JERUSALEM (Press Release) – Voice of the People, a global initiative tackling key challenges facing the Jewish people spearheaded by President Isaac Herzog, announced on Thursday, Jan. 23, the formation of its inaugural 150-member global Jewish council. This diverse and dynamic cohort will lead a two-year mission to address the most pressing challenges facing the global Jewish community.
The announcement comes at a moment of heightened global focus on Jewish resilience and solidarity, highlighted by the recent breakthroughs in the hostage-ceasefire deal. These events underscore the critical importance of unity and collective action among Jewish communities worldwide during times of crisis.
The 150 council members – 50 from Israel, 50 from North America, and 50 from other regions across the world – reflect an extraordinary diversity of backgrounds and expertise. Their selection underscores Voice of the People’s core values of inclusivity, innovation, and collective impact. Each member brings a wealth of experience and a passion for creating meaningful change, making the council a powerful force for progress.
The rigorous selection process employed a custom-built algorithm evaluating factors such as age, gender, geographic location, and religious affiliation. This approach, complemented by interviews, referrals, and in-depth background checks, ensured a balanced and representative council ready to lead with vision and purpose, with an emphasis on inclusion of leaders from the younger generation.
The council includes communal professionals, academics, students, rabbis, hi-tech professionals, social media influencers, and entrepreneurs, and its members hail from every corner of the Jewish world, including the U.S., Australia, South Africa, France, Brazil, the U.K., Italy, Ukraine, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and more.
The council will convene for a virtual kick-off in February 2025, followed by an in-person five-day conference in Israel in March. Members will work in dedicated ‘Mission Groups’ over two years, addressing key challenges identified through the Voice of the People global survey.
The survey, a pivotal initiative launched in August to source opinions and insights on the future of the Jewish people from Jews worldwide, has so far garnered close to 10,000 responses. By inviting participation from communities worldwide, it ensures that the council’s priorities reflect the collective concerns and aspirations of Jewish people everywhere.
President Isaac Herzog said: “The selected council members represent not only an extraordinary range of skills and strengths but also a wealth of diversity, of complementary differences that I am confident will make the ‘Kol Ha’am’ Council much greater than the sum of its parts. The new reality that we face since 7 October 2023, leaves no doubt – we are obligated to mobilize our best collective resources to arrive at practical and genuine solutions to the needs and challenges of the Jewish people around the world. I am convinced that through joint efforts, in the spirit of Jewish solidarity and with a strong belief in the power of listening, true dialogue, and a commitment to the community and to one another, we can lay the foundations for real, significant, and lasting change that will leave a mark on our future. On behalf of the State of Israel, I extend my congratulations to the elected council members and wish them success.”
Shirel Dagan-Levy, CEO of Voice of the People, said: “The launch of the ‘Voice of the People’ council is an important opportunity for the Jewish people. With the unfolding hostage deal demonstrating both the gravity of the challenges we face and the power of collaborative efforts, this inaugural cohort of 150 members reflects the diversity, resilience, and shared destiny of our global community. Together, they embody our commitment to unity through dialogue, ensuring that every voice – from every corner of the Jewish world – is heard as we work to tackle the pressing challenges facing the Jewish people.”
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Full list of Council Members
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- Abbey Onn (Israel/United States) – Social impact leader advancing initiatives for immigrants and underrepresented groups.
- Rabbi Aharon Shmuel Baskin (Belarus/Israel) – Secretary General of the Conference of European Rabbis bridging faith and science.
- Aija Mayrock (United States) – Writer and advocate addressing bullying and promoting Jewish identity.
- Aleeza Ben Shalom (Israel/United States) – Matchmaker, dating coach, author, and speaker best known for Netflix’s ‘Jewish Matchmaking’.
- Alex Dwek (Singapore/United Kingdom) – COO of Nas Academy, driving strategy and operations across the tech and education sectors.
- Alex Ryvchin (Australia) – Author and community leader addressing antisemitism and Jewish continuity challenges.
- Alexandra Herzog (United States/Switzerland) – Jewish studies scholar advancing academic and community initiatives.
- Alexandra Lebovits Benedon (United States) – Head of Product & Fintech at The Points Guy, using her passion for community impact to redefine travel rewards and drive inclusive, high-impact solutions.
- Dr. Alycia Fridkin (Canada) – A policy expert with a focus on equity, inclusion, Indigenous health, and social justice.
- Amanda Miller (South Africa/Australia) – Philanthropist and Jewish community leader fostering next-generation engagement.
- Amit Kochavi (Israel) – Tech and real estate entrepreneur, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, fostering innovation through resilience and youth programs.
