Gloria Back
Gloria Back is an ardent supporter of Israel and was recognized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey’s (JCRC) for volunteering her time to educate and mobilize the Jewish community on behalf of Israel. As an active
member of Congregation Beth El, she was instrumental in developing and implementing the College Connection program. Gloria is a licensed clinical social worker; she received her BS in Education from Temple University and her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dianne Lazer
Dianne Lazer served in several leadership roles at her synagogue, and recently volunteered on an Israeli army base through the Volunteers for Israel (VFI) organization. Dianne is a speech-language pathologist. She received her BA degree from The Ohio State University and a MA degree from Hofstra University.
BOSTON TEAM LEADERS
NORTH CAROLINA TEAM LEADERS
NEW YORK TEAM LEADERS
Elise Feuerstein Karras
Elise Feuerstein Karras is a lifelong Zionist. Her wake up call to get involved in Jewish activism was in response to numerous Jew-hatred incidents in NYC and the weak and ineffective response of rabbis and Jewish leaders. Professionally she has been a practicing gerontological social worker. Elise received a Master of Social Work degree from Hunter College.
Alice Lemos
Alice Lemos is a strong supporter of Israel and has confronted antisemitism for many years. She is on the board of the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation. Her articles published in American Thinker. Alice received BA in Spanish from Brooklyn College and a PhD in Spanish from Brown University and she speaks several languages.
Karen LichtBraun
Karen LichtBraun is a vocal Zionist activist, she leads Yad Yamin, a New York based grassroots movement that confronts antisemitism and anti-Zionism. Karen was a preschool educator and is an amateur photographer. She earned a BA in Political Science from Pace University, in New York City and an MS in Early Childhood Education from Mercy College in New York City.
Patricia Munter
Patricia Munter is co-founder of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Rochester for Israel. Before that, she worked for “Rolling Stone” magazine. Patricia has appeared on “The Larry King Show” and “The Today Show." She attended the University of Vermont, NYU, and the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Johns Hopkins University. Currently, Patricia is working on a history of American Radicalism.
MICHIGAN TEAM LEADERS
Deborah Friedman
Deborah Friedman is a passionate pro-Israel activist and Vice Chair of the North Carolina Coalition for Israel. Deborah originally came to Durham to create a marketing company promoting nutrition and fitness, with clients including Duke University. She was Director of Albert Sack Enterprises, and later worked to develop an online retail company with her own label. Deborah attended Bennington College and Sarah Lawrence.
Andrew Gluck
Andrew Gluck studied at the School of Visual Arts, becoming a nature photographer. Later he became a security supervisor with the NYC board of education. Andrew went on to become a law enforcement officer with a metropolitan department, retiring 30 years later as a State Law Enforcement Officer on a multi-agency task force.
Lorraine Meehan
Lorraine Meehan's focus over the past 10 years has been to educate the non-Jewish community on the Jewish origins of Christianity. She authored a 9-week inductive study, "The Jewish Roots of Christianity," which challenges students to change the lens through which they see Tanakh, the Christian Bible, and Israel. Before moving to North Carolina, Lorraine was an HR Manager for several financial services firms in New York City. She attended The Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology, earned a B. A. from Seton Hall University, and pursued post-graduate studies at The Institute of Judeo-Christian Studies.
Josh Ravitch
Josh Ravitch founded or co-founded two nonprofit agencies, the North Carolina Coalition for Israel, and Friends of the Orange-Chatham Guardian Ad Litem Program. He is a past President of a synagogue with over 500 members, former Chair of the Chapel Hill Human Services Advisory Board, and currently serves on four nonprofit boards. Josh followed up his BS and Masters research at the University of Pittsburgh with 25 years of experience as a senior scientist and project coordinator in the pharmaceutical industry.
Amy Rosenthal
Amy Rosenthal, MD, FACP, co-founded the North Carolina Coalition for Israel. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, and was Clinical Director of an institution of 5000 patients. Amy was also Medical Director of a clinic training hundreds of Duke residents. She graduated from the University of Maryland and went on to medical school at the Medical College of Virginia. Amy did her residency in Internal Medicine also at MCV. She is a fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Ed Kohl
Ed Kohl is a long time Jewish activist in several organizations including StandWithUs and CAMERA. Member of the Executive Board of ZOA-Michigan, recipient of Michigan Balfour award. Past president and active board member of Adat Shalom Synagogue. Co-President of Michigan Jewish Action Council (MJAC). Ed received a BS in aeronautical engineering from Boston University.
