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Jewish National Fund
“Caretakers of the land of Israel for over a century”
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National Office
-42 East 69th Street; New York, NY 10021 Phone: (212) 879-9300 Fax: (212) 570-1673
-42 East 69th Street; New York, NY 10021 Phone: (212) 879-9300 Fax: (212) 570-1673
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Leadership
(Posting their pseudo-biog info, mainly…and see JNF profiles [interactive links] for different, distinct mugshots / pics: all but the COOs at the bottom seem to have one, &c.)
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JNF Board of Directors
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International businessman and ‘philanthropist’ Ronald Lauder (New York) combines a deep commitment to his heritage with an innovative network of business enterprises through philanthropic and professional endeavors that reach around the world. A former U.S. Ambassador to Austria, Lauder is deeply committed to revitalizing Jewish life across Eastern and Central Europe and in 1987, established The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, which focuses on Jewish education and community outreach programs. After a tremendously successful 10-year tenure as President of JNF, Lauder became Chairman of the Board. Under his leadership, JNF gained a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and earned the Better Business Bureau seal of approval. Lauder established a board that meets monthly and helped JNF’s donor base grow to more than 600,000 nationwide. In 2007, Lauder was elected to lead the World Jewish Congress.
“The cosmetics magnate Ronald S. Lauder, who is a supporter of Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his far-right Likud Party, founded the Lauder school. [Ron Lauder School of Mossad U. (IDC), Herzliya.]
Lauder, president of the Jewish National Fund and former chairman of New York Governor George Pataki’s Commision on Privatization, is the key individual who pushed the privatization of the WTC and former Stewart AFB, where the flight paths of the two planes that hit the twin towers oddly converged. Ronald Lauder played a significant, albeit unreported, role in the preparation for 9/11.”
740 Park Avenue, New York – resident; Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation – co-chairman; Birthright Israel Foundation – supporter; Central European Media Enterprises Group – chairman & co-founder; Clinique Laboratories, LLC – chairman; Estee Lauder Companies Inc. – director; Jewish Heritage Council – chairman; Jewish National Fund – president; Lauder Institute – governor; Museum of Modern Art – honorary chairman; Neue Galerie - co-founder; New York Landmarks Conservancy – advisory council member; Ronald S. Lauder Foundation – founder; World Jewish Congress – president. “Past“: 1989 Ronald Lauder NY mayoral campaign – candidate; Austria – U.S. ambassador; Jewish Theological Seminary – trustee; U.S. Department of State – deputy assistant secretary.
Aerin Lauder - daughter; Estee Lauder (deceased) – son; Jane Lauder - daughter; Jo Carole Lauder – spouse; Joseph Lauder – son; Leonard A. Lauder – brother. (See muckety link for many more connections.)
* Lauder is actively involved in numerous “civic” organizations, including the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish National Fund, the World Jewish Congress, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Anti-Defamation League (national commissioner), the Jewish Theological Seminary, Brandeis University, and the Abraham Fund, etc., ETC.
He is married to Jo Carole Lauder and has two children, Aerin and Jane. His daughter Jane is married to Kevin Warsh, a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Aerin is married to Eric Zinterhofer – formerly of Apollo Management, L.P.
Also listed as:
-Job: Ronald S Lauder Foundation, President Ronald Lauder 767 5th Ave, Fl 38; New York, NY 10153-0003 (212) 572-4350
-?>Ronald S Lauder 115 Flagler Dr; Palm Beach, FL 33480-6101 (561) 805-8728 [Age: 65+ / Household: Robert Lauder]
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Stanley M. Chesley (Cincinnati), a high profile plaintiff’s attorney at Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley, has tried and negotiated settlements in many major blockbuster tort litigations and has represented thousands of victims of hotel fires, airplane crashes, plant explosions and toxic spills. Chesley has served or currently serves on a number of national philanthropic boards, and is a member of the Supreme Court of Ohio, and many Circuit Courts of Appeals. He served as counsel for the World Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Restitution Organization representing the Claims Conference in the Holocaust litigation which concluded in a successful resolution of approximately $9 billion. His firm represented them pro bono.
74 years old (Cincinnati, Ohio, United States) commercial law, Kentucky Bar Association, Antitrust And Trade Regulation Law, born in Cincinnati Ohio, West Virginia Bar Association, Maritime Law Association of the United States…Cincinnati Bar Association, FederalBarAssociation, American Bar Association, state bar of texas, ohio state bar association
-Stanley M Chesley 100 S Pointe Dr; Miami Beach, FL 33139-7303 (305) 538-4646
-Stanley M Chesley 9005 Camargo Rd; Cincinnati, OH 45243-1501 (513) 631-2277 [65+ / Susan J Dlott, Cohen L Chesley]
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Russell F. Robinson became Jewish National Fund’s Chief Executive Officer in September 1997, the youngest CEO in its then almost 100-year history.
Mr. Robinson has spent most of his professional life as a dedicated leader for the Jewish people. He was raised in El Paso, Texas, where he started his career in private industry. He made a decision to sell his business and dedicated himself to public life, serving as Director at the local Jewish Community Center and spearheaded a movement to include Holocaust studies in the public schools. He traveled to Eastern Europe and visited refuseniks in the Soviet Union and organized marches for the freedom of Jews to immigrate to Israel. He led a campaign against poverty in Israel raising over 35 million dollars to transform depressed neighborhoods throughout Israel.
Under his leadership, JNF has been instrumental in developing successful programs for Israel’s water crisis, community development, environmental work, and the sustainable development of the Negev, all of which play a significant role in the quality of life of all Israelis. Under his direction, JNF has become one of the most recognized non-profits for its work, business management, financial integrity and volunteer involvement.
Mr. Robinson traces his American family heritage as far back as the 1700’s, when his was the first Jewish family to settle in Virginia. Today he resides in New Jersey with his wife Marci and two children, Sam and Alyssa.
