Irith Rappaport

Irith Rappaport is a dedicated philanthropist, patron of the arts, and daughter of the late Ruth and Bruce, who were among the pioneers of Israeli philanthropy. Irith was born in Haifa. After graduating from the New York University School of Journalism and Mass Communications, she pursued a successful career in international business development and strategic counseling.

Over the years, Irith was involved in numerous charitable projects on behalf of the Family Foundation, The Bruce and Ruth Rappaport Foundation, and is personally responsible for establishing the famous Rappaport Prize, awarded for excellence in art and biomedical research, as well as to women generating change who have had significant achievements in the Israeli society.

Acting on her belief that art and culture can drive social change, she is a major and active supporter of the arts and education in Israel and across the globe.

Irith serves on the Board of Governors of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, as well as on the Museums’ Board of Directors and is the President of its International Friends Association. Further leadership commitments include The Board of Directors, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; founding member of the Institute of Law and Philanthropy at Tel Aviv University; International and Israeli Board of Directors, Jewish Funder’s Network.

In her hometown Haifa, Irith carried on the generous legacy of her Technion Guardian parents, Bruce and Ruth Rappaport. They played a key role in the development and success of the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, which bears their name. They also established the Rappaport Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences to promote excellence in biomedical research. The Ruth Children Hospital at the Rambam Medical Campus was inaugurated in 2014 and more recently, Irith implemented her mother’s will and laid the cornerstone for the Rappaport Technion Center for Advanced Medical Research. In addition, Irith serves on the Board of Directors and Chairperson of Biorap (the technological transfer commercial company of the Rappaport Institute of Biomedical Research); and Deputy Chairperson of the Rappaport Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Technion.