Leadership

meir holtz

INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER / CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Meir brings over 15 years of experience leading complex governmental activities.  Most recently, Meir served as Deputy Health Coordinator in the Civil Administration, leading health-related coordination between the GOI and the Palestinian Authority. During his tenure, he trained hundreds of IDF officers and soldiers, and created and implemented standards and regulations improving relevant procedures.

Meir and his family served as emissaries to the Sydney Jewish community from the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI).  During his time in Australia, he worked with the local youth movement, Zionist Federation, and Moriah College – where he created and managed a leadership program and was later promoted to Head of Informal Jewish Education.

Meir holds a BA in Health Management from the University of Ariel.

AVRAHAM SCHURDER

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Avraham is an Israeli and UK qualified CPA.

For 25 years, Avraham was a senior audit partner at KPMG Somekh Chakin, where he served some of Israel's leading industrial, real estate, and retail concerns; Israeli representatives of multinational corporations; and numerous large government and not-for-profit organizations.

Since 2013 Avraham has concentrated on providing services to a number of not-for-profit organizations, as a CFO and audit committee member of some of Israel's larger institutions of higher education and philanthropic organizations.

Yehoshua Oz

HEAD OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Yehoshua brings two decades of experience in PR and marketing as well as management, with his career split between high-tech and government, think tanks, and non-profits.

Yehoshua was most recently the Director of Marketing and Communications at LawGeex, the leading Israeli legaltech company. Prior to that, he was the Chief Information Officer and Israel General Manager of a $150 million operating foundation. He also served as the Director of International Communications at the Israel Democracy Institute, Israel's largest think tank. Additionally, he managed operations teams at two high-tech companies, and served as the Officer of Interreligious Affairs at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC.

Yehoshua was an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia where he earned his BA in Bioethics and Jewish Studies, and he received his MBA from the Hebrew-language program at Bar-Ilan University.

Yael Zegelstein

DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS PILLAR

Yael has been involved for a decade in the world of Jewish education, Israel education, and global Jewry. Yael served in Jewish education organizations including Onward Israel, Taglit-Birthright Israel, March of the Living, NFTY, and Kesher.

After completing her army service as an Operations Center Officer in the IDF, Yael started her journey in the Jewish educational world as a Jewish Agency emissary and continued as part of the emissary unit at JAFI headquarters.

Yael holds an MA in American Jewish Studies and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, both from Haifa University.

elAD Mayer

DIRECTOR OF ISRAELIS ABROAD PILLAR

Elad brings extensive management experience from both the public sector and social startups. 

Previously, Elad served as the Head of Delegation for Scandinavian countries at the Jewish Agency.  He was one of the founders of Simcha LaYeled, a non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life of disabled and seriously ill children and their families.  Additionally, he helped to establish the 929 Project, which has made the Bible accessible to hundreds of thousands of Jews of all backgrounds. 

In recent years, Elad has served in a variety of senior positions at the National Institutions, including as an Overseas Affairs Advisor for Director of the Education Division at KKL-JNF and the Chief of Staff of the Rural Growth & Development Division at the World Zionist Organization. 

Elad holds a BA in Education and Bible from Herzog College and an MA in American Jewish Studies from Haifa University. 

ELISHEVA KUPFERMAN

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PLANNING

Elisheva joined Mosaic United with over a decade of Jewish nonprofit experience, and nearly two decades of informal education experience.

Most recently, Elisheva served for 7+ years as Strategic Planner and Educator at Makom – the Israel Education Lab of the Jewish Agency for Israel. There, she led strategic processes, developed business plans, managed projects, and oversaw implementation. She helped set up Makom’s board and managed their fundraising strategy.

On the education front, Elisheva has written and developed Jewish and Israel curricula, trained educators, mentored interns, and run teen leadership programs in Israel and the United States. She was selected for the Israel Academy of Philanthropy Fundraising Course for Resource Development Managers as well as Evaluation and Measurement Training for the Jewish Agency.

Elisheva holds a BA in Psychology and Jewish History from Bar-Ilan University, and an MA in Nonprofit Management from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

Graeme Gilad Campbell

STRATEGIC PLANNING COORDINATOR

Graeme joined the Mosaic United team in 2019 after working for one year at the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies as part of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center’s Israel Government Fellows program. He also completed the Leadership Track of Masa and the Jewish Federations of North America.

