Yoav Heller

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Yoav Heller
יואב הלר
Heller in 2023
Personal details
Born (1973-11-01) November 1, 1973
Herzliya, Israel
SpousePolly Bronstein
Children2
OccupationSocial activist
Known for
Founder of The Fourth Quarter

Yoav Heller (Hebrew: יואב הלר) is an Israeli activist who is one of the founders of The Fourth Quarter and was also formerly a chairman at the Wingate Institute.

Early life

Yoav Heller was born in 1973 in Herzliya. Because of his father's work in Solel Boneh, Heller moved several times as a child with his family, including in Nigeria and in Atlanta. After returning to Israel, the family settled in Menahemia before moving to Zikhron Ya'akov in 1990.[1]

During his military service, Heller served in the 7298th Infantry Regiment in the 98th Paratroopers Division as a commander.

Heller holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political science and Middle Eastern history, a Masters of Arts in Educational administration and policy from Tel Aviv University, and a PhD in History from the University of London. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on the father of the Mengele twins, Zvi Spiegel, and the issue of memory design.[2]

Career

In 1999, Heller began working as an editor at the Ynet website. In 2001, he was appointed editor of the homepage and sports section.[3]

In 2002, he joined the Branco Weiss Institute as a facilitator in schools in Lod, Ofakim, and the Hof HaCarmel Regional Council. In 2003, he helped establish the Tachlit program, which promoted education and social mobility among disadvantaged populations, reaching about 12,000 students living in the periphery.[3]

In 2009, Heller moved to London, where he co-founded and managed the Israel Connect Europe (ICU) program, which assisted young Europeans from 17 countries with Israeli advocacy.[3] In 2011-2015, he led the British delegation of the March of the Living.[4]

In 2014, Heller was appointed as the CEO of Maoz, where he helped with several initiatives aimed at promoting leadership with the interior, health, and education ministries, and also help reduce racism in Israeli society through media representation.[5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, Heller helped with pandemic response on the national level, including establishing multi-sectoral table for the Haredi and Arab communities.[6]

In 2019, Heller was appointed as the chairman of the National Corporation of the Wingate Institute, and later in September 2022 appointed as chairman overall.[7]

Social activism

In 1998, Heller and three of his friends founded an organization aimed at helping college students who struggle with paying college tuition costs and also fight for lower tuition fees. Heller served as chairman of the organization, where the movement lasted for 6 months and shut down campuses in Israel for 40 days. The movement ended after negotiations with the government.[8]

In 2021, Heller founded The Fourth Quarter alongside Ella Ringel, Uri Herman and Eitan Zeliger.[9][10] Heller serves as the chairman of the movement, where he helps with conducting events such as salong meetings, seminars and lectures.[11][12]

In 2025, Heller spoke about the importance of bridging between communities to reduce polarisation in Israel, and believed that top-down politics failed to address core societal concerns because of a focus on the limited desires of interest groups.[13]

Personal life

Heller is married to social activist Polly Bronstein. The couple has two children and live in Tel Aviv. Heller regularly lectures on his doctoral topic and participates in Zikaron BaSalon.[14]

References

  1. "ד"ר יואב הלר" [Dr. Yoav Heller] (in Hebrew). Community Center Society.
  2. "The History of Zvi Spengel: The Experience of Mengele Twins and Their Protector During the Holocaust and Its Aftermath". Google Books.
  3. "ד"ר יואב הלר" [Dr. Yoav Heller] (in Hebrew). Maoz.
  4. Heller, Yoav (6 April 2013). "מסע לפולין: הזדמנות חינוכית" [A Journey to Poland: An Educational Opportunity] (in Hebrew). Israel Hayom.
  5. ""חסרה לי הכרה בדרך הייסורים": מסע למולדת עם יוצאי אתיופיה" ["I lack recognition on the path of suffering": A journey to the homeland with Ethiopian immigrants] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 26 November 2019.
  6. "רשת מעוז בימי קורונה" [Maoz Network in the Time of Corona] (in Hebrew).
  7. "ד"ר יואב הלר מונה לתפקיד יו"ר מכון וינגייט" [Assi Maman, Dr. Yoav Heller appointed as Chairman of the Wingate Institute] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 21 July 2022.
  8. "היום לפני 11 שנים: הסטודנטים מסכימים לשבור את שביתת הרעב" [11 years ago today: Students agree to break hunger strike] (in Hebrew). 26 November 2009.
  9. Elhadz Barak, Eitan (22 March 2023). "האם זו היוזמה שתציל את ישראל מעצמה?" [Is this the initiative that will save Israel from itself?] (in Hebrew).
  10. Eretz, Idan (26 October 2022). "ד"ר יואב הלר: "איבדנו את היכולת לדמיין מציאות אלטרנטיבית"" [Dr. Yoav Heller: "We have lost the ability to imagine an alternative reality"] (in Hebrew). Globes.
  11. "יו"ר 'הרבעון הרביעי': "הולכים למשבר וגם להתחדשות" - רדיו קול חי" [Chairman of the 'Fourth Quarter': "We are heading for a crisis and also for renewal"] (in Hebrew). Radio Kol Hai.
  12. "ד"ר יואב הלר: להפסיק לדבר על ניצחון" [Dr. Yoav Heller: Stop talking about victory] (in Hebrew). Ynet. 8 May 2023.
  13. "Dr. Yoav Heller on Rebuilding Centrist Politics and Uniting Israelis". Stanford University Centre of on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. 8 May 2025.
  14. Szumpelby, Attila (28 April 2022). "להיות קאפו: על השגרה האכזרית, היחס בארץ ומשפט אייכמן" [Being a Kapo: On the Brutal Routine, Attitude in Israel, and the Eichmann Trial] (in Hebrew). Ynet.