Barak Sella

Barak Sella is a Fellow at the Middle East Initiative at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Barak is an educator, community organizer, and researcher, and is one of Israel's leading experts on US-Israel relations and World Jewry. His work at the Middle East Initiative will focus on developing sustainable people-to-people initiatives between Israel and Arab countries, particularly in light of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the post-Gaza War era. 

Born in Texas and raised in Israel, Barak's formative years were shaped by the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, an event that profoundly influenced his commitment to peace and democracy. This commitment led him to a leadership role in Israel's National Labor Youth Union, where he educated youth across Israel on the importance of democratic values and social justice. As the Union's national spokesperson, Barak spearheaded successful campaigns addressing youth poverty, worker rights, and government funding for education. 

Barak is also known for his work in preserving Yitzhak Rabin's legacy. He educated thousands of teens and edited the first literary anthology about the assassination, Class of 95. His dedication to Rabin's memory extended to his role as spokesperson for the National Memorial Rally and founding the Stand for Democracy coalition, which promotes Rabin's legacy in the United States. 

As an activist and community organizer, Barak has been instrumental in building bridges within Israeli and international communities. He led one of Israel's first COVID-19 volunteer response networks and initiated the country's first civil humanitarian aid effort for Syrian refugees. 

Most recently, Barak served as the Executive Director of the Reut Institute, a leading Israeli think tank focused on strategy and leadership. In this role, he collaborated with key figures in the Israeli government and NGOs in both Israel and the United States on issues such as Israel delegitimization, the Ukraine war, radical movements, antisemitism, Jewish peoplehood, and Israel-US relations. 

Barak is a published author and a frequent contributor to media outlets, including the Jerusalem Post, YNET, and The Forward, where he writes about Jewish identity, diaspora relations, Israeli and American politics, and the Middle East. He has appeared on various media platforms, spoken at numerous conferences within the Jewish community, and consulted for governments and leading NGOs, significantly contributing to the global dialogue on Jewish affairs. 

Barak holds a B.Ed. and a teaching diploma in history from Beit-Berl Academic College, an M.A. in American Jewish Studies from Haifa University, and recently completed a Master's in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In addition to his current fellowship at the Belfer Center, Barak is also a Fellow at the Center for Jewish Peoplehood Education.