-Russell F Robinson 22 Wingate Dr; Livingston, NJ 07039-3518 (973) 422-0462 [50-54 / Marci D Robinson]
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Together with his son Steven, Alan Dabrow (Philadelphia) is owner of Cheltenhouse Products Inc., a family-owned manufacturer of organic sauces. A past President of JNF’s Philadelphia Board and the Eastern PA region, Dabrow is still an integral part of the PA region’s activities and has chaired several JNF missions to Israel. He is Co-Chair of the JNF Building Committee and Constitutional Committee. His other organizational affiliations include The City of Hope, Golden Slipper Charities, the Association for Developmental Disabilities, and his synagogue, Beth El Suburban in Broomall, PA.
-Alan Dabrow 100 Grays Ln, Apt 505; Haverford, PA 19041-1755 (610) 649-5281 [Louise S Dabrow]
-Alan N Dabrow 9600 Atlantic Ave, Apt 1810; Margate City, NJ 08402-2262 (609) 822-7428 [Allan Dabrow, Louise S Abrams, Montgomery Dabrow]
-Jewish National Fund, First Vice President 42 E 69th St; New York, NY 10021-5003 (212) 879-9300
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An attorney, Chuck Fax (Washington, DC) formerly served as President of JNF’s Maryland Region and Mid-Atlantic Zone, served for three years as Chair of Makor, JNF’s national leadership society, and is currently on JNF’s Board of Directors. Fax is counsel to the Maryland law firm of Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan, and Silver, concentrating on commercial and securities litigation, employment law, land use litigation, government procurement law, and constitutional law. He has served as a mediator for the Circuit Court of Baltimore City; special outside litigation counsel to the Mayor of Baltimore City; and special outside litigation counsel to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Mr. Fax is co-author of three legal textbooks, the third of which, “Discovery Problems and Their Solutions,” was published by ABA Publishing in August, 2009, and is a regular columnist in the American Bar Association Section of Litigation Magazine, “Litigation Update,” writing on developments in federal civil procedure. He is a biographee in “Who’s Who in America” and “Who’s Who in American Law,” and has been named a Maryland “Superlawyer” for 2009 and 2010.
-1 partial WP listing only: Charles Fax Washington, DC http://www.linkedin.com/pub/charles-fax/10/b98/266
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Michael G. Lederman is Managing Partner for The Spectrum Capital Group. As an investment banker, entrepreneur, and investor, he is perhaps best known for the key role that he played in the acquisition of Allegheny International, conducting the first-ever unsolicited takeover of a billion-dollar company in Chapter 11. His business accomplishments have been reported in two books, a Harvard Business School case study, other case studies, several court cases, and numerous other publications.
Michael is JNF Rhode Island President and a member of Makor, JNF’s Speakers Bureau. He has traveled to Israel many times - as a leader of the Presidents Council Mission, with Makor, and on personal visits with his family. As a member of Makor, Mike travels around the country speaking at events, sharing his passion for Israel and JNF’s many accomplishments. Mike and his family are proud Century Club members.
Mike has lectured extensively at university graduate schools, bar and other professional associations, conferences, seminars and workshops.
-?>Michael G Lederman 26 Elgin St; Providence, RI 02906-2668 (401) 383-0169 [Aileen Lederman, Lulu Lederman]
-Spectrum Capital Group, Managing Partner 471 Hope St; Bristol, RI 02809-1807 (401) 396-9777
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Ted Banks (Chicago) is Chief Counsel and Senior Director of Global Compliance Policy at Kraft Foods in Northfield, IL. During his 30-year legal career, he has been involved in antitrust, environmental, and corporate legal matters, in addition to his current compliance responsibilities. A longtime JNF supporter, Banks was the Chicago region’s Campaign Chair and held the position of President for four years. He now serves as Co-Chair of JNF’s Corporate Policy Committee. He has been a board member of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and is a member of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, where he previously served on the Board and as President of the Men’s Club. Banks is also on the Board of Keep Chicago Beautiful, the local affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.
-Theodore L Banks 1645 Sherwood Rd; Highland Park, IL 60035-2260 (847) 831-9036 [55-59 / Cheryl D Banks]
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Geraldine Shatz is the immediate past national chair of The Sapphire Society and a former president of Jewish National Fund’s Bucks County region. The daughter of Holocaust escapees who each fled Vienna as a teenager and made a new life in the United States, commitment to democracy and the mitzvot of tzedakah and tikkum olam continues to form the ethos of her home.
Geri was president of Congregation Kol Emet, a Reconstructionist synagogue, and now chairs its endowment. She has also served on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Bucks County Region for many years, as well as on the board of Israel Bonds.
A graduate of Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in art history, Geri is the author of Concepts of the Bauhaus. Following a change in career accomplished with a degree in accounting and finance from the College of New Jersey, her accounting work specializes in the needs of the oldest old. She also serves in an advisory capacity to two lifecare communities in Bucks County.
Geri and her husband Stanley have three adult sons and live in Yardley, Pennsylvania.
-Geraldine A Shatz 2120 N Crescent Blvd; Yardley, PA 19067-3056 (215) 493-4997 [55-59 / Stanley H Shatz]
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An attorney who practiced commercial and copyright law at CBS Inc., in 2000 Laureine Greenbaum (New York) cofounded and currently serves as Co-Chair of Project Cicero, a New York City-wide book drive that has donated over one million books to under-resourced city public schools since its inception. She served on the Friends of the Y Committee at the 92nd Street Y from 2005-2007 and in 2005, she cofounded and currently serves as Co-Chair of JNF’s Greater NY Women’s Alliance. In addition, Greenbaum is Co-Chair of JNF’s Corporate Policy Committee.
Spouse: David / NY.
-David R Greenbaum 1000 Park Ave; New York, NY 10028-0934 [55-59 / Laureine Greenbum, Allison E Greenbaum]
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Vice Presidents
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An attorney, Isaac Blachor (New York) has been an active member of the American, New York State, and Nassau County Bar Associations, and is a past President of the Jewish Lawyers’ Association. He has been active in JNF since serving as National JNF Vice President for the American Zionist Youth Council in the early 1960s and was JNF National Secretary and past President of JNF’s Long Island Board. For more than 30 years he served as a director and officer of the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County. Currently Vice President of the Religious Zionists of America, he was elected as a delegate and has attended the last five World Zionist Congresses.