Dorene Weisberg
Dorene Weisberg is a passionate pro-Israel supporter of Israel, active with several Jewish organizations including StandWithUs and CAMERA. Served on the Board of Directors of ZOA-Michigan, and Co-Founded and Co-President of Michigan Jewish Action Council (MJAC). Dorene is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
Brian Grodman
Brian Grodman is an ardent supporter of Israel He has served as director of NH4Israel, and on the executive committee for the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire. He was board director of the national Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and represents the ZOA on Boston’s Jewish Community Relations Committee Council (JCRC). Brian also serves on the Boston Advisory Council for the Committee for Accuracy in the Middle East (CAMERA). Certified Financial Planner, whose articles or qutoes have been published in the Boston Globe, The New York Times, and The Manchester Union Leader.
Ken Kowalchek
Ken Kowalchek has been an area advocate for Israel and has served on the Board of NH4Israel for over a decade. He is a member of the Israel Affairs Committee at Temple Israel, Portsmouth. Ken had a long career with the U.S. Foreign Service, residing in Africa, India and Europe. Ken received a BS from Worcester Polytech Institute and MSBA from UMass Amherst.
Linda McGrath
Linda McGrath
is a pro-Israel social activist and a board member of NH4Israel, an organization dedicated to educating the public about Israel. She also served as Vice President and fundraising chairman for her synagogue, and youth group director of Young Judaea. Linda has been a pharmacist for over 40 years. Linda is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.
NEW HAMPSHIRE TEAM LEADERS
FLORIDA TEAM LEADERS
Sam Bierstock
Sam Bierstock is a strong supporter of Israel and a recipient of the George Washington Honor Medal Freedoms Foundation for his work on behalf of US veterans. He is an ophthalmic surgeon and an electrical engineer and he served as Chief Medical Officer of several international healthcare technology corporate entities. He is also the author of an internationally acclaimed musical tribute the aging American veterans.
Sam received his degree in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University his medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine
Bertram Cohen
Bertram Cohen is a passionate and active Zionist. He developed Jewish/Zionist programs in the Poughkeepsie Jewish Community. Bertram has written extensively about the environment, and advanced energy technologies. He is a former engineer at IBM and the U.S Army. Bertram received a degree in physics from Brooklyn College and a degree in Electrical Engineering from Pratt Institute.
Richard L. Cravatts
Richard L. Cravatts, PhD is a professor and author of four books, including Dispatches From the Campus War Against Israel and Jews. He is President Emeritus of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME), an organization with 30,000 members worldwide. Richard has published over 500 articles, on campus anti-Semitism, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and higher education in the newspapers around the world, and also gives speeches nationally on these topics. He is a board member of SPME, The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and also is an advisory board member of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative and of the Gross Family Center For the Study of Antisemitism and the Holocaust. Richard received his PhD from the University of Louisiana.
Stephen Gerzof
Stephen Gerzof, M.D. is a social activist, Interventional Radiologist, Professor of Radiology at Tufts Medical School, and Consultant in Medicine at the West Roxbury VA. He developed non-operative treatments for abdominal abscesses and pancreatitis. His seminal work, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, had a significant impact on the practice of medicine and surgery worldwide and was incorporated into an entirely new sub-specialty, “Interventional Radiology.” Dr. Gerzof is a graduate of Hobart College and Tufts Medical School.
Avi Goldwasser
Avi Goldwasser is the co-founder of The David Project, an organization dedicated to supporting Jewish students on campus. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Jewish Committee in Boston, the Boston JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council), and the Boston Bureau of Jewish Education. Avi has produced several films, including the award-winning documentary The Forgotten Refugees, Columbia Unbecoming, and Hate Spaces: The Politics of Intolerance on Campus. Avi is a former financial executive in high tech; he received a B.S. in Engineering from City College of New York and an M.B.A. from New York University.
