Makor (Hebrew for “source”) is a specially-trained cadre of highly-involved Jewish National Fund volunteers. We are proud leaders who are committed to the mission of the JNF, the caretaker of the land of Israel forever. Our primary role is to serve as leaders in our own communities and support the core functions of JNF by direct fundraising. Thus, we identify prospective donors, conduct direct solicitations in our own communities and around the United States and assist in educating the public about the JNF and its projects.
Makor also serves as a source for lay leadership. We provide training and inspiration for other community leaders on solicitation techniques, board development and outreach and on the work of the JNF. Makor members also assume JNF leadership positions on a national level.
In addition, Makor is a source of innovation within the JNF. Our diverse backgrounds, coupled with our common commitment, foster a free-flow of ideas to keep JNF as relevant and productive as possible.
To book a Makor member please contact Joel L. Leibowitz (Northeast Zone Director, Director of Makor) at 973-593-0095 or jleibowitz@jnf.org. If you're interested in becoming a member of Makor, please fill out this application.
Rebecca H. Fischer - Chair
The Chair of Makor and President of Jewish National Fund in Broward County, Rebecca Fischer is very active in Jewish communal life. She is passionate about the work of the Jewish National Fund and deeply committed to Israel and the Jewish people. She has visited Israel many times, most recently as part of the Makor mission.
Beckie is the immediate past Chair of AIPAC for Broward County and is a member of the Executive Committee of AIPAC's national board. She also serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the Kesher School, a Jewish Day School for children with special needs. Beckie is on the United Way of Broward County campaign committee.
Beckie has a long history of involvement in her community, including serving as Women's Division Co-President and a Vice President at Large for the general Board of her Federation. She served as the Chair of the National UJC Planning for Delivery of Human Service Committee under the UJC Human Service and Social Policy Pillar and on the National Women's Philanthropy Board of UJC, serving as Programming Chair for the 2004 International Lion of Judah Conference. Beckie was as a board member for the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute Women in Science and on the Board of Governors of Hillel Community Day school for many years. She is a past president of the Leukemia Society of America South Florida.
Beckie has been recognized with many community service and leadership awards over the years, including recognition as a 2001 Weizmann Institute Women of Vision Honoree and the 2003 State of Israel Bonds Women's Division Honoree. She received the Community Service and Leadership Award in 2000 from her Federation's Women's Division and the Community Service Award from Broward County Jewish Family Services in 1999. Twice she was recognized by her Federation with the President's Award in 2002 and 2003.
Beckie practices law with the partnership of Lehr Fischer & Feldman in Hollywood, Florida, specializing in estate planning, probate and guardianship, family/domestic law, criminal matters and commercial litigation. She is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator. Beckie graduated Dean's List from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California in 1982 and is admitted to practice law in both California and Florida. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology in 1979, With Distinction, from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California.
Beckie has three children, Danielle, 19, a sophomore at George Washington University, Joshua, 16, a 10th grader at Hillel Community Day School, and Aaron, 9. Aaron attends Kesher, a Jewish Day School created to meet the needs of children on the autism spectrum located on the campus of Hillel Community Day School. The family belongs to Young Israel of Hollywood.
Beckie recently spoke at the Broward County JNF Tree of Life Dinner with her daughter, Danielle. Danielle participated in the JNF Alternative Spring Break program, her third trip to Israel. Danielle and Joshua, who spent three weeks in Israel this past May, are equally as passionate about Israel and their Jewish community as their mother. Aaron will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in 2010.
Joel L. Leibowitz - Director
Joel L. Leibowitz has more than three decades of Jewish philanthropy experience and currently serves as Northeast Zone Director for Jewish National Fund, serving New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. An attorney, Joel has a strong background in solicitation and a long history in Jewish communal affairs, both as a lay leader and as a professional.
A dynamic speaker, Joel has conducted solicitor training seminars in more than 120 communities in the United States, as well as in Australia, Eastern Europe, Russia and Israel. He has developed training seminars and videos Conducted solicitation training seminars for the professional staffs of Jewish Federations, Jewish National Fund, The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the World Zionist Organization, and the National Ramah Commission. Joel is especially talented at incorporating campaign concepts into special events, doing face to face solicitation and motivating staff and volunteers. Joel has lead more than 30 missions to Israel.
