The Bonei Zion Committee is comprised of distinguished and influential individuals who are accomplished leaders in their respective fields.
Yaacov Amidror
After retiring from the IDF, Amidror served as National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel and Head of Israel’s National Security Council. During his role as National Security Advisor of Israel, he participated in high-level talks with U.S. officials about the Iranian nuclear program and led efforts to restore relations with Turkey after the Gaza flotilla raid incident. In March 2014, Amidror joined the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies as the Anne and Greg Rosshandler Senior Fellow and in addition is a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. General Amidror has published Reflections on Army and Security (Hebrew); and Intelligence, Theory and Practice (Hebrew), along with journal articles on strategy and intelligence matters. |
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Yael Arad
In 2005, she was voted the 103rd-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet. Yael was born in Tel Aviv and began taking judo classes at the age of eight. Within half a year she ranked second in Israel in her weight class.” |
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Colette Avital
Upon returning to Israel, she was appointed Deputy Director in Charge of Western Europe, the third most important position in the ministry. In 1999 Avital decided to run for the Knesset on behalf of the Labor Party, which formed the One Israel alliance together with Gesher and Meimad. Although she claimed 24th spot on the party list, Labor won only 23 seats in the May elections (One Israel won 26, of which two went to Gesher and one to Meimad) and Avital missed out. However, she entered the Knesset in November 1999 when Labor MK Matan Vilnai resigned. She served briefly as Chair of the Ethics Committee and headed the Investigative Commission for the Identification and Return of the Property of Holocaust Victims, which submitted its conclusions to the government in 2005. She chaired the Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Committee and in addition serves as the International Secretary of the Israeli Labor Party. After retiring from the IDF, Amidror served as National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel and Head of Israel’s National Security Council. During his role as National Security Advisor of Israel, he participated in high-level talks with U.S. officials about the Iranian nuclear program and led efforts to restore relations with Turkey after the Gaza flotilla raid incident. In March 2014, Amidror joined the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies as the Anne and Greg Rosshandler Senior Fellow and in addition is a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. General Amidror has published Reflections on Army and Security (Hebrew); and Intelligence, Theory and Practice (Hebrew), along with journal articles on strategy and intelligence matters. |
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Becky Capsi
In this capacity, Caspi leads a team that represents North American Jewry and the Federation movement in the Jewish state. The department oversees hundreds of projects, missions and other Federation activities in Israel, interfaces with all levels of the Israeli government, liaises with JFNA’s partners, including The Jewish Agency for Israel and The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and represents the North American Jewish community to Israel’s top business, philanthropic, military, academic, judicial, rabbinic and communal leaders. Caspi is a gifted public speaker and a much sought-after coach and mentor who frequently appears in Israeli media. Caspi serves as the senior professional dedicated to Federations’ global agenda providing strategic leadership and engaging with a wide range of funders and organizations; delivering fiduciary oversight and grant management; system-wide crisis response in Israel and overseas; and combatting anti-Semitism and the BDS movement. She also directs the production of JFNA’s annual General Assembly (GA) conference when it takes place in Prior to joining JFNA, Caspi worked for over 16 years at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee where she earned the distinction of being the first woman ever appointed to JDC’s global executive management team. Rebecca has an extensive background in operational management, human resources and financial resource development. She serves on the boards of a number of Israeli organizations. Caspi holds a BA in Archaeology and Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from New York University, and an MBA from the Hebrew |
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William Daroff
On February 1, 2020, he will become the Chief Executive Officer of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. In that capacity, he will be the senior professional guiding the Conference’s agenda on behalf of the 51 national member organizations, which represent the wide mosaic of American Jewish life. Named by the Forward newspaper as being among the fifty most influential Jews in America, Daroff guides the Jewish community’s advocacy efforts on the Federation movement’s key policy issues. He is a key player in foreign policy circles – advising policymakers and elected officials on Jewish communal concerns, namely those related to the US-Israel relationship, the Middle East conflict, and efforts to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. He is also a leader in the worldwide fight to combat the assault on Israel’s legitimacy, creating and overseeing the Federation movement’s Israel Action Network, and serving on both the steering committee of the Prime Minister of Israel’s global task force and the Conference of Presidents’ working group. In addition to his focus on foreign relations, Daroff is also a leader on domestic policy issues, principally on health and human services, such as Medicare and Medicaid, long-term care, and policies affecting older Americans, including Holocaust Survivors, as well as homeland security programs and strengthening the capacity of charities to care for those in need. Daroff is also a social networking pioneer and evangelist. In April 2016, the JTA news service named him the most influential person on “Jewish Twitter” (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed in the second slot). Follow him at www.Twitter.com/Daroff. Daroff received his Bachelor’s Degree (summa cum laude) in Political Science & History, Master’s Degree in Political Science, and Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in his hometown of Cleveland, OH. He is an adjunct Professor at George Washington University. He lives in suburban Washington, DC, with his wife, Heidi Krizer Daroff, and their two children. The couple met in Krakow, Poland, while studying at Jagiellonian University, from which they both received certificates in the history of Eastern European Jewry and the Holocaust. |
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Efrat Duvdevani
Efrat began her public service career working for Yitzhak Rabin’s election in 1992, and subsequently worked in the Prime Minister’s Office. Following his assassination, Efrat remained at the service of Shimon Peres as Prime Minister, and worked alongside him until his final days.
