Dr. Yizhar Hess, Vice Chairman, Mercaz Olami, was Executive Director of the Masorti Movement in Israel between 2007 and 2020, and represented the Masorti Movement in negotiations with the government regarding egalitarian prayer at the Kotel. After serving as Deputy Director at the Shorashim Centre for Jewish Studies, he served as the Jewish Agency’s community shaliach to Tucson. In Israel, he worked for the Jewish Agency as Director of Partnerships. He is co-editor of Questions About God, published by Ma’ariv. Dr. Hess, a member of the Israeli Bar, earned a Ph.D. in Sociology and Education from Sussex University in England.