In 1989, Joel was appointed by the Governor to the New Jersey-Israel Commission. In the Jewish communal world, he served as a member of: the Regional Advisory Board to the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai Brith; Congregation Beth El of S. Orange, NJ; the Executive Committee North American Jewish Forum; and on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of MetroWest. Past Jewish non-profit experience also include Vice President of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union (1984-1986), member U.J.A. National Young Leadership Cabinet (1977-1981), member of the Board of the YM-YWHA of Metropolitan New Jersey (1976-1986) and member of the Board of Governors of the Daughters of Israel Geriatric Center (1980-1982).
Joel’s people skills and management background have increased JNF’s fundraising in his zone by 300 percent in the past five years as well as developed committed boards in his zone.
He has a law degree from Seton hall University, School of Law and is admitted to the bar in New York and New Jersey. He earned a BS in accounting from American University.
Ira Bartfield
Ira Bartfield is the National Community Campaign Chairman of the Jewish National Fund. He formerly served as national chairman of the ‘Breakfast with JNF’ program. Ira serves on the Executive Committee of the Washington DC regional JNF board, and has been active in JNF fundraising projects and programs for several years.
Ira has extensive experience in the Jewish communal world. Currently he serves on the executive committee of the Board of Governors of B’nai B’rith International, the executive committee of the Board of Gesher, a community Jewish day school in Virginia, and on the boards of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, and Northern Virginia Friends of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Previously, Ira has served as his synagogue’s president, and on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, where he served as chair of the Northern Virginian campaign. A long-time board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, he served as chair of its Soviet Jewry committee and Northern Virginia Commission.
Since 1971, Ira has been on the staff of the Nationl Gallery of Art in Washington DC, one of the world’s finest art museums. Ira has held supervisory positions in the Education and Visual Services departments.
Ira is pleased to be a member of Makor, and is happy to speak to groups and individuals about the many ways we can support JNF’s work and projects in Israel.
Robert Benedon
Robert Benedon is President of the Northeast Zone of the Jewish National Fund and Major Gifts Chair of the Southern New Jersey Board of JNF. He has a private practice in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Periodontics at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Dental Medicine where he teaches. Although he has practiced, taught and enjoyed dentistry for the past 25 years, his true love and involvements have been in the Jewish Community.
He began his involvement early on as a teen in USY and credits his experience on USY Israel Pilgrimage as the life altering event which led to his lifelong involvement in the Jewish Community and Israel. In college, he was active at Rutgers Hillel and was a USY Advisor.
After completing his professional training, he became active in his Synagogue in the Young Associates group and on the Board of Directors.
As his children entered Kellman Academy, the Solomon Schechter School, he began his involvement there, joining the Board in 1989 and became its Treasurer, proceeding later as the School Board’s Chairman. He has since chaired various committees and continues his involvement even though his last child graduated in 2004.
Bob has also been involved on the national level, currently serving on the Solomon Schechter Day School Association Board and has twice co-chaired their Biennial Conference. Bob’s involvement in the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey began as a Board member on the Young Leadership Council over 20 years ago. He has served on the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and numerous other committees. He chaired the Men’s Campaign for four years and most recently was the Co-Chair of the Major Gifts Division. He has Co-chaired three B’Nai Mitzvah Missions to Israel and a leadership development mission to Romania.
Bob has received the Shellie Greenspun Young Leadership Award in 2002 for his efforts.
Bob is passionate about his involvement in Jewish National Fund building boards both on the local level and throughout the Northeast region. He has been to Israel with JNF five times (Chairing three missions) in the past three years and marvels at the breadth of JNF/KKL’s work over the past 107 years. He hopes to bring many people to Israel to experience this firsthand.
Bob’s wife Pam is Associate State Director of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers. His son Mitch is a graduate of the University of Maryland, his son Evan is a senior at University of Pennsylvania and his youngest son Matthew is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania. His three sons have been to Israel many times and have attended the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, a JNF partner.
Alyse Golden Berkley
Alyse Golden Berkley was born a Zionist; indeed, she was the first member in her family to visit Israel, in 1970. She has since been to Israel on numerous occasions, including studying her Junior year at the Hebrew University in 1974 - 1975, as well as taking accredited law school courses at the Hebrew University during the summer of 1978. Missions to Israel have include the American Jewish Committee, State of Israel Bonds, Women’s Division, and the Jewish National Fund.
Alyse is actively involved in the Jewish Community at large. She currently sits on the Executive Cabinet, State of Israel Bonds, the Executive Committee for the Jewish National Fund, and she is a member of the President’s Council for American Jewish Committee, and the Capitol Club for the American Israel Political Action Committee. In addition, she is a member of the Valley Beth Shalom Sisterhood Executive Board of Directors, and was an Officer and Trustee of the Valley Beth Shalom Day School Board of Trustees during the 13 years her children were at the school. As a result of her Board work, she was awarded the Rita Reznikoff Leadership Award.
