User:Arkady Mayofis/sandbox
Arkady Mayofis (born May 30, 1962, Tomsk, USSR) is a Russian and Israeli media manager, entrepreneur, and journalist. He is the founder of TV-2 in Tomsk, one of the first independent television studios in Russia. Since 2015, he has been living in Israel. He is the founder of the family gift brand YOFFI.
In recent years, he has been actively publishing articles about repatriation and life in Israel on his Facebook page and in his Russian-language Telegram channel “Продавец фиников” (Seller of Dates). He is also a frequent guest on various YouTube channels.
He is married with five children. His wife, Polina Mayofis, is a singer and vocal coach.
Biography
[edit]Arkady Mayofis was born in Tomsk in 1962. His family had been deported from Riga to the Tomsk region in 1941. In Riga, the Mayofis family owned houses on Dzirnavu Street 2 and a fur store on Marijas Street. Arkady’s father, Isay, was 14 years old at the time of deportation.
He graduated with honors from the Faculty of Philology at Tomsk State University. He worked as a journalist and editor on regional television. In 1990, he founded TV-2, one of the first non-governmental TV companies in the Soviet Union. TV-2 became widely known for its independent editorial policy and received more than 20 TEFI television awards.
The Tomsk Media Group holding was later formed around TV-2, including TV channels, radio stations, and advertising agencies. In 2015, after the authorities refused to renew the broadcasting license, the channel ceased operations, and the holding was later dissolved.
Work in Israel
[edit]In 2015, Mayofis repatriated to Israel. He founded the family company YOFFI, which produced gift sets based on Israeli products: dates, tahini, honey, spices, herbal teas, and dried fruits. The products were sold in duty-free shops, on Amazon, and other online platforms.
The word YOFFI is part of the Mayofis family name (official website).
In 2025, amid the military conflict in Israel, the company ceased commercial activity. Mayofis focused on humanitarian projects, charity work, and public writing.
Recognition
[edit]- TEFI Award for “Contribution to the Development of Television”
- Russian National Award “Media Manager of Russia”
- Included in the list of 50 most influential immigrants in Israel by The Jerusalem Post[1]
- His work has been covered by Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Maariv, The Seventh Eye, ForumDaily, and Meduza
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Arkady Mayofis – Genesis Business Profile". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2025-07-21.