Women Spread Light as Leaders

Women have long had a remarkable impact on the Jewish philanthropic world, though admittedly it is often behind the scenes. As the new president of Jewish National Fund-USA, I hope I can encourage more women to step up and speak up loudly and proudly for their Zionist values. Women have incredible community-building and world-shaping power, but too often we light the way for others while stepping into the background allowing others to shine. I say no more. I say we can stand at the podium and lift others to lead beside us.

For me, escaping this paradigm has meant stepping fully into my love for our land and people of Israel and speaking up for my community. Standing as a leader on the road to carve a better future for our homeland has required that I tap more deeply into my wells of determination and resilience and that I speak up. As I chart this new path for myself, and as I put my values and my principles on public display, I draw strength from the remarkable Israeli women who have emerged as inspirations over the last 500+ days. Since October 7, 2023, these women’s stories and their activism have become a guidepost for so many Jews navigating a treacherous world. There are more incredible women than I could ever name who are providing light in dark times, however, here are a few who inspire me each day:

• Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was taken hostage on October 7, who fought tirelessly to bring him home, who always remembered all the victims of this war, and who continues to fight for all those who remain in captivity even as she mourns her murdered son. Just like so many Jewish women before her, she does it all while holding on to her Jewish values.
• Michal Uziyahu, an Israel Envelope resident who survived October 7 but lost so many friends, and was recently elected as the Eshkol region’s new mayor. She is turning her passion for her community and for building the Negev into real action.
• Zohar Livne Mizrahi, the Secretary General of Kibbutz Re’im who is overseeing the community through evacuation and return. She is a relentless advocate for their needs, and a true optimist who never stops working towards a better life.
• Emily Damari, who was taken hostage on October 7, and who offered to stay in captivity so an older man, Keith Siegel, be released in her place. She tried to put another’s needs before her own even in the most unimaginable circumstances.

These women are heroines. They remind us that taking action doesn’t require titles, positions, or the spotlight. It is about standing up for your principles. It is about resilience. It is about refusing to look away, refusing to be silent, and refusing to accept the unacceptable. Most of all, it is about that unique perspective that we bring: that doing for others is an incredible show of strength. That the collective thrives because of us and with us, not instead of us.

In my work at Jewish National Fund-USA, I am fueled by these women’s light, alongside the memories of the women who raised me to be who I am today. Their bravery guides my commitment to ensuring that our work continues to build a thriving, resilient Israel. We are not just responding to crisis; we are reimagining and rebuilding for the future. Whether it’s through revitalizing Israel’s North and South, supporting infrastructure development, or investing in communities devastated by October 7, we are shaping the next chapter of Israel’s story.

What makes these women so extraordinary and women’s philanthropic leadership so inspiring is the way that we expand the table and bring others in to join us. The way we see the possible in each other, and the potential in bringing others along in our own growth. I invite you to join me in this precious, bold mission of building and strengthening the Jewish homeland. We continue to be the standard for all organizations when it comes to building Israel and bringing the conversation about Zionism to the front and center and we remain a positive force – holding onto optimism always.