Noa Tishby
Noa Tishby | |
|---|---|
נועה תשבי | |
 Noa Tishby in Jaffa, 2021 | |
| Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and the Delegitimization of Israel | |
| In office 4 November 2022 – 2 April 2023 | |
| President | Isaac Herzog |
| Prime Minister | Yair Lapid Benjamin Netanyahu |
| Minister | Yair Lapid Eli Cohen |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Hasbara promotion during the Gaza war | |
| In office 10 October 2023 – end of the war | |
| Appointed by | Foreign Minister Eli Cohen |
| President | Isaac Herzog |
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) |
| Preceding | Position established [3] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Noa Tohar Tishby May 1975 (age 50) Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | noatishby |
Noa Tohar Tishby (Hebrew: נועה טוהר תשבי; Hebrew pronunciation: [no'ʔa tiʃ'bi]; born May 1975[4]) is an Israeli actress and activist. She appeared in a variety of American television shows and movies, including The Affair, The Island, Nip/Tuck, Big Love, NCIS, and others. She is the co-executive producer of the HBO series In Treatment, which is an adaptation of the Israeli series BeTipul. Her production company Noa's Arc was responsible for selling several other adaptations of Israeli programs to American networks.
Tishby focuses on Zionist activism, founding the advocacy organization Act for Israel in 2011, which was revealed in 2025 to have collaborated with the Israeli government to shape coverage of Israel in American media, in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). In 2021, she published her first book, Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth. She served as the Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and the Delegitimization of Israel for one year, from 2022 to 2023.
Early life
Noa Tishby was born in Tel Aviv, Israel,[5] in May 1975,[4] into a Jewish family involved in the establishment of Israel.[6] The kibbutz her grandfather co-founded was among the first in Israel's history.[6] Tishby began acting at an early age, appearing in commercials by age 8.[7] As a teenager, she earned a drama scholarship from the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and acted in several stage productions and television shows.[8] She also served two and a half years in the Israel Defense Forces.[7]
Career
Tishby began to achieve fame in Israel in the 1990s, appearing on the Israeli television drama Ramat Aviv Gimmel[5] and starring as Anita in a production of West Side Story at the Habima Theatre.[8][9] She released an English language album (Nona)[8] and appeared on magazine covers and billboard ads as a model.[5] In the early 2000s, she moved to Los Angeles, an ambition she had from childhood.[7][10]
By 2006, Tishby had appeared in a series of television roles on shows like Star Trek: Enterprise, Nip/Tuck, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The 4400, and Charmed. She had a part in the 2005 film The Island. In 2008, Tishby sold the Israeli drama series BeTipul to HBO. It was the first Israeli format to become an American television show.[11] The resultant American adaptation, In Treatment,[12] premiered in 2008 with Tishby as co-executive producer along with Mark Wahlberg.[13]
It ran for three seasons between 2008 and 2010, before returning for a fourth season in 2021 with Tishby still as co-executive producer.[14] The show, which follows a series of fictional therapy sessions, won a Peabody Award in 2009.[15] In the years during and after In Treatment's first run, Tishby continued to play roles on TV shows like NCIS and Big Love.[16][17]
Additionally, Tishby began pitching adaptations of other Israeli programs to American networks[18] through her production company Noa's Arc.[16] Tishby was responsible for the development of adaptations for A Touch Away,[18] as well as Life Isn't Everything,[19] which was renamed Divorce: A Love Story for the American version.[20]
Activism
Tishby has been an activist advocating for Israel since at least 2011.[5] Tishby has harshly criticized the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, referring to the principles behind its cause as "misinformation, disinformation, manipulation, elimination of history and flat-out lies."[5] She has called Amnesty International's characterization of Israel as an apartheid state "disgraceful".[21]
In 2014, she founded Reality Israel, which holds a series of "leadership trips" for Jewish and non-Jewish people in Israel.[22] In 2016 and 2018, she spoke before the United Nations General Assembly in New York City in support of Israel.[5] In February 2021, Tishby joined the Black–Jewish Entertainment Alliance.[23]
In April 2022, Tishby was appointed by then-Prime Minister Yair Lapid as Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and the Delegitimization of Israel, the first person to serve in the newly created position.[24] Her appointment to the position initially drew skepticism.[25] She also registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).[26] In April 2023, she was dismissed from the position after she spoke out against the judicial reform proposed by the new government of re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[27]