- Amos Meron (Israel) – A former combat officer, shaliach, and media professional turned tech leader, who focuses on impactful storytelling and technology-driven solutions.
- Amy Albertson (United States) – Social media influencer and consultant for Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, who serves on several leadership boards.
- Andres Spokoiny (United States/Argentina) – Leader revitalizing Jewish life through education and innovation.
- Arielle Shturman Waiss (Mexico) – Medical student and humanitarian providing aid to victims of conflict.
- Ashager Araro (Israel/United States) – Advocate for Ethiopian Jewish identity, listed among global Israel advocates.
- Ava Fitoussy (France/United States) – UC Berkeley student and advocate for Israel and Jewish-Caribbean communities.
- Avishai Berman (Israel) – Former elite IDF officer, shaping future leaders through social initiatives and education programs.
- Aviva Klompas (United States/Canada) – Policy leader addressing communal challenges and fostering impactful initiatives.
- Barak Sella (Israel/United States) – Strategic communications and policy expert promoting Jewish unity and relations between Israel and the Jewish World.
- Ben Thwaites (United Kingdom/Israel) – Nonprofit leader empowering young Jews globally through impactful leadership programs.
- Dr. Rabbi Benji Levy (Australia/Israel) – Educator and innovator impacting Jewish communities through leadership initiatives.
- Boris Janicek (France/Israel) – Business strategist and educator advocating for diversity and inclusion.
- Brandon Farbstein (United States) – Gen Z activist inspiring empowerment through his personal journey and advocacy.
- Brittany Levy (United States) – Community Director at Birthright Excel fostering future Jewish business leaders.
- Cate Rubenstein (United States) – New York-based writer who focuses on Jewish topics while drawing from diverse experiences in music, film, and tech.
- Rabbi Chaim Danzinger (Russia/Canada) – Community builder reconnecting Jews to their heritage and aiding Holocaust survivors.
- Chama Mechtaly (Israel/United States) – Artist and entrepreneur promoting Israeli-Arab integration through creative initiatives.
- Chana Kanzen (United Kingdom) – NGO leader advancing blockchain, AI, and education through global collaborations.
- Chen Shmilo (Israel) – CEO, tech-social entrepreneur and LGBTQ rights activist, with expertise in impact tech, innovation, and global partnerships.
- Dan Sacker (United Kingdom) – Strategic communications consultant and former adviser to Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
- Dan Tatar (United States) – A mission-driven nonprofit leader, who is working with Jewish communities on Israel education as Director of The iCenter.
- Dr. Daniel Balva (United States) – A licensed psychologist specializing in global mental health, whose recent research focuses on combating antisemitism and advocating for the Jewish community.
- Daniel Goldwin (United States) – Advocate ensuring Israel’s security and resilience through impactful initiatives.
- Daniel Niego (Peru/Israel) – Entrepreneur and storyteller promoting Jewish leadership and Zionist values.
- Adv. Daniela Russowsky Raad (Brazil) – Lawyer and Jewish Federation VP promoting education and leadership.
- Danielle Abraham (United Kingdom/Israel) – Agricultural innovator combating hunger and advancing Zionist initiatives.
- Danielle Ames (United States) – Strategy consultant and Jewish leader advancing philanthropy and activism.
- Danielle Sobkin (United States) – Storyteller and advocate, and data scientist for Jewish on Campus who leverages her experiences with antisemitism to confront hatred and celebrate Jewish culture.
- Dr. David B6ryfman (United States) – A Jewish educator and innovator with expertise in Jewish teen identity, experiential education, Israel education, and leadership development.
- Deborah Apeloig (Venezuela/Mexico) – Podcast host addressing antisemitism and celebrating changemakers.
- Deborah Naomi Abramov (Austria) – Real estate professional achieving success through dedication and expertise.
- Diego Chojkier (United States) – VP of Operations and Strategy at Disney, who formerly worked at the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency and with Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan.
- Diego Goldman (Argentina) – Psychologist and founder of international Jewish youth engagement initiatives.
- Dona Raz Levy (Israel) – Advocate for Oct. 7 hostages and intersectoral leader blending public affairs and private sector experience.
- Dr. Efrat Shaoulian Sopher (United Kingdom) – Diplomat and advocate for Jewish unity and combating antisemitism.
- Rabbi Erez Sherman (United States) – Rabbi and educator with 15 years of experience in Israel education and advocacy, and host of the Rabbi On The Sidelines podcast.
- Erica Lyons (Hong Kong/United States) – Storyteller and magazine editor addressing antisemitism post-October 7.
