ravitzky Tur-Paz co-founded and co-
directed Itim – the Jewish Life Advocacy

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FACES OF IDI

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Anat Thon Ashkenazy

Prof. Yuval Shany

Dr. Idit Shafran Gittleman

Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler

Faces of IDI Israeli Democracy
In Crisis

Prof. Yuval Shany, now a Senior Fellow at experts that much more important. “The positions we advanced were often
IDI after completing a successful four- Particularly in questions of governance, adopted by the relevant government
year term as Vice President, sums up justice, civil liberties, and the relationship agencies, including the Attorney General
the focus of IDI's work over the past two between the police force and the military and the courts.”
years as protecting the country in the on the one hand, and civil society on the
face of a stress test that he described as other, our experts were sought-out to Examples of such initiatives included IDI's
“a perfect democratic storm.” Coming provide clarity and context in uncertain successful intervention to counter the
up against what had quickly become one times. policy limiting the ability of Israeli citizens
of the most pressing healthcare crises of to travel back to Israel, as well as its
modern times, Israel also was confronted While Yuval notes that some of the efforts to preserve the democratic right
with a political crisis defined by upcoming challenges remain, overall Israel turned to protest during COVID. The Institute
third elections, an interim government a corner and is now largely headed in further played a very central and visible
that had extremely limited democratic the right direction, a development he role in defending the rule of law in the
legitimacy, and the continued shadow describes as nothing less than “dramatic.” face of reckless attempts to undermine it.
of investigations and indictments facing “As an Institute, we played a significant
the then-Prime Minister Netanyahu. role at numerous junctures along the Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, Senior Fellow
“Someone looking from the outside way, to ensure that our democracy would at IDI, directs the Institute's program on
wouldn't be faulted for thinking that be able to withstand this stress test.” He Media Reform and Democracy in the
this was a democracy on the verge of points to specific measures advanced by Information Age. Much of her research
collapse.” IDI in providing survey data and position has focused on protecting citizens' right
papers on various issues of contention, as to privacy - from new threats posed by
Yuval says navigating these waters made well as studies comparing Israel to other technological and data-mining. In its
the experience and expertise of IDI's democracies facing similar challenges. attempts to contain the spread of the

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pandemic, the Israeli government resorted and Purple Pass systems subsequently Codifying Faces of IDI
to extreme measures, some of which were employed by the government. the Rules of
unthinkable in most democratic countries. the Political
In particular, the government authorized She cautions that surveillance issues Game
the General Security Service (also known constitute an ever-present threat to civil
as the Shin Bet) to assist in the conduct liberties, and demand vigilance. IDI’s proposal for a Basic Law
of epidemiological contact tracing by "The growing dependence of agencies on Legislation:
providing the Ministry of Health with the charged with policing civilian behavior on
routes of coronavirus carriers and lists of enhanced intelligence capabilities creates • Additional (4th) vote in the
individuals with whom they had been in a situation in which these agencies may be Knesset on Basic Laws
close contact. tempted to use these powers not just in
times of emergency, such as a pandemic, • ‘Super Majority’ (80 MKs)
Tehilla notes that in addressing this issue, but for general law enforcement. This, in for core constitutional mea-
IDI was one step ahead. “Already in 2012, turn, can have a hazardous impact on our sures
we formulated a law designed to protect rights as citizens.”
personal privacy, recognizing that this is an • Expanded Supreme Court
issue that affects everything we do, from Yet another challenge highlighted by the panel of at least 9 justices
our social media practices to how we vote, pandemic is how to determine the proper when deciding matters of
and so much more.” She points out that the limits for intervention by the IDF in civilian judicial review
IDI team was among the first to take note crises. Dr. Idit Shafran Gittleman, Director
of the challenges, when it was announced of IDI's Military and Society Program,
that Shin Bet would be involved in worked with key decision-makers—both
monitoring civilians. “We knew this would in the IDF and the government—on
be an issue even before it was recognized delineating those limits and crafting
by most as a problem, and were able to policies that strike a balance between
provide a series of recommendations and safeguarding Israel's national security
proposed next steps.” These included on the one hand, and protecting human
voluntary digital monitoring applications rights and civil liberties, on the other.
to which people could opt in, as well as
private-sector monitoring initiatives, which Over the course of the Covid crisis, and
became the framework for the Green against the backdrop of what seemed at

