The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is pleased to welcome Michelle Klahr as its new National Director of Development. Michelle comes to us from Israel Bonds, where she served as the National Director of the Women’s Division. She was responsible for 14 women’s divisions throughout the country, which brought in over $35 million in Israel bond sales per year. Prior to that, Michelle worked for Meor Manhattan/Jewish Enrichment Center, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (Clal), and the Gesher Foundation in various fundraising capacities.
Michelle is a graduate of Barnard College with a degree in Economics and has an MBA in Marketing from the NYU Stern School of Business.
She is the proud mother of three girls and the child of Holocaust survivors, who instilled in her a fierce love of Israel and the Jewish people.
Michelle is excited to join ZOA, which embodies all that she believes in so passionately.
“No other organization supports Israel as strongly and as unequivocally as ZOA. Especially in the present political climate, ZOA is needed now more than ever to educate and advocate on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people. I am so proud to be part of this organization with its long-venerated history and look forward to being involved in great things to come.”
ZOA National President Morton Klein said, “We are thrilled and proud to have such a distinguished, accomplished, and experienced top Jewish communal professional from Israel Bonds to join the very talented and committed group of ardent Zionists and professionals at the Zionist Organization of America.
ZOA is the oldest pro-Israel organization in America, founded in 1897. Distinguished past ZOA presidents Include Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, and noted Reform Rabbis Abba Hillel Silver and Stephen Wise. Nonetheless, ZOA was surprised and gratified by the large number of gifted professionals who applied for this venerable position. Yet even among this outstanding group, Ms. Klahr stood out as clearly the right choice.
Ms. Klahr is exceptionally knowledgeable about Israel and U.S.-Israel relations, has wonderful interpersonal relations skills, is extraordinarily committed to Israel, and fully embraces and supports the ZOA mission and philosophy. Michelle understands that ZOA is a rational centrist organization, since truth is not a political position. She will be a great addition to ZOA in promoting ZOA and our groundbreaking Center for Law and Justice, National Center for Campus Activities, effective Center for Government Relations in Washington, D.C., and ZOA’s constant hard-hitting special reports, articles, and projects.
Welcome, Michelle Klahr, to the ZOA activist family.