- Erin Schrode (United States) – Founder of Turning Green, a nonprofit dedicated to climate action, public health, and sustainability.
- Gadi Ezra (Israel) – Human rights attorney and veteran advocating for diplomacy and national security.
- Gal Lusky (Israel) – CEO and Founder of Israeli Flying Aid, an NGO delivering life-saving aid and relief to communities affected by natural disaster and human conflict globally.
- Guy Blau (Israel) – Business Analyst at CheckPoint and former IDF commander advancing strategic initiatives like “Israel 2050.”
- Gvira Milworm (Israel) – CEO of Temech, where she has spent the last 5 years empowering Haredi women in the workforce.
- Hadassah Slavin (United States/Canada) – raised in a foster home with an Ultra Orthodox family, Hadassah now serves as a Client Advisor at Tiffany & Co.
- Hanna Nir (Sweden) – a Swedish-Yemenite-Israeli Jew and Ph.D. candidate in the Sociology of Religion, researching young Jewish experiences in Sweden.
- Hannah Geller (United States) – Storyteller amplifying Israel’s story and engaging global audiences through media.
- Ilya Bezruchko (Israel/Ukraine) – Business developer combating antisemitism and preserving Jewish heritage sites.
- Inbar Blum (Israel) – Innovation leader driving environmental technology adoption through government programs.
- Jeremy Leibler (Australia) – Lawyer and Zionist Federation President advocating for Jewish identity and Israel.
- Rebbetzin Jessica Landes (Chile) – Jewish educator fostering intergenerational learning and community engagement.
- Jory Segal (United States) – Works in venture capital as an early-stage tech investor and operator.
- Joseph Steinberg (United States) – Cybersecurity expert advising globally on technology’s societal impact.
- Josh Aronson (United Kingdom/Israel) – Diaspora journalist and advocate for inclusion within Jewish communities.
- Joshua Buchalter (South Africa/Israel) – Marketing professional advocating for Jewish community growth and diplomacy.
- Professor Judith Romano (Mexico) – Social entrepreneur empowering women and driving impact through Jewish initiatives.
- Julia Sagalin Nemets (Israel) – Tech leader and city councilwoman advancing STEM education and social innovation.
- Julia Vol (Denmark/Israel/Russia) – Sustainability consultant designing impactful circular economy solutions.
- Justine Zwerling (Israel/United Kingdom) – Business strategist fostering inclusion, financial diplomacy, and neurodivergent community empowerment.
- Kasturi “Keturah” Anderson (United States/Israel) – With experience in Hollywood as an assistant director for Marvel, Netflix, and Disney, Kasturi is passionate about education, blending creativity with driving change.
- Keren Shani Lifrak (United States/Israel) – Event producer blending creativity with Jewish cultural engagement.
- Khaled Hassan (United Kingdom/Israel/Egypt) – National security and foreign policy researcher and social media activist, who grew up as a Muslim in Egypt and recently converted to Judaism.
- Professor Lenore Walker (United States) – Psychologist pioneering trauma treatment for Jewish communities affected by war.
- Rabbi Levi Margolin (United States/Israel) – Experienced Jewish educator working with organizations such as Jewish Federations, Chabad, and Birthright Israel.
- Liliia Liakhovych (Ukraine) – Community coordinator supporting Jewish youth and fostering leadership amidst adversity.
- Luc Bernard (France/United States) – French-Jewish video game creator known for ‘The Light in the Darkness’, a video game bringing Holocaust education to global audiences.
- Dr. Malka Zeiger Simkovich (United States) – Jewish diaspora scholar fostering collaborative partnerships and identity preservation.
- Adv. Marcos Metta Cohen (Mexico/Spain) – Lawyer and business leader investing in diverse industries with decades of Jewish community involvement.
- Martine Fleishman (United States) – Chair of the Board and past President of The Jewish Education Project, who transitioned from for-profit work to dedicate herself to Israel, Jewish education, and community engagement.
- Matias Satz (Argentina/Switzerland) – Business leader and philanthropist supporting Jewish education and community development.
- Max August (United States/Israel) – Venture capital leader expanding investment in Israel’s tech ecosystem.
- Max Kane (United States) – Startup founder innovating AI-driven solutions for the insurance industry.
- Professor Maya Ackerman (United States/Canada) – CEO and Co-Founder of WaveAI, Associate Professor at Santa Clara University, and leading expert in generative AI and human-machine creative collaboration.