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the time like the government's incapacity Recognizing the extensive economic, take special pride in the role we played
to address the crisis, the public clamored
for the IDF to step in and take charge. Idit security and social implications of a in ensuring continued Knesset oversight
and her colleagues were repeatedly called
upon to address very practical questions transition to a new model of service, over government decisions taken in the
surrounding the role of the army in what
is essentially a civilian crisis, in light of IDI has taken on a leadership role in this midst of a national emergency. While
their acknowledged expertise on civilian-
military relations. “We responded in process, in dialogue with senior defense swift and decisive action was needed
real-time and convened roundtable
meetings with all relevant parties, officials, to develop a plan for transition to during the pandemic, preserving the
including senior commanders from the
Homefront Command, top Ministry of a new model that preserves the essentials ‘separation of powers' and the rule of
Defense officials, and municipal political
Faces of IDI leadership to formulate best practices of Ben Gurion's "people's army" but law were vital to Israeli democracy,” Anat
that could both provide immediate aid
to the public, while ensuring that the IDF updates the concept for Like all said. She is now focused
remains under the oversight of civilian the 21st century. democracies, Israel's on a historic effort to pass
authorities,” Idit recalls. is far from perfect. a Basic Law that aims
Another issue particularly As an Institute, we to resolve the growing
Over the past two years, Dr. Shafran close to Idit's heart, is the have a pivotal role to tensions between Israel's
Gittleman was also kept busy in highly charged issue of play in strengthening legislature and its judiciary.
collaborating with IDF top brass on women's service in the Israeli democracy
proposing alternative models of military IDF, especially in combat by making its Summing up, Prof. Shany
service. She notes that, “the notion of a units. She is regularly institutions more stresses that the work of
‘people's army' is at the core of the very consulted by the Chief of stable and protecting the Institute, particularly
ethos of our identity as a nation, but it is Staff's advisor on gender them from the many in these times of tension
increasingly clear that the existing model issues and the committee threats they face and uncertainty, is driven
is no longer sustainable. It is absolutely charged with exploring the by a belief that addressing
critical that we reform the outdated possibilities for opening these issues is essential
model of service so as to prepare Israel
for the 21st century battlefield and at the up additional positions in for all aspects of the
same time-retain the talent it needs to
win the IDF future wars.” the IDF to women. nation's future. “Like all

The Institute's efforts to shore up Israel's democracies, Israel's is far from perfect.
constitutional foundations has become As an Institute, we have a pivotal role to
the core responsibility of Adv. Anat Thon- play in strengthening Israeli democracy
Ashkenazy, the new Director of IDI's Center by making its institutions more stable
for Democratic Values and Institutions. and effective. We continue to work
toward realization of the dream of a

She singles out IDI's role in shaping constitution that protects basis human
decisions by two important Knesset rights and freedoms and strengthens
committees: the Committee on COVID-19 our democratic institutions both for the
and the Legislative Committee. “We present and for the generations to come.”

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Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz

Dr. Gilad Malach

The Jewish and Faces of IDI
Democratic Balancing Act

While 2020 and 2021 were years of kept busy in providing evidence-based government lockdown regulations and
upheaval for the entire world, for Israel policy recommendations to assist decision- its violent resistance to police attempts
the turmoil extended far beyond the makers on how to best respond to the to enforce them, captured the headlines
health and economic crises. Much of challenges presented by the crisis, work and thwarted the government's attempts
this period was defined by the lack of a towards improving the situation of these to stop the spread of the virus. Gilad's
stable government, and the absence of communities, and lay the groundwork team worked on several levels to help
a national budget, alongside continued for long-term change that will strengthen the government reach out to the Haredi
security threats. Israeli society as a whole. community. “Based on our in-depth
understanding of what makes the Haredi
The crisis also underscored the urgency For Dr. Gilad Malach, Director of the community tick—how it thinks and
of addressing Israel's two major internal Ultra-Orthodox in Israel Program, Covid operates, we were poised to respond
challenges. It became abundantly clear brought a key challenge associated with to the flood of requests from decision-
from the outset of the pandemic that the Haredi society to a head; the low levels of makers for our advice. Our overall
crisis would hit two communities hardest: trust that characterize relations between message was that in order to make
the Haredi and Arab communities. These the community and the government, and headway with the community you must
two sectors were already on the margins the animosity of the general population communicate in a different way.”
of the Israeli mainstream, characterized by towards the ultra-Orthodox sector.
lower socio-economic status, and often-by According to Gilad, this meant first and
basic distrust of the government and law At the beginning of the pandemic, foremost, winning the buy-in of the
enforcement agencies. IDI's experts were the community's flagrant violation of community's revered rabbis, rather than