As a student, Graeme was a leader of his campus Jewish community, serving as Co-President of Texas Hillel in addition to numerous other Jewish and pro-Israel roles on campus. He also enjoyed working summers as Office Manager of Camp Young Judaea-Texas.

Graeme holds a BA in Jewish Studies and History from the University of Texas at Austin.

Elisa Kaufman

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Elisa joined the Mosaic team with 7 years’ experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors. She previously worked at Shutaf Inclusion Programs in Jerusalem and Yashar LaChayal in marketing and PR positions, where she led the branding of the organizations, fundraising campaigns, and developing marketing materials. Prior to that, she focused on outreach to new markets in a consulting firm.

Elisa holds a BA in Communications, Journalism, and International Relations as well as an MA in Internet and New Media, both from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. 

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is be composed of representatives of both the Israeli Government and world Jewry.

GARY TORGOW

CHAIRMAN

Gary serves as the chairman of Chemical Bank in Detroit, and also holds the vice-president position of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation in Detroit. 

Jeremy Dunkel

Jeremy Dunkel is a Director of Taurus Capital, a family office consultancy specialising in philanthropy.  His accounting and finance experience includes working for Chemical Bank, Chase Manhattan, and Price Waterhouse.

He is a Director of Education Heritage Foundation, the Australian Jewish Funders, and the Moriah College Foundation.  He served on the original Touch Points Committee that operated under the JCA, participating in the strategic planning that led to the creation of Y2i which he founded and chairs.

EDUARDO ELSZTAIN

Eduardo is Chairman, CEO, and a Member of Executive Committee of IRSA. He is also Chairman of Cresud and President of the Executive Committee of Alto Palermo S.A.; Chairman and Director of Banco Hipotecario SA (of which he has also served as Vice Chairman); and Chairman and Director of Brasilagro Companhia Brasileira de Propriedades Agrícolas.

ERIC D. FINGERHUT

Eric D. Fingerhut is the President and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Prior to his appointment at JFNA, Fingerhut served as the President of CEO of Hillel International from 2013-19. At Hillel, Fingerhut led the organization’s Drive to Excellence, which resulted in doubling the number of students engaged by Hillel each year to over 130,000 and the total funds raised each year to nearly $200M. Fingerhut’s emphasis on recruiting, training and retaining top talent for the system, and on building a data and performance driven organization, have become models for the non-profit sector.  

Fingerhut has had a varied and distinguished career in public service and higher education. Eric served as Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents from early 2007 to 2011, leading Ohio’s system of public universities and colleges. In that role, he earned a reputation as an innovative leader and ardent advocate of the value of higher education. Working in constant collaboration with the business community and elected officials of both major political parties, Fingerhut developed a strategic plan to prepare students for 21st century jobs. From 1997 to 2006, Eric served as an Ohio state senator, and from 1993 to 1994, represented Ohio’s 19th congressional district in the U.S. Congress. In 2004, he was the Democratic Party’s candidate for U.S. Senate. 

Fingerhut received a juris doctorate from Stanford University Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife Amy, sons Sam and Charlie, and beagles Pedro and Lulu.

MARTINE FLEISHMAN

Martine holds a graduate certificate in non-profit management and leadership. Her leadership roles have included: Chair of the Jewish Education Project; President of UJA Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy - overseeing a $29,000,000 campaign; Cabinet member of COJIR, COJP, and the Network Commissions of UJA Federation of New York and Chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Project T.E.N.

Martine is a Wexner Heritage graduate. She was a recipient of UJC’s Jesselson Young Leadership Award, the Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Lion of Judah award, and co-chaired UJA Federation of NY’s Rosenwald 90th Anniversary Mission to Israel.

Martine currently serves as President of Hillels of Westchester. She is an active member of the National Board of Governors of American Jewish Committee, and a Board member of its Westchester chapter. An advocate for Israel experiences, Martine has served on the MASA North American committee, currently serves on the Taglit-Birthright Westchester council and is a Trustee at the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester.

manette mayberg

Manette Mayberg serves as a trustee of the Mayberg Foundation. In this capacity, she founded the Jewish Education Innovation Challenge (JEIC) in 2012 and MyZuzah in 2017. She also is a co-founder of Momentum (formerly Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project), and conceived and developed over a decade ago the annual Shalva Celebrity Chef event.