And speaking of children, Alyse has always believed that it is her duty to raise Zionists, and she is well on her way. She has the 3 great kids: Benjamin, a freshman at the University of Michigan, recently represented the University of Michigan at the AIPAC Convention in Washington, DC , where he lobbied members of Congress on behalf of Israel. Before starting college, Benjamin served in the Israeli Army, on the Marva program. That was his third trip to Israel.
Her daughter, Natalie, a junior at Milken Community High School, has been to Israel twice, and did her one-week stint in the Israeli Army on the Gadna program. She is an Officer at her Synagogue’s United Synagogue Youth Department, and recently attended a training program for high school students in Washington, DC, with AIPAC. Valerie will join her sister next year at Milken. She recently went to Israel on the Los Angeles Jewish Federation’s Partnership Program, with the Gordon School. That was her second trip to Israel. All her children spend each summer at Camp Ramah, in Ojai, California.
Alyse is currently a partner in a small law firm with her attorney husband, Stuart, as BERKLEY BERKLEY, in Encino, California, where she specializes in personal injury mediations and arbitrations. In addition, she is an Arbitrator and Mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Courts, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association, as well as a Mediator, Early Mediation Panel, Los Angeles Superior Courts. She has qualified as a Neutral Arbitrator for Kaiser-Permanente Health Care, and an Arbitrator for Better Business Bureau, Auto Line Program and Contract Business Arbitration Division. She volunteers as a Panel Mediator for the SFVBA-LASC, Northwest District, as well as a Judge Pro Tempore for the Los Angeles Superior Court, and as a Volunteer Assisted Settlement Team member.
Her other Community Involvement commitments include Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Judicial Appointments Committee, WLALA, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, American Inns of Court, California Women Lawyers Association, San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Chamber of Commerce, Encino, and The Executives, Jewish Home for the Aging.
Alyse graduated from Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California, in 1980. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Cum Laude, in Foreign Language in 1977, from California State University, Northridge, California.
Karen T. Cohen
Karen’s first association with Jewish National Fund came in 1992 when she attended a JNF Tribute Dinner with her new family. Born and raised Irish Catholic, she married a Jewish single parent and took seriously the task of "raising two young men to know who they are and to be the best of what they could be; and a big part of who and what they are is Jewish." The dinner led to a 1993 family mission with the honorees and it was on that trip that she began to understand the concept of "roots" and "Zionism" and what those words meant to her family.
Upon returning to the U.S., the entire family changed from merely labeling themselves Zionists to actively participating and supporting their beliefs. While her sons went on to become college campus leaders and to head up Future Leadership groups, both Karen and her husband became involved in Tribute Dinners and Walks for Water.
Today, Karen is the National Chair of Jewish National Fund's Sapphire Society, an organization of women who are spearheading the establishment of Zuquim, the first non-agricultural community in the Negev Desert, as well as participating in today’s urgent need for security roads along Israel’s northern borders.
Karen is also a long-standing active member of the Cincinnati Region’s Executive Board. When asked, "Why? Why all this effort when you are still Catholic?" Karen will tell you that when she stands in a room with other Jewish National Fund sup porters, she is no different. "My grandchildren will be Jewish just like yours."
A life-long resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, Karen is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati. She resides with her husband Harvey in both Cincinnati and Boca Raton, Florida.
Charles S. Fax
Charles S. Fax is Vice President of Campaign of the Jewish National Fund. He formerly served as president of the Maryland Region and the Mid-Atlantic Zone, and served for three years as chair of Makor, JNF’s national leadership society. In addition to his campaign position, he currently serves on the JNF Board of Directors. Chuck is Counsel to the law firm of Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan, and Silver concentrating in commercial and securities litigation, employment law, land use litigation, government procurement law, and constitutional law.
A resident of North Bethesda, MD, he has served on the Board of Directors and as an officer of Ohr Kodesh Congregation in Chevy Chase, MD. Chuck has served as pro bono general counsel to Parents and Children Together, Inc. (1992-1998); mediator for the Circuit Court of Baltimore City (1994-1998); special outside litigation counsel to the Mayor of Baltimore City (1994-1995); and special outside litigation counsel to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (1994-2000).
