The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations announced on May 15 that the umbrella group’s membership committee and its members voted unanimously to admit the Iranian American Jewish Federation as its 50th member.
The federation “has long stood at the heart of Iranian Jewish life in America, and we look forward to the energy and outlook they will bring to our shared mission,” said Harriet Schleifer, the conference’s chair.
“The Iranian American Jewish community transformed exile and adversity into a remarkable chapter of American Jewish life,” stated William Daroff, CEO of the conference.
“Through IAJF, they proudly preserve their heritage and champion a steadfast commitment to Israel,” he said. “By joining the Conference of Presidents, they bring valuable perspective and strengthen our shared pursuit of Jewish unity and purpose in these challenging times.”
Shahram Yaghoubzadeh, chair of the federation’s board in New York, said the “milestone is a testament to the strength, commitment and enduring contributions of the Iranian-American Jewish community to Jewish life in the United States, Israel and beyond.”
The conference stated that its newest member has raised more than $100 million in the past two decades to support more than 230 groups in Israel and the United States, including in the areas of healthcare, education, supporting Israeli soldiers, social services and aid for terror victims.