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relying on the police or political figures of democratic values, while maintaining longer-term issues, many of which were
to get the message across. Furthermore, their unique culture and identity.” ignored for far too long.
he worked with public health officials
Faces of IDI and the IDF Homefront Command to Dr. Nasreen Haddad Haj-Yahya, who Nasreen was able to see this crisis also
help them adapt Covid regulations to
the Haredi lifestyle, with its emphasis on heads up the Program on Arab Society as an opportunity. She says the past
large public gatherings in the synagogue
and yeshiva. Gilad's recommendations in Israel, notes that, “This crisis made it two years were a turning point for Arab
also led to the appointment of a national
Covid project manager designated impossible to ignore the fact that the huge citizens. “Very early on it became clear
specifically for the Haredi community.
gaps that existed between This crisis to decision makers that the
“But alongside these issues, which required Jews and Arabs pre-Covid Arabs cannot only be viewed
our immediate attention, we always stayed
focused on the longer-term issues, such were exacerbated by the made it impossible as part of the problem; they
as promoting employment and economic
self-sufficiency at a time in which families pandemic. Our research to ignore the fact also must be part of the
were experiencing even more serious identified and highlighted that the huge solution.” Nasreen herself
financial challenges than before the crisis.” troubling implications inequality and was called upon to serve as
Expert opinion papers were drafted for the both for the community's gaps that existed an advisor to the National
relevant government agencies, specifically capacity to cope with the between Jews and Security Council, and notes
on how to leverage the opportunity to immediate crisis and for Arabs pre-Covid that each and every forum
create new employment opportunities by the long term.” She pointed were exacerbated set up by the government to
upgrading vocational and technological to specific challenges in by the deal with the crisis included
training courses. adjusting to remote working pandemic. the needs of the Arab
and children needing to population on its agenda.
“By shaping government policy on
everything from the workforce to military study at home – when This is a very welcome sea
service we are helping Haredim become
more oriented towards university homes often lacked the technological tools change that provides real hope for the
studies, employment, and the adoption
needed for distance learning. What turned future.

out to be a real eye-opener for decision- Moreover, Dr. Haj Yahya and her team
makers was a series of site visits to Arab were invited to play an active role in
localities, organized by Nasreen. Seeing shaping the new 5-Year Plan for Economic
the gravity of the situation on the ground, and Social Development in the Arab
and interacting with community leadership community—a massive government
and residents, had a powerful impact on investment of 30 billion shekels. Among
their policy decisions, both with regard to other achievements, this provided them
issues deriving from the pandemic, and on

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with an opportunity to push for allocation that many of the proposals for reform NEW Faces of IDI
of resources to mixed (Jewish-Arab) which IDI has been pursuing for years, 5 YEAR
cities as well as to Arab locales. The team now have a chance to be implemented PLAN
argued that it was untenable, in the wake by a government which has committed to
of the horrific violence that broke out enacting such reforms. IDI experts shape a new
in May 2021 in these cities, to ignore government
the underlying issues that helped ignite “Issues that remained stagnant for years multi-billion-shekel plan
it. The result? A government decision are now beginning to move forward,” she for development of the
approving such funding, in addition observes, while pointing specifically to Arab sector including a
to funding a new Gap Year program the impact that the Institute has had in pioneering 120 million NIS
developed by the IDI team, and targeted the area of kashrut reform. “Our program program for a Gap Year for
at Arab youth who are neither working provided detailed data on the costs to the Arab youth.
nor studying—many of whom took to the Israeli taxpayer associated with kashrut
streets and played an outsized role in the supervision, the system's inefficiency,
May violence. and so on. That information was made
accessible exactly at the time when the
The formation of a new government in reform was coming up for deliberation in
2021 brought with it new opportunities the Knesset. The outcome? Legislation
in the realm of religion and state as well. which breaks down the Chief Rabbinate's
With no ultra-Orthodox parties sitting in monopoly on kashrut supervision—just
the government coalition for the first time one very clear example of how our work
since 2015, barriers to change have been helped decision makers move forward
removed on some of the most fundamental with critical reforms.”
issues related to the tension between the
two components of Israel's identity as both She notes that similar efforts are now
a Jewish and democratic state. being invested on other issues to ensure
that they are on both the political and
Here, Shlomit Ravitzky Tur-Paz, Director public agendas, including a more liberal
of the new Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center conversion reform bill and a more
for Shared Society, as well as the Program pluralistic procedure for electing Israel's
on Religion, Nation and State, believes next Chief Rabbi.

