2026-05-10 11:36:PM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #organization #Lobby #LeftwingJewry ![[image-281.png]] # Jewish Women International (JWI) - Jewish Women International (JWI) is an American Jewish feminist and pro-Israel advocacy organization.[^2] - JWI's self-stated vision: "We envision a world, free of violence and inequity, where all women and girls thrive."[^2] - JWI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Washington D.C.[^1] - JWI's [self-stated](https://www.jwi.org/about#:~:text=and%20take%20risks.-,Jewish%20Tradition%20%26%20Values,-Inspired%20by%20our) core values include: "Our legacy of progressive Jewish women's leadership and guided by our Jewish values, we proactively respond to the unique needs of Jewish women and girls. We are proudly Jewish."[^2] #### History and Activities - JWI was founded in 1897 under the umbrella of [[B'nai B'rith]] under the name B'nai B'rith Women (BBW)[^2] *B'nai B'rith is a Jewish fraternal organization founded in the mid 1800s.* - BBW negotiated independence from B'nai B'rith in 1990; BBW soon changed their name to Jewish Women International (JWI). - Beginning in the 1950s, the JWI (operating as B'nai B'rith Women) partnered with the [[ADL]] (another B'nai B'rith affiliate) on a program called "Dolls for Democracy."[^3] - Dolls for Democracy dolls "created by artist and B’nai B’rith Women member Ruth Cecil Weeks of Independence Missouri, represent men and women of different races, nationalities, and economic backgrounds." - According to [archival information](https://archives.sdsu.edu/repositories/2/resources/464#:~:text=See%20more-,Historical%20Note,-The%20National%20B%E2%80%99nai), "the program endeavored to teach children about tolerance for different people and that the achievements of the people the dolls represented could be accomplished by anyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender or economic status." *Here we see left wing Jews in the1950s pushing pro-diversity and pro-immigrant social politics on American children.* - JWI was deeply involved in the 2017 anti-Trump, pro-abortion, feminist Women's Marches in D.C. and nationally. - Former JWI CEO Lori Weinstein wrote at the time, "thousands of JWI supporters participated in women’s marches across the country this past January. In D.C., at the site of the main march, JWI partnered with the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue for Shabbat services and workshops."[^13] - JWI runs an annual program called "Women to Watch," which highlights various (mostly Jewish) women for their work/achievements. - Past JWI Women to Watch honorees include:[^4][^5][^6][^7][^8][^10][^14] | Year | Name | Info | | ---- | -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2023 | Tiffany Harris | "Chief Program Office; [[Moishe House]]" | | 2022 | Lisie Gottdenker | "Board member of the [[JCC Association of North America]]" | | 2022 | Robin London | "Co-chair of the next gen board at the [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)]]" | | 2019 | Idit Klein | Founder and head of [[Keshet]], a Jewish pro-LGBT organization, from 2001-2025. | | 2016 | Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt | "Former [[Hillel International\|Hillel]] Foundation director of campus initiatives." | | 2016 | Erin Schrode | Left wing pro-immigrant activist who "fell in love with Israel after taking a [[Birthright Israel\|Birthright]] trip at age 19." | | 2016 | Catherine Zacks Gildenhorn | Gildenhorn "felt compelled to be a Jewish activist at age 11 when she witnessed her father lead a fundraising campaign to support Israel during the [[1967 Six Day War]]." Gildenhorn held leadership positions at the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]] and [[AIPAC]]; she is an alumna of the [[Wexner Foundation]] and a presidential appointee to the [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)]]. | | 2015 | Roberta Kaplan | Lawyer who became a "national hero of the gay rights movement" for her pro-bono defense of Jewish lesbian Edith Windsor in the landmark 2013 Supreme Court case *United States v. Windsor*. | | 2015 | Lynn Morgan | Held leadership roles at the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]], [[AIPAC]], and [[B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO)]]. | | 2015 | Laurie Moskowitz | Anti-poverty activist who "spends her days creating and leading complex initiatives such as recently introducing a bill in Congress to provide electricity to 50 million African citizens." | | 2014 | Liz Schrayer | "Former [[AIPAC]] Political Director." | | 2014 | Shira Stutman | "Scholar-in-resident at the National Women's Philanthropy program at the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]] and a member of the Board of Directors of [[Jews United For Justice]] and