Heading organizations that support survivors of war and terror are four important and powerful Jewish Israelis who continue to serve the people in our society who need it the most, Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Doron Almog, Yael Eckstein, and Eli Beer.
Ifat Ovadia-Luski
Ovadia-Luski is the chair of the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund since the end of 2022, making her the first woman to take on this role. She made history as the first woman to be the secretary-general of World Likud, a role she held for 4 years, prior to joining KKL-JNF.
She holds a Bachelor’s in Hebrew Literature and History and a Master’s (with honors) in Educational Policy and Administration, which provide her with great insight into the parliamentary and governmental decision-making processes that shine through in her career.
Ovadia-Luski serves as a member of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors and the World Board of Trustees of Keren Hayesod. She has mobilized heads of the diaspora Jewish communities to fight against growing antisemitic and anti-Israel movements.
She also launched an initiative to honor female war heroes at Ofakim Park, naming a path in their honor. Ovadia-Luski planted trees in Re’im forest in memory of the victims of the Nova festival. She continues to promote the good of the Jewish people and the land of Israel.
Doron Almog
Those searching for hope in challenging times can look to Maj. Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of the Executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel.
Almog’s vision for The Jewish Agency is driven by the values that led to the modern State of Israel’s founding and that continue to drive the Jewish people forward: a sense of mission, love, respect, mutual responsibility, and unity.
His love for Israel is a love that leaves no one behind, intimately shaping The Jewish Agency’s work to cultivate closeness between Israel and world Jewry by forging heartfelt and genuine connections.
Since October 7, under Almog’s leadership, The Jewish Agency has assisted residents of the North and South, victims of terror, reservists, and more. The organization’s goals for the coming years include aiding in the reconstruction of Israel and boosting Aliyah as a growth engine for the State of Israel.
Almog founded and serves as Chairman of the ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village, named for his son Eran, who was born with severe brain damage and died at a young age. Eran was named after Almog’s brother, who fell in the Yom Kippur War.
In a post-October 7 world all too often defined by despair, Almog continues to deliver a much-needed modicum of hope.
Yael Eckstein
This year the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), headed by Yael Eckstein, have helped to provide over 800,000 people with safety during times of war, they’ve supported more than 6,000 aliyot, and fed, clothed, and cared for approximately 1 million people.
The IFCJ provide lifesaving care for elderly and vulnerable Holocaust survivors who are lacking basic necessities and living in poverty. Eckstein works tirelessly to look after victims and survivors of war and terror, and ensures they don’t have to go without anything.
Yael Eckstein was born in Illinois and raised in Chicago but made Aliyah in 2005 with her Israeli Husband. After moving to Israel she lived with her father, allowing her to see the inner workings of the IFCJ.
Eckstein started at the IFCJ stamping envelopes but over fifteen years rose through the ranks, gaining experience and preparing to succeed her father as the CEO. In 2019 Eckstein became the president and CEO of the IFCJ, where she oversees all programs and acts as the international spokesperson.
Eli Beer
President of the US based Friends of United Hatzalah and Founder of United Hatzalah of Israel, Eli Beer is a pioneer in Israeli emergency medicine. After witnessing the 1978 bombing of the No. 12 bus he was struck by the lack of strength in the emergency medical effort, inspiring him to set up a fully volunteer emergency service in Israel.
Since October 7, Hatzalah has helped prepare schools for missile strikes, provided emergency medicine training to widows of IDF soldiers, and launched Israel’s first psychotrauma canine unit which provides immediate intervention to people who’ve experienced traumas within the critical window to protect from long-term psychological harm.
When first responders couldn’t get through heavy traffic, Hatzalah came up with the ambucycle, a motorbike equipped with medical kit. This has been widely adopted by Hatzalah, MDA, and beyond, allowing EMTs to get to the scene through backed up traffic and small streets.
Beer also unified several smaller Hatzalah organizations working around Israel after the Second Lebanon War, creating a partnership of Jews, Muslims, Druze, and Christian volunteers who work together to save lives.