-Isaac E Blachor 381 Roosevelt Blvd; West Hempstead, NY 11552-2721 (516) 538-3459 [65+ Evelyn I Blachor]
-American Zionist Movement, Vice President 12830 Hillcrest Rd; Dallas, TX 75230-1527 (972) 364-9037
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Lawrence Cohen, a partner with the firm Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP since 1991, specializes in estate planning, estate and trust administration, and business succession planning.
He is Zone President and former Regional President of the Jewish National Fund New England Zone and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Brookline Music School. He has served on the board at the Judge Baker Children’s Center and the Boston Estate Planning Council. Mr. Cohen has raised substantial funds for the New England Home for Little Wanderers by running the Boston Marathon. He is also a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Mr. Cohen has been named a Massachusetts Super Lawyer from 2005-2008 by Law & Politics magazine.
Larry and his wife Laurie Hall live in Chestnut Hill with their children.
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David Frank (Los Angeles) is Associate Manager of Coldwell Banker’s Hollywood Hills office. A member of JNF’s Los Angeles Board for over 15 years, including seven years as LA Planned Giving Chair, he now serves as Chairman of the Los Angeles Zone. In addition, he served as President of JNF’s Western Zone. He is also a past member of the Board of Directors of the State of Israel Bonds. Frank has consistently been one of Coldwell Banker’s top producers and is a member of its Director’s Circle, which represents the top five percent of agents.
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Bruce Gould (Longwood) was a principal in Gould Publications Inc., a family-owned publishing business specializing in law books and treatises for the legal and law enforcement community. Sold in 2004, the business was one of the leading statutory law book publishers in the country. Gould is a past Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of the JCC of Greater Orlando. He is the immediate past President of the Orlando Campaign Cabinet of JNF and serves as Chairman of the Board. He is a member of JNF’s World Chairman’s Council and created “The Gould Legacy Society” to help the organization establish a permanent endowment.
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(R-center)Joe Hess (California) is past President of the JNF Board in Orange County, National Campaign Chairman, and Vice President of Zones and Regions. In his current position he is the liaison to the U.S. Forest Service, sits on the Board of the International Arid Lands Consortium, and develops relations with members of Congress. Under his guidance, JNF achieved NGO status at the United Nations. A retired government technical manager and international aerospace consultant, Hess was actively involved in fostering international cooperation during his 40-year career. As a UN volunteer, he developed annual workshops around the world to help developing nations use space technology to improve the lives of their residents.
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Terry Katz (Philadelphia) is a founding member and past National Chair of the Sapphire Society, the women’s major gifts division of JNF; current National Chair of the Women’s Campaign for Israel; and a member of the JNF Philadelphia Executive Board. Katz is a life member of Hadassah and past President of the Henrietta Szold group; past President of American Friends of Haifa University-Philadelphia; a member of the National and Philadelphia Boards of Women’s Division of Israel Bonds; a member of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Associates; and a member of the Board of Main Line Health Heart Center of Lankenau Hospital. Katz was President and owner of GL Public Relations from 1975-1989, Director of External Affairs for Gratz College, and Assistant Director of the American Technion Society of Philadelphia.
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Vice President of Klein’s Family Markets, a retail food store chain in Maryland, Andrew Klein (Baltimore) is a member of AIPAC and a board member of the Upper Chesapeake Health System. He also serves as JNF Vice President, Zones. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees, Capital Campaign Chair, and Treasurer of the John Carroll School-Independent Catholic School, his alma mater, and has worked extensively with the Archdiocese of Baltimore on numerous projects for the school.
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A practicing attorney, Leonard L. Kleinman (Tampa) has served as Executive Vice President and CEO of the New York Yankees, Vice Chairman of the American Shipbuilding Company, and a Branch Chief of the audit division of the IRS. A member of JNF’s Legal, Budget, and Audit Committees, Kleinman served as immediate past Vice President, Administration as well as JNF First Vice President for seven years. He has served for the past five years on the National Board of the United Jewish Communities. He is a former member of the Board of the Florida Holocaust Museum, the Tampa Jewish Federation, the Cleveland Marshall College of Law of Cleveland State University, and is a past President of Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa.
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Bud Levin (Los Angeles) was CEO of the Midwest Petroleum Company for 30 years and remains a partner in that business. Deeply involved in the world of Jewish fundraising from both the lay and professional perspectives, Levin began his career as a lay leader in St. Louis 40 years ago, serving as Chairman of the Jewish Federation Campaign, and held various positions with UJA including National Vice Chairman. In 1992 he left private business to work as head of UJA’s $100,000 Division, then as Chief Development Officer for the Michael Steinhardt Foundation. Levin joined the volunteer ranks of JNF in 2002, when he retired from his fundraising consulting company, and is immediate past Vice President of Campaign.
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Chair of the 2008 JNF National Conference, Jeff Levine (New York) is Chairman of Levine Builders, a company that, along with its development affiliate Douglaston Development, has successfully built, renovated, or rehabilitated thousands of residential units and millions of square feet of commercial space. In addition to serving on numerous industry-wide organizations including the Real Estate Board of New York where Mr. Levine is a member of the Board of Governors, he is currently a board member of the JCRC of New York. Levine was past President of JNF’s Greater New York Zone and Region, and is a member of JNF’s World Chairman’s Council.
* NYTimes: The 30-Minute Interview: Jeffrey E. Levine
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Bob Levine (New Jersey) is a senior partner at the New York City accounting firm Levine Pohl Schaeffer & Fink, PC and has a personal law practice as well. Involved with JNF since 1968, he has held a number of leadership positions including National Treasurer, Vice President of Campaign, and Executive Board member and chaired the Budget & Finance, Labor Relations, and Missions Committees. As a mission leader, he has brought over 600 individuals to Israel to see the country through JNF’s eyes. Levine has served as President of his synagogue, Secretary of his community’s United Jewish Appeal Campaign and spokesperson for the Israel Bonds High Holiday Campaign in Bergen County, NJ.