on the [[J Street]] rabbinic cabinet." | | 2013 | Lisa Eisen | "National director of the [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]]." | | 2012 | Liz Claman | [[Fox News]] host and "frequent speaker at Anti-Defamation League events." | | 2012 | Mandy Ginsberg | CEO of Match Group, the largest owner of dating apps/websites, from 2017-2020. | | 2012 | Edie Lutnick | Edie Lutnick is the sister of [[Howard Lutnick]]. | | 2012 | Susan K. Stern | Past chair of the [[UJA-Federation of New York]]; chair of global programs at the [[American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)]], former campaign chair at the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]]. | | 2012 | Elana Drell Szyfer | "Previously the vice president of global marketing for Estee Lauder." *Estee Lauder is a retail cosmetics empire founded and led by the Jewish Lauder Family. Its most relevant member to this project is [[Ronald Lauder]], son of Estee Lauder, founder of the company bearing her name.* | | 2011 | Rabbi Julie Schonfeld | Executive vice president of the [[Rabbinical Assembly]]. | | 2009 | Laurie Ann Goldman | Former CEO of Spanx, the women's clothing brand; current/past board member of the [[ADL]] and the [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]]. | | 2009 | Ellen Stovall | Cancer advocate and [[Brookings Institution]] board membe. | | 2007 | Jamie McCourt | Former CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers MLB team; former U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco from 2017-2021 under President [[Donald Trump]]. | | 2006 | Marcella Kanfer Rolnick | Vice chair of GOJO, a skincare and pharmaceutical company; consultant; nonprofit leader; former [[American Jewish World Service]] board member. | | 2005 | Rosalyn Levy Jonas | "Abortion rights activist" | | 2005 | [[Hannah Rosenthal]] | [[Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism]] under President Obama from 2009-2012; former head of the [[Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)]]; served on the advisory council of [[J Street]]. | | 2005 | Susan Turnbull | Former [[Hillel International]] board member; JWI chair from 2009-2013; past [[Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)]] chair; "spirited advocate committed to furthering Jewish and feminist values to pursue social justice." | | 2004 | Zehava Galon | Left wing Israeli Knesset member from 1999-2017. | | 2004 | Laura Heller Lauder | Board member of the [[Jim Joseph Foundation]] and the [[Ronald Lauder]] Foundation of New York City; fellow of the [[Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)]]. *Heller Lauder is related to [[Ronald Lauder]] through marriage.* | | 2003 | Shifra Bronznick | Feminist activist who has led "action research projects" with the [[Nathan Cummings Foundation]] | | 2003 | Diana Cantor | Cantor is the wife of former Jewish Republican Congressman Eric Cantor. | | 2003 | Sherri Mandell | Israeli-American West Bank settler whose son Koby was killed in 2001 after which Sherri Mandell founded the Koby Mandell Foundation. | | 2002 | Andrea Kalin | Filmmaker who directed and produced *Red Lines* (2014), an anti Bashar al-Assad documentary about the conflict in Syria. The film was "featured in high-profile screenings on Capitol Hill, the [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)]]..." | | 2000 | Sara Bloomfield | Director of the [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)]] since 1999. | | 2000 | Rabbi Susan Grossman | Grossman authored a 29-page [paper](https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/20052010/grossman_partial_birth.pdf) in 2003 using Jewish law to permit partial birth abortion. Grossman, citing Jewish law, stated that even if until the head of the baby has left its mother's body it is subject to fair execution, or as Grossman calls it "termination." | | 1998 | Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi | Founder of [[The Israel Project]] | | 1998 | Pella Schafer | Former board member of Jewish Funds for Justice, the precursor organization to [[Bend the Arc]]. | - JWI runs a program called The "National Collaborative of Jewish Domestic Violence Programs" dedicated to aiding survivors and spreading awareness regarding domestic violence.[^9] - Membership in the program, intended for staff members of Jewish domestic violence programs/organizations, is free due to financial underwriting from the [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]]. - JWI runs a programs called "I believe Israeli Women (IBIW)." - IBIW was founded to advocate on behalf of Israeli women who reported sexual violence during the attacks on [[October 7th]] and experienced by Israeli hostages during the [[Gaza War]].[^15] #### Funding and Donors - In 2025, JWI reported $1.97 million in revenue.