JNF Women Tout Advocacy & Hope at Luncheon

A spirit of unity, resilience, and purpose filled the air on April 22 as women gathered at The Sinclair in Sandy Springs for Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) Women for Israel luncheon. Bathed in blue and white, the symbolic colors of Israel, attendees embraced the event’s theme of connection, advocacy, and hope during a time of both challenge and renewal.

The program began with board members Justine Cohen and Emily Fisch emphasizing celebration and solidarity with Israel and its people. Fisch related the deeper significance of “independence as more than marching with a flag,” as she underscored the dignity found in perseverance after hardship.

Natasha Lebowitz, JNF Atlanta Women’s Steering Committee chair, paid tribute to the leadership of outgoing JNF Executive Director Beth Gluck, who received a standing ovation in recognition of her 16 years. Her tenure was marked by “deep institutional knowledge and a commitment to impactful work that will continue in her new role as director of major gifts. Her contributions were described as both “meaningful and lasting, leaving a legacy that will continue to shape the organization.”

Cohen reflected on the many roles Jewish women occupy throughout different stages of life, highlighting power, whether through participating in missions, supporting communities, or raising children, including mothers of Lone Soldiers.

Recognition of leadership continued as Jackie Goldstein was acknowledged for her exceptional contributions at the local and national levels. Humbled Goldstein expressed her approach to giving as wanting to “send a check to Israel that it would be distributed where needed most — whether for security, culture, or community service.” When she visits the Kotel, her prayer message is, “Help me help you.”

Miriam Haviv, co-chair of the Atlanta Women for Israel Steering Committee, shared powerful statistics, including the construction of hundreds of bomb shelters and the organization’s commitment to supporting communities before, during, and after times of crisis. Her remarks also emphasized the importance of engaging younger generations in Zionist values. She highlighted that 80 percent of JNF funds are directed straight to projects in Israel, with $400 million raised since 2023.

Lebowitz returned to the podium to discuss new projects in Southern and Northern Israel, including a resilience center and medical facility. These initiatives represent more than infrastructure, “they symbolize hope, advocacy, and the determination to build a stronger future.”

Keynote speaker, Adela Cojab, a Miami attorney and Miss Israel USA 2025, delivered a compelling address, sharing her journey from college student to national voice against antisemitism. While attending NYU, she experienced a dramatic shift from an initially welcoming environment to one of hostility and exclusion due to her identity and leadership role. She persisted in speaking out despite institutional resistance.

Her story pivoted when she became involved in efforts to expand legal protections against religious discrimination. She said “I was originally a Middle East studies major and was told to not come to class. I then switched to creative writing and thought I would just keep my head down until graduation … until I attended a pro-Israel rally, we were drowned out by thugs and pro-Palestine demonstrators.” She then went to the NYU administration to lodge her complaints and was told there, “wasn’t enough time to meet with her.”

After a call from President Donald Trump, she went to the White House and received a mandate to conduct a national platform addressing antisemitism on campuses. Cojab, who grew up in a New Jersey Syrian and Lebanese community, was full of determination. After all this momentum, COVID hit and she couldn’t travel to campuses; then, the Oct. 7 attacks happened. She ended her talk by saying, “Now I have resources, ‘hineni’, this is my time to stand up; and who would think a girl from Jersey could get the law changed?”

Cojab shared her experience competing in the Miss Israel pageant where she was told she was not tall enough, nor was her Hebrew good enough; however, she persevered, came in second runner-up, and represents Israel domestically.

She concluded by saying, “We have it easy here in the U.S. The cost of independence [in Israel] is high with 18-year-olds on the front lines. Jewish women are doing amazing things, including homebuilding and we can change the world. That’s the transformative role of women.”