Efrat served as both Chief of Staff and Director General in the Ministry of Development of the Galil and Negev, and has held numerous senior positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Regional Development, and more.
Efrat holds a BA in English and International Relations from Hebrew University and an MA in Public Policy from Tel Aviv University, completing both degrees with honors.
Rabbi Paul Freedman
After joining the United Synagogue’s Youth Department in 1960, he entered Rabbinical School in 1966 and holds a B.A. in Jewish Studies from NYU. In 1967 Rabbi Freedman was appointed Acting Director of the Youth Department and upon graduation from the JTS, was appointed the International Director of the USCJ Youth Department (USY) until his Aliyah. Amongst the programs he initiated was the Nativ program, which he launched 32 years ago. In Israel he served as Head of the English Speaking Countries Desk for the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Youth and HeChalutz Dept, and subsequently as Head of the North American Desk for the combined Department of Education. He currently serves as the Director Israel Strategic Partnerships, of the United Synagogues Israel Commission with over six hundred North American Synagogues on his Commission’s Data Bank. He was recently elected to the Board of the Masorti Movement as chair of its Committee on Aliyah and Absorption. Under his direction, the Israel Commission launched its Ma’a lot program in partnership with Nefesh |
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Barbara Goldstein
A former National President of Junior Hadassah, in Hadassah Barbara chaired Youth Aliyah, two National Conventions, and the departments of Hadassah Travel and Tourism, Jewish Education, Programming, Aliyah, and Soviet Jewry. She is a past President of the Southern New Jersey Region. In 1973-74, Barbara lived in Jerusalem for one year with her family during the Yom Kippur war. She served as a volunteer in the Public Relations Department of the Medical Center working directly with the wounded soldiers, reporters, congressmen, and other dignitaries, and acting as their escort through Kiryat Hadassah. Barbara was a member of the Cabinet of the American Zionist Movement and served as a Commissioner on the Joint Authority for Jewish and Zionist Education. She also has proudly served as a delegate at 8 World Zionist Congresses in Jerusalem. Today in Israel, Barbara represents Hadassah on the boards of Hadassah Neurim, Meir Shfeyah, Ramat Hadassah Szold, the World Zionist Organization, Keren Kayemet and the Prime Minister’s special commission on the Legacy of Theodor Herzl. A Yeshiva University High School graduate, Barbara attended the teacher’s institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a graduate of Gratz College. She also served as Principal of Hebrew High School in Camden, NJ. As a dynamic speaker, she has devoted her life to promoting Zionist/Jewish education and love of Israel through her extensive tours in the U.S., speaking for Federations, Temples, schools and Colleges. Barbara was honored during the 63rd anniversary of Israel’s Independence Day to light one of the 12 Torches at the National Ceremony on Mount Herzl. She represented Hadassah for its Zionist work on the eve of the Hadassah Centennial. Barbara is the widow of Denverite Hazzan Mordechai Goldstein. He was also a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and a Dr. of Sacred Music. Hazzan Goldstein served Neve Shalom in Metuchen for 25 years. Barbara is the mother of 3 children, and a proud Savta of 5 grandchildren. |
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Laura Gilinski
Laura Gilinski is VP of Philanthropic Partnerships at Start-Up Nation Central. In this capacity, she is responsible for all Start-Up Nation Central’s development-related issues, including partner cultivation, retention, and support. Prior to Start-Up Nation Central, Laura served as Deputy Director for Development and International Relations at the Israel Museum (IMJ), where she was responsible for development operations, including cultivation and growth of 16 international friends’ organizations; and direct fundraising from foundations, and individuals. Prior to IMJ, Laura served as Chief Development and Public Relations Officer at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, where she worked closely with the Institute’s network of partners, individual donors, foundations, and philanthropic organizations, helping Hartman to double its revenue base during the years of her employment. Laura worked for over a decade in the Israeli high-tech sector as Director of Corporate Marketing Communications at the Ex Libris Group and as Director of Product Marketing at Wizcom Technologies. Laura brings over twenty years of experience in communications, public relations, branding, and fund-raising in the corporate and non-profit sectors. |
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Vera Golovensky
More recently, Vera has been an Advisor on Diaspora Affairs to Minister for Immigrant Absorption Natan Sharansky. She has also worked as Director for International Affairs at The Adelson Institue for Strategic Affairs at the Shalem Center. Vera is currently working as Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Executive at The Jewish Agency for Israel, and is on the boards of BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL, MASA, the National Library of Israel, Public Council, and the Yad Vashem Board of Directors. |
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Efraim Halevy
He made Aliyah from London in 1948. |