Manette is a national vice president of the Orthodox Union, and she serves as an executive committee member of the Berman Hebrew Academy. As a thought leader in the Jewish philanthropic sector, Manette has authored opinion pieces on Israel and Jewish education, published in eJewishPhilanthropy and the Washington Jewish Week.

Edward Misrahi

Spanish born and following a BA in Economics from Princeton University, Edward started his career in 1991 at Goldman Sachs as a financial analysis within the Investment Banking group. He was recruited to the Risk Arbitrage Group in 1994 as an Associate focusing on identifying opportunities in Latin America. Edward successfully built up the active proprietary trading activity in Latin America across the capital structure and later became Co-Head of the Firm-wide Latin American business, Chief of Staff of the Equities Division and a Member of Equities Risk Committee. Edward was made up to Partner in 2000.

Edward left Goldman Sachs to Join Eton Park Capital as one of the founding partners in 2004. There he was responsible for public and private emerging market investments across a wide variety of securities, asset classes and geographies. Edward was a member of the firm Operating Committee (main body to assist Managing Partner Eric Mindich in management of the firm). He also Co-managed the investment staff in the European office and was a member of the Best Execution Committee and Operation Risk Committee. 

Edward left Eton Park in 2013 to found Ronit Capital, an emerging markets oriented hedge fund. He is particularly active across various Jewish and Israeli charitable organisations and is a Chair of Bicom, Governors at Naima JPS and co- chair of Governors at Immanuel College.

DAVID SHAPIRA

A Pittsburgh native, David is the Executive Chairman of Giant Eagle, Inc. Through the Foundation he leads with his wife Cindy, the Shapira's have worked on numerous projects which have had a positive impact on the formation of strong Jewish identities and attachment to Israel for large numbers of young Jews.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH  THE MINISTRY OF DIASPORA AFFAIRS

Advisors

The Advisors of Mosaic United is staffed by experienced professionals, the top leaders in the Jewish world, who have the power to create substantial partnerships, provide prestigious branding to the initiative and offer unique skills in the areas of content management and strategic vision.

Mark Charendoff

Mark Charendoff is the President of the Maimonides Fund, a private grantmakingorganization dedicated to education and Jewish identity in North America and inIsrael. He is the former President of the Jewish Funders Network (JFN), an umbrella body of over 900 Jewish family foundations and independent funders.  Prior to JFN, Mark was the Vice President of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies where he helped to establish the Birthright Israel program, and he previously served as Director of Jewish Educational Services for the JCC Association of North America.  He currently serves on the boards of the Birthright Israel Foundation, Shalem College and Moishe House. He is the recipient of the Bernard Reisman Award for Professional Excellence from Brandeis University

TOVA DORFMAN

Tova Dorfman is the Director of the Steinhardt Family Foundation in Israel. In that capacity, she oversees the provision of assistance to a variety of nonprofits operating in the area of children and youth at risk and has forged significant partnerships among other philanthropic foundations, public agencies and nonprofits in a number of far-reaching educational and social ventures. She served as the co-chair of the Forum of Foundations in Israel, a professional network of over 100 philanthropic foundations operating in Israel. Among the projects in which Tova has played a leading role in establishing and steering is Birthright Excel and TALMA, The National Program on Excellence in English. Previously, Tova directed the Israel and Overseas Department of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, based in Israel. In her years of representing the Detroit Jewish community in Israel, she has initiated a variety of projects and programs to foster relationships between Detroit Jews and Israelis, culminating in the pivotal role she played in shaping that community's relationship with the Central Galilee in the context of Partnership 2000. Currently, she advises the Federation leadership on special projects.

Raised in Oak Park, MI, Tova pursued her undergraduate and graduate education in Los Angles, receiving a BA in International Relations from UCLA and an MA in Jewish Education from the University of Judaism. She settled in Israel in 1984 and worked until 1993 for “Melitz” – The Centers for Jewish Zionist Education in Jerusalem.

Throughout her professional career, Tova has always been at the forefront of innovative, creative programming and has been singularly successful in bringing around the table of all of these programs key individuals and institutions that provide to them an invaluable synergy. Tova lives with her husband Raviv Schwartz and their two sons, Matan and Yaniv outside of Tel Aviv.

