AFHU LEAD is our leadership empowerment and development initiative designed to develop the next generation of leaders for American Friends of the Hebrew University in support of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  LEAD comprises workshops, leadership training, educational seminars, and a planned one-week Israel experience that offers participants behind-the-scenes glimpses into Israel’s success as the Start-Up Nation.

Despite the challenges of travel restrictions and meetings over Zoom, LEAD Cohort I has been a rousing success. A dynamic cadre of idealistic women and men learned the inner workings of AFHU in their efforts to help drive innovative solutions that will impact Israel and our world in positive ways.

LEAD Cohort I participants included:

Matthew L. Berde, Dallas, Texas, an Associate in the Banking and Finance section of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Milan Chatterjee, Las Vegas, Nevada, Associate in the Las Vegas, Nevada, office of Jackson Lewis P.C

Jorge S. Cohen, San Francisco, California, Americas Upper Funnel Operations Director at Google

David M. Donenberg, Chicago, Illinois, the Chief Administration Officer Hospice – AccentCare Inc

Andrew Dunst, Los Angeles, California, the Managing Director of E-Commerce at the Sage Group

Michael Gidding, Boston, Massachusetts,co-founder & CEO at Lingua Franca Therapeutics

Daniel Goodman, Chicago, Illinois, a philanthropic leader and member of the Board of Directors of the Ari and Ida Crown Memorial and the Crown Family Philanthropies.

Chad Lasdon, Los Angeles, California, the Vice President of the Real Estate Industries Group at Manufacturers Bank, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

Daniel J. Leizman MD, Boca Raton, Florida, physician with Orthopaedic Surgery Associates. President of AgeWell, providing healthcare business advisory services

Julie A. Leizman, Boca Raton, Florida, Owner and Integrative Health Coach for Apogee Health in Boca Raton

Greg Levy, Chicago, Illinois, the President and CEO of Point Five Packaging, LLC,  a leader in the food industry

Shlomo Nizahon, Sunrise, Florida,Attorney at Law. Founder of Nizahon Law Firm, consulting in real estate, civil litigation, and family law

Marty Pollak, Brooklyn, New York,CEO of The Pollak Group

Sam J. Rank, North Potomac, Maryland, a Principal of Lambis Rank, a commercial real estate management firm that he co-founded.  

Heather Wilk, Park City, Utah, Director of TV/Film Development at Red Productions

AFHU LEAD Cohort II applications are now open. Click here to apply.

AFHU and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem offer our appreciation to the generous supporters who provided support for the launch of LEAD and its incoming class of outstanding candidates.  For those individuals interested in learning more about LEAD and supporting this groundbreaking initiative, please contact Laura Abrams at 561.948.3344 or [email protected].