Staff Members - The Jewish People Policy Institute

Gadi Mozes

jppi — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:58:02 +0000

Prof. Samuel Moyn

jppi — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:31:26 +0000

Dr. Kobby Barda

jppi — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 18:46:35 +0000

Dr. Kobby Barda is a lecturer at the School of Multidisciplinary Studies at the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT), a Visiting Fellow at the University of South Wales, and a Senior Non-Resident Scholar at the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh. His research focuses on American political history, particularly the intersection of religion and politics, the evangelical movement, and its influence on U.S. foreign policy. His recent book, The Liberty Way: Falwell’s Path to Christian Zionism (Anthem Press, 2025), examines the development of evangelical grassroots networks and their impact on U.S.–Israel relations.

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LTC (Ret.) Or Horvitz

jppi — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 09:18:46 +0000

LTC (Ret.) Or Horvitz is a strategic leader with over 17 years of experience at the intersection of U.S. foreign policy, U.S.–Israel relations, intelligence, and security. He currently serves as Head of the American Program at the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI).

In parallel, he serves as Head of Strategy at Elsight Ltd., as a Lecturer on intelligence, crisis management, and international affairs, and provides strategic advisory services to companies, institutions, and senior decision-makers navigating complex geopolitical and security environments.

A former Lieutenant Colonel in Israeli Defense Intelligence (IDI), he led large multidisciplinary teams, authored hundreds of decision memoranda for senior military and government leadership, and gained extensive experience along the intelligence axis linking Israel and the United States. In his final roles in IDI, he served as Head of the Hezbollah and Lebanon Branch (2022–2024) and later as Senior Advisor to the Director of IDI (2024–2026), where he was centrally involved in post–October 7 transformation processes and Israel’s campaigns against Hezbollah and Iran.

He is an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School’s RK Fellowship (2020–2021) and IDI’s elite Havatzalot program (2008–2011).

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Peter Lerner

jppi — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:19:47 +0000

Adv. Gil Avriel

jppi — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:33:22 +0000

Adv. Gil Avriel served as the Legal Adviser to the Israeli National Security Council in the Prime Minister’s Office. During his 14 years of service, he advised four Prime Ministers and eight Heads of the National Security Council on core issues pertaining to Israel’s foreign affairs and national security policy.

He is a graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (Public Policy) and Georgetown University Law Center, and was a Fellow at the Harvard Center for Public Leadership.

His areas of expertise include international law, public policy, multilateral and international negotiations and conflict resolution, lawfare, and national security decision-making processes. He serves as an adjunct lecturer at the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at Reichman University.

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Colonel (res.) Adv. Asem Hamed

jppi — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:36:34 +0000

Colonel (res.) Adv. Asem Hamed served as the Chief Legal Advisor of the Israel Defense Forces in the Judea and Samaria Area from 2020 to 2023. He retired from the IDF with the rank of Colonel after holding a series of legal positions within the IDF and the defense establishment, including roles in the Military Prosecution, the Military Defense, and legal advisory units.

In 2023, he joined the law firm Arnon, Tadmor-Levy, where he currently serves as a partner and head of a department. In parallel, he serves as an external advisor to the Minister of the Interior on planning and construction matters within the Druze and Circassian communities.

He holds an LL.B. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an LL.M. (with distinction) in Public Law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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Matt Shapiro

jppi — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:21:17 +0000

Matt Shapiro completed his MA in Conflict Research, Management, and Resolution at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, focusing on the role and impact of interpersonal dynamics on diplomatic negotiations. He holds a BA in Political Science and Psychology (summa cum laude) from Brandeis University, where he completed a senior honours thesis on Holocaust memorialization in Israel and the United States, examining its effects on collective memory and social cohesion. He has contributed to research on US-Israel relations, analyzing policy developments, public opinion polls and scholarly literature for publications in the Israel Affairs journal. He has also assisted with conducting digital social media research on political discourse and public sentiment in Israel.

At JPPI, Matt supports research and facilitates focus groups to better inform Israeli policymakers of Jewish Diaspora opinions, while assisting with editing and coordinating the distribution and institutional outreach of certain key publications.

The post Matt Shapiro first appeared on The Jewish People Policy Institute.

Adina Bar-Shalom

jppi — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 10:47:46 +0000

Adina Bar-Shalom is the founder of the Haredi College of Jerusalem and a recipient of the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement and Special Contribution to Society and the State (2014).

The post Adina Bar-Shalom first appeared on The Jewish People Policy Institute.