Maya Ben Weiss Reportedly Appointed Or Yehuda City Architect

Maya Ben Weiss has been appointed Or Yehuda's city architect, joining the municipality's engineering department, according to local reports published on November 9. She brings more than a decade of experience in architecture and planning, including municipal urban renewal work and projects in the private sector. Ben Weiss previously headed the planning department in Hod Hasharon Municipality's urban renewal division. Her responsibilities included urban planning policy, advancing planning procedures for renewal projects, and providing professional assistance to residents and practitioners. She holds a B.Arch from Ariel University and studied interior design at the College of Management, where she has also lectured in architecture. Her earlier work included leading architectural teams and residential, commercial and urban renewal projects at private firms, as well as work in Tidhar Group's business development operation. Her experience encompasses planning and licensing, statutory plans, consultant teams, and work with municipalities and government ministries. In her statement quoted in the reports, Ben Weiss said: "For me, urban architecture is first and foremost work for the city and the people who live in it." She described listening to neighborhoods and local initiatives, while preserving historic places and the city's identity as it grows. Mayor Liat Shohat welcomed the appointment and called for responsible, long-term planning that combines growth with preservation of the city's character, public space and residents' quality of life.