Our vision
Preserving The History and Heritage, Building The Future, Strengthening The Community
THE GUSH EZION FOUNDATION
Since 1993, the Gush Etzion Foundation has worked to support and strengthen Gush Etzion and its residents while raising public awareness about the history and heritage of the region. An independent, non-profit organization, the Foundation approaches donors in Israel and overseas, keeping them updated about ongoing needs and new initiatives in the area.
All contributions to the organization are immediately transferred to projects including:
Providing financial aid and holiday food packages for needy families
Funding and furnishing schools and other educational projects
Creating and equipping playgrounds and parks
Maintaining rescue teams and purchasing security equipment
Financing Gush Etzion heritage project
Youth projects
Due to severe cuts in government funding at the same time that security needs have actually increased, assistance is needed more than ever before.
The Foundation spearheads pre-holiday fundraising drives in Gush Etzion itself for the benefit of needy families in the region. The bulk of funds are raised among our residents and outside Israel where the Foundation – a non-profit, tax-exempt organization in the U.S. – conducts a bi-annual fundraising campaign via direct mail. Most contributions to the Foundation are earmarked for specific projects.
To inspire and broaden support for Gush Etzion, the Foundation gives presentations in synagogues and other communal locales abroad, builds relationships and maintains ties with major Jewish organizations around the world, and provides visitors to Gush Etzion with intensive, “behind-the-scenes” tours of the area. The Foundation maintains a website about Gush Etzion, produces informational materials and works to increase media coverage of the region.
OUR TEAM
The people behind the desk
Shlomo Neeman / Chairman
Shlomo Neeman 44, married to Shlomit, is the father of five and grandfather of two grandchildren. He was born and raised in the Former Soviet Union and immigrated to Israel at the age of 17 to Jerusalem. A few months later, he started to study at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Alon Shvut. He has been a resident of Karmei Tzur for more than a quarter of a century.
Shlomo established and managed a series of zionist organizations. He worked in the Jewish Agency and advanced to the level of a division manager. In this capacity, he was responsible for 1,500 employees and managed a budget of 200 million shekels.
He raised funds for international philanthropic organizations in the tens of millions of dollars and served as a director for three different public companies.
Shlomo was a senior advisor to Zev Elkin, the Minister of the Environment, Jerusalem and Heritage Affairs and managed the Jerusalem Heritage office.
He is very well acquainted with government offices, the process of passing laws, promoting budgets and advancing many new projects.
14/2/17-Mior of Gush Etzion
Limor Pearl / Director
Limor lives in Neve Daniel, and is a married mother of four. Served in the IDF as a guide for the Israel Heritage Project.
She has a BA in Education and Land of Israel Studies from the Hebrew University and an MA in Media and Religion from Saint Denis University, Paris.
The family spent 9 years in France, Egypt, and Belgium because of her husband's position in the Israeli Consulate.
For the past 11 years Limor has been with the Keren, eight as the Director of Project Development and Marketing and for the last three as the Director of of the Gush Etzion Foundation.
Gabi Harow / Director of Development
Gabi is a resident of Nokdim, and a married father of four. Gabi has a degree in business management and has worked at the foundation for two years. He fundraises abroad for the foundation and also works to grow its supporters and friends internationally. He is also the foundation’s project director here in Israel.
Yehudit Eizner / Bookkeeper
Yehudit, a mother of 5, is a resident of Beitar Elite. She has a teacher's degree and a certificate in bookkeeping and human resources. She is the secretary and bookkeeper for the Foundation. Her position requires interaction with donors and their projects, management of funds, budgeting and banking.
BOARD MEMBERS
Shlomo Neeman
Chairman
karmei Tzur
Gush Etzion
Mati Sichel
Board Member
Elazar
Gush Etzion
Ruti Doron
Member General Assembly
Tekoa
Gush Etzion
Yehuda Trabelsi
Board Member
Ibey H'Nachal
Gush Etzion
Refael Ashkenazi
Board Member
Har Gilo
Gush Etzion
Noam Man
Member General Assembly
Maale Amos
Gush Etzion
Shmuel Zilberman
Board Member
Meitzad
Gush Etzion
Menachem Fried
Audit Committee Member
Neve Daniel
Gush Etzion
Avi Spector
Audit Committee Member
Migdal Oz
Gush Etzion
Efraim Somech
Member General Assembly
Kfar Etzion
Gush Etzion
Cheryl Mandel
Member General Assembly
Alon Shvut
Gush Etzion
Elad Ovadia
Member General Assembly
Nokdim
Gush Etzion
Ori Shechter
Board Member
Rosh Tzorim
Gush Etzion
Yehuda Vlad
Member General Assembly
Karmei Tzor
Gush Etzion
Zvi Manor
Member General Assembly
Bat Ayin
Gush Etzion
Chaim Levi
Member General Assembly
Keidar
Gush Etzion
Shlomi Peretz
Member General Assembly
Pnei Kedem
Gush Etzion