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Dr. Sol Lizerbram (San Diego) is a family practitioner and osteopathic physician and surgeon. He is Chairman and co-founder of HealthFusion®, Inc., an internet-based healthcare transaction company. The recipient of a California State Resolution for recognition of his contribution to healthcare, he was named 1996 Entrepreneur of the Year in the healthcare industry by NASDAQ/Ernst & Young. He was health advisor to California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.; member of the Advisory Committee for the California State Insurance Commissioner; Medical Director of The Prudential Insurance Company, San Diego; and a Trustee of the US Olympic Committee.
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Board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Morton Mower (Baltimore) is Chairman of the Board of MR3 Medical LLC. He is a member of myriad medical organizations including the American Heart Association, the American Congress of Cardiology, the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, American Federation for Clinical Research, Heart Rhythm Society, and the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs. He served as a Captain, Medical Corps, and Chief of Medicine, U.S. Army Headquarters in Germany from 1963-1965, is the inventor of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy for congestive heart failure and the Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator, and now continues research work in defibrillators and new uses for artificial pacemakers around the world. He is on the Board of Jewish Recovery Houses. A member of JNF’s World Chairman’s Council, he also sits on JNF’s Building Committee.
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(Pink shirt, far left)Eddie Paul (Cincinnati) served as JNF’s first Midwest zone president from 2001-2003. Prior to this, he served as the Cincinnati president from 1999–2001 and as a national board member since 1999. In his current role as advisor to the president, Eddie serves as chairman of JNF’s new Committee on the Environment. Throughout his tenure with JNF, Eddie has been instrumental in transforming non-donors into major donors. Further, his personal efforts have helped JNF gain greater standing both in the Cincinnati community and on the national level. Professionally, Eddie served on the Solid Waste Advisory Council for the State of Ohio, representing private recycling, from 1999-2003, was president of Container Recyclers from 1990-2007, and served on the board of Reusable Industrial Packaging Association. In 2007 Eddie sold his business, Container Recyclers, Inc, and is now serving as Ohio regional manager for Industrial Container Services.
Spouse: Nina
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Arthur Silber (Baltimore/Palm Beach) is CEO of Landsman LLC, a real estate investment company that owns and operates Manufactured Housing Communities. He is also Chairman and CEO of Mundek Baseball Corporation. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Silber was President and CEO of Sterling Bank & Trust Co. in Baltimore, MD for 10 years. He was Vice Chairman of the Babe Ruth Museum, and has been an active director of the USO in Washington, DC for the last 15 years. He served as JNF Treasurer and, in 1993, he was awarded with JNF’s highest honor, the Tree of Life Award.
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Michael Wechsler (New York) recently retired as Chief Credit Officer of Centerline Financial Company, a credit enhancement and credit derivative subsidiary of Centerline Capital Group. Centerline Capital is a publicly traded real estate financial services company and is one of the largest owners of multi-family housing in the U.S. Prior to this position, he served as COO and Chief Credit Officer of the Related Companies, and Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Real Estate for Chemical Bank. In addition to serving on the Board of JNF, Wechsler serves on various boards of public and private real estate-related companies.
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A practicing physician in suburban Washington, DC, Dr. Melinda Wolf has been active in Jewish National Fund since 1999. She is well-known for taking good care of her patients, but equally so in healing the world. Through her numerous trips to Vietnam, she has brought medicine, given check-ups to children in orphanages and, together with her son, raised the money that provided the life-saving heart surgery for a 5 yr-old boy.
On the other side of the globe, she visits frequently her second home, Israel. During these visits, she often brings groups and individuals to experience her commitment to our homeland. As a former member of the Israel Relations Committee, she watched over JNF’s money by evaluating JNF projects. As a member of JNF’s National Education Committee, she promoted Israel advocacy to schools and synagogues. From the very north of Israel to the coral reefs of Eilat, Dr. Melinda Wolf knows the people, the sights, and the issues that concern us as partners with the land and the people of Israel.
Dr. Wolf is the proud mother of two inbred cubs.
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President and CEO of P&S Industries Ltd, Dr. Stephen Wolnek (New York) is President of Mercaz USA; Vice President of Mercaz Olami; and Chairman of the Israel and International Affairs Committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. He is also Chair of JNF’s Essence of Life Campaign and holds leadership positions with the American Zionist Movement, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the World Zionist Organization, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Wolnek is past International President of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and past President of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County.
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Assistant Vice Presidents
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Alan Abramson is the managing partner of two commercial real estate companies and President of B&A Management Corporation, a commercial real estate management company, managing commercial properties in the “Golden Triangle” of Beverly Hills. He has developed commercial and high end residential projects in California and Colorado. He was the owner of Beverly Hills Silks and Woolens – a retail fabric store until 1996.
Mr. Abramson is a Trustee of the Menninger Foundation and sits on its Foundation Board of Directors. He served on the steering committee for urban design in the City of Beverly Hills and is also on the advisory board of the Beverly Hills Prologue and Literary Society. Alan is a mentor for the Los Angeles Jewish Federation’s Young Leadership Development Institute. He also sits on the Board of Trustees of the Jewish National Fund and is chairman emeritus of its annual golf tournament.
Edward Blank (New York), a telemarketing pioneer, founded Edward Blank Associates, Inc. in 1968. Before merging with another firm in 1996, the company was ranked as the sixth largest outbound telemarketing service agency in the United States. As Co-Chairman of the Government Relations Committee, Blank served as JNF’s Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) representative to the United Nations, and is a member of the NY and National Board of Directors. He is also a member of JNF’s World Chairman’s Council. Blank is active in The Israel Policy Forum and AIPAC as well as other community organizations.
Louise Dabrow is a Board member of the Association for the Developmentally Disabled, past president of the Women’s Association of Metropolitan Hospital and life member of Hadassah. She worked as an insurance agent for Equitable Life Insurance Co. for 22 years and worked as a librarian for Chilton Publishing Co. and the Lower Merion Library System.
Louise has been involved in Jewish National Fund since 1992 and a Board member of the Philadelphia region since 1993. She serves as national chair of the Women’s Alliance and is a member of the Sapphire Society and Century Club.
