Chairman of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Cochav Hatzafon.
A social activist for the past 35 years and one of the sustaining pillars of the Organization.
Currently a Director of procurement and logistics of Elidoor industries, a former member of the Ma’alot Tarshicha City Council.
Ruth Gofer, CEO
Ruthy Gopher has a BA in Social Work from Haifa University, a MSW in Social Work from Tel Aviv University, and a MBA from Haifa University.
In 1997, Ruth founded the Cochav Organization, which includes two non-profits and a commercial corporation (Café Ma'arag – Social Business). She has been its CEO ever since. Most of Cochav’s activities intentionally take place in the northern geographic periphery, in recognition of the area’s needs, and a feeling of responsibility to the residents of this region.
Among Ruth’s accomplishments:
Establishment of a forum of twelve municipalities in the Western Galilee for the advancement of social issues
Establishment and operation of treatment frameworks and systems that offer innovative and groundbreaking rehabilitation services
Formulation, founding and operation of the Ma’arag projects, which serve as a role model in Israel and around the world, as a way to integrate people with disabilities within the community life
Ruth manages the Cochav nonprofits with complete transparency and professionalism, for which she has gained a stellar reputation. She has been awarded a number of prizes for her professional and personal achievements, including:
Shalem Foundation Prize for Excellence in Management
Beit Issie Shapiro’s Trump Benevolence Medal
Paul Harris Prize, Rotary Israel
Gabi Polizer, Deputy Director
Gabi Polizer has a BA in Social Work from Tel Aviv University and a degree in special education from Gordon College.
Since 2003, Gabi has been in charge of the employment department in Cochav, including:
Recruiting new clients for the Organization
Initiating and developing the ‘Supportive Environment’ Service for people with mental developmental disabilities
Liaison with welfare services and treatment centers
Finding customized solutions for specific situations
Gabi served as a commander of the IDF Paratrooper’s Brigade and afterwards was in charge of the “Raful Soldiers” (special IDF groups) in the North. He served as a mental health officer in reserve duty. In his first post-military position, Polizer worked as a youth and community leader in communities within the Emek Hefer Regional Council. He was the principal of a special needs school in Safed for ten years, and then managed an absorption center for Ethiopian immigrants for two years. For the next three years, he was the social services manager at the “Kishurit” Village in the Galilee for people with special needs, and then worked as the social services director at Leumit Health Fund (HMO) in the Western Galilee for three years.
Racheli Goldis Pruschy, Director of Human Resources andSpecial Projects
Racheli Goldis Pruschy has a BA in Social Work and an MA with an emphasis on Organization and Management.
She began working at Cochav in 2007 as the coordinator of children and youth at risk. Next, she worked as a social worker in the hostel, and was then promoted to manage the housing unit. In 2009, she became the manager of a daycare nursing center, and has served in her current position since 2013.
Rinat Shalom has a BA in Occupational Therapy from the Hebrew University Medical School, a MA in Occupational Therapy from the School of Health Professions at Tel Aviv University Medical School and has completed a clinical training skills course.
Rinat began working for the Cochav Organization in 2006, as an occupational therapist at the organization’s daycare nursing center, and also managed and instructed the center’s staff. Since 2012, she has been working as an occupational therapist and professional staff director at the Ma’arag occupational center in Kfar Vradim. Rinat manages the division of protected and supportive employment for people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. She is in charge of finding customized solutions to make work-areas accessible and for technological developments that aid individuals with severe physical disabilities.
Since 2018, Shalom has served as the director of professional training for the entire organization.
Rinat Shalom, Occupational Therapist, Director of Professional Training
director at the Ma’arag occupational center in Kfar Vradim. Rinat manages the division of protected and supportive employment for people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. She is in charge of finding customized solutions to make work-areas accessible and for technological developments that aid individuals with severe physical disabilities.
Since 2018, Shalom has served as the director of professional training for the entire organization.
Itai Ifergan has a BA in Social Sciences and an MA in Social Work.
Itai began working at Cochav in 2006 as a counselor at the "Bayit Bachoresh" Hostel, then continued as the director of advancement plans for residents, and as a social worker in the housing department. Since 2014, he has been the Housing Director and is in charge of the hostel and six apartments among the community.
Itay Ifergan, Housing Director
Naama Malka has a BA in Social Sciences from the Open University and completed the Education Ministry studies program in Educational Systems Management- community and youth educational management, as well as a community management course at Oranim College’s Shdemot Center.
She has extensive experience in creating and operating formal and informal educational centers in rural communities, as well as working with local municipalities.
She began working with Cochav in 2018.