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Prof. Yonatan Halevy
A specialist in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Healthcare Management he received his medical degree from Tel Aviv University and has served as a medical fellow at Yale University Medical School. Professor Halevy lives in Jerusalem and is the father of five children. |
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Yaakov Katz
He is a faculty member and lecturer at Harvard University’s Extension School where he teaches an advanced course in journalism. He previously served for close to a decade as the paper’s military reporter and defense analyst and is the co-author of two books: “Weapon Wizards – How Israel Became a High-Tech Military Superpower” which will be published by St. Martin’s Press in January, 2017 and “Israel vs. Iran – The Shadow War” which came out in 2012. Prior to taking up the role of Editor-in-Chief, Katz served for two years as a senior policy advisor to Israel’s Minister of Economy, Minister of Education and Minister of Diaspora Affairs. In 2012-2013, Katz was one of 12 international fellows to spend a year at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. Originally from Chicago, Katz also has a law degree from Bar Ilan University. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and four children. |
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Ruth Oren
Ruth has been a Lion for over 10 years. Ruth has been Chair of the Lions for 4 years and is presently the President of Lions of Judah Israel since June 2015. Under her leadership the Israeli Lions help support 13 projects for the empowerment of girls and women throughout the country. Her passion and enlightenment has inspired many Israeli women to embark on the journey of “Tikkun Olam”. She has three daughters and 6 grandchildren and has proudly transmitted her legacy to her oldest daughter, who is also a Lion. Ruth embodies the spirit and vision of Lion of Judah Israel through her commitment to women’s philanthropy. |
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Russell Robinson
In 1790, Robinson’s family immigrated to Virginia from Alsace, Lorraine, joining a Jewish community that was comprised of both Ashkenazim and Sephardim, a community that had already spread across the Atlantic coast of North and South America. The family eventually settled in Petersburg, VA, where they owned general stores, and where, even today, one can still visit the family cemetery. Over time, the Robinson’s migrated north to Montreal, where they owned haberdasheries, and where they were active in their local temples. Robinson’s father, Richard, born in Montreal, was in El Paso, on a visit to his godparents, when he encountered a reason not to return home: Robinson’s mother, Ruth Rosenberg, daughter of Sam and Olga, who had come to the United States from Lithuania, at the turn of the century. Growing up in a community of 3,000 Jews, Robinson had a traditional Jewish upbringing from his parents and grandparents. He loved sports, but it wasn’t until after college, that he discovered his passion and commitment to Jewish communal service. Robinson accepted the position of Youth Director at the local Jewish Community Center, where he spearheaded community efforts to teach Holocaust education in the public school system. Robinson’s passion and ingenuity was immediately apparent, and he soon became the Director of the JCC and the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) campaigns for El Paso. El Paso was too small for Robinson, and soon he was traveling across the Midwest for UJA, reaching out to the more remote Jewish communities. The Chicago / Midwest job became a springboard, and Robinson quickly moved up through the UJA system. As Assistant Regional Director in Dallas, he began working on national programs, including singles’ trips to Israel. It was on one of these singles’ missions that Robinson met his wife, Marci Morgan. From there, it was on to Project Renewal, Director of Western Operations, Vice President of the UJA Network and during the early 90s, the Robinson family moved east for him to take on the position of Director of the National UJA campaign. Also in the early 90s, the UJA was beginning to re-evaluate its role in the Jewish community, and to undergo the restructuring that eventually led to the United Jewish Communities (UJC), and the Federation system in place today. Just when Robinson was beginning to re-evaluate his own UJA role in the Jewish community, he received a surprising phone call from cosmetics heir, Ronald S. Lauder, well-known philanthropist and the new President of Jewish National Fund. Robinson felt that Ronald Lauder was somebody who cared very deeply about the future direction of the Jewish community. When Lauder asked Robinson to become Chief Executive Officer of JNF, Robinson realized that this was the chance to redirect his passion for the Jewish people into new arenas. Plagued with scant central leadership, lack of technology, duplicated efforts, and antiquated business practices, Jewish National Fund had been insidiously losing its prestige and mission, on its way to dinosaur oblivion, before Robinson took the helm in 1997. Over the past six years, he has worked ceaselessly to not only inject a new energy and life into the JNF, but also to ensure that its mission is more relevant and meaningful than ever. The end result is that today, under Robinson’s leadership, JNF has improved efficiency, decreased costs, and increased fundraising. Today, JNF has a business management structure with top professionals and committed lay leaders who work together and are responsible for fundraising and overseeing the operations and budget. Recognition of donors has been refined to instill pride in every donor to the organization from the 18-dollar tree buyer to the million-dollar donor. Robinson’s vision for JNF has been translated into very real and important changes, and JNF is fast reclaiming its role as the premier non-profit organization for Israel. Today, JNF operates on a business model, one based on sound business practices, and on transparent integrity. After only six years under Robinson’s guidance and leadership, JNF stands proud as the 103 year-old success story, and as an inspiration and model for other non-profit organizations. Today he resides in New Jersey with his wife Marci and two children, Sam and Alyssa. |