She holds a BA from University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Library Science from Villanova. Louise lives in Haverford, PA with her husband Alan and has two children and nine grandchildren.
Jeffrey S. Davis is the founder of Mage, LLC. For more than 25 years, he has worked with entrepreneurs to help them achieve their business aspirations and personal objectives. His ability to create and implement effective business strategies and position companies for success has helped more than 600 companies throughout the United States and Canada.
Jeffrey has been involved in Jewish National Fund both locally and nationally for a decade. His leadership helped form the strategy and infrastructure that has led the New England Zone to reach new levels of giving. He currently serves as New England Chairman of the Board.
Jeffrey lives in Newton with his wife Sandy, son Michael, daughter Rachel, and puppy Spencer.
Bob Friedland is the Founder and Chairman of NAI Friedland Realty Inc. Founded in 1971, Friedland Realty Inc. is the largest privately owned commercial real estate firm in the Bronx and Westchester area, with more than twenty brokers specializing in industrial, retail and office leasing and sales.
In 2001, Bob founded Westrock Development which focuses on value-added real estate investments and has a portfolio of approximately 1 million square feet. Bob is also the Chairman of Shleppers Moving & Storage. Shleppers is one of the largest moving companies in New York City and the entire New York Tri State area.
Bob is the owner and Chairman of Kia of Old Saybrook, Connecticut. He is also the owner and Chairman of Sensible Auto Lending, a bank that he established which lends money to customers to finance the purchase of used cars.
During the past year, Bob has become deeply involved in desalination and trying to provide more water to Israel and in particular the Negev area.
Mr. Friedland earned his bachelor degree from Bard College, and received an MBA from Adelphi University. After completion of his MBA, he went on to do graduate work in Physics at the University of Connecticut.
Mr. Friedland is a member of the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce, the Westchester Chamber of Commerce, SIOR (the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors), IOREBA (Industrial and Office Real Estate Brokers Association, and ICSC (International Conference of Shopping Centers). In addition, Mr. Friedland is involved with UJA, the ADL, and the Masorti Movement.
Bob is the owner and Chairman of Kia of Old Saybrook, Connecticut. He is also the owner and Chairman of Sensible Auto Lending, a bank that he established which lends money to customers to finance the purchase of used cars.
During the past year, Bob has become deeply involved in desalination and trying to provide more water to Israel and in particular the Negev area.
Mr. Friedland earned his bachelor degree from Bard College, and received an MBA from Adelphi University. After completion of his MBA, he went on to do graduate work in Physics at the University of Connecticut.
Mr. Friedland is a member of the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce, the Westchester Chamber of Commerce, SIOR (the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors), IOREBA (Industrial and Office Real Estate Brokers Association, and ICSC (International Conference of Shopping Centers). In addition, Mr. Friedland is involved with UJA, the ADL, and the Masorti Movement.
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Scott Gendell (Chicago) is the President of Skokie, IL-based Terraco, Inc. a shopping center development and management firm he founded in 1985. Gendell has actively supported the development of reservoirs in Israel through the JNF Chicago Board and led a mission to Israel in 2003 with the late Illinois Senator Paul Simon. Gendell serves on the Board of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and the local Multiple Sclerosis Society, and is Vice President of Metropolitan Chicago’s largest synagogue, North Shore Congregation Israel. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Jewish Studies Department of his alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a member of the Executive Board of Chicago’s AIPAC chapter. From 1995-2005, Gendell served as an interviewer for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the SHOAH Foundation.
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“arc Kelman is an active member of the Jewish community of Phoenix, AZ. President of the Western Zone and Past President of the Arizona region of Jewish National Fund, he also served on the Board of Directors for Israel Bonds, and on the Terros Behavioral Health Services Board of Directors. Other service includes the Greater Phoenix Jewish Federation Board of Directors, the Jewish Federation Men’s National Young Leadership Cabinet, Greater Phoenix Jewish Community Center Board of Directors, and the Hillel Board of Directors. He was a recipient of the Young Leadership Award from Jewish Federation in 1984.
A graduate of the University of Tampa, Marc is married to Ellen, a psychologist in private practice. They have two children, Scott and Stephanie.
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Originally from Haifa, Israel, Hannan Lis (Farmington Hills) is principal, COO and board member of The WW Group, Inc. (Weight Watchers’ largest franchise group), and founder and CEO of Lis Ventures LLC, a venture fund investing in emerging technologies and companies. He is past President of the Jewish Community Centers of Metropolitan Detroit, a National Board member of the American Jewish Committee, Midwest President and National Vice President of JNF (Land of Promise Foundation), and a member of the Detroit Federation Board of Governors. Lis is a current member of the American Jewish Committee Board of Governors and Co-President of MOPAC, a Democratic political action committee.
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An art historian by profession, Rita Salfeld (New York) has been a member of JNF’s Greater New York Board since 1991 and a member of the National Board of Directors and National Board of Trustees since 1998. She is a past President and Vice President of the Greater New York Board. In addition to her involvement with JNF, Salfeld is on the Board of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
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Joseph Wolfson is an attorney with Stevens & Lee in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. As a shareholder in the firm’s Litigation, Antitrust & Unfair Competition, Intellectual Property and Technology departments, Joe’s practice is concentrated on corporate and complex litigation, including unfair competition, trademark, trade secret and other intellectual property disputes. He is a former state prosecutor for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office. Joe is a cum laude graduate of Boston University School of Law and holds a B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.
An active member of the Jewish community, Joe serves on the boards of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Jewish National Fund, Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El and the Gladius Society of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Leadership Council of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He is a past President of the Reading Jewish Community Center.
Joe is married to Ellen Holtzman. The couple lives in Villanova, Pennsylvania, with their daughters Alexandra, Jessica and Sarah.