He is the co-author of two highly regarded legal texts, “Maryland Discovery Problems and Solutions,” published by MICPEL Publishing Co. in 2008, and “Discovery Problems and Their Solutions,” published by ABA Publishing Co. in 2005. He also edits an online magazine for the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association, and lectures frequently on legal topics. In 2006 he was named one of the “Greater Washington Legal Elite” by Washington Smart CEO Magazine, and he has a biography in “Who’s Who in America,” “Who’s Who in American Law,” and “Who’s Who in the World.”
Chuck’s wife, Michele, recently retired from a 30-year career teaching visually impaired students in the Fairfax County, Virginia, public school system. He has two children.
Matthew C. Fragner
Mr. Fragner has wide experience as an attorney and a businessperson. He is the founding partner of the law firm of Fragner Seifert Pace & Winograd, LLP, general counsel of The CIM Group, and an officer and director of Extengine, Inc., a technology integrator in the field of diesel emission reduction and biofuels.
Having obtained a BA from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of California Berkeley (Boalt Hall), as a lawyer Mr. Fragner has represented multi-national clients such as Chevron, Citicorp, Bank of America, The CIM Group, General Electric Capital Corporation and McDonalds. He has lectured at the University of Southern California Real Estate Development Graduate School (1995-1999) and to more than 20 local, state and national bar and accounting groups on multiple topics, as well as authoring numerous articles for legal periodicals.
As a businessperson, Mr. Fragner has owned and operated a restaurant and a real estate development company, as well as founding the predecessor of Extengine, Inc. more than 10 years ago. In 1993, he founded and managed an investment company that acquired and sold for substantial profit a pool of secured promissory notes originally issued in connection with wind farms in Southern California.
Mr. Fragner serves as chairperson of Tools to Talent Non-Profit Corporation, a charitable entity that provides new computer systems to graduating 8th graders from junior high schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods. In the past, Mr. Fragner has been general counsel and on the board of directors of his local synagogue and a member of the Berkeley Law Foundation.
Larry Frankel
Larry Frankel has been a member of Makor for four years.
His first trip to Israel was 25 years ago. Eight years ago he returned to Israel with three of his five children and became involved with JNF by participating in a reservoir project. His synagogue, JCCH of Harrison, was the first in Westchester to participate in the project. He returns to Israel at least once year with JNF’s missions to view the many projects JNF is involved in.
Larry grew up in Westchester and currently resides in NYC. He has taught color photography at Manhattanville College and is active with the Westchester Arts Council. As a working artist, Larry specializes in landscape and cityscape fine art photography. He holds a BS in Business Administration from Boston University and has an MA in Studio Arts from NYU. He worked on the trading floor as a member of the New York Stock Exchange for 30 years.
A founding member of Sulam Ya’akov, a new congregation begun by 45 families in Scarsdale, Larry comes from a conservative and traditional Jewish background. Growing up in New Rochelle, his family was very active in Beth El Synagogue. He feels he was influenced by this synagogue, its leadership and his grandparents.
Jerome K. Grossman
Jerome K. Grossman serves as Co-President and on the board of directors of JNF’s Delaware region. He became active in JNF after an incredible tour of JNF projects in Israel in July of 2003 and joined Makor in 2004.
Long active in the Wilmington Jewish community, Jerry was president of Congregation Beth Shalom from 1990-1992 and has served on its board of directors since 1985. He is past president of the Delaware Gratz Hebrew High School, past vice president and treasurer of the Wilmington Jewish Community Center, and a past member of the Jewish Community of Delaware Endowment Fund Board of Trustees and the Jewish Federation of Delaware Board of Directors. From 1992-1995, Jerry chaired the Delaware State Committee for State of Israel Bonds. He currently serves as a trustee of the Milton & Hattie Kutz Foundation and the Harry Cohen Foundation. Jerry also served as vice chair of the Delaware Symphony Association from 1999-2001 and continues to serve on its Board of Directors.
A graduate of Georgetown University and the Georgetown University Law Center, Jerry is a partner at the Wilmington law firm of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP where he primarily practices in the areas of tax, trusts and estates, and business acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, and operations. He is a member of the Delaware, District of Columbia, and Missouri Bar Associations and is a licensed CPA. He has been included in The Best Lawyers in America since 1993 and is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel.
Jerry has chaired the American Bar Association Committee on Tax Accounting, the Delaware Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Delaware State Bar Association Section of Taxation. He has spoken at numerous tax institutes and programs throughout the country.
His wife, Debbie, teaches third grade at the Wilmington Friends School. His daughter, Hannah, is an attorney and his daughter, Marni, is a senior at Vassar College.