CHERRY HILL, NJ TEAM LEADERS
Carol Denbo
Carol Denbo is an educator and social activist. She worked in corporate sales in the legal publishing business. She founded her own business — teaching English as a second language to foreign employees. Carol also tutored in English to school children in Haifa, Israel. Ms. Denbo is a graduate of the MacDonald’s Teacher College of McGill University.
George Flesh
George Flesh, M.D. served as president of Westwood Village Synagogue in Los Angeles and former vice chair of Doctors Division of United Jewish Appeal in Los Angeles. He was chief of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery for Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates for 21 years. He is emeritus clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard Medical School and previously taught at the UCLA School of Medicine. He is a graduate of Harvard University and UCLA School of Medicine.
Charles Jacobs
Dr. Charles Jacobs is a Jewish human rights activist and a journalist. He co-founded the Boston branch of CAMERA, the American Anti-Slavery Group, The David Project, and Americans for Peace and Tolerance. Charles helped redeem African slaves from bondage in Sudan for which he received the Boston Freedom Award from Coretta Scott King in 2000. He has been named among America’s top-50 Jewish leaders by The Forward. Charles has published in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Jerusalem Post, and the Encyclopedia Britannica. He has appeared on NBC, CBS, NPR, CNN, and PBS. Charles received a B.A. from Rutgers University and a doctoral degree from Harvard University. He is currently president of Americans for Peace and Tolerance (APT) and a board member of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME).
Jeffrey Kraines
Jeffrey Kraines, M.D. has been a senior healthcare executive in the managed care, pharma/biotech, consulting, and product innovation industries in addition to his clinical experience practicing internal medicine and rheumatology. He holds degrees from Wesleyan University and the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Kraines is President of the William P. Goldman & Brothers Foundation, which is devoted to defending Israel, protecting Jews, preserving Jewish history and culture, and providing medical, educational, and social service needs. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Jewish Committee in Boston as well as its national board.
Martin Sklar
Martin Sklar is an activist and supporter of Israel and several Jewish organizations including AFDMA, CAMERA, CUFI, IDF, IFCJ among others. Martin was the President of B’nai B’rith Technology Unit. He is an inventor and successful entrepreneur in the medical device industry. He founded AblaCor™ Medical Corporation to develop an innovative ablation catheter that Is designed to advance treatment for millions of patients with Atrial Fibrillation. He also works at Electrophysiology Frontiers, SpA to continue advancing catheter development. Martin received a Master of Engineering Degree from Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA TEAM LEADERS
Ellen F. Heyman
Ellen F. Heyman is a lifelong Zionist who has been a Board Member of the American Jewish International Relations Institute (AJIRI) and has been active in several other pro-Israel organizations, including the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET). She also has worked on campaigns to counter antisemitism and anti-Israel propaganda. She received her B.A. from Queens College in Flushing, New York and Masters and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Glenn Taubman
Glenn Taubman is a passionate supporter of Israel, who has been involved with a myriad of Jewish organizations. For many years he also served on the executive boards of his local synagogue and Jewish day school. His pro-Israel letters have been published in the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. Glenn is an attorney at the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, where he specializes in labor and constitutional law. He received a JD degree with distinction from Emory University School of Law and a LLM in labor law from Georgetown University.
GREATER PHILADELPHIA TEAM LEADERS
Alan Agre
Alan Agree is a passionate advocate for Israel who has organized Israel Bond campaign and events in support of Christian groups who support Israel. Alan is a Co-founder of Israel Forum in Bucks County Pennsylvania. Professionally he was an Analyst Chemist. Alan received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania,and M.S. in chemistry from Drexel University.
Albert Algazi
Albert Algazi has been an activist in various Jewish and Christian organizations including ZOA, CAMERA, CUFI (Christians United For Israel). He is currently the chair of the Israel Forum of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Albert has authored several articles about Israel and the dispossession of Jews from Arab lands. He is a licensed professional engineer and former President of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE). Albert received a B.S and a Masters in Engineering from New York University, and Masters in Public Service in Political Management from Rutgers and N.J Institute of Technology.