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Advisors to the President
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Jacqueline Cahn (Los Angeles) is the past Executive Director of the Connecticut Jewish Community Relations Council. She was on the Legislative Board of the ADL, the International Committee of NACRAC, and the Board of Soviet Jewry. Past Co-Chairman of the Jewish Guild for the Blind, she is a member of the Yale Club, N.H. Historical Society, Daughters of 1853, New York City Opera Guild, Metropolitan Opera, Disney Hall, and Los Angeles Opera Guild. She was a grant recipient for a film on dehumanization and the Holocaust for the National Humanities Council.
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Shoshana S. Cardin (Baltimore) travels hundreds of thousands of miles each year to champion the cause of American, Israeli and world Jewry. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel and Judaism have been Shoshana’s life’s work, as exemplified by her longstanding commitment to numerous Jewish philanthropic organizations. In addition to her active role with JNF both in Israel and the U.S., she has served on the boards of United Israel Appeal, CLAL – National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, the American Joint Distribution Committee and the Council of Jewish Federations. She was chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and is the co-founder of the Shoshana S. Cardin School, Baltimore’s independent Jewish high school. In 1994, she received the Hadassah Henrietta Szold Humanitarian Award as a testament to her inspiring work as a passionate woman of action.
Sam Delug (Los Angeles) has practiced law for over 20 years. In 1989, he founded ANINetworks and NOS Communications, Inc. Delug is a member of JNF’s World Chairman’s Council, is the Executive Director of the American Jewish Congress and is active in Jewish Big Brothers, Bet T’Shuvah, and Hadassah.
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“Dede” Diane Shaff Feinberg has a distinguished, award-winning resume of involvement with national and local Jewish communal service. She is Co-Chair, Assembly Planning Committee, The Jewish Agency for Israel where she also serves on the Board of Governors. Dede served as Co-Chair, United Jewish Communities General Assembly, and also serves as Vice Chair and Member of the Executive Committee. She is Vice-Chair, Executive Committee Member, and Member of the Board of Directors of United Israel Appeal. Her involvement with United Jewish Communities includes Member of the Board of Directors and former Chair of both the Missions Committee and Major Gifts.
Her Jewish Federation service includes Chair, Grants Committee, United Jewish Endowment Fund of Greater Washington and Chair of the Israel@60 celebration on the Mall in 2008. She has serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees. Her past service includes President, Campaign Chair, Vice President, Human Resource Development, and both President and Campaign Chair of the Women’s Division. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1986.
Dede lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband Kenneth. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Wife of Kenneth Feinberg, Special Master of the 9-11 Victims Compensation Fund, distributed some $7 billion in unaccounted payouts to prevent the families of the victims from seeking justice and discovery in U.S. courts. Feinberg’s wife, Dede (nee Diane Shaff, is a member of the board of governors of the Jewish Agency, the original parent organization of Zionist terrorism, the state of Israel, and the Mossad.
“The Obama administration’s ‘pay czar’. …Feinberg has served as Court-Appointed Special Settlement Master in cases including Agent Orange product liability litigation, Asbestos Personal Injury Litigation and DES Cases. Feinberg was also one of three arbitrators who determined the fair market value of the Zapruder film of the Kennedy assassination and was one of two arbitrators who determined the allocation of legal fees in the ‘Holocaust’ slave labor litigation. …On June 10, 2009, Feinberg was appointed by the U.S. Treasury Department to oversee the compensation of top executives at companies which have received federal bailout assistance, etc., etc., ETC.” -sickipedia.
…three ‘adult’ children and two grandchildren.
-Kenneth R. Feinberg 5115 Hampden Ln; Bethesda, MD 20814-2355 (301) 657-4460 [Household: Diane S Feinberg, David L Feinberg, Sheila C Feinberg, Leslie S Feinberg]
-?>Kenneth R. Feinberg 52 Gray St; Boston, MA 02116-6210
-Job: Mediate Inc, President, Kenneth Feinberg 5200 Edgemoor Ln; Bethesda, MD 20814-2342 (301) 652-6220
-Job: Consensus Building Institute, Board of Directors, Kenneth Feinberg 1201 New York Ave NW; Washington, DC 20005-6191 (202) 289-7444
-Job: Washington National Opera, Director, Kenneth Feinberg 2600 Virginia Ave NW; Washington, DC 20037-1906 (202) 295-2420
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Tony Gelbart (Boca Raton), a businessman and “philanthropist”, is Chairman and Co-Founder of Nefesh B’Nefesh, a nonprofit organization established in 2001 to help North Americans make aliyah. He is also President and CEO of Old City Partners LLC, an investment company based in Boca Raton with holdings in both the U.S. and Israel. In addition to his involvement with Nefesh B’Nefesh and JNF he is actively involved with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Republican Jewish Coalition, and American Friends of Israel Democracy Institute.
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David R. Greenbaum is President of Vornado Office, the New York office division of Vornado Realty Trust which owns a commercial real estate portfolio in New York City of approximately 22.8 million square feet. Mr. Greenbaum, a former tax attorney at Weil Gotshal & Manges, in 1982 joined The Mendik Company, a private owner of commercial real estate properties in New York City. Mr. Greenbaum was named President of The Mendik Company in 1990. In 1997, The Mendik Company merged into Vornado Realty Trust.
Mr. Greenbaum is a member of the Citizens Budget Commission, a private watch-dog organization which oversees the City’s and State’s fiscal policies, a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York, a member of the Realty Advisory Board and is on the Board of Directors for the 34th Street Partnership, Grand Central Partnership as well as the Times Square Alliance, public/private efforts to enhance New York’s mid-town business districts. Mr. Greenbaum is also a member of the New York University Real Estate Institute’s Advisory Board as well as a member of the Executive Roundtable Committee of the Advisory Board. Mr. Greenbaum was selected by the New York City Partnership to participate in the 1994-1995 David Rockefeller Fellows Program. Mr. Greenbaum was also appointed to the Board of the New York City Industrial Development Authority by Mayor Giuliani where he served from 1996 through 2000.”
