Our Team

Rabbi Asher Melamed

CEO and Founder

M.A

Rabbi Asher Melamed served as a police officer for 22 years in the role of Chief Rabbi of the Southern District and the Center. Afterward, he served as Head of Staff for the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, as well as Director of the Rabbinical and Counseling Organization for Therapists in Israel. As part of his police role, he initiated the establishment of licensing and certification processes for Haredi therapists within the police and remained a key advocate for Haredi integration in Israeli law enforcement. One of his notable achievements was raising the Israeli flag for the first
time at a Haredi high school during a recruitment talk by the Israeli Police.
Thanks to his influence, a number of ultra-Orthodox researchers and female officers joined the police investigation units.

Rabbi Melamed holds a first degree in law and a second degree in public policy and crisis management He is also a graduate of the Public Envoys Program at the Mandel Leadership Institute.

Yael Czernowitzky

Director of Survivor and Family Support Services
M.A

Yael holds a master’s degree in art therapy and specializes in treating survivors of sexual abuse. She is also a certified safety educator. She serves as the holistic care coordinator at the Israeli Center for Safety, overseeing support for survivors and their families, and developing specialized, trauma-informed environments. Yael is happy to contribute her skills and passion to this meaningful mission.

Reut Aviri

Attorney

Head of Legal/Social Advocacy for Survivors
M.A

Reut holds a JD in Law from Bar-Ilan University and a Master’s degree in Criminology from the Hebrew University. Reut has worked as a clinical legal practitioner in the Southern District for 17 years. As part of her role, she represented clients in various types of legal proceedings, including handling cases of gender-based violence in family courts.

"In my work at the Center, I see it as a great privilege to accompany each survivor through the

legal-welfare process.I know how much courage it takes to begin this journey, and I’m here to

help carry that weight.Sometimes what seems like ‘just a signature at the bottom of a form’ in

Hebrew can feel like an entire mountain to climb — and that fills me with a deep sense of

meaning and responsibility."

Reut is also a proud graduate of the “HaOr Beketzeh HaMaharer” (Light at the End of the Tunnel) Program for survivors of sexual harm—a program that fills her with purpose and a deep sense of mission.

Yasmin Shavit

Attorney, Legal Department at the Center

Yasmin served for 19 years as a senior prosecutor in the district attorney’s office. In that role, she handled complex criminal cases, and her main area of specialization was sexual assault and gender-based violence, including the litigation of these cases in court. In addition, she served for several years as the head of the Ministry of Justice’s Parole and Clemency Committee, overseeing cases involving incarcerated individuals, including those convicted of serious crimes seeking early release.

"I see my role as one of advocacy. It’s not just about representing the rights of survivors, but about being a clear and forceful voice in their name. Survivors of sexual harm cannot always speak for themselves, especially when the harm is so deeply silencing."

 Deborah Shmachova's

Attorney, Hotline Supervisor

"My vision at the Center is to provide support and assistance to survivors and their families-

with compassion and dignity, and from a place of hope and faith.“

Sarah Fried

Clinical social worker

Senior Center, Jerusalem

Provides support and guidance to survivors and families affected by sexual harm.

Sarah has worked as a social worker for over 40 years. She served for many years in the

Jerusalem Municipality in various roles and settings, including in matters related to juvenile

justice.

Batsheva Mansour

LCSW (Ret.), Master's degree in Clinical Pathology

Volunteer at the Center, providing support to family members of survivors.