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Prof. Yotam Margalit

Prof. Karnit Flug

Daphna Aviram-Nitzan

Faces of IDI Turning Crisis into Opportunity
for Israel's Economy

The Institute played an outsized role in widespread transition to home-based and sought-out. It was only months
helping the government mitigate the
economic fallout of the pandemic. It was work, presented themselves in a very before the outbreak of the crisis that
poised to do so in part because it was
“ahead of the game.” Daphna Aviram- early on in the pandemic. Based on the Prof. Flug assumed her position after
Nitzan, who serves as the Director of
IDI's Center for Governance and the group's conclusions, we were completing her term as
Economy, says that sound planning and
a longer-term vision were key to the positioned to provide informed In many ways, Governor of the Bank of
Institute's ability to provide decision- recommendations to decision- Covid only served Israel in late 2018.
makers with quick-footed and sound makers.” to push to the
policy recommendations. “Five years forefront structural While noting that it
ago, we set up a workgroup made up The prolonged period of deficiencies in the is premature to give
of IDI and academic experts, alongside uncertainty, demanding Israeli marketplace any conclusive scores
government officials and representatives informed and strategic and employment to Israel's economic
from both the private and public thought to help advise on sectors that we performance over the
employment sectors, to anticipate future Israel's economic direction, have long known past two years, Prof.
employment trends and challenges. made the voice of Prof. Karnit to exist. Flug points out that
Some of those very issues, such as a Flug, former Governor of the the strategies and
Bank of Israel and IDI's Vice methodologies put in

President for Research and place, often based on

the William Davidson Senior Fellow for IDI's recommendations, helped mitigate

Economic Policy, all the more important the overall negative impact of the crisis.

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Prof. Amir Yaron, Governor of the Bank of Israel, addresses the Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society.

“Despite a bit of hesitation at the geopolitical and local trends, it's far too ISRAEL Faces of IDI
beginning of Covid, when it took some early for celebration, and the country will 2050
time for the government to make the need to remain alert to ensure continued
switch and recognize the enormity of short-term stability and sustainable, Israel 2050, IDI's plan for
the challenges, relatively soon everyone inclusive growth. sustainable economic
realized what we were up against, and development, adopted by
the government did a great deal and Perhaps the most impactful changes the Prime Minister and four
acted quite quickly. It became clear that witnessed over the past two years were government ministries.
the best strategy was to do more rather shifts in patterns of employment—
than less.” especially working from home (WFH)-and
the extent to which specific population
Acknowledging the direct role of IDI's groups were positioned to respond to
experts in helping chart the government's changing times. These trends placed
economic responses, Prof. Flug says her the work of our Labor Market Reforms
team regularly met with the key decision Program directed by Prof. Yotam Margalit
makers, including the Minister of Finance in a prominent position and impacted
and the Minister of Social Equality and on key decisions made, as the pandemic
their professional teams. The Institute's shuttered businesses of all sizes.
recommendations were of particular
importance in developing and fine- “In many ways, Covid pushed to the
tuning the furlough model which placed forefront structural deficiencies in the
many workers on a form paid leave, Israeli marketplace and employment
Flug says that this was instrumental in sectors that we have long known to exist,
best preserving national and individual but which became more troubling with
economic health during the many long this crisis,” he says, while pointing to
months when hundreds of thousands the years of research his program has
of Israeli citizens were forced into invested in these areas. He sees the issue
temporary unemployment. of an aging workforce, as something
to which we should be paying close
She cautions that amidst what continues attention, given its ripple effects on the
to be a volatile global and domestic strength and resilience of the Israeli
climate, fueled by a variety of shifting economy.