MALCOLM I. HOENLEIN

Malcolm Hoenlein is the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the coordinating body for 50 national Jewish organizations. He received his B.A. from Temple University and completed his doctoral course work at the University of Pennsylvania where he taught International Relations and was a Middle East specialist at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was the Founding Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York and of the Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry.

Mr. Hoenlein appears regularly in the media and has lectured and met leading officials throughout the world. A recipient of many awards, including the Guardian of Jerusalem, the highest recognition of the capital city, and the Guardian of Zion award, and two Honorary Doctorates, he is associated with and serves on the boards of many communal, educational and civic organizations. He is the Chairman of America’s Voices in Israel and Co-Chair of the Secure Community Network. He is on the board of the Council for Secure America and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

MICHAEL A. LEVEN

Mike Leven is the chairman and chief executive officer of Georgia Aquarium. He previously served as the CEO of the Aquarium from 2008 to 2009 before leaving for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead Las Vegas Sands Corporation as President and Chief Operating Officer. He also served as its Secretary since June 2010. 

Mr. Leven has also served as the Vice Chairman of The Marcus Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, Inc. Mr. Leven was previously the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS), which franchises the Microtel Inn & Suites and Hawthorn Suites hotel brands. Prior to forming USFS in 1995, he was president and chief operating officer of Holiday Inn Worldwide. During his five-year tenure, Mr. Leven oversaw the launch and significant growth of the new Holiday Inn Express brand. From 1985 to 1990, Mr. Leven was president of Days Inn of America. Mr. Leven led the company through a reorganization resulting in significant growth from a regional chain to one of the largest brands in the world. Mr. Leven is a co-founder of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) which has over 14,000 members owning more than 20,000 hotels. Mr. Leven serves on the boards of The Marcus Foundation; Board of Advisors of Prager University; HERSHA Hospitality Trust; Culture of Freedom Initiative and Task Force and the U.S. Energy Security Council. 

Mr. Leven holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University and a Master of Science from Boston University. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate from The Johnson & Wales University and College of Hospitality and Tourism Management of Niagara University.

GIDI MARK

Gidi Mark has been the International CEO of Taglit-Birthright Israel since 2008.  Before his current position, he served as the project's International Director of Marketing and Community Relations since the project's inception in 1999.  Prior to joining the Taglit-Birthright Israel project, Mr. Mark was a diplomat for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  In this capacity he served in New York as Spokesperson and Consul for Communications and Public Affairs; in Bonn, Germany as First Secretary for Information; and as Consul and Deputy Consul General in Istanbul, Turkey.

Shira Ruderman

Shira Ruderman is a professional philanthropist who serves as the Director of the Ruderman Family Foundation, a private family foundation that invests in three primary areas of focus: advocating for and advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout our society; strengthening the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish community; and modeling the practice of strategic philanthropy worldwide. In the field of Israel-American Jewish relations, the foundation’s mission is to increase the sense of commitment and responsibility for the American Jewish community among Israeli senior leadership. Throughout the past five years, Shira has initiated and led Foundation programs and investments, among them: missions and seminars for Knesset members and journalists, a Knesset caucus on Israel-American relations, and the establishment of the first and only masters program in American Jewish Studies at Haifa University. 

Shira has acquired extensive management experience and served as a layperson in a variety of Jewish organizations including the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and most recently as the newly appointed chairwoman of the Fulbright Foundation, which aims to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Israel through student and faculty exchanges. Committed to expanding the circle of philanthropy in communities across America and Israel, Shira serves as a board member of Jewish Funders Network, as a member of “Committed to Give”, which promotes Israeli philanthropy, and as a mentor to second generation philanthropists. Standing at a personal intersection of Israel and America, Shira offers a unique voice of understanding and professionalism to Jewish communal leadership in Israel and America.  

Shira holds a BA in education and an MA in Public Policy from Hebrew University. During her military service, she commanded a course in the Israel Defense Force’s intelligence unit. Shira was born and raised in Israel and currently lives in Boston with her husband Jay and their four children.  

