TL;DR: This week, we celebrated the new partnership between Global Jewry and Amitim, with Amitim now a signature initiative of Global Jewry. Amitim mobilizes former Federation CEOs to mentor pro bono Israeli nonprofit leaders, strengthening governance, strategy, and leadership. These executives bring deep expertise in management, lay leadership relations and fundraising, while Israel’s nonprofit sector is rich in creativity and innovation but often lacks capacity for long-term planning and effective governance. As part of Global Jewry, Amitim will expand its reach, deepen connections, and enhance Jewish communal life worldwide. Learn more at https://globaljewry.org/amitim/.

I have spent my life immersed in Jewish communities across the world. Born and educated in the UK, I was an active youth movement madrich and national Jewish student leader before making aliyah. My career has taken me across sectors, from leading Project Renewal’s finances – one of the first global Jewish initiatives – to running a consulting firm, serving as a research fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), and completing 25 years of IDF reserve duty.

I returned to London for a senior role with World ORT before moving to New Orleans, where I led the Jewish Federation for over a decade, helping to rebuild the community after Hurricane Katrina. These experiences gave me a unique perspective on the strengths, challenges, and needs of Jewish communities worldwide.

From this journey, Amitim was born. I saw firsthand the immense experience and passion of retired North American Jewish executives who still wanted to contribute to Jewish life. At the same time, I recognized the incredible creativity and innovation within Israel’s nonprofit sector, along with its challenges in governance, long-term planning, and management. Amitim bridges these worlds, engaging former Federation CEOs as pro bono mentors to nonprofit professionals in Israel, ensuring that organizations not only thrive in their missions but also develop the leadership and infrastructure to sustain long-term success.

This week, we celebrate a major milestone as Amitim becomes a signature initiative of Global Jewry. The synergy between our missions is undeniable. Global Jewry is designed to strengthen Jewish life worldwide by connecting organizations and communities, and Amitim does precisely that by building leadership capacity and fostering deeper ties between North American Jewish leaders and Israeli nonprofit professionals.

With this new partnership, Amitim’s reach and impact will grow, more organizations will benefit from strategic mentorship, and we will continue to unite Jewish communities through shared leadership and purpose. Together, we are strengthening the Jewish world, one connection at a time.

Learn more at https://globaljewry.org/amitim/.

Shabbat shalom and may this be the week the hostages return home,

Michael Weil

Founding Director, Amitim