His mother, Michal Har'el, was the second Miss Israel, crowned in 1951, later an honorary life president of the Women's International Zionist Organization.
[9] Tinari-Modai, in particular was criticized for allegedly describing Israeli human rights activists as suffering from "problems of sexual identity" and recommending publishing photographs which might cause them embarassment.
[10] The embassy won an award for its online hasbara from the Comper Center for the Study of Antisemitism and Racism at University of Haifa.
On 31 December 2013, the university's website noted: "The annual appreciation for extraordinary hasbara activity was granted today … to Israel's ambassador to Ireland, Boaz Modai, and his deputy, Nurit Tinari-Modai, by the unique academic program 'Ambassadors Online,' which trains students for pro-Israel hasbara activity online."
[12] While he was Head of the Instruction Branch in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moda'i was investigated by police after a former employee complained of receiving harassing phone calls from an unidentified number.