Mark Melmed
Mark Melmed has been a Jewish activist working in the community and pro-Israel activities. He has chaired various educational, youth, religious, social, and cemetery committees, in his synagogues and his local Federation. Mark is an active supporter of AFMDA, ZOA, Friends of Israel, AIPAC, VFI, CUFI, and the Kaplan Medical Center. Mark received a degree in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TEAM LEADERS
Dr. Eli Ben-Moshe
Dr. Eli Ben-Moshe is a cofounder of “Shields of David”, an organization teaching young Jewish adults to better protect themselves from both physically and ideological assaults. He also volunteers with the Amigo’s Club and Lions Club. Dr. Ben-Moshe is an Optometrist in San Diego. He received degrees in Science and Phd in optometry from Pacific University.
Brian Blacher
Brian Blacher is an ardent Zionist with an interest in combating antisemitism on college campuses. He is a co-founder of “Shields of David”, an organization teaching young Jewish adults to better protect themselves from both physically and ideological assaults. Brian is an entrepreneur in the health and wellness industry. He earned two bronze medals in Judo for South Africa at the 1981 Maccabiah Games. Brian has degrees in Physical Education from University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg South Africa.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TEAM LEADERS
J. Barry Gurdin
J. Barry Gurdin, PhD, has been a professor and/or lecturer in the social sciences at universities and colleges in the United States of America, Canada, and Sweden. He has moderated a discussion about peace between a member of the Israeli Knesset and a Palestinian Mayor at The University of Chicago. Barry is active in the fields of the Behavioral and Social Sciences in which he has presented papers at major conferences; published in journals; books; and newspapers. His recent articles are in the areas of the social sciences, the law, the environment, modern media, and First and Other Peoples. Barry received his B.A. and M.A. in anthropology. His Ph.D. is in sociology, and he has done post-doctoral work in both fields.
Julia Lutch
Julia Lutch has been a lifelong supporter of Israel and participated in the Sar-El Volunteers for Israel program. She is active in CAMERA. Her letters in support of Israel have appeared in many major newspapers. Julia worked in the financial industry. She received two BA degrees in Art History and English & American Literature from Brandeis University.
David Meir-Levi
David Meir-Levi is an American-born Israeli who dedicate much of his career to extensive lecturing about the Middle East conflict in universities, synagogues, churches and high schools. Most recently he lectured in the Department of History at San Jose State University and via Zoom at Clemson University (SC), University of Utah, San Francisco State University, Johns Hopkins University (MD), Florida State University, and California State University East Bay. His most recent book is “History upside Down: The Roots of Palestinian Fascism and the Myth of Israeli Aggression.” David received his BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA in Near Eastern Studies from Brandeis University.
Naomi Grant
Naomi Grant is the director of communications at a pro-Israel think tank. In college, she interned at the Jerusalem Post and held leadership positions at the University of Maryland Hillel. She graduated in 2019 with a double major in Government & Politics and Spanish.
Les Ulanow
Les Ulanow is an ardent supporter of Israel and Zionism. He is a former board member of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, the JCRC, and the JCC. Les is an active member of B'nai Tzedek and Beth El synagogues. He is a frequent advocate for victims of antisemitism, especially on college campuses. His other activities include advocating on behalf of mental health organizations and for the homeless. Les has been a business owner in the recycling business. He received a BS in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.
WASHINGTON, DC TEAM LEADERS
OHIO TEAM LEADERS
Rabbi Cary Kozberg
Rabbi Cary Kozberg currently serves as Rabbi of Temple Sholom in Springfield Ohio. He also served as the Executive Director at the Hillel of the University of Texas at Austin. Rabbi Kozberg is a published author and poet. He is nationally recognized for his work on the spiritual and emotional challenges that face older adults and their families. Rabbi Kozberg is a member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains that awarded him “Chaplain of the Year” Award in 2012. He received a degree from the University of Texas, Austin and was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
Michele Lavon
Michele Lavon is a Zionist activist and community leader. A former leader for State of Israel Bonds, Young Jewish Professionals for The Columbus Jewish Federation as well as a previous board member on the Executive Board for Tifereth Israel Synagogue. Michele is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Broadcast Communications and Political Science.