- Maya Bentwich (Israel) – Strategic communicator combating misinformation and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
- Meira Cowland (Israel) – Strategy expert connecting global creators to Israel, fostering free speech and relationships.
- Chief Rabbi Menachem Mendel Chitrik (Turkey) – Chairman of Rabbis in Islamic States, fostering Jewish connections globally.
- Mendy Fischel (United States) – Entrepreneur building ventures in real estate and healthcare with a focus on philanthropy.
- Michael Valdes (United States) – Activist and content creator celebrating Jewish and LGBTQ+ voices worldwide.
- Michal Lev (Israel) – Social activist and entrepreneur specializing in workplace diversity and cultural competence, who supports career transitions, particularly for women.
- Mikhal Ben Joseph (United States) – Senior Data Scientist specializing in credit risk and policy impact analysis, nonprofit founder, and leader in Jewish and academic communities.
- Dr. Milton Wainberg (United States) – Researcher scaling mental health solutions globally with technological innovations.
- Mirna Funk (Germany/Israel) – Writer and activist highlighting Jewish diversity and confronting antisemitism in Germany.
- Morgane Koresh (France/Israel) – Artist and fashion design graduate, using art to explore themes of Jewish empowerment, visual identity, and the intersection of Judaism and queerness.
- Naftali Aklum (Israel/Ethiopia) – After making aliyah during ‘Operation Moses’, Naftali has dedicated his life to community empowerment, and sharing the history and culture of Ethiopian Jewry through educational experiences for tourists.
- Dr. Natalie Rens (Australia) – Neuroscientist and entrepreneur advancing AI and space technology for social good.
- Nate Looney (United States) – Director of Community Safety and Belonging at Jewish Federations of North America, who leads initiatives addressing antisemitism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and wellness for Jews of color.
- Nathan Schachter (Israel) – Jewish professional with expertise in leadership, education, and community engagement, with a focus on initiatives for Jewish students, Israel education and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
- Neta Blum (Israel) – Aerospace engineer fostering women’s empowerment in STEM and contributing to cancer diagnostics.
- Neta Katz (Israel) – Partner in a law firm in Jerusalem that operates mainly in ultra-Orthodox society.
- Dr. Nir Asch (Israel/United States) – Physician-scientist driven by personal experience to bridge clinical research and patient care.
- Noa Rakel Perugia (Israel/Italy) – Young Jewish leader advocating for cultural heritage and community engagement.
- Noam Meirov (Israel) – Former Elite Unit Officer and Captain promoting Jewish-Arab cooperation and Abraham Accords advocacy.
- Noam Shai Halperin (Israel) – Entrepreneur with expertise in leadership, innovation, and social impact, who founded the IDF’s Cultural Competence School and a nonprofit bridging Israel’s digital gap.
- Rabbi Ofek Meir (Israel) – Jewish educator and Reform rabbi blending music and academics to inspire communities.
- Omri Attar (United States/Israel) – Public diplomacy expert promoting Israel globally through cross-sector initiatives.
- Adv. Ortal Hazut (Israel) – Public policy leader blending law, creativity, and strategic thinking to drive impact.
- Paula Pretlow (United States) – Investment executive driving growth and innovation across global markets.
- Rachel Kastner (Israel/United States) – CEO of Builders of the Middle East, Holocaust education advocate, reaching millions with impactful storytelling.
- Ranit Budaie Hyman (Israel) – Political scientist and grassroots initiative leader advancing Jewish unity through education.
- Raphael Bijaoui (Israel) – AI-focused tech entrepreneur fostering societal unity through innovative platforms.
- Raquella Raiz (Israel/United States) – Entrepreneur tackling disinformation through community-focused software development.
- Raviv Sapir (Israel/Germany) – Venture capitalist fostering innovation within the global Jewish ecosystem.
- Rebecca Spagnoletto (Italy/UK) – Economics graduate from UCL and Sales Manager for the Israeli market at Bloomberg.
- Robert Ejnes (France) – Jewish community leader and advocate against antisemitism, honored for societal contributions.
- Roei Eisenberg (Israel/United States) – Entrepreneur who balances a womenswear business and a consulting practice bridging Israeli and American Jews.
- Professor Rona Kaufman (United States) – Legal scholar exploring motherhood, antisemitism, and Israel’s narratives.
- Rudy Rochman (France/United States/Israel) – Activist exploring global Jewish identity through media and advocacy.
- Ryan Turkienicz (Canada) – Over a decade of management experience in entrepreneurial companies. After October 7th founded The Daily Brine, a satirical news page using humor to fight antisemitism on social media.
