Staff

Janice G. Stolar
Executive Director

Ms. Stolar was appointed ISEF’s Executive Director in July 2011. She comes to ISEF from Shaare Zedek, where she was National Development Director. Previous leadership positions include: Chief Advancement Officer for ORT America, overseeing all national and regional fundraising efforts and leadership development; Director of National Women’s Philanthropy for United Jewish Communities of North America, where $540 million in endowment and operating funds were raised during her tenure; and Assistant Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County.
“Janice brings the right experience and leadership skills to ISEF,” says ISEF President Weiner.  “With an impressive track record, we believe she will play a valuable role in furthering the organization’s mission and taking ISEF’s development activities to the next level.”
Ms. Stolar began her professional life as a television producer for Doyle, Dane, Bernbach Advertising in Manhattan, where she was part of the team that won a prestigious CLIO award for American Tourister’s “Gorilla” commercial.

Ofira Yaish
Director of Development

Ofira joined ISEF in April 2002. She has worked closely with the foundation’s growing Young Leaders Division and oversees the International Fellows Program for ISEF’s doctoral and postdoctoral candidates studying throughout the world. Born in Tel Aviv and raised in New York, her career has included management consulting, commercial and residential real estate, and dance production. Ofira holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and serves on the Board of Directors of the Yemenite Jewish Federation of America.

Nancy Wellins
Director of Communications and Grants

Nancy has worked with ISEF since 1992. Previously she was Bureau Chief for Israel’s Consul-General in New York; Head of English Publications, International Center for Peace in the Middle East; and Correspondent and Acting Editor-in-Chief, English News Department, Israel Government Press Office. She also had a professional singing career with the New Israel Opera and the Israel National Choir. She holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Yale University.

Anita Schnee
Manager, Business Operations

Anita has worked with ISEF since 2000.  Previously she was Registrar for Israel Programs for the Youth Division of the UAHC, as well as Study Abroad Coordinator and Assistant Housing Coordinator for the Center for English Studies in Manhattan.  She earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (focused on international business) from Hofstra University, and an M.B.A. in international business from George Washington University.

Adi Helfer
Development Coordinator

Adi began her position with ISEF in April 2010. Adi holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in Sociology with a focus on social services, and a Master’s in Middle Eastern Studies from Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheva, Israel. She has previously worked for over a dozen nonprofit organizations all over Israel, providing social services and legal advocacy for disadvantaged youth, women, immigrants, and other marginalized populations.