- 23 -

“Our goal, both prior and during the as to the reasons why this was occurring Energy, Transportation, and the Economy,
who expressed their firm commitment to
crisis, and what we are now already where it was,” Prof. Flug explained. its implementation. In November 2021,
Prime Minister Bennett presented the
Faces of IDI planning for post-Covid, is to create Despite the disruption caused by COVID, plan at the Glasgow Conference.

models that allow us to best monitor IDI experts maintained their focus on Prof. Flug concludes: “The strategy that
drives IDI's work is based on a long-term
these types of issues and develop long-term issues and challenges. A perspective: We must continue to be
nimble in responding to urgent needs
workable solutions that will prepare us of our government partners, but at the
on a national level to respond to them,” prominent example is the Israel 2050 same time—stay on track and continue
says Prof. Margalit. He believes that that project, initiated at the government's to focus on long-term issues. On the
request, spearheaded by ground, this means acting vigorously to
the most formidable long- preserve Israel's economic miracle while
the IDI team, and conducted protecting the environment for future
term employment challenge The in partnership with four generations and ensuring that the benefits
will be the need to adapt to crisis also government ministries and of a growing economy are accessible to
technological and cultural underscored leading representatives of the all. This will require investing more in
changes in the workforce. the urgency public sector and the business education while narrowing the significant
“Israel will need to preserve gaps that exist between various groups
of addressing community. The program has and addressing issues of regulation,”
its competitiveness in the she says. “We're certainly not there
international economy, while Israel's two developed a plan and crafted yet, and so much more remains to be
achieved. But by continuing to address
looking after its low-tech major social a strategy for Israel's national the full range of critical issues, and
based on our firm working relationships
workers, providing them with integration infrastructure by r the year with our government partners, we are
confident that we can advance a vision for
opportunities, and ensuring challenges. 2050, and crafted a strategy sustainable and inclusive growth that will
that they not be left behind.” for a thriving economy and a benefit Israeli society as a whole.”

sustainable environment. “By

Prof. Margalit and others credit a series of bringing everyone around the table, we

public opinion surveys conducted by the were able to develop a plan that drills

Institute's Viterbi Family Center for Public down to the fine details of operations and

Opinion and Policy Research as having budgets, to ensure we are best preparing

direct impact on government policy for the challenges of climate change,”

decisions. “These surveys provided the says Prof. Flug. The plan was announced

picture of exactly who was being most at IDI's 2021 Eli Hurvitz Conference

affected, how much damage was being in a dramatic joint appearance by the

inflicted, and provided real-time insights Ministers of Environmental Protection,

- 24 -

Government Relations

136 658 135 105

Participation in Meetings with Conferences & Professional
Knesset Committee Meetings Government Officials Workshops Opinions Submitted

NIDUI MBYBTEHRES

International Media | Domestic Media

Mentions Coverage Op-Eds 99 By The Numbers
Value
28,500 137 Video
3,289 $720 million 200 Clips
$25 million

152 IDI Press 3,040 Television & Radio
Publications Interviews

- 25 -

IDI Leadership

IDI Management | Experts | Staff

IDI Leadership SENIOR MANAGEMENT Prof. Tamar Hermann Prof. Yotam Margalit
Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion Center for Governance and the Economy
Yohanan Plesner and Policy Research and Senior Fellow
President Avi Nissenkorn
Adv. Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz Visiting Senior Fellow
Dr. Jesse Ferris Joan and Irwin Center for Shared Society
Vice-President, Strategy and Director of Religion, Nation and State Prof. Benny Porat
Program Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society
Prof. Karnit Flug
Vice- President, Research Adv. Anat Thon-Ashkenazy Prof. Gideon Rahat
Center for Democratic Values and Center for Democratic Values and Institutions
Prof. Suzie Navot Institutions
Vice-President, Research Prof. Yuval Shany
SENIOR FELLOWS Center for Democratic Values and Institutions
CENTER DIRECTORS
Prof. Ismael Abu-Saad Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler
Daphna Aviram-Nitzan Center for Democratic Values and Center for Democratic Values and Institutions
Center for Governance and the Economy Institutions and Director of the Democracy in the
and Director of Labor Market Reform Information Age Program
Program Prof. Yuval Feldman
Center for Governance and the Economy Prof. Daniel Statman
Prof. Amichai Cohen Joan and Irwin Center for Shared Society and
Center for National Security and Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer Director of the Human Rights and Judaism
Democracy and Senior Fellow Center for Democratic Values and Program
Institutions
Prof. Nathan Sussman
Visiting Senior Fellow, Center for Governance
and the Economy

