Susie Gelman
Susie Gelman is an American activist and philanthropist who serves as the chairwoman of the Israel Policy Forum.
Susan Ruth Gelman | |
---|---|
Born | Susan Goldman San Francisco, CA |
Nationality | American |
Education | B.A. Harvard University J.D. Georgetown University Law Center |
Occupation | Chairwoman of the Israel Policy Forum |
Parent(s) | Rhoda Haas Goldman Richard Goldman |
Family | John D. Goldman (brother) Douglas E. Goldman (brother) Walter A. Haas (grandfather) Abraham Haas (great-grandfather) David Stern (great-grandfather) |
Biography
Gelman was born Susan Goldman the daughter of Rhoda (née Haas) and Richard Goldman.[1] She has three brothers: John D. Goldman, Douglas E. Goldman, and Richard W. Goldman (deceased).[2] Her grandfather was Walter A. Haas, president and owner of Levi Strauss & Co. She is a graduate of Harvard University and the Georgetown University Law Center.[1] She served for three terms as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and is a lifetime member of its Board of Directors.[1] Gelman co-chaired the Israel Religious Expressions Platform of the Jewish Federations of North America which promotes freedom of choice of marriage in Israel.[1] She has also served as the inaugural chair and ongoing board member of the Birthright Israel Foundation; on the Taglit-Birthright Israel Planning Committee; co-chair of United Jewish Communities (now Jewish Federations of North America) Israel; and co-chaired the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly in Jerusalem in 2003 and 2013.[1][3] In 2016, she was named chairman of the board for the Israel Policy Forum,[1] a New York, NY based American Jewish organization that works for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict though advocacy, education and policy research.[4][5] Gelman is a member of the Board of Governors of The Hebrew University; was awarded an honorary fellowship at Brandeis University; served for 12 years on the Georgetown Day School Board of Trustees, including two years as president of the board; serves as president of the board of the Goldman Environmental Foundation;[1] and served on the Board of Managers of Adas Israel Congregation.[3][3] In 2012, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund closed down and distributed its $280 million in assets to the three siblings.[6] Susie and her husband channel their charitable activities through the Morningstar Foundation.[7]
She believes that Israeli annexation of the West Bank is possible and would have terrible consequences for Israel threatening its legitimacy as a Jewish and democratic state.[8][9]
Personal life
She is married to Michael Gelman. Together they have three children,[1] a son and two daughters.[3] Her husband was founding partner of the accounting firm Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman.[10] She met her husband while they were in UJA's (now JFNA) Young Leadership program and were engaged at Kibbutz Ayelet Hashachar during a Federation mission to Israel.[3]
References
- "Susie Gelman, a graduate of Harvard University and Georgetown University Law Center, has been board chair of the Israel Policy Forum since 2016". Israel Policy Forum. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
- "As parents assets flow in, Goldman heirs deciding which Jewish causes to fund". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. June 29, 2012.
- Rosenberg, Liza. "Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) 3 Cheers for the 3 Chairs". Haaretz . Retrieved July 27, 2019.
- About Israel Policy Forum at Israel Policy Forum website.
- "Full text: Israel Policy Forum letter urges Palestinian president to push for peace in UN speech". Haaretz. September 25, 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- Berkman, Jacob (January 25, 2011). "Can Jewish giving weather the transfer from one generation to the next?". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
- Lasker, Ryan (September 21, 2015). "Family foundation creates new professorship in Judaic Studies program". The GW Hatchet.
- Gelman, Susie; Halperin, David A. (March 5, 2019). "What if a desperate Netanyahu embraces West Bank annexation?". Times of Israel.
- Sales, Ben (April 10, 2019). "Maryland Jewish Community Reacts to Netanyahu Victory". Baltimore Jewish Times.
- "Michael Gelman CPA Founding Partner (Retired)". Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman. Retrieved July 27, 2019.