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Wendy Singer
Prof. Chaim Waxman
He has written more than 100 scholarly articles and is the author and/or editor of more than a dozen books, including, Jewish Baby Boomers: A Communal Perspective (2001), American Aliya: Portrait of an Innovative Migration Movement (1989), and America’s Jews in Transition(1983). His most recent book is Social Change and Halakhic Evolution in American Orthodoxy(2017). He made Aliyah in 2002. |
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Rabbi Berel Wein
Rabbi Wein is a graduate of the Hebrew Theological College and Roosevelt College in Chicago. He received his Juris Doctor Degree from De Paul University Law School and a Doctor of Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Theological College. Rabbi Wein was a practicing lawyer for a number of years and in 1964 assumed the pulpit of the Beth Israel Congregation in Miami Beach, Florida, where he remained until 1972. In 1973 he became the Rabbi of Congregation Bais Torah in Suffern, New York and remained in that position for 24 years. He was appointed Executive Vice President of the Union of Orthodox Organizations of America and was Rabbinic Administrator of the Kashrus Division for five years after that. In 1977 he founded Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Suffern, New York and remained its Rosh Hayeshiva until 1997. Rabbi Wein’s book of halachic essays, Chikrei Halacha was published by Mosad Harav Kook in 1976 and Eyunim B’m’sechtoth Hatalmud was published in 1989. Rabbi Wein has authored eight Jewish history books – Triumph of Survival, The Story of the Jews in the Modern Era; Herald of Destiny, the Medieval Era; Echoes of Glory, the Classical Era, Faith and Fate/ The Story of the Jews in the Twentieth Century and The Oral Law of Sinai-The Illustrated History of the Mishnah and Vision and Valor- An Illustrated History of the Talmud– all of which have received popular and critical acclaim. In 2011, Rabbi Wein released Patterns in Jewish History, a thematic exploration of the history of the Jewish people. In 2013, Rabbi Wein together with Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Warren Goldstein authored The Legacy/ Teachings for Life from the Great Lithuanian Rabbis. .Additionally Rabbi Wein has written a book on his experiences in the Rabbinate entitled Tending the Vineyard and a book on the values, practices and traditions titled Living Jewish, Currently, the Destiny Foundation is in the process of translating Rabbi Wein’s riveting accounts of Jewish history into a series of films on Jewish personalities. The first, entitled Rashi-A Light AfterThe Dark Ages, was released in 2000 and the next, on the life of the Rambam was completed in 2004, each receiving positive reviews and impacting the curriculum in Jewish schools the world over. The Destiny Foundation is now producing a 13- part documentary, Faith and Fate/ The Story of the Jews in the 20th Century – of which the first two episodes “The Dawn of the Century” and “Implosion of the Old Order,” “The Miracle of Israel,” “and “A New Beginning” have been premiered in both the US and Israel. The sixth episode, “The Miracle of Israel” was chosen by the Jewish Agency, in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the state. This film received a 5 Star review from the Jerusalem Post. The next film in the series produced in 2010, entitled A New Beginning is the dramatic story of the War of Independence and the untold saga of 850,000 refugees from Arab lands. The Faith and Fate series will contain two films on the Holocaust, the first of which, entitled Ominous Skies, was premiered in New York’s Lincoln Center Library in 2012. Rabbi Wein, a member of the Illinois Bar Association, is the recipient of the Educator of the Year Award from The Covenant Foundation in 1993. Rabbi Wein received the Torah Prize Award from Machon Harav Frank in Jerusalem for his achievements in teaching Torah and spreading Judaism throughout the world. Rabbi Wein makes his home in Jerusalem. |
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Sivan Ya’ari
Binyamin Zomer
Prior to joining Noble, Bini served as Deputy Director for Policy and Government Affairs at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) where he focused on energy and homeland security issues. Before joining AIPAC, Bini was Director of Federal Government Relations at Accenture LLP and before that served as Counsel to Don Nickles, US Senator from Oklahoma, after practicing law in Chicago. Bini has a Law degree from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and a B.A. in Government from the University of Texas.Bini and his wife, Heather, made Aliyah in 2010 and reside in Modi’in with their four daughters. |
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