Jewish National Fund-USA is proud to announce the election of Deb Lust Zaluda as its new national president during its annual board meeting on Sept. 30, at Ronald S. Lauder JNF House. Zaluda was elected to lead the organization, succeeding Dr. Sol Lizerbram.
The board applauded Lizerbram and noted the immense challenges he has led the organization through, including the pandemic and the Oct. 7 attacks. Lizerbram will now transition to chair of the board, where he will continue to guide the organization toward its historic mission.
“I am honored and humbled to begin my term as national president,” said Zaluda. “I look forward to building on our Jewish National Fund-USA vision, one that has worked tirelessly and continuously to ensure a thriving future for the land and people of Israel.”
Reflecting on the organization’s achievements, Zaluda said, “We have been incredibly successful in our impact thus far, not just in achieving a record $200 million campaign, but in actually getting the work done thanks to the leadership and vision of our immediate past president, Dr. Sol Lizerbram, our CEO Russell Robinson and the entire professional and leadership team. We have led the development of our homeland for 124 years, and even though the current war has made us reimagine our strategies, it hasn’t stopped us. As president, I look forward to keeping what’s working while also looking strategically at the future. I cannot wait to see what we will achieve together, b’yachad.”
Zaluda has been deeply involved with Jewish National Fund-USA for many years, holding key leadership roles that have deepened the organization’s impact. She has served as assistant vice president of missions, chaired the Go North West Task Force, contributed as a JNF Boruchin Center committee member, and led the organization’s Chicago board as president.
“My goal as president is to ensure that our supporters stay connected to and inspired by our mission and vision for the land and people of Israel,” added Zaluda. “I’m excited to share our story with new audiences and show how everything we do, every project, initiative and idea, is connected to a bigger picture—securing the future of communities in Israel’s north and south.”
Zaluda will visit and work with communities throughout the United States as the organization continues to lead relief and rebuilding efforts through its “Build Together” plan in Israel’s south and “Reimagine” plan in the country’s north. In addition, as the largest provider of Zionist engagement, Jewish National Fund-USA will remain shoulder to shoulder with Jewish and pro-Israel students on college campuses as they face off against antisemitism and anti-Israel campaigns through its bold campus initiatives.
The organization also has high school students from 42 communities across the United States currently at its Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss), where they participate in a life-changing semester abroad experience. With 32,000 alums and counting, the study-abroad program has expanded operations with the addition of a second campus in Be’er Sheva. “We know that Muss is the answer to securing our community’s future,” said Zaluda. “We will continue to invest in our future and inspire the next generation of Jewish and Zionist leaders.”
During its annual board meeting, Robinson congratulated Zaluda on her election as president, noting, “The challenges before us are great, yet we are greater. As we work day and night for communities in Israel’s north and south, we are blessed to have an outstanding team of professionals and ambassadors (lay leaders) driving our impact. With Deb at the helm, we will continue to build our land of Israel for the people of Israel, just as we proudly have for 124 years.”
In addition to lauding the passion and commitment of Jewish National Fund-USA’s leadership team, Robinson added, “It’s a powerful statement about our organization’s momentum when we have more candidates than board and committee positions available. Our task force and JNFuture committee structure is one of the best in the nonprofit sector and ensures our partners (donors) can maximize their impact, and ours.”