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Daniel Markind (Philadelphia) is an attorney at the law firm of Eckert Seamans Cherin &Mellott, LLC specializing in real estate, aviation, and corporate matters. He has held a variety of leadership positions at JNF, including Secretary, President of the Philadelphia region, and Assistant Treasurer. For 20 years Markind has counseled clients from Fortune 50 companies to individuals, including McDonald’s Corporation, Rite Aid Corporation, and BJ’s Corporation. Prior to opening his own office in 1995, Markind was general counsel to the Philadelphia Airport System and worked in the real estate department at Blank Rome Comiskey and McCauley.
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William Miller – Advisor to the President
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Toby Mower (Baltimore) worked in the healthcare field as a nurse for 25 years until receiving her M.S. in clinical psychology. She is a founder and board member of Jewish Recovery Houses and is a past member of the Certified Alcoholism Counselors of Maryland and the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. Mower sits on the Board of Governors of Ben Gurion University of the Negev and on the Board of the Baltimore chapter of The American Technion Society, an affiliate of the Technion University of Israel. She is a past Executive Board member of the Associated Federation of Baltimore and a past Vice President of the Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah. Mower is a member of JNF’s World Chairman’s Council.
* “Baltimore Zionist District”: http://www.bzdisrael.org/pages/about-us/executive-committee.php
Spouse: Mort [?]
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Todd Patkin (Boston) served as President of Autopart International, a family company founded in 1957, until it was sold in 2005. Today, he runs the Todd G. Patkin Companies with investments in several different businesses. Patkin serves on the New England and National Executive Boards of JNF and is co-founder of Operatunity Performing Arts Center. He sits on many other for-profit and non-profit boards, including the New England Board of the Anti Defamation League and the American Friends Board for Yemin Orde Youth Village in Israel. He funded Gary Marino’s Million Calorie March from Florida to Boston and is now Co-Executive Producer, along with Gary, of Million Calorie March – the movie.
His wife, Yadira, is a member of the Sapphire Society, JNF’s major gifts division for women. Todd and Yadira have one son, Joshua.
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Marlene Post (New York) is a past National President of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, and past President of Hadassah International. She chairs Taglit-Birthright Israel for North America. Post served as Co-Chair of the Confederation of United Zionists and as the honorary Co-Chair of the National Coalition for Literacy. She has served on the Executive Board of the World Zionist Organization, and also served on the Board of the State of Israel Bonds, the Advisory Council of the New York Board of Rabbis, The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and the UJA Federation of New York.
AZM (American Zionist Movement): Marlene E. Post, Chair of the National Board, is past National President of Hadassah and the Women’s Zionist Organization of America and the current President of Hadassah International. Mrs. Post was honored with the Guardian of Jerusalem Award, and has also received numerous Israeli awards for her work on behalf of people with disabilities. The Hebrew College of Massachusetts awarded her the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Mrs. Post also serves as the co-chair of the World Confederation of United Zionists and the honorary co-chair of the National Coalition for Literacy. She served on the Executive of the World Zionist Organization, and presently is the chair of the Controllers and Audit Committee of the board of the Jewish Agency for Israel. She also serves on the Board of the State of Israel Bonds, The Advisory Council of the New York Board of Rabbis, The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and the UJA Federation of New York. Mrs. Post was a member of the Executive Committee of National Hillel, and she has served as chair of Birthright Israel North America. Mrs. Post holds a Master of Science Degree in Nursing Education and Administration and has served as a Nursing Educator in a host of health care institutions.
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(see above)
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(L.)W. James Schiller (Baltimore) is a certified public accountant and a founder of the firm of Gorfine, Schiller & Gardyn, P.A. He was National President of the American Zionist Movement, Chairman of the Board of the Baltimore Zionist District, and former National President of the Zionist Organization of America. Schiller also serves on JNF’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, Budget & Finance Committee, and Audit Committee. He is a past JNF National Vice President, National Treasurer and National Assistant Treasurer. Schiller has served as a delegate to the World Zionist Congress and is on the Board of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, United Israel Appeal, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, Baltimore Jewish Council, and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. He is also a member of the Executive Board of AIPAC and the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Jay Schottenstein (Columbus) is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Schottenstein Stores Corporation, American Eagle Outfitters, and a number of other companies. He is active in United Jewish Appeal; Columbus Jewish Federation; Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center; Israel Bonds; Orthodox Union; and United Way. Deeply committed to Jewish education, Schottenstein is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Columbus Torah Academy and Yeshiva College at Yeshiva University; Chairman of the Board of the Schottenstein Chabad House at Ohio State University; and a member of the American and Global Boards of Trustees for Bar-Ilan University.
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Susan Weikers Balaban (Wynnewood) is a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Development Corporation for Israel and a past National and International Chairman of the Israel Bonds Organization. She serves as a member of the National Board of Beit Hatefasut (the Diaspora Museum), the International Board of Governors of the Peres Center for Peace, the Women’s Leadership Forum – Democratic Committee, the Board of the American Friends of Ben Gurion University, and is a life member of Hadassah. She is a former member of the United States Holocaust Council and its Executive Committee, a member of the Board of Directors of Lifebridge Health-Sinai Hospital Medical Center in Baltimore and Hias of Greater Philadelphia.
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Audit Committee
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Fred S. Zeidman – Chair
Fred S. Zeidman – Chair
Fred S. Zeidman currently is serving his second term as Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, a position to which he was appointed by President George W. Bush. A prominent Houston based business and civic leader, Mr. Zeidman also serves as Vice Chairman of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Development Board, Chairman of the Board of SulphCo Inc., Chief Restructuring Officer of Transmeridian Exploration, Inc.and Bankruptcy Trustee of AremisSoft Corp. Over the past five years, he has also served as Chairman of the Board of Seitel Inc., and Interim President of Nova Bio Fuels, Inc. Mr. Zeidman also serves on the Board of Compact Power, Inc. in Ft. Mill, SC, and Prosperity Bank in Houston. * http://www.ushmm.org/museum/press/bios/details.php?content=zeidman
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(L.)Michael Jacobson (Cleveland) is President of the MHJ Consulting Group LLC, a group of marketing, sales and development professionals serving clients both in the United States and abroad. He has over 40 years of experience in marketing, sales and packaging. A seasoned speaker, Jacobson has spoken nationally and internationally on the topics of marketing and sales. He is an officer and board member of many nonprofit organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America “250” Group; Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; Solomon Schechter Day School; and Jewish Education Center of Cleveland. He is past Chancellor of Deak Lodge, Knights of Pythias and past President of Congregation Beth AM.