During the Gaza war, Tishby has been a leading Zionist voice in the U.S.[28] She has advocated for the return of hostages taken by Hamas, and criticized "so-called pro-Palestinian movements" in the United States.[26] In an interview with the National Post, she stated that Israel had lost its public relations war.[29] On November 29, 2025, Tishby was assaulted during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Paris. The footage she shared on her social media outlets shows a protester grabbing a phone belonging to a person with her and throwing it to the ground. Over the course of the rally, she reported being verbally abused, pursued by protesters, and subjected to explicit insults and hostile slogans directed at her and at Israel.[30]
Tishby founded the nonprofit media organization Eighteen in 2024, of which she is the CEO, describing its mission as being "to empower Jews and allies to be proud advocates of Israel, the Jewish community and Western values. Its mission is to fight antisemitism, defend Israel and inspire Jewish pride."[31][32][33] In December 2024, Eighteen began producing a video project of menorah lightings where Tishby appeared alongside a different celebrity figure for each night of Hanukkah, with the series from December 2024-January 2025 featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, Mila Kunis, Mayim Bialik, Iliza Shlesinger, Van Jones, Cindy Crawford, Tiffany Haddish, and Gal Gadot.[31][34] In 2025, Eighteen launched the Voices of October 7th speaking tour, which was hosted at six campuses in the United States.[35]
On October 22, 2025, Tishby was featured as a speaker at the convocation ceremony at Liberty University.[36]
In 2025, The Jerusalem Post included Tishby on their list of "50 Most Influential Jews", ranked 45th in a group entry of "seven pro-Israel influencers" that also included Gal Gadot (Israeli actress and model), Arsen Ostrovsky (Israeli lawyer), Siggy Flicker (The Real Housewives of New Jersey), Hen Mazzig (social media influencer), Hillel Neuer (Executive director of UN Watch), and Eyal Yakoby (social media strategist).[37][38]
In January 2026, Tishby appeared as a guest on the PBS program Firing Line with Margaret Hoover.[39]
Books
In April 2021, she released her first book, Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth. The book discusses the history and culture of Israel with autobiographical details. In the book, Tishby takes a Zionist stance and criticizes the BDS movement as it pertains to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[5] The book was published by Simon & Schuster.[22]
In 2024, Simon & Schuster published her second book on antisemitism, co-written with African-American activist Emmanuel Acho, titled Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew.[40] The book won the Education and Jewish identity Award at the 74th National Jewish Book Awards.[41][42]
Act for Israel
In 2011, Tishby founded Act for Israel, an online Zionist advocacy organization. Tishby created the group with a stated goal of correcting misinformation about Israel's history, culture, and governmental policies.[6][43] In March 2011, Act for Israel arranged seven interviews of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) delegation with American blogs and radio shows, including RedState.[26] Act for Israel later became defunct.[26]
In 2025, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft reported on leaked emails indicating that Act for Israel's activities on behalf of Israel violated FARA, and that the scope and timeline of Tishby's pro-Israel work went beyond what she had disclosed when registering as a foreign agent.[26] According to the Quincy Institute, "In public, Act For Israel appeared to be no more than a group of pro-Israel Americans advocating for a stronger U.S.-Israel relationship. But the leaked emails and documents show that representatives of the organization sought to shape U.S. public opinion while boasting privately of their intimate collaboration with the Israeli government".[26]
Personal life
Tishby is the granddaughter of Fania Artzi, one of the founders of the kibbutz at Degania, Hanan Yavor, an Israeli diplomat, and Nachum Tisch, who was a founder of the Israeli Ministry of Industry and Trade. Her mother, Yael Tishby, served as head of the food department at the Israeli Export Centre.[10]
Tishby was married to Australian television presenter Osher Günsberg from 2008 to 2011. She later had a relationship with financier Ross Hinkle, which produced a son, Ari, born in November 2015. Tishby and Hinkle are no longer together, and co-parent Ari. Tishby is on good terms with both Günsberg and Hinkle.[7][44][45]
In 2022, Tishby became the 11,000th signer of the Jewish Future Pledge, a charitable campaign modeled after The Giving Pledge to encourage American Jews to designate at least 50% of their charitable giving to Jewish- or Israel-related causes.[46]
