Haim Saadoun

Prof. Haim Saadoun is a senior faculty member (emeritus) in the Department of History, Philosophy and Jewish Study at the Open University. Prof. Saadoun specializes in the study of Jews in Muslim areas in modern times. His research focuses on the lands of the Maghreb, with an emphasis on the social and political activity of the Jews, Jewish-Muslim relations, Zionism, Aliyah, the Second World War, and the shape of the historical memory of the Jewish communities. For a list of Prof. Saadoun’s publications (Hebrew), click here.

Niko is a father of two and lives in Jerusalem. He holds a PhD in History of the State of Israel from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. His research topic was: ‘Ben-Gurion and his perception of the State in his relations with the Histadrut 1949-1963’. Niko researches and writes on the topics of the history of the State of Israel, economy and society in Israel, leadership, and statehood. He lectures on the topics of Zionism, political science, and more. He has extensive experience in the third sector and in work with the government and the Knesset. Niko is a former activist in the field of the rights of workers, Olim, and reservists. He is also the editor and presenter of the podcast ‘What’s Your Vision?’ which deals with the core issues of Israeli society.

Sandra Furtos

Sandra holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Jewish Studies and a master’s degree in history with a specialization in archiving and information science, both from Sorbonne University. Her previous roles include Archive and Culture Coordinator of the Friends of André Chouraqui Association in Jerusalem and research assistant in the Central Zionist Archives.   Alongside her work in historical research about the Jews of North Africa, Sandra completed studies at the Gordon Academic College of Education in Haifa and now teaches French at Tevel Middle School in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem.   Sandra’s areas of interest are history and archaeology, and she is thrilled to be able to live in a city as steeped in multicultural and religious history as Jerusalem.

Nessiya Freedman

Nessiya Freedman has been at Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi since 2019, and was previously involved as a volunteer. She began her tenure in the library and archive; today, she works as a research assistant in the Documentation Center and also as Digitization and Information Systems Coordinator (as well as working on documentation) connected to the library, archive, and picture archive. Nessiya holds a BA Hon. in Jewish Studies from York University in Toronto; among her other academic endeavors, she has studied at the Hebrew University as part of her degree and attended the Naomi Prawer International Yiddish Summer Program at Tel Aviv University. Recently she has begun studies in archiving and information science. Nessiya is very interested in languages: she speaks English and Hebrew fluently, has studied Yiddish, French, and a little German - and the list continues to expand. Nessiya also does creative writing.

Martine Saada Khayat was born in Paris (1959) to parents from Sfax (Tunisia). Martine made Aliyah at age 17 (1976). She studied History and Jewish History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for her bachelor’s degree. Afterwards, she completed certificate studies in archiving and information science at the Hebrew University. Martine worked in the Knesset for thirty years: ten years as a parliamentary archivist and twenty years as the director of the Special Committee for the Rights of the Child. She is a mother of four and grandmother of four. Martine retired in 2016. Today she volunteers with Qualita, an organization for the absorption of French immigrants, and with the documentation center.