Edgar House
Edgar Jay House became a member of the Bucks County (PA) Board of JNF and a member of Makor in 2005.
After moving to Bucks County in 1998 from New York City, Edgar joined Kol Emet, a Reconstructionist synagogue in Yardley, PA. He soon began studying the weekly Torah portion with the rabbi and a group formed that continues to meet weekly to study and discuss Torah as well as a wide range of related topics from Jewish history to Jewish literature and philosophy.
Edgar’s Reconstruction roots are deep: his parents were active members of a Reconstructionist synagogue in Buffalo, NY. Jewish culture, Israel, and tikkun olam were all important to his upbringing and Jewish education.
In 1977, Edgar went to Israel for the first time as a member of the U.S. Maccabiah Team in the sport of fencing. He won a gold medal in both the individual and team sabre events.
His interest in sports led to his appointment as Chairman of Public Relations for the United States Olympic Committee (1989 1993). He was also elected Captain and Athletic Chairman of the New York Athletic Club (1994 1999).
Edgar received a B.A. in English from Yale University in 1975. In his professional life, Edgar owned a New York City-based advertising agency which created marketing campaigns for many Fortune 500 companies. Currently, he is the head of a private money management firm.
Edgar lives in Newtown, PA with his wife Tina and his three daughters.
Eugene Kay
Eugene Kay is the President of Jewish National Fund's Mountain States Region. Exceptionally committed to Israel, has been on four JNF missions in the last four years as well as five other trips to Israel since the start of the current "situation." Gene also chairs the JNF Century Club, to recognize lifetime donors of $100,000 or more.
Gene's current additional community commitments include UJA Federation and CAJE (The Colorado Agency for Jewish Education).
The retired owner of RMRM, Inc., a commercial furniture sales company with a specialty in records and information management, Gene holds a BA from Brown University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He is married with three children and six grandchildren.
Marc Kelman
Marc Kelman is an active member of the Jewish community of Phoenix, AZ. Current President of the JNF Board of Directors, he also served on the Board of Directors for Israel Bonds, on the Terros Behavioral Health Services Board of Directors, on the Greater Phoenix Jewish Federation Board of Directors, on the Jewish Federation Men’s National Young Leadership Cabinet, Greater Phoenix Jewish Community Center Board of Directors, on the Hillel Board of Directors and was a recipient of the Young Leadership Award from Jewish Federation in 1984.
In 1998 he sold the chain of full service car washes he started in 1975 and began investing in commercial real estate.
A graduate of the University of Tampa, Marc is married to Ellen, a psychologist in private practice. They have two children Scott and Stephanie.
Michael G. Lederman
Jewish National Fund is proud to have Michael G. Lederman as a member of Makor, its National Speakers’ Bureau. Mr. Lederman was always interested in Israel and its importance to Jews and Americans, often writing his views. He was recruited by a fellow Makor member, and participated in JNF’s Makor Mission to Israel. In Israel Michael saw how crucial JNF’s work is for the people of Israel as well as its many accomplishments and began using his excellent speaking skills to tell others about Jewish National Fund.
Michael is Managing Partner for The Spectrum Capital Group. As an investment banker, entrepreneur, and investor, he is perhaps best known for the key role that he played in the acquisition of Allegheny International, conducting the first-ever unsolicited takeover of a billion-dollar company in Chapter 11. His business accomplishments have been reported in two books, a Harvard Business School case study, other case studies, several court cases, and numerous other publications.
Michael received his MBA and JD degrees from the University of Virginia. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Summa Cum Laude, having been elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1976. Michael has lectured extensively at university graduate schools, bar and other professional associations, conferences, seminars and workshops.
Marc Leibowitz
Marc’s strong Jewish identity and affiliation with the Jewish community began in childhood. He was influenced by his studies at Solomon Schechter Day School and his experiences at Camp Ramah and Young Judea. Growing up, Marc had the opportunity to travel to Israel many times. He also traveled to Moscow and Leningrad in 1986 to visit refuseniks as well as to Poland in 1987 to visit concentration camps. These trips strengthened Marc’s Jewish identity as well as his commitment to the Jewish People and the State of Israel.
After graduating from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1992, Marc moved to Israel, became a citizen, and volunteered for military service in the Israel Defense Forces. Marc served in the Israeli Paratroopers with the 101st Airborne Battalion as a squad commander in Lebanon and the West Bank from 1992 to 1994.
