Orit Adato facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orit Adato
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Adato in 2014
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| Native name |
אורית אדטו
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| Birth name | Orit Eliaz |
| Born | 1955 (age 70–71) Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel |
| Allegiance | Israel |
| Service/ |
Army |
| Years of service | 1973–1997 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | Women's Corps |
| Commands held | Women Teacher-Soldiers Women's Corps, Nahal Brigade Women's Corps |
| Spouse(s) | Joseph Paz Yehoshua Adato |
| Other work | Commissioner, Israel Prison Service (2000–2003) |
Orit Adato (born Orit Eliaz in 1955) is a famous Israeli leader who served as a high-ranking commander in the military and as the head of the Israel Prison Service. She was the first woman ever to hold the top job in the prison service.
Adato joined the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 1973. She served for 24 years, holding important training and command roles. From 1997 to 1999, she was the commander of the Women's Corps. After retiring from the army, she became the Commissioner of the Israel Prison Service in 2000. Today, she is an international expert on how to manage prisons safely and effectively.
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Early Life and Schooling
Orit Eliaz was born in Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel. She was the youngest of three children. Her family has lived in the region for eight generations.
In 1973, she began her required military service in the IDF. She spent most of her time at a training base for women, where she quickly became a leader. After leaving the army, she got married and moved to Haifa. However, she decided to return to her military career three years later.
She studied at the University of Haifa, earning a bachelor's degree in educational administration in 1987. She later earned a master's degree in political science in 1993. She also graduated from a top military school called the IDF National Security College.
A Career in the Military
Adato had a long and successful 24-year career in the IDF. She was known for her leadership skills in both training and command positions.
Leading the Women's Corps
In 1990, Adato became the Women's Corps officer for the Nahal Brigade, a famous unit in the Israeli army. From 1994 to 1995, she was in charge of the two main training bases for women in the army.
In 1997, she was promoted to commander of the entire Women's Corps. During this time, the army was changing how it supported female soldiers. Adato played a key role in these changes. She worked hard to open up more opportunities for women in the military, including in combat support roles.
The Women's Corps was eventually replaced by a new system in 2001. This new system aimed to handle women's issues directly within different army units.
Working for a Safer Military
As a leader, Adato worked to make the military a safer and more respectful place for everyone. She reported on issues like harassment and made sure that complaints were taken seriously. She helped create a system where problems could be reported and dealt with properly.
In 1999, Adato was part of a group that represented Israel at the United Nations. She gave a speech about how women's roles in the Israeli army help improve the status of women in society.
Head of the Prison Service
Adato retired from the army with the high rank of brigadier general. In 2000, she was offered a new challenge: to become the Commissioner of the Israel Prison Service. She was the first woman and the first person without a police background to hold this important job.
As Commissioner, she was in charge of a staff of 4,500 people and about 12,000 inmates in prisons across Israel. Her time as leader was during a difficult period known as the Second Intifada, which led to many new prisoners entering the system.
Adato focused on treating inmates humanely. She allowed prisoners to study for university degrees, a policy that helped with their education. She also opened the Ofek Prison, a special facility for young inmates.
She also promoted more women to leadership positions within the prison service. She appointed women to be in charge of seven of Israel's 21 prisons.
Life After Public Service
After leaving the Prison Service, Adato started her own consulting company. She is now a respected international expert on prison management. She advises countries in Africa and Latin America on how to run their prisons securely and fairly.
Adato also volunteers for groups that build friendships between Israel and the United States. She often speaks and writes about security and prison-related topics.
Personal Life
Adato married Joseph Paz in 1976, and they had a daughter. They later divorced. In 1984, she married Yehoshua Adato. They have a son and a daughter together.
