Former UJC National Chairman Robert Goldberg Newly Appointed as Ethiopian National Project North American Co-Chairman
January 22, 2015Robert Goldberg has been appointed the new North American Co-Chairman of the Ethiopian National Project (ENP), commencing January 1st 2015.
Goldberg has served in a number of key leadership positions, including Chairman of the Board of United Jewish Communities, and Chairman of Tel Aviv University. A prominent leader from Cleveland, Ohio, he also has served as Chairman of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.
“North American Jewry brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel. We share the responsibility for their successful integration,” explains Goldberg. “ENP is the best organization to do precisely this. I want to make sure it gets the support it needs to do its critical work,” he adds.
As a long-term partner organization of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Goldberg’s appointment to ENP’s chairmanship was approved by JFNA Chair of the Board of Trustees Michael Siegel and Jerry Silverman, President and CEO of JFNA.
Goldberg will serve as Co-Chair with his Israeli counterpart, Raviv Zoller. Zoller, a prominent Israeli philanthropist, CEO of IDI Insurance ("Bituach Yashir") since 2008 and Ness Technologies’ founder, President and CEO from 1999 to 2007, applauded the appointment:
“I share Bobby’s vision of an ENP that empowers all of the children to reach their full potential. Today, that potential is far from tapped, a detriment not only to Israel, but to all who care about Israel, as the future costs will increase exponentially unless addressed today.”
Goldberg succeeds S. Lee Kohrman, who served as ENP’s North American Co-Chairman of the Ethiopian National Project for the past decade.
“I have been privileged to serve as the American Co-Chair of the ENP. ENP has provided an extraordinary service to the Ethiopian-Israeli community and to the entire Jewish people,” says Kohrman. “I know my successor feels as strongly as I do of the need for North American Jewry to support Ethiopian Jewry through ENP.”
He adds: “Jewish Federations were a strong proponent for Ethiopian Jewish immigration to Israel, thereby creating the challenges met so well by the ENP. Federations have a responsibility here.”
An incentive has been provided to Federations to support ENP by the David and Inez Myers Foundation, of which Goldberg is a former trustee: the Foundation has posed a Challenge Grant of $1 million annually to Jewish Federations, foundations and donors to enhance giving to ENP.
“4,000 children are being helped by ENP. 12,000 need it, immediately. Let’s get the job done,” says Goldberg.
Roni Akale, Director-General of ENP: “The Ethiopian-Israeli community and ENP have been blessed with the extraordinary leadership of past Chairs, including Art Naparstak z”l who helped to forge ENP, and Lee Kohrman who tirelessly advocated on ENP’s behalf. For their support we will forever be grateful. And now, we are honored and excited to have Bobby at the helm.”
For more information on the Ethiopian National Project or the Myers Challenge Grant, contact Grace Rodnitzki, grace@enp.org.il; +972-52-613-0722 www.enp.org.il
Goldberg has served in a number of key leadership positions, including Chairman of the Board of United Jewish Communities, and Chairman of Tel Aviv University. A prominent leader from Cleveland, Ohio, he also has served as Chairman of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.
“North American Jewry brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel. We share the responsibility for their successful integration,” explains Goldberg. “ENP is the best organization to do precisely this. I want to make sure it gets the support it needs to do its critical work,” he adds.
As a long-term partner organization of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Goldberg’s appointment to ENP’s chairmanship was approved by JFNA Chair of the Board of Trustees Michael Siegel and Jerry Silverman, President and CEO of JFNA.
Goldberg will serve as Co-Chair with his Israeli counterpart, Raviv Zoller. Zoller, a prominent Israeli philanthropist, CEO of IDI Insurance ("Bituach Yashir") since 2008 and Ness Technologies’ founder, President and CEO from 1999 to 2007, applauded the appointment:
“I share Bobby’s vision of an ENP that empowers all of the children to reach their full potential. Today, that potential is far from tapped, a detriment not only to Israel, but to all who care about Israel, as the future costs will increase exponentially unless addressed today.”
Goldberg succeeds S. Lee Kohrman, who served as ENP’s North American Co-Chairman of the Ethiopian National Project for the past decade.
“I have been privileged to serve as the American Co-Chair of the ENP. ENP has provided an extraordinary service to the Ethiopian-Israeli community and to the entire Jewish people,” says Kohrman. “I know my successor feels as strongly as I do of the need for North American Jewry to support Ethiopian Jewry through ENP.”
He adds: “Jewish Federations were a strong proponent for Ethiopian Jewish immigration to Israel, thereby creating the challenges met so well by the ENP. Federations have a responsibility here.”
An incentive has been provided to Federations to support ENP by the David and Inez Myers Foundation, of which Goldberg is a former trustee: the Foundation has posed a Challenge Grant of $1 million annually to Jewish Federations, foundations and donors to enhance giving to ENP.
“4,000 children are being helped by ENP. 12,000 need it, immediately. Let’s get the job done,” says Goldberg.
Roni Akale, Director-General of ENP: “The Ethiopian-Israeli community and ENP have been blessed with the extraordinary leadership of past Chairs, including Art Naparstak z”l who helped to forge ENP, and Lee Kohrman who tirelessly advocated on ENP’s behalf. For their support we will forever be grateful. And now, we are honored and excited to have Bobby at the helm.”
For more information on the Ethiopian National Project or the Myers Challenge Grant, contact Grace Rodnitzki, grace@enp.org.il; +972-52-613-0722 www.enp.org.il