Marc moved back to The United States in 1996 and began to look for ways to continue to contribute to Israel. Recognizing the importance of Jewish National Fund, Marc became a member of the Central New Jersey Board in 1997. He currently serves as the Central New Jersey Major Gifts Chairman. Nationally, Marc is a member of JNF’s Makor leadership group, he serves as chairman of JNF’s President’s Council, and he is the chairman of JNF’s Ammunition Hill Project.
Marc is a partner in on a wealth management team with Merrill Lynch in Short Hills, New Jersey. At Merrill Lynch, Marc provides financial planning and investment management services for individual and institutional clients. Marc lives in Scotch Plains, New Jersey with his wife Becky and his two sons, Jonah and Sam.
David J. Margules
David Margules serves as President of JNF's Mid-Atlantic Zone, as well as being a member of JNF's National Board of Directors and Campaign Cabinet. David speaks extensively on topics relating to Israel, Middle Eastern history and politics, and Jewish National Fund. Among other venues, over the past few years David has delivered addresses on behalf of Israel and JNF at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., the University of Delaware, Delaware Law School and Vermont Law School. He has also been a Scholar-in-Residence at Orthodox, Conservative and Reform congregations throughout the country.
David is a strong advocate of Jewish education -- each of his four sons have attended Jewish Day School and two have spent time in yeshivas in Israel. He has taught in Delaware Gratz Hebrew High School (a supplementary program for high school aged students) and in Wilmington's Adult Education Program. David is a past president of Delaware Gratz, and has served on the Board of the local K-6 day school, the Albert Einstein Academy. He also is a member of the National Executive Committee of AIPAC and has served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Delaware, the Wilmington JCC, Chabad Lubavitch of Delaware and has served as the Federation's campaign chair.
David is a partner in the Wilmington, Delaware, law firm of Bouchard Margules & Friedlander, PA. He received his BA from Columbia in 1978 and his JD (cum laude) from New York University School of Law in 1983, where he was awarded the Order of the Coif and was a Law Review staff member. For five years, David was a Lecturer at Law at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, where he taught a Mergers and Acquisitions seminar. In 1999, David was named the Grant Irey Lecturer at Law. He lectures and teaches on a number of subjects including American corporate law, Jewish law and ethics and alternative dispute resolution.
Lauren Mescon
Lauren Mescon became a JNF Board Member in 2006. Passionate about the land of Israel since young age, her early memories of her Grandmother spearheading of the blue box distribution in Savannah, Georgia, stay with her to this day.
Lauren then fast-tracked from a board member to co-chair of Major Gifts in 2007 and then to a Co-President of the Southeastern Region. She became a Makor member in 2008.
As a result of her work with JNF, she received recognition as a Woman of Achievement from the Federation in Atlanta, Georgia in 2007. Along with Major Gifts co-chair Abe Schear, she started a Branding campaign for JNF in the Southeastern Region to raise $2 million for the Be’er Sheva Riverwalk Project.
Lauren attended the Queen of Sheba Women’s Mission II with 6 other friends in 2007. After seeing the work JNF does in Israel first hand, she asked to join Makor so she could take advantage of speaking opportunities to tell others about JNF’s incredible and impactful work.
Lauren recently closed a law practice office after 29 years as an attorney to relocate to Columbus, Georgia, where her husband Tim serves as the president of Columbus State University. She specialized in collaborative family law and continues to teach collaborative law throughout the country.
Lauren and Tim have four children, all graduates of Jewish day schools.
Scott N. Schreiber
Scott N. Schreiber is currently the President of Jewish National Fund's Chicago region. He has been on the Chicago Board of the JNF since 2005 and was a member of its subcommittee that raised funds for G'vot Bar, a JNF community located outside of Be'er Sheva. Scott was recently co-chair of the capital campaign for JNF's Chicago region. Scott's had the pleasure of being to Israel twice over the past three years on JNF missions.
In the Jewish community, Scott was a liaison to the JCC's Me & My Dad program. Scott is a member of B'nai Josusha Beth Eloheim and is currently coordinator and host of BJBE's monthly Torah study sessions for Chicago loop professionals.
Scott and his wife Robbie live in Northbrook, Illinois with their daughter, Ilana, and son, Aaron. Robbie is a social worker currently assisting at the JCC pre-school.
In his professional life, Scott has served as lead counsel in numerous business restructurings. He has represented creditors, creditor committees and equity committees, as well as buyers of distressed businesses in both in- and out-of-court transactions. Scott has served on his firm's compensation and strategic planning committees, and was chair of the Recruiting Committee. Scott is also general counsel to two national trade credit groups and is an active speaker in professional organizations, having written numerous articles and lectured many times on transactions in business-bankruptcies.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Scott studied landscape architecture at Michigan State University and worked on state legislation that promoted recycling by requiring deposits on cans and bottles.
