2025-10-24 07:24:PM <br/> Tags: #people #AmericanJewry ![[image-156.png|305x381]] # Julie Platt (1957-) - Julie Platt is an American Jewish communal leader. - Before her career in organized Jewry Platt worked in banking. #### Organized Jewry - In 2021 Platt was named an honorary member of the [[Jewish Agency]]'s board of governors. - Platt serves on the board of the University of Pennsylvania [[Hillel International]] board of governors. - Platt chaired the board of the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]] from 2022-2025. - The JFNA is the largest Jewish fundraising organization. - In a February 2023 Jewish Federations of North America board meeting Platt described the JFNA's support for Israel as "unconditional and eternal. Full stop." - Platt concluded by describing the "active conversation" between the Federations and the Israeli government regarding changes to Israel's Law of Return. *Law of Return grants all Jews the claim to Israeli citizenship. We are supposed to believe that these Americans and their American organizations, who are so concerned with their ability to become citizens of a foreign country, could not possibly hold dual loyalty.* - In 2022, Platt listed her "dream team" of JFNA leaders. - The list included David Brown, Platt's vice chair. In 2012, after being elected to the board of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Brown stated "our commitment to Israel is second to none." - Through her position at the Jewish Federations, Platt worked closely with the likes of - [[Mark Wilf]] - Platt's predecessor as chair of the JFNA. - [[Gary Torgow]] - Worked under Platt as JFNA national campaign chair. - In May, 2023, after the Biden Administration released its "National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism," it published a page on the White House website with dozens of statements from Jewish leaders. - Platt's statement on behalf of the Jewish Federations applauded the Biden Administration for upholding the [[International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)]] definition of antisemitism. - The IHRA definition of antisemitism includes "claims of Jews killing Jesus." - The statement also paid homage to [[Deborah Lipstadt]], the State Department's [[Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism]]. - Immediately after [[October 7th]] the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]], under Platt's leadership, launched a massive fundraising campaign. - The campaign was called the "Emergency Israel fund (IEF)." - By December of 2023 (2 months), the IEF had raised $712 million. - Platt pledged $500,000 to [[AIPAC]] after [[October 7th]]. - In December of 2023, Platt joined the intense campaign by organized American Jewry against the leadership of American universities where pro-Palestine protests were taking place. - The pressure campaign resulted in the ousting of University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill after a sensationalized congressional hearing. - U Penn board chair Scott Bok resigned after Magill's resignation. - Platt, already on the U Penn board of trustees (since 2006), was appointed interim board chair. U Penn explicitly cited Platt's role as leader of the Jewish Federations when announcing her appointment. *This is an episode in the saga of university personnel overhaul which has been a relentless pursuit by organized Jewry since the onset of large pro-Palestine protests in 2023.* - In January of 2025, Israeli President [[Isaac Herzog]] awarded Platt the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor for her "outstanding contributions to Israel and the Jewish people." ---- - Platt's husband Marc Platt is a Hollywood producer. - In December, 2024, Marc Platt and [[Scooter Braun]] hosted a screening of the Israeli [[October 7th]] propaganda film *We Will Dance Again*. - Platt is the mother of actor Ben Platt. - Ben Platt is a homosexual Jew 'married' to another homosexual Jewish man. - Platt's father was Robert Beren, a prominent Jewish donor and philanthropist.[^1] - Platt's brother is Adam Beren, founder of the [[Combat Antisemitism Movement]].[^1] #### References - Julie Platt. _“Julie Platt | The Jewish Agency.”_ The Jewish Agency. [https://www.jewishagency.org/julie-platt/](https://www.jewishagency.org/julie-platt/). - Zvika Klein, “Israel support ‘unconditional,’ serious concerns about violence, policies - JFNA,” _Jerusalem Post_ (Diaspora), February 6, 2023. [https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-730797](https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-730797). - Mike Wagenheim. “Julie Platt Begins Tenure at Helm of One of US Jewry’s Signature Organizations.” _JNS_, June 28, 2022. [https://www.jns.org/julie-platt-begins-tenure-at-helm-of-one-of-us-jewrys-signature-organizations/](https://www.jns.org/julie-platt-begins-tenure-at-helm-of-one-of-us-jewrys-signature-organizations/). - Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. “David T. Brown Elected Chairman of Chicago’s Largest Jewish Philanthropy.” _JUF News_, September 24, 2012. [https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=417309](https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=417309&). - Amos Barshad, “A Rare Look into the $90 Million American Israel Public Affairs Committee Has Raised Since Oct. 7,” _Forward_, February 6 2024. [https://forward.com/news/580248/donations-aipac-has-raised-since-oct-7-lever-howard-kohr-michael-tuchin/](https://forward.com/news/580248/donations-aipac-has-raised-since-oct-7-lever-howard-kohr-michael-tuchin/). - The White House. _“What They Are Saying: Bipartisan Members of Congress, State and Local Leaders, Faith-Based Organizations, and Advocates Applaud Release of White House National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.”_ May 26, 2023. [https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/26/what-they-are-saying-bipartisan-state-and-local-leaders-faith-based-organizations-and-advocates-applaud-release-of-white-house-national-strategy-to-counter-antisemitism/#:~:text=Jewish%20Federations](https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/26/what-they-are-saying-bipartisan-state-and-local-leaders-faith-based-organizations-and-advocates-applaud-release-of-white-house-national-strategy-to-counter-antisemitism/#:~:text=Jewish%20Federations). - International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. _“Working Definition of Antisemitism.”_ Holocaust Remembrance. [https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism](https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism). - JNS Staff. “Herzog Awards ‘Presidential Medal of Honor’ to Eight Leaders.” _JNS_, January 8, 2025. [https://www.jns.org/eight-awarded-israeli-presidential-medal-of-honor/](https://www.jns.org/eight-awarded-israeli-presidential-medal-of-honor/). - Office of the University Secretary, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. _“The Trustees.”_ University of Pennsylvania, June 16, 2025. [https://secretary.upenn.edu/trustees-governance/trustees](https://secretary.upenn.edu/trustees-governance/trustees). - Jewish Federations of North America. _“Update: Federations Raise $711 m, Allocate $242 m for Israel Emergency.”_ December 11, 2023. [https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/update-federations-raise-711m-allocate-242m-for-israel-emergency-453806](https://www.jewishfederations.org/blog/all/update-federations-raise-711m-allocate-242m-for-israel-emergency-453806). - PBS Newshour. _“Liz Magill, UPenn President, Resigns After Antisemitism Testimony Draws Backlash.”_ December 9, 2023. [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/liz-magill-upenn-president-resigns-after-antisemitism-testimony-draws-backlash](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/liz-magill-upenn-president-resigns-after-antisemitism-testimony-draws-backlash). [^1]: Haley Cohen, “Robert Beren, Donor to Orthodox Causes and Head of Prominent Philanthropic Family, Dies at 97,” _eJewishPhilanthropy_, August 10, 2023, [https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/robert-beren-donor-to-orthodox-causes-and-head-of-prominent-philanthropic-family-dies-at-97/](https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/robert-beren-donor-to-orthodox-causes-and-head-of-prominent-philanthropic-family-dies-at-97/).