- Sabrina Soffer (United States) – A student at George Washington University, who served as commissioner of GW’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism and serves as President of Chabad GW.
- Salomao Loschpe (Brazil) – Industry leader transitioning to real estate investments and Jewish nonprofit work.
- Sammantha Marks (United States) – Financial tech professional championing Jewish engagement and leadership development.
- Serge Touati (France/United Kingdom) – Entrepreneur who founded a private equity firm, with expertise in building impactful organizations and business transformation, now promoting Judaism and defending Israel.
- Seth Farber (United States/Israel) – Founder of ITIM: The Jewish Advocacy Center, making Jewish life in Israel more accessible, and advocating for changes in conversion, marriage, burial and aliyah.
- Shai Abend (Israel/Uruguay) – A community entrepreneur and educator with extensive experience leading educational, social, and cultural projects in Uruguay and Israel.
- Shani Bibi (Israel) – Filmmaker and AI innovator enhancing accessibility through technology inspired by personal experiences.
- Shari Dollinger (United States) – A dynamic Jewish leader and rabbi-in-training, with expertise in strategic planning and creating impactful Jewish experiences.
- Dr. Sharon Vos (Netherlands/Sweden) – Activist and physician inspiring global Tikkun Olam efforts.
- Shiran Mlamdovsky Somech (Israel/United States) – Entrepreneur specializing in ethical Generative AI for social impact, who has led projects on violence against women, education, and Holocaust commemoration.
- Shlomo Kook (Israel) – Chief Editor of the Haredi newspaper Bekehila, an accomplished narrator, and an advocate for global interfaith dialogue.
- Shmuel Hoffman (Germany/United States) – Multimedia producer exploring Holocaust narratives through film and journalism.
- Rabbi Shmuel Oirechman (Hungary/Israel) – Orthodox community leader and advisor promoting Jewish values globally.
- Shoshana Turkia Tronllan (United States) – A multicultural leader and therapist with over 25 years of experience promoting resilience, emotional well-being, and inclusivity within the Jewish community worldwide.
- Shuki Taylor (Israel) – Jewish educator empowering professionals to create transformative learning experiences.
- Simon Schiller (United States) – Recent graduate who works as a Technical Project Manager on the Azure Networking team at Microsoft.
- Stephanie Kaplan Lewis (United States) – Co-founder & CEO of Her Campus Media, a leading Gen Z media and marketing ecosystem; named to Forbes & Inc. ‘30 Under 30’ lists.
- Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt (United States) – Rabbi dedicated to fostering vibrant Jewish communities and advocacy.
- Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum (Israel) – Rabbi and spiritual entrepreneur uniting diverse Jewish voices for social good.
- Tiffany Harris (Switzerland/United States) – Public affairs leader fostering collaboration and innovation in Jewish organizations.
- Tracie Olcha (Australia) – CEO of Australian Jewish Funders and creator of LaunchPad for Jewish innovation.
- Vered Amar (Israel) – Educational leader with experience running educational initiatives in the north of Israel, currently the Director of Maoz North.
- Yaniv Salama (Israel/Canada) – Charitable foundation founder supporting Jewish communities globally through strategic giving.
- Rabbi Yisrael Motzen (Canada/United States) – Rabbi and strategist fostering unity within Jewish communities.
- Yitzik Crombie (Israel) – Founder of the Haredi Hi-Tech Forum, empowering ultra-Orthodox integration in tech careers.
- Rabbi Yoav Ende (Israel) – Executive Director of Hannaton Educational Center, championing Jewish unity and values.
- Yocheved Ruttenberg (Israel) – Founder of a volunteer hub connecting global communities to impactful initiatives.
- Rabbi Yotam Halperin (Israel) – Rabbi, educator, and former senior advisor to Israel’s Minister of Communications, with a focus on Jewish Political Theology and governance.
- Yotam Schleyer (Israel/United States) – Special forces veteran leading impactful social and security-focused projects.
- Youval Ouaknine (France) – Aspiring pilot combining technical expertise with leadership in Jewish community projects.
- Yuval David (United States) – Emmy-winning actor, filmmaker, and journalist, and leader in Jewish, Zionist, and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
- Chief Rabbi Zamir Isayev (Azerbaijan) – Jewish education leader fostering innovation and community growth.
- Chooses to stay anonymous (United States) – A BFA in screenwriting from the University of Southern California, and has worked in television since 2009 as a TV writer and producer.
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Voice of the People is a joint project of the President’s Office, the World Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency, in cooperation with philanthropic foundations including the Azrieli Foundation, the Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation, and the Wilf Family Foundations.