Ken Segel
Ken's love and commitment to Israel began in 1970, as a student at the University of Tel Aviv, where he spent his junior year of college. Ken has visited Israel several times since that first experience and he has never returned without feeling the same love for the country and people.
Ken's Jewish community involvement began shortly after graduating from Law School, when he returned to Albany with his wife, Nancie. He became active in the United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York, holding several leadership positions, including President, General Campaign Chair, and most recently, Chairman of its Community Endowment Fund. During his earlier years of involvement with the Federation, Ken became a member of the United Jewish Appeal's Young Men's Cabinet.
He is currently Chairman of the Israel Bonds Cabinet for upstate New York and has attended several of its missions to Israel.
Recently Ken became involved with JNF in an effort to help revive its presence in Northeastern New York, after not having a presence in that region for over 14 years. Ken successfully chaired a dinner attended by almost 350 people which not only raised significant dollars, but also increased awareness about JNF. Since the event, the community is looking forward to more JNF programs and events.
Being a strong supporter of Jewish education, Ken was also active in the Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy while his two daughters, Julie and Amie, attended the School. There he held several leadership positions, including becoming its President. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Daughter's of Sarah Nursing Foundation and his Synagogue, Temple Israel of Albany. At Temple Israel Ken chaired a successful capital campaign intended to increase its Endowment Fund.
On a local community level, Ken is a member of the Board of Trustees and Secretary of Seton Health Care Services, a multifaceted health care organization operating St. Mary's Hospital in Troy, New York, along with 20 offsite locations in upstate New York's Capital District and a nursing home.
Kenneth Segel is an attorney who, while practicing law, specialized in the areas of employee benefit planning, commercial and corporate law and taxation. Today he is a Principal of Schuyler Companies, a commercial real estate developer specializing in developing and owning retail shopping centers throughout New York State and New England.
Geri Shatz
Geri Shatz is the incoming President of Jewish National Fund’s Bucks County region. The daughter of Holocaust escapees who each fled Vienna as a teenager and made a new life in the United States, commitment to democracy and the mitzvot of tzedakah and tikkum olam continues to form the ethos of her home.
Geri was president of Congregation Kol Emet, a Reconstructionist synagogue, when it first opened the doors of its own home in December 2000 and also has served for many years on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Bucks County Region.
A graduate of Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in art history, Geri is the author of Concepts of the Bauhaus. Following a change in career accomplished with a degree in accounting and finance from the College of New Jersey, her accounting work specializes in the needs of the oldest old. She also serves in an advisory capacity to two lifecare communities in Bucks County.
Geri and her husband Stanley have three adult sons and live in Yardley, Pennsylvania.
Richard Shelter
Richard K. Shelter is a Board member of the Jewish National Fund, Maryland Region, past chairman of Maryland JNF’s "31 Days in May" campaign, and a longtime volunteer at JNF’s annual Green Sunday fundraising phonathons. Richard has chaired the Baltimore Zionist District’s annual Brandeis Award Gala, and was co-chair of the BZD’s public affairs committee from 2000-2005. He is also an active member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Born and raised in England, Richard was deeply involved in the British Zionist youth movement, starting in Habonim at age 6 and culminating in Young Poalei Zion at age 22. Having completed his education and earned a degree in public health, he then made aliyah. Richard lived in Israel for 10 years, including service in the Israel Defense Forces from 1968-1970, and employment throughout in the field of public health.
Since 1990, Richard has been a Financial Advisor and Certified Financial Planner at Wachovia Securities in Baltimore, where he advises clients on wealth accumulation without undue risk. He was previously employed at Legg Mason from 1985-1990, and before that at Sun Life of Canada, where he was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
Richard is married to Kate, a Boston native whom he met while living in Jerusalem. Kate teaches English to foreign students. They have two sons, Josh, 27, and Adam, 26 and a granddaughter, Danielle, who is 1. Richard and Kate are active members of Congregation Ner Tamid in Baltimore.
Evelyn Galman Spritz
Evelyn Spritz has served on the board of Jewish National Fund in Philadelphia since 1991. She was president of the Philadelphia regional board, the Eastern Pennsylvania board and now serves as president of JNF’s Northeast Zone.