[^1] - JWI operated at a net loss of over $800,000 in 2025. - JWI donors as listed under the "Funders" section on the JWI's website include:[^2] - [[Crown Family Philanthropies]] - [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]] - Combined Jewish Philanthropies - The CJP is the name for Boston's [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation]]. - U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women #### Notable Figures - Meredith Jacobs - CEO since 2020[^2] - Sarah Hefez - Chief development officer[^2] - Hefez spent "two decades" at the [[Jewish National Fund]]-USA before joining JWI. - Lori Weinstein - CEO from 1999-2020[^12] - Weinstein is a former board leader of the [[American Jewish World Service]] and the regional council of the [[New Israel Fund]].[^12] - Mimi Rocah - Board member[^11] - As District Attorney of Westchester County, New York in the aftermath of [[October 7th]], Rocah "organized law enforcement and other prosecutors to issue statements and take action in solidarity against antisemitism." - Rabbi Susan Shankman - Board member[^11] - Shankman serves on the boards of the [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]] and the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation]] of Greater Washington. - Shankman has "worked closely with the [[ADL]] to bring the No Place for Hate program to Churchill High School in Potomac, Md." - Shankman is "married to Rabbi Michael Namath, director of leadership development at the [[Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC)]]." - Sharon Slotkin - Board member - Slotkin "is a past chair of the Next Generation Board of the [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)]] and currently serves on the board." - Courtenay Burman Wallach - Board member[^11] - Wallach is a "member of the Women’s Brigade of The [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]]." #### References [^1]: ProPublica, “American Zionist Movement Inc,” _Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/526040461](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/526040461). [^2]: Jewish Women International, “About JWI,” [https://www.jwi.org/about](https://www.jwi.org/about). [^3]: Laurel Schwartz, “Dolls for Democracy Collection,” Special Collections & University Archives, San Diego State University Library, [https://archives.sdsu.edu/repositories/2/resources/464](https://archives.sdsu.edu/repositories/2/resources/464). [^4]: Jewish Women International, “Previous Women to Watch,” [https://www.jwi.org/previous-women-to-watch](https://www.jwi.org/previous-women-to-watch). [^5]: “Erin Schrode,” Jewish Women International, [https://www.jwi.org/articles/erin-schrode](https://www.jwi.org/articles/erin-schrode). [^6]: Susan Josephs, “Catherine Zacks Gildenhorn,” Jewish Women International, [https://www.jwi.org/articles/catherine-zacks-gildenhorn](https://www.jwi.org/articles/catherine-zacks-gildenhorn). [^7]: Susan Josephs, “Roberta Kaplan,” Jewish Women International, January 28, 2016, [https://www.jwi.org/articles/women-to-watch/roberta-kaplan](https://www.jwi.org/articles/women-to-watch/roberta-kaplan). [^8]: Laurie Moskowitz, “Laurie Moskowitz,” Jewish Women International, [https://www.jwi.org/articles/women-to-watch-2015/laurie-moskowitz](https://www.jwi.org/articles/women-to-watch-2015/laurie-moskowitz). [^9]: Jewish Women International, “Collaborative,” [https://www.jwi.org/collaborative](https://www.jwi.org/collaborative). [^10]: “Laurie Ann Goldman,” Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Ann_Goldmanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Ann_Goldman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Ann_Goldmanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Ann_Goldman). [^11]: Jewish Women International, “Board of Trustees,” [https://www.jwi.org/board](https://www.jwi.org/board). [^12]: “Lori Weinstein, MA,” Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention, [https://womenshealthandprevention.org/advisory_council/lori-weinstein](https://womenshealthandprevention.org/advisory_council/lori-weinstein). [^13]: Lori Weinstein, “Standing Up, Speaking Out,” Jewish Women International, August 22, 2017, [https://www.jwi.org/articles/standing-up-speaking-out](https://www.jwi.org/articles/standing-up-speaking-out). [^14]: Susan Grossman, “Partial Birth Abortion and the Question of When Human Life Begins,” Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly, September 17, 2003, [https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/20052010/grossman_partial_birth.pdf](https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/20052010/grossman_partial_birth.pdf). [^15]: Jewish Women International, “#IBelieveIsraeliWomen,” [https://www.jwi.org/ibelieveisraeliwomen](https://www.jwi.org/ibelieveisraeliwomen).