Zionist Organization’s New Mormon Director
Q&A With Mark Paredes
By Brad A. Greenberg
Mark Paredes, who served as the American Jewish Congress’ director of Latino outreach until Dec. 31 and before that was press attaché for the Israeli Consulate, is not Jewish. In fact, he’s a local leader in the Mormon Church who loves
Mark Paredes: I plan to bring together Jews, both religious and secular, who are proud to be Zionists, who are willing to defend Israel and the Jewish people, who want Israel to negotiate peace only with partners who have already renounced terror and incitement and recognize Israel, and who believe that Jews have the right to live in the Land of Israel, including Judea and Samaria. Belief in these principles transcends movements and the religious-secular divide, and it’s my job to organize events that will inspire our supporters and attract other defenders of
MP: Absolutely. In fact, we’re currently planning a national conference whose theme will be the meaning of Zionism in the 21st century. Let’s look at college campuses, for example. I’m proud that the ZOA is the only Jewish organization that takes college students on trips to
MP: I’d say the breakdown is about 75 percent promotion of
MP: I honestly don’t know how people like Madoff can sleep at night. Not only did his actions betray his community, but they gave fodder to anti-Semites who propagate hateful stereotypes about Jews, greed and money. I think he makes a good case for reviving the practice of issuing cherem [excommunication] decrees.
MP: I am still a Latter-day Saint, though I also think of myself as a “yehudi b’nefesh” [Jewish in soul]. I’m unaware of another non-Jew who has headed a regional office of a national Jewish organization, but I don’t foresee any problems. You don’t have to be Jewish to be a Zionist or to understand what’s happening in the world.
MP: Many weeks and months of hard work.