# Matan Yaffe

Matan Yaffe (born October 5, 1984) is an Israeli social activist and entrepreneur, serving as the chairman of the "Shoresh Foundation" and a member of the leadership of the Zionist organization "El HaDegel."
Yaffe holds the Major (res.) rank in the Commando Brigade and is the founder of the "Desert Stars" organization. This non-profit operates a pioneering program for developing and empowering leadership among Bedouin youth. He served as the organization's CEO from 2012 to 2022.

## Biography

Matan Yaffe was born to Yechiam and Bruria Yaffe, descending from a deeply rooted Zionist family. He is the grandson of Uri Yaffe. He grew up in the Beit HaKerem neighborhood of Jerusalem and completed his high school education at "Harel" High School. In his youth, he was active in the Scouts movement, initially as a participant and later as a young leader in the "Yehonatan" tribe.
In 2003, Yaffe enlisted in the Armored Corps. He attended the Armored Corps Officer Course, graduating as the battalion’s outstanding cadet, and received his commission from the Chief of Staff. Later in his military service, he served as a commander in an officer’s course - “Ganan Kakash” and trained new officers in the Armored corps. Towards the end of his service, he commanded a combat support company, where he was first exposed to underprivileged populations from low socio-economic backgrounds.
After his discharge from the IDF in 2007, Yaffe traveled through Australia, Mongolia, Siberia, and Kamchatka. Upon returning to Israel in 2011, he joined the student village in Ashalim, and, In 2012, he served as CEO of the regional tourism complex "Pundak HaKilometer Ha-101," owned by Koshi Rimon.

## Social Activity and Community Contribution

In 2013, Yaffe and Dr. Mohammad Alnabari founded the "Desert Stars" organization to nurture a new generation of young Bedouin leaders, integrating them as an inseparable part of Israeli society. The idea to establish "Desert Stars" emerged after the birth of his first son, when Yaffe realized that the lifestyle of Jewish settlements in the Negev—fortifying themselves behind fences and walls against Bedouin residents—was unsustainable.To ensure security and tranquility for Negev residents, he believed promoting the Bedouin society and providing its youth with the same opportunities available to Jewish youth in Israel was essential. At that point, Yaffe initiated a series of meetings with Bedouin figures, educators, politicians, and local government officials to study the issue and propose innovative, creative, and effective solutions.
The first cohort of the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Incubator for young Bedouins was launched in 2014, with the assistance of the head of the Ramat Negev Regional Council, Shmuel (Shmulik) Rifman, and the director of the Nitzana Youth Village, David Palmach. That same year, Yaffe moved with his family to Nitzana, where his second son was born, and his partner, Dr. Mohammad Alnabari, was appointed as the godfather.
In 2016, he relocated the activity to the Bnei Shimon Regional Council area, collaborating with Sigal Moran, the council's head, to initiate the establishment of the first Arab-Bedouin youth village in Israel—the "Jusidman Campus" for developing Bedouin leadership in the Negev. This is one of Israel's largest educational construction projects, totaling approximately 26,000 square meters and costing 250 million NIS, of which 100 million NIS were raised through donations (Yaffe personally raised about 50% of this amount during his tenure as CEO), and various government ministries funded an additional 150 million NIS.
Yaffe led as the founding CEO of the "Desert Stars" organization until 2022, during which the organization grew to over 100 employees and an annual budget of approximately 30 million NIS: about 40% of the budget is government-funded, and 60% is donations that Yaffe raised domestically and internationally (initially, the organization's activities were funded from a loanYaffe took for 31,000 NIS).
In parallel to his activities with "Desert Stars," Yaffe established an organization called "Kumzitz" with David Sheraz and Ziv Gershoni.
As a result of this initiative, he partnered with Rabbi David Label, with whom Yaffe and Sherez rebuilt the organization Achvat Torah, which promotes the integration of Haredim into Israeli society and fosters communities of working Haredim.
In June 2022, Matan Yaffe moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. During his studies, he and two fellow Israeli students proposed a class project emphasizing Israel as a liberal Jewish democracy. Their professor found the theme offensive, comparing "Jewish democracy" to "White supremacy," and demanded they change their topic. When the students refused, they faced marginalization and received lower grades. Feeling discriminated against, Yaffe and his peers filed a complaint against Harvard, alleging a hostile learning environment. An independent investigation confirmed these claims. Yaffe and his friends filed an official complaint and sued Harvard with the assistance of Brandeis Center. In January 2025, Harvard settled the lawsuit by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and committing to measures ensuring a welcoming environment for Jewish and Israeli students.The adoption of the antisemitism definition by Harvard has a profound impact as Harvard’s actions as one of the top Ivy League universities impact the other universities in the United States.
This settlement marked a significant step in addressing antisemitism in academic institutions, as Harvard’s actions as one of the top Ivy League universities impact the other universities in the United States.
At the end of summer 2023, Yaffe returned to Israel with his family. Shortly thereafter, following the outbreak of the October 7 war, he was called up for reserve duty, serving for 300 days in the Commando Brigade.
Simultaneously, he and fellow reservists established the organization Tikkun 2024, which later changed its name to El-Hadegel, advocating that politicians rise to the occasion and take "the right Zionist action" by assuming responsibility and fostering unity among all segments of society. Through numerous media interviews, he sought to influence political leadership to adopt the Tikkun framework, which he co-authored with his organization’s members.
In 2023, “Kumzitz” changed its name to the “Shoresh Fund.” Yaffe was appointed as the CEO, and Chen Amit, an investor Yaffe knew from Desert Stars, became the foundation's chairperson. Keren Shoresh promotes social initiatives and strengthens the connection between different sectors of Israeli society.
Personal Life
Matan Yaffe is married to Aviv, and they have five children - Nevo, Negev, Arbel, Tavor, and Sinai. The family resides in the Srigim, which is located in Emek Haela.

## Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Yaffe has received several awards and recognitions for his social activities, including:
* IIE Victor J. Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East (2023)
* The Zusman-Joint Award for Excellence in the Field of Social Services in Israel (2019).
* The President's Volunteer Award (2018).
* The Israeli Hope Prize from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (2018).
* In 2021, the Leadership High School of "Desert Stars" was among the winners of the Jerusalem Unity Prize in the "Unity in Education" category.