She went to Israel in February of l992 to observe first-hand the prolonged drought that was devastating the land, arriving instead during the heaviest snowfall in Jerusalem in a century. This experience during a brief five days of traveling throughout the land touched her soul so much it awakened the latent Zionism in her. Being also a fervent environmentalist, she was an instant convert to the works of JNF in the myriad ways they affect the daily lives of so many Israelis. Evelyn is also a board member of The Wilma Theater of Philadelphia, which produces avant-garde plays and contemporary classics.
A resident of Society Hill in Center City, Philadelphia, Evelyn was born and raised in Philadelphia. She has worked for nearly 50 years at Blank Rome, a major Philadelphia law firm, rising to the position of CFO/Comptroller. Evelyn attempted to retire several years ago but continues to work part time at the firm as Financial Administrator.
In addition to her devotion to her three children and four grandchildren, Evelyn has studied French language and literature all her life in the vain hope of someday speaking like a native Parisian, and she has a great appreciation of classical music and jazz, as well as art, theater, cooking, gardening, and travel.
Lynn Wexler
As President and founder of Perfectly Poised LLC, Lynn Wexler merged a degree in Psychology with successful careers as a high fashion model and television commercial spokesperson and reporter to create a unique and dynamic program for young ladies and women that develops self esteem, personal empowerment and a commanding presence.
Lynn began her modeling career at Saks Fifth Avenue in Philadelphia. She was noticed by the fashion director, and famed designers Albert and Pearl Nipon brought her to Manhattan. Lynn has graced runways in Philadelphia, New York and Tokyo, and worked directly with renowned designers Calvin Klein, Karl Lagerfeld, Geoffrey Beene, Halston, Bill Blass, Norma Kamali, Oscar de La Renta, among many others. Her favorite assignment was flying by helicopter to the White House during President Jimmy Carter's term in office. Rosalind Carter was hosting Empress Nagako, wife of Japan's Emperor Hirohito. Lynn was part of a fashion extravaganza in the gardens of the White House Arboretum, where she enjoyed meeting both First Ladies.
Following her modeling career, Lynn spent several years on-camera as a television commercial spokesperson and reporter, as well as news writer, in New York and Los Angeles. After the birth of her first child, her desire to be close to home encouraged her to join Tamara International Inc., a company that licensed and produced entertainment worldwide, where she served as Marketing Manager for nearly a decade.
Lynn’s journey into Judaism, and subsequent passion for learning and living Torah, began 20 years ago at the Pacific Jewish Community (PJC) in Venice, California, a congregation then headed by Shul President and radio host Michael Medved. Lynn spent many years engaged in the study of Torah, and developing an understanding of and deep connection to Jewish heritage and traditions, as well as pride for Israel. She was honored to serve as a Board Member of PJC’s Emanuel Streisand Day School.
Lynn has since headed, inspired and emceed many school and temple fundraisers and committees, including serving as President of the Parent Association of the prestigious John Thomas Dye School in Los Angeles. She is deeply involved in supporting the growth of the Las Vegas Solomon Schechter Day School (SSDS). Lynn founded and is President of the SSDS Parent Organization.
Lynn’s love for Israel has been further fueled by a three week trip there with her family earlier this year. She considers her involvement on the Las Vegas JNF Board an honor and an opportunity; an honor to be associated, working and building with such capable, committed and enthusiastic people in support of Israel; and an opportunity to utilize her passion, and contribute her strengths toward educating communities in promoting the interests of Israel.
Lynn lives in Las Vegas with her husband Barrie, and three wonderful children, Joshua 15, and Ariel and Shoshana, 9-year-old twins. In addition to her busy schedule with Perfectly Poised seminars and speaking engagements, she is a contributing writer to Jewish Community Today where she writes a regular column called Let’s Talk Manners. She is also writing a book on Manners, Celebrity and Politics, in which she hopes to achieve an indictment of the choices and values of many in the public eye.
Joseph Wolfson
Joseph Wolfson is an attorney with Stevens & Lee in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. As a shareholder in the firm’s Litigation, Antitrust & Unfair Competition, Intellectual Property and Technology departments, Joe’s practice is concentrated on corporate and complex litigation, including unfair competition, trademark, trade secret and other intellectual property disputes. He is a former state prosecutor for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office. Joe is a cum laude graduate of Boston University School of Law and holds a B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.
An active member of the Jewish community, Joe serves on the boards of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Jewish National Fund, Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El and the Gladius Society of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Leadership Council of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He is a past President of the Reading Jewish Community Center.
Joe is married to Ellen Holtzman. The couple lives in Villanova, Pennsylvania, with their daughters Alexandra, Jessica and Sarah.
