Judith Yovel Recanati is a leading entrepreneur and social activist, who is committed to strengthening Israeli society.

In 1998, together with the late Dr. Yossi Hadar, Judith Yovel Recanati founded NATAL – the Israel Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War, a non-profit organization that aims to be a multidisciplinary treatment center for trauma victims of terror and war, and their families, in which she serves as active chairperson. In 2004, together with her late husband, Dr. Israel (Rolly Yovel, and their three daughters, they founded a family philanthropic foundation – the Gandyr Foundation – which was established out of the wish to help strengthen Israeli society by focusing on the support and cultivation of civil social organizations and emphasizing the advancement of youth in Israel ahead of their integration as adults in society. One of the things that motivate her is causing as many people as possible to contribute their money and time for the sake of Israeli society. 

Judith is one of the founders of Sheatufim, a center that strives to strengthen civil society by developing social administration, creating national spheres of influence, conducting triple-sector round tables, and more. In addition, Judith invests effort in expanding private philanthropy. In this context, she is an active partner in the “Committed to Give” group (Yecholim Notnim) – an initiative to promote philanthropy in Israel, and a member of the Jewish Funders Network (JFN) and the Lion of Judah Israel (Arie Yehuda Israel) organization for promoting philanthropy of women. Professionally trained as an art therapist and a graduate of Boston’s Leslie College program, she is also a mother of three daughters and a grandmother of eight grandchildren.