Tishby was awarded an honorary doctorate by Reichman University on June 4, 2024, awarded for having "made exceptional contributions to the State of Israel since October 7."[47][33]
Filmography
As actress
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Hercules | Megara | Voice; Hebrew dub |
| 2003 | Connecting Dots | Carrie | |
| 2004 | Skeleton Man | Sgt. Davis | |
| 2005 | Fatwa | Spy | |
| 2005 | The Island | Community Announcer | |
| 2009 | Ghosts of Girlfriends Past | Kiki | |
| 2025 | October 8 | Herself |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Ramat Aviv Gimmel | Dafna Maor | Supporting role (Israeli show) |
| 2001 | Shachar | Dana Mazor | Supporting role (Israeli show) |
| 2003 | Miss Match | Beverly | Episode: "The Price of Love" |
| 2003 | Coupling | The Girl | Episode: "A Foreign Affair" |
| 2003 | The Drew Carey Show | Rachel | Episode: "Blecch Sunday" |
| 2003 | CSI: Miami | Gloria Tynan / Gina Cusack | Episode: "Double Cap" |
| 2003 | Nip/Tuck | Janelle | Episode: "Mandi/Randi" |
| 2004 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Amanda Cole | Episode: "Harbinger" |
| 2005 | Las Vegas | Lisa | Episode: "Whale of a Time" |
| 2005 | The 4400 | Chloe Granger | Episode: "Weight of the World" |
| 2005 | Charmed | Black Heart | Episode: "Malice in Wonderland" |
| 2005 | CSI: NY | Polly Part'em | Episode: "Jamalot" |
| 2009 | Big Love | Ladonna | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | NCIS | DEA Agent Claire Connell | Episode: "Truth or Consequences" |
| 2009 | Leverage | Mikel Dayan | Episode: "The Two Live Crew Job" |
| 2009 | Valentine | Bast | 4 episodes |
| 2010 | The Deep End | Rachel Blau | Pilot |
| 2015 | Dig | Liat | 6 episodes |
| 2018 | The Affair | Psychologist | 1 Episode |
| 2023 | Eretz Nehederet | College activist | 1 Episode |
As producer
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2010 | In Treatment | Executive producer | 106 episodes |
| 2013 | Divorce: A Love Story | Executive producer | TV movie |
See also
References
- משרד החוץ חושף: כך הוא פועל למען ההסברה העולמית [The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reveals: This is how it works for global outreach]. Ice www.ice.co.il (in Hebrew). Israel. October 10, 2023. Archived from the original on February 24, 2026. משרד החוץ מגייס את משפיעני הרשת הבולטים לטובת ההסברה הישראלית בעולם. המשפיענים שהצטרפו לבקשת שר החוץ: ארסן אוסטרובסקי, נעה תשבי, חן מזיג, טלי אשכולי, מייקל דיקסון, ג'ו זבולוני, נטלי דדון, אמילי שריידר, מיכל קוטלר-וונש ופלר חסן-נחום. [The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is recruiting prominent online influencers to benefit Israeli outreach around the world. The influencers who joined at the Foreign Minister's request: Arsen Ostrovsky, Noa Tishbi, Chen Mazig, Tali Eshkoli, Michael Dixon, Joe Zevuloni, Natalie Dadon, Emily Schrader, Michal Kotler-Wensch, and Fleur Hassan-Nahum.]
- Klein 2023: "Among the influencers who have heeded the call are: Arsen Ostrovsky, international human rights lawyer and digital diplomacy advocate; Noa Tishby, actress, producer, and activist for Israeli causes; Chen Mazig, writer, speaker, and LGBTQ-rights advocate; Tali Eshkoli, event organizer and social media specialist; Michael Dickson, executive director of the Stand With Us advocacy organization; Joe Zevuloni, community organizer and social media personality; Natalie Dodon, former model, digital content creator, and cultural commentator; Emily Schrader, digital media strategist and pro-Israel advocate; Michal Cotler-Wunsh, legal expert and social justice advocate; Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Jerusalem municipal politician and public relations expert."
- Klein, Zvika (October 10, 2023). "MFA launches online advocacy campaign with Israeli influencers". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. ISSN 0792-822X. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023.
- Steinberg, Jessica (June 2, 2015). "Actress turns 40 with Zionist debate". Times of Israel. Retrieved April 17, 2022.)
- Sarner, Robert (May 6, 2021). "Israeli actress Noa Tishby's 'Simple Guide' to Israel shakes up US progressives". The Times of Israel. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- Ghermezian, Shiryn (April 19, 2021). "Israeli-American Actress-Turned-Author Noa Tishby Seeks to Explain 'Misunderstood' Israel in New Book". Algemeiner Journal. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- Fishbach, Brian (October 6, 2021). "Noa Tishby: From Hollywood to Israel". Jewish Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- Brinn, David (June 26, 2008). "Israeli impresario". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- Schleier, Curt (May 2021). "Noa Tishby's 'Simple Guide' to Israel". Hadassah Magazine. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- White, Francine (September 14, 2023). "Noa's Arc: How Noa Tishby went from actress to Israel activist". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
- Sela-Sheffy, Rakefet (February 1, 2017). "Two-way cultural transfer: the case of the Israeli TV series BeTipul and its American adaptation In Treatment". Media, Culture & Society. 39 (6): 781–797. doi:10.1177/0163443717693679. S2CID 151849499.
