Allegiance Israel Name Orna Barbivai | Rank Aluf (Major general) Years of service 1981–2014 Unit Manpower Directorate | |
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Born September 5, 1962 (age 62) Israel ( 1962-09-05 ) Commands held Beersheba recruitment office (1995-1997)Adjutant Officer in a reserve division (1997-1999)Head of staff of the Ground Forces manpower section (2000-2003)Adjutant Officer of the Central Command (2003-2005)Chief Officer of the Adjutant Corps (2005-2006)Head of the Ground Forces' manpower section (2006-2008)Human Resources Directorate Administrator and Individuals' Sector head in the Manpower Directorate (2008-2011)Head of the Manpower Directorate (2011-) | ||
The tomorrow of israeli society between unity and division maj gen orna barbivai
Orna Barbivai (Hebrew: אורנה ברביבאי; born September 5, 1962) is a retired Major General in the Israel Defense Forces and the former head of its Manpower Directorate. She was the first woman to be made Major-general (Aluf), the IDF's second highest rank.
Contents
- The tomorrow of israeli society between unity and division maj gen orna barbivai
- First woman appointed as IDF Major General 23611
- Biography
- Military career
- References

First woman appointed as IDF Major General 23/6/11
Biography

Growing up in a family of eight children in Afula, Israel, Barbivai is the daughter of Tzila, a Jewish immigrant from Iraq, and Eli Shochetman, a Jewish immigrant from Romania. She was drafted into the IDF in 1981 and has spent her entire career as an officer in the Manpower Directorate. Barbivai holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences and Humanities from Ben Gurion University and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Haifa University. She is also the graduate of the "Turn-point" administration course for senior military officials.
Military career
Barbivai was the first female to hold the IDF positions of Chief Adjutant Officer of a Command, Chief Adjutant Officer, Head of the Ground Forces' manpower section and head of the Individuals' Sector in the Manpower Directorate.
On 26 May 2011, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved her appointment as head of the IDF's Manpower Directorate, replacing Maj. Gen. Avi Zamir. The promotion of Barbivai, a mother of three, to the rank of Major General was praised by Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni who said that "there is no rank that is too heavy for a woman’s shoulders, and there is no doubt that Brig.-Gen. Barbivai was appointed because of her talents."
On 23 June 2011, Barbivai received her Maj. Gen. ranks and the Manpower Directorate command during an official ceremony at the Chief of Staff headquarters in Camp Rabin.