- 26 -

PROGRAM DIRECTORS Administration and Board of Directors
Institutional Advancement
Adv. Rita Golstein- Galperin Amir Elstein
Civil Service Reform Noa Barak Weshler Chair of the Board
Director of Marketing and Media Avi Fischer
Dr. Nasreen Hadad Haj- Yahya Eli Groner
Arab Society in Israel Elie Bennett Yossi Kucik
Director of International Strategy Chen Lichtenstein
Adv. Edna Harel- Fisher Sallai Meridor
Combatting Government Corruption Anat Goldman Mazal Mualem
Chief Financial Officer Prof. Fadia Nasser-Abu Alhija
Dr. Tammy Hoffman Prof. Vered Vinitzky- Seroussi
Education for Democracy Danae Marx Callaf Dr. Michal Tsur
Director of International Communications
Dr. Gilad Malach IDI Leadership
The Ultra-Orthodox in Israel Arnon Meir
Director of Impact and Government
Dr. Nadiv Mordechay Relations
Defense of Democratic Values and
Institutions Yael Nathanel Israeli
Director of Development
Dr. Idit Shafran Gittleman
Military and Society Dorit Shoval
Director, IDI Press and Administrative
Dr. Assaf Shapira Division
Political Reform

- 27 -

International Our Partners
Leadership
Founders The Paul E. Singer Foundation
Bernard Marcus (USA)
International Chair The Marcus Foundation
President Reuven Rivlin (USA) Diane & Guilford Glazer Foundation
Honorary Chair (USA)

Founders Guardians Prof. Amnon Shashua (Israel)
The Russell Berrie Foundation (USA)
Dr. Arye Carmon, Former President Joan and Irwin Jacobs The Trump Foundation (Israel)
Hon. George P. Shultz (1920-2021) (USA)

International Builders Zurim Foundation (Israel)
Advisory Council
William Davidson Foundation (USA) Contributors
Prof. Ronald J. Daniels, Chair (USA)
Justice Rosalie Silberman Anonymous (Israel) Doris and Mori Arkin Family
Abella (Canada) Foundation (Israel)
Elliot Abrams (USA)
Anne Applebaum (USA) Benefactors Mayberg Foundation (USA)
Justice Dorit Beinisch (Israel)
Prof. Vernon Bogdanor (UK) Charles and Lynn Schusterman The Margaret and Daniel Loeb
Justice Stephen G. Breyer (USA) Family Philanthropies (USA) Foundation (USA)
Prof. Gerhard Casper (USA)
Prof. Moshe Halbertal (Israel) Shustek Dubinsky Family Philanthropic Michelle and Daniel Lubetzky (USA)
Amb. Martin Indyk (USA) Fund (USA)
Dr. Josef Joffe (Germany) Anonymous (Germany)
Justice Salim Joubran (Israel)
Prof. Christoph Markschies (Germany) The Raymond Frankel Foundation Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Germany)
Prof. Robert H. Mnookin (USA) (USA) Michael Federmann (Israel)
Prof. Jehuda Reinharz (USA)
Prof. Gabriela Shalev (Israel) Patrons Social Venture Fund for Jewish-Arab
Judge Abraham D. Sofaer (USA) Equality and Shared Society (USA)
Bret Stephens (USA) Prof. Andrew Viterbi
Prof. Michael Walzer (USA) (USA) The CRB Family Foundation

Dalia & Eli Hurvitz
Foundation (Israel)

