Sheila Ackerman

In her active years, Ms. Ackerman was one of the founders of Israeli television. Ms. Ackerman immigrated to Israel from London as a teen. After attending a teachers' seminar in Cambridge in England she began working as an English teacher in Israel. It was in the classroom where she was spotted by producers searching for an on-screen English instructor for a new Israeli daytime television show, 'More About English', geared to help children learn English. From there, Ms. Ackerman went behind the camera. As a producer, Ms. Ackerman is responsible for several landmark television programs, such as 'Bli Sodot', geared to children spanning across several generations. She was also responsible for discovering some of Israel's most iconic cross-generational talent such as Chani Nachmias, among many others. Today, Ms. Ackerman is retired and lives in Israel with her husband. Ms. Ackerman also became known for her friendship and professional association with Naomi Mayberg, a South African producer. The two took on celebrity status in Israel and were known for their bold fashion choices, long nails, thin cigarettes, irreverent sense of humor, and high positions in the male-dominated entertainment industry. The two remained friends until Ms. Mayberg's death. Following in her footsteps, A. Emma Regev, Ms. Ackerman's granddaughter, became a producer in the United States.