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Past Presidents
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Charlotte Jacobson
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Ruth Popkin (New York) served as President of JNF from 1989 until 1993. Before this, she was National President of Hadassah, and held numerous positions throughout her tenure at the organization. Currently, she is a member of JNF’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees; JNF Missions Chair; member of the Executive Board of AIPAC; member of the Cabinet of the American Zionist Movement; and member of the Board of Directors of the United Israel Appeal, American Friends of Hebrew University, and American Israel Friendship League. In 1987, Popkin was the first woman elected as Chair of the Presidium and President of the World Zionist Congress.
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Regional Leadership
“Please visit JNF In Your Area to find your regional leadership.”
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Executive Management
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Russell Robinson, CEO
See above.
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Harold Cohen, COO
Harold Cohen currently serves as the chief operating officer of Jewish National Fund (JNF), a position he assumed in 1998. He brings to this position over 40 years of professional experience in Jewish communal service.
Before joining JNF, Mr. Cohen served as senior vice president of United Jewish Appeal. Prior to that he served as executive director of both the Allied Jewish Federation of Denver and the Greater Hartford Jewish Federation.
Mr. Cohen’s leadership abilities extend beyond the realm of JNF. He was also a Young Judea Leader, a Consultant on Aging to the State of Connecticut, as well as a Field Instructor for Yeshiva University, the University of Denver, and the University of Connecticut, in each respective university’s School of Social Work.
Harold Cohen resides in New York City with his wife. They have three children and one grandchild.
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Mitchel Rosenzweig, CFO
<-?Mitchel Rosenzweig currently serves as the chief financial officer of the Jewish National Fund (JNF,) a position he assumed in 1997. He brings to this position over 20 years of financial, administrative, human resource, contract management, facilities, MIS and building operations experience in not-for-profit and private sectors.
Prior to joining the JNF, Mr. Rosenzweig spent 13 years serving in various managerial positions at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA in New York City and served as its associate executive director for administration and finance from 1990-1997. Prior to that, he received his public accounting experience with Loeb & Troper, CPAs.
Mr. Rosenzweig has proven his leadership in progressively more responsible and challenging management and executive positions. His
leadership ability and passion and commitment for Jewish causes is evident in his personal life as well. He serves on the board of his temple and has served as president, vice president and treasurer.
leadership ability and passion and commitment for Jewish causes is evident in his personal life as well. He serves on the board of his temple and has served as president, vice president and treasurer.
Mitchel Rosenzweig lives in a community just outside of New York City with his wife and their three children.
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Matt Bernstein, Chief Planned Giving Officer
Matt Bernstein Certified Financial Planner) is director of planned giving for Jewish National Fund. With more than twenty years experience in the financial arena, Mr. Bernstein has assisted hundreds of people on the road to financial security. At JNF he is responsible for assisting donors, their families and their financial advisors in the implementation of charitable gifts designed to promote their tax, estate and philanthropic goals. During the past eight years, Mr. Bernstein has given more than 200 lectures around the country to both consumers and professionals on how charitable gift planning can be incorporated into every person’s financial plan. In addition, he has written numerous articles for trade and professional journals.
Prior to JNF, Mr. Bernstein worked in the insurance and financial planning fields on Wall Street with such prestigous firms as Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company and Shearson Lehman Brothers. He was also a member of the adjunct faculty for the College of Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado, where he taught numerous courses on financial planning, financial management and Certified Financial Planning preparation courses. He is a member of Atlanta’s Planned Giving Council and the Jewish Planned Giving Network.
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Yael Septee Kane, Chief Development Officer
(Far L.)Yael Septee Kane is Jewish National Fund’s Executive Director, Major Gifts. Prior to this, she served as Assistant Vice President at United Jewish Appeal, Assistant Head at the Walden School, and Associate Director of Admissions at Barnard College.
Yael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard University and a Masters degree in Education from Harvard University. She currently resides in Maryland with her husband and son.
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Rabbi Eric Lankin, D. Min., Chief of Institutional Advancement and Education
“abbi Eric M. Lankin, D.Min. is Director of Religious and Educational Activities of the United Jewish Communities. As the senior Rabbinic professional of the North American Federation system, Rabbi Lankin facilitates the relationship between the 156 Jewish Federations and 400 independent communities across North America and the synagogue movements, Rabbinical associations and Rabbinical schools; directs the UJC Rabbinic Cabinet and serves as the Rabbi for its 300 member staff.
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Rick Krosnick, National Campaign Coordinator & Midwest Zone Director
(R.)Rick Krosnick is the National Campaign Coordinator and Midwest Director of Jewish National Fund. In addition to his management of JNF’s operations in the fifteen-state area stretching from Western Pennsylvania to the Dakotas, Rick plans, manages and implements national fundraising campaign strategies and serves on JNF’s Executive Management team.
Rick began his Jewish communal career in his hometown of Detroit, where he was the Young Leadership Director of the Jewish Federation of Detroit. In 1993, he moved to Chicago where for several years Rick worked for the national United Jewish Appeal, concluding his tenure at UJA as Midwest Major Gifts Director.
In 1999, following a brief tenure as Assistant Vice President of the Jewish United Fund of Chicago where he was responsible for managing the Trades, Industries and Professions Department, Rick joined Jewish National Fund.
Rick is a graduate of the prestigious Wexner Heritage Foundation’s two-year course in Jewish Leadership.
Rick’s understanding of Israel and the political and socio-economic tensions of the Middle East were shaped by his work outside of the Jewish community. Beginning in 1985, for a nine-year period both on active-duty and in the reserve forces, Rick was an Intelligence Specialist in the United States Navy, serving aboard the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz and the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Much of Rick’s tenure in the Navy was spent with the U.S. Sixth Fleet operating in the eastern Mediterranean, confronting issues of state-sponsored terrorism and other threats to the security of the United States and our allies.
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