Morton Klein Re-Elected ZOA National President
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is honored and delighted to congratulate prominent civil rights and Constitutional lawyer David Schoen, Esq. on Mr. Schoen’s election as the incoming ZOA Chairman; ZOA President Morton A. Klein on his re-election as ZOA National President; and ZOA’s new elected officers: Vice Chairpersons Michael Orbach and Paul Tartell, M.D.; Secretary Sheryl Silver; Treasurer Brian Grodman; Assistant Treasurer Bart Blatstein; and our twenty Vice Presidents; as well as ZOA’s re-elected national Board members. The election took place yesterday.
Mr. Schoen stated:
“It is a great honor to have been elected to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Zionist Organization of America. I very much look forward to working with the Board, the officers, the indefatigable National President Morton Klein and the talented and dedicated ZOA staff. With energy and resolve, I will do all I can to support the extraordinary work of this most venerable and storied organization, drawing on its past accomplishments and helping to carry forward its mission as a leading advocate for Israel and the Jewish people and against growing scourge of antisemitism and irrational Israel hatred.”
ZOA President Morton Klein said:
“I congratulate all the ZOA Officers and National Board members on their election. They are all exemplary Zionists and activists.
“I especially want to congratulate our fabulous new Chair David Schoen. David’s commitment to Zionism knows no bounds. His life revolves around family, Judaism, Israel, and the law. His dynamism, energy, knowledge, intellect, relationships in the legal, Jewish, political and Israel worlds, and his great work ethic will help propel ZOA to new heights. All of us at ZOA are proud that David Schoen has chosen ZOA to be his Jewish activist home.”
Mr. Schoen co-founded the ZOA Center for Law & Justice, directed by Susan Tuchman, Esq., which does vital work defending and protecting the civil rights of Jewish and pro-Israel students who are harassed or discriminated against on college campuses. He was a guest of the Israeli Foreign Ministry in connection with advocacy programs there.
ZOA is proud of Mr. Schoen’s groundbreaking legal work combatting the Palestinian Authority/PLO’s efforts to avoid liability for their role in the murder of innocent Jews and Americans. Mr. Schoen uncovered the Palestinian Authority/PLO “pay-to-slay” program’s operations, and designated terrorist organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)’s role on the PLO Executive Committee. (See “ZOA Praises Board Member David Schoen’s Vital Work in Winning Case Against PLO/PA.”) Mr. Schoen also helped moderate a United Nations panel on the glorification of terrorism. Mr. Schoen’s experience combatting PA/PLO/PFLP terrorism will be of enormous value to ZOA’s efforts to combat these scourges.
Mr. Schoen received his Master of Law from Columbia University School of Law. Mr. Schoen is a member of various boards, including the ACLU of Alabama, and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Bar Association (ABA)’s prestigious National Pro Bono Publico Award, and the American Friends of Migdal Ohr Tower of Light Award. The statement accompanying Mr. Schoen’s ABA award quoted federal judges who stated that, “Mr. Schoen’s litigation has been responsible for effecting more positive change in public institutions in the South, including jails, prisons, foster care, education, indigent defense, etc., than the work of any other lawyer of this era.”
Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz said, “David Schoen is a hero, who has stood for civil rights and liberties, and whose work has transformed the South. He is a do-gooder.”
Mr. Schoen is representing the Democratic party of the U.S. against a lawsuit brought against it. He represented a socialist party candidate for president in 2020 in striking down an unconstitutional ballot access law in Washington, D.C., and represented the Libertarian party, and other small parties and independent parties and candidates, in trying to assure full open access to opportunities across the country for all points of view.
Mr. Schoen is also noted for successfully defending former President Donald Trump at President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial. He regularly litigates First Amendment cases, police misconduct cases, and the rights of poor people in a variety of settings, including death penalty cases.
ZOA Warmly Thanks Mark Levenson, Esq.: ZOA and Morton Klein warmly thanks outgoing ZOA Chairman Mark Levenson, Esq., for his dedicated service and hard work during Mr. Levenson’s term as Chair. ZOA especially thanks Mr. Levenson for his leadership (along with ZOA Director of Research & Special Projects and Co-Counsel Liz Berney, Esq.) in helping to bring about ZOA’s success in the 2020 World Zionist Congress elections, which moved the World Zionist Congress to the right of center for the first time in decades, and for effectively representing ZOA at the American Zionist Movement, notably successfully fighting extremist left wing Jewish groups hostile to Israel. Mr. Levenson stated:
“It was my honor and privilege to have served as Chair of the ZOA the past three years. I will miss the daily working with my valued ZOA colleagues—throughout the whole organization. Congratulations to David Schoen as he takes the mantle of leadership in a chain that goes back to 1897.”