Locals Installed in Worldwide HOD Leadership Roles

David Joss of Atlanta’s Lodge Carmel was installed as Grand President of the Hebrew Order of David International at their recent international biennial in Atlanta, during which the Jewish fraternal organization presented a $400,000 check to the IDF’s Widows & Orphans Fund on behalf of the Hebrew Order of David Foundation, comprised of the 23 HOD Lodges worldwide.

In addition to Joss’ installation, Steve Kramer of Lodge Shimshon, and Stan Schnitzer of Lodge Bezalel, both in Atlanta, were installed as Chief Legal Officer and Scribe (Communications), respectively, of North America Governing Lodge, which presides over 10 lodges in the United States and Canada.

“As honored as I am to lead the Hebrew Order of David, I am prouder of our brethren,” Joss said. “They stepped up in so many ways to strongly support those left widowed and orphaned by the Israel Defense Forces’ ongoing efforts to protect the country’s citizens from their hostile neighbors in the Middle East. This is what we do in our HOD lodges: we support Israel and our Jewish communities.”

The IDF Widows & Orphans Fund is the current charitable focus for HOD and its HOD Foundation Philanthropy Fund to better manage donations for this and other causes. Recent charitable campaigns have raised more than $1 million for Birthright Israel, United Hatzalah, and the IDF Widows and Orphans Fund. Called Buses for Birthright, the Birthright Israel campaign raised enough money to support two complete busloads of participants. The United Hatzalah campaign funds went for emergency response equipment after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas.

But that’s not all HOD does.

“Our lodges meet the needs of our communities and Jewish communities wherever they exist,” said Leonard Laser of Lodge Ilan Ramon in Toronto, who was installed as President of HOD’s North America Governing Lodge. “One example has been our Gravestone Project in Houston and Atlanta to identify unmarked Jewish graves and provide markers, thereby giving closure to their lives. We will be launching The Gravestone Project in Canadian cities in the near future. Another example is here in Toronto, where we work with local organizations to distribute sandwiches to our homeless population.

“We’re looking to provide assistance programs like these to other cities in North America by creating new lodges,” he added.

Joining Laser, Kramer and Schnitzer on the NAGL leadership team were Paul Wainstein, Deputy President; Joe Blog, Treasurer; and Lawrence Barris, Immediate Past President, all from Lodge Galil in Houston. They were joined by Boris Gremont, Secretary, from Lodge Shimon Peres in Dallas. Serving as NAGL Trustees are David Joss and Les Kraitzick from Lodge Carmel in Atlanta and Cyril Braude of Lodge Ilan Ramon in Toronto.

Joining David Joss on the Grand Lodge team were Laurence Gishen Deputy President, and Anton Teper, Immediate Past President, both from London, UK; Paul Wainstein, Secretary and Joe Blog, Treasurer, both from Houston; and Jonathan Rubin, Legal Officer, South Africa.

To help with a donation to this worthwhile cause, visit: https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/HOD_IDFWO?currency=2