- Kupfer, Ruta (November 2, 2006). "America Needs to Be 'In Treatment'". Haaretz. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- Saval, Malina (June 11, 2018). "In Treatment". Variety. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- Del Rosario, Alexandria (April 12, 2021). "'In Treatment': HBO's Uzo Aduba Therapy Drama Gets Season 4 Premiere Date, Teaser". Deadline. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- "In Treatment". Peabody Awards. 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- Klein Leichman, Abigail (August 14, 2018). "10 prominent Israelis at the head of US businesses". Israel21c. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- Popper, Nathaniel (January 21, 2009). "Big Love's Resident Kibbutznik". Forward. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- Spence, Rebecca (March 13, 2008). "Hollywood Execs Tune In to Israeli Television". Forward. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- Andreeva, Nellie (October 30, 2011). "CBS Buys Adaptation Of Hit Israeli Comedy 'Life Isn't Everything'". Deadline. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- Andreeva, Nellie (February 1, 2013). "ABC Greenlights Divorce Comedy Pilot". Deadline. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- "Report labelling Israel an apartheid state is 'disgraceful'". News.com.au. February 6, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- Saval, Malina (April 7, 2021). "'In Treatment' Executive Producer Noa Tishby Drops Debut Book on Israel". Variety. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- Hartog, Kelly (February 5, 2021). "Over 170 celebrities join Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- Harkov, Lahav (April 11, 2022). "Lapid appoints activist actress Noa Tishby as antisemitism envoy". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- Blum, Ruthie (May 22, 2022). "Noa Tishby's surprisingly welcome splash on the 'hasbara' scene". JNS. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
- Echols, Connor (December 2, 2025). "Inside Israel's shadow campaign to win over American media". Responsible Statecraft. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- "Israel fires special envoy Noa Tishby who had criticized judicial reform". The Jerusalem Post. April 2, 2023. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Rosman, Katherine (November 2, 2023). "An 'Israel Explainer' Makes Her Country's Case in America". The New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- Gordon, Dave (October 5, 2025). "Interview with Noa Tishby: Two years after October 7, Israel has lost the PR war". National Post.
- "Noa Tishby assaulted during Pro-Palestine rally in Paris". i24NEWS. December 9, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
- Hornik, Susan (December 31, 2024). "Noa Tishby: Showing the World It's Cool to Be Jewish". Aish. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- "Noa Tishby". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- "Noa Tishby". Milken Institute. May 7, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- Fishbach, Brian (January 3, 2025). "Over 20 Million Watch Noa Tishby's Menorah Lighting Videos with Celebrity Guests". Jewish Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- Dayanim, Nira (April 2, 2025). "Noa Tishby launches national tour with her new nonprofit, Eighteen, bringing Oct. 7 survivors to U.S." eJewishPhilanthropy. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- Degnan, Abigail (October 22, 2025). "Students hear from survivors of Hamas attacks and Israeli activist Noa Tishby at Liberty University Convocation". Liberty University. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- "50 MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS 2025". The Jerusalem Post. Israel. 2025. Archived from the original on September 21, 2025.
45. Gal Gadot, Arsen Ostrovsky, Siggy Flicker, Hen Mazzig, Hillel Neuer, Noa Tishby, Eyal Yakoby: From Hollywood stars to human-rights lawyers, seven pro-Israel influencers share a commitment
- Perets, Shir (September 21, 2025). "No. 45: Gal Gadot and other powerful pro-Israel voices". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026.
- "Noa Tishby". Firing Line with Margaret Hoover. January 30, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
- Sanders, Josh; Fox, Adam (May 1, 2024). "New book "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew" tackles antisemitism amid pro-Palestine protests across United States - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
- Lobell, Kylie Ora (January 28, 2025). "Noa Tishby on "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew" and Fighting Antisemitism". Aish. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- "National Jewish Book Awards Winners Announced". Atlanta Jewish Times. January 29, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
- Brinn, David (November 18, 2021). "Noa Tishby: I don't care if I lose acting jobs for my support of Israel". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- "Osher's ex-wife breaks her silence: 'It became toxic'". News.com.au. August 9, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- "Noa's Arc: How Noa Tishby went from actress to Israel activist". September 14, 2023.
- "Noa Tishby Becomes The 11,000th Person To Sign The Jewish Future Pledge". Boulder Jewish News. December 19, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- "Reichman University confers honorary doctorates in recognition of Israeli Heroism". Reichman University. June 10, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
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