IDI Leadership - 28 -

Friends In Memoriam IDI Leadership

Kirsh Family Foundation (USA) Secretary George
P. Shultz
Isaac K. Fisher & Lourdes Suarez (USA)
In February 2021, Secretary George P.
Insights in Education Shultz, one of the greatest statesmen of the
(Tovanot Be'Hinuch) (Israel) twentieth century, passed away. Secretary
Shultz co-founded IDI shortly after stepping
Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund (USA) down as Secretary of State, and went on to
establish the Israel Democracy Institute's
Peter Joseph (USA) International Advisory Council and serve as IDI's Honorary Chair until his passing
at the age of 100.
Robert E. Meyerhoff and
Rheda Becker (USA) Secretary Shultz was not only an American patriot who served in numerous
senior positions, including Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Treasury and
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Secretary of State, but also a true and steadfast friend of Israel and the Jewish
Foundation (USA) People. During the 1980s, Secretary Shultz played a key role in designing the
policies that led to the peaceful end of the Cold War and the opening of the
Edmond de Rothschild gates of the Soviet Union to large-scale Jewish immigration to Israel. He also
Foundation (Israel) played an important role in the mid-1980s when hyper-inflation threatened
Israel's economy and Secretary Shultz provided Israel with the experts and
Amir Elstein (Israel) expertise that helped our country weather that crisis, liberalize the economy
and emerge stronger than ever.
Barer Family Foundation (USA)
After retiring from a long and distinguished career in public service, he
Supporters expressed his enduring commitment to Israel by readily agreeing to help
establish a ‘think-and-do tank,' as he called it, dedicated to preserving and
Alisa and Daniel Doctoroff (USA) strengthening Israel's embattled democracy. Never losing site of the fragility
of our country's fledgling democracy, Secretary Shultz foresaw the need for
Tal and Ariel Recanati (USA) an independent, non-partisan think-tank that would provide Israeli decision-
makers with policy proposals based on data, research and expertise. Secretary
Avi Fisher (Israel) Shultz provided the Institute's leadership with sage advice over the three
decades of his involvement.
Chen Lichtenstein (Israel)
Secretary Shultz's commitment to Israel's security and its democracy never
Robert Lehrer (Australia) wavered. He holds a special place of honor in the annals of Israel and the
Jewish people. May his memory be a blessing.
Mifal Ha'Pais (Israel)
- 29 -
Donald & Carole Chaiken
Foundation (USA)

Gary Stock (Israel)

Jon and Susan Diamond (USA)

Financials

Expenses 2021* 2020

Policy Centers ₪ $ % ₪ $ %
2,187,706 20% 6,295,135 1,958,051 19%
Democratic Values and Institutions 7,066,292 1,548,935 14% 6,161,893 1,916,608 19%
2,044,028 19% 6,475,420 2,014,128 20%
Religion, Nation and State** 5,003,059 508,291 5% 1,885,461 586,457 6%
580,826 5% 1,787,392 555,954 6%
Governance and the Economy 6,602,210
22%
National Security and Democracy 1,641,781 4%
2%
Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research 1,876,067 4%
2%
Impact and Support Units 7,633,641 2,363,356 4% 6,449,503 2,006,066 20%
Government relations, marketing, communications 1,249,566 386,863 100% 989,161 307,671 3%
IDI Press 754,918 233,721 538,055 167,358 2%
Development*** 1,339,294 414,642 5% 1,075,488 334,522 3%
IT and research support 659,484 204,175 5% 680,140 211,552 2%
Administration**** 1,502,925 465,302 -
Roundtable Renovation 35,329,237 10,937,844 32,337,649 10,058,367 100%

Total expenses

14% 19% 19% 20% 6%
20% 19% 6%

22% 20%

4%2%4% 2% 4% 2%3% 2%3%

Income 2021* $ % 2020 $ %
9,990,608 83% 9,097,514 85%
International donors ₪ 1,660,846 17% ₪ 1,597,997 15%
Israeli donors 28,860,540 387,505 0.4% 29,248,508 30,219 0.3%
Royalties, partnerships and miscellaneous 5,734,820 12,038,959 100% 5,137,560 10,725,730 100%
Total income 128,939 97,153
34,724,299 34,483,221

83% 85%
17%
15%
0.4% 0.3%

*Unaudited Financials | **Now part of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society
***Excluding $300,000 in additional fundraising expenditures that were offset by corresponding designated contributions
****The sums before allocation to projects are $1,801,978 in 2020 and $1,723,191 in 2021

- 30 -

Concept & Copy: Elie Bennett, Gila Noam and Anna Rozman
Design: Shifra Sacks
Photography by: Flash 90, Michal Fatal, Edan Gross, Alex Kolomoisky,
Ilia Yefimovich, Yossi Zeliger, and Amiram Zionav
Printed in Jerusalem, 2022





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