BARRY SHRAGE

Barry Shrage has served as president of CJP—Boston’s Jewish Federation-- since 1987. Under Barry’s leadership, CJP is focused on three priorities: Jewish education and engaging future generations, strengthening our connection to Israel through community-to- community and people-to- people partnerships, and creating a caring community. He champions true partnerships between CJP, donors and recipient organizations—inspiring the Jewish community to contribute more than $55 million to CJP’s 2015 Annual Campaign.

Barry has been instrumental in the creation of several cutting-edge programs designed to engage the next generation in meaningful Jewish life, and create a welcoming, inclusive Jewish community. Projects include Me’ah, an intensive Jewish adult education curriculum; and Ikkarim, a Jewish learning program for parents of young children. Pioneered in Boston, both programs are now being replicated nationwide. Barry also spearheaded a successful incentive grant program that supports Jewish overnight camp opportunities for children. He helped Boston’s Peerless Excellence and Affordability projects for Jewish day schools, as well as innovative efforts aimed at strengthening synagogues and synagogue schools.

Barry is one of Israel’s most passionate and effective advocates in Boston. Morethan 20 years ago, he helped to establish the Boston-Haifa Connection, a sister city relationship that has resulted in mutually beneficial social programs. Barry was among the first Federation leaders to embrace the power of Taglit-Birthright Israel, and has worked to send 10,000 Boston-area college students on free trips to Israel. CJP’s Birthright Israel Campus Initiative has become a national model that empowers students to become lifelong advocates for Israel.

During the recession that began in 2008, Barry helped to develop CJP’s Economic Response, which provided additional funding to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, including isolated seniors, immigrants, the unemployed and people with disabilities.

After graduating from City College of New York, Barry earned a master’s degree in social work from Boston University.

Alan Gill

Alan H. Gill, Executive Vice President Emeritus of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), is one of the Jewish world’s transformative professional leaders. With four decades experience in Jewish community development, Gill has played a central role in expanding JDC’s global humanitarian operation in more than 70 countries and Israel. He was previously CEO of the Jewish Federation of Columbus, founded the Ohio State University’s graduate training program for Jewish Communal Service, and has taught social work at Ohio State College.

Dr. Jeffrey R. Solomon

Dr. Jeffrey R. Solomon currently serves as Senior Advisor to Chasbro Investments, the family office of Charles Bronfman. For almost twenty years he was the President of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. He currently sits on the Boards of the Leichtag Foundation in San Diego, the Jim Joseph Foundation in San Francisco and FJC: a Foundation of Philanthropic Funds in New York. He is the Chair of Leading Edge, an organization aimed at talent acquisition and retention in the Jewish community and serves as an officer of the Peaceworks Foundation and the Diabetes Media Foundation. He also served on the Board of the Council on Foundations, where he chaired the Committee on Ethics and Practice and sat on its Executive Committee. He is a founding trustee of the World Faiths Development Dialogue and has received a number of honors from professional associations and universities. He previously served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of UJA- Federation of New York. Other past positions include executive roles at Altro Health & Rehabilitation Services in New York, Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged and Jewish Family and Children & Services in Miami. Dr. Solomon also served with the City, State and Federal Governments. He is an author of over 120 publications in both professional journals and outlets such as The Financial Times and Wall Street Journal, he served as an adjunct associate professor in the masters and doctorate programs of New York University School of Social Work.

Andrés Spokoiny

Andrés Spokoiny is the President and CEO of the Jewish Funders Network.

Andrés is a long-time Jewish communal leader with a history of leading successful organizational transformations. He served as the CEO of Federation CJA in Montreal and, prior to that, Andrés worked for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Community (JDC) in Paris. As Regional Director for Northeast Europe, he was responsible for a number of pan-European projects. While at JDC, Andrés also served as the Director of Leatid Europe, a leadership training institute for Jewish lay and professional leaders, and directed the International Center for Community Development, a partnership of JDC and Oxford University to produce applied research and knowledge management for community development practitioners.

Before his Jewish communal work, Andres worked for IBM and was responsible for training, development, hiring, and recruitment for IBM's Latin America Southern Region during a period of major restructuring. Originally from Argentina, Andres has a multidisciplinary academic background including business, education and rabbinical studies in different institutions around the world. He is fluent in Hebrew, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Yiddish, and is proficient in Russian and German.