Menu
Menu
Join us on Zoom to hear from Wafa Eben Beri, an Israeli Bedouin activist and former head of the Government and Policy Department at the Israeli Ministry for Social Equality– Minorities Economic Development Authority, with expertise on social mobility, minority representation, and Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. In addition to sharing her own story, Wafa will offer insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Bedouin communities and how these issues relate to broader Israeli society. Israel’s 300,000 Negev Bedouin are Muslim Arabs with a historically semi-nomadic lifestyle who retain their unique cultural traditions and heritage. While Negev Bedouin are part of Israel’s Arab minority and share their interests and concerns, their way of life and traditions present unique challenges. While they remain Israel’s most economically disadvantaged population group, recent government, civil society, and community-led efforts are making progress toward narrowing gaps.
Wafa has 12 years of experience working in civil society and the public sector in Israel. She works toward the empowerment of Bedouin society, advancement for the next generation, and Jewish-Arab coexistence in Israel.
Wafa was the head of the Department of Government Policy at the Economic Development Authority for Minorities in the Ministry for Social Equality in Israel. In this role, she led the Israeli Government’s effort to increase employment of minorities in the Israeli labor market, and specifically women from minority groups. Previously, Wafa was the first and youngest woman to run the Bedouin volunteer tent at AJEEC-Arab Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment, and Cooperation. She managed a team of 70 program coordinators and supported over 1300 volunteers and more than 20,000 beneficiaries from all over the country.
Wafa completed her master’s degree from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy as an Obama Foundation Scholar and most recently worked as a consultant for McKinsey.
Erica Shaps is the Educational Programs Manager at the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues (IATF). In this capacity, she develops educational programs, trainings, and resources pertaining to Arab citizens of Israel and Jewish-Arab relations within Israel for American Jewish organizations. Erica has consulted, written, and conducted research for diverse organizations in Israel and abroad. She worked as a Middle East Program Coordinator for Encounter where she planned programs to cultivate more informed and constructive Jewish leadership on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Previously, as an Entwine Fellow at the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Erica supported social mobility programs for underserved communities in Israel, including Arab citizens of Israel. Erica is a trained facilitator and mediator. She received her BA from Brandeis University in Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies and an MA from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in International Law and Diplomacy as a Wexner Fellow/Davidson Scholar.
