JCC Association of North America Names Nadav Shachmon Senior Vice President | Director General of the Center for Israel Engagement

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CONTACT: Lauren Magy, JCC Association of North America, [email protected]

JCC Association of North AmericaNames Nadav Shachmon Senior Vice President | Director General of the Center for Israel Engagement

Shachmon, director of Israel partnerships for RootOne, succeeds Leah Garber, who concluded a 19-year tenure with JCC Association

JCC Association of North America today announced that Nadav Shachmon will lead Israel engagement for the JCC Movement, the largest and most inclusive platform for Jewish life in the United States and Canada, as senior vice president | director general of JCC Association Center for Israel Engagement. Shachmon begins December 14 and succeeds Leah Garber, who concluded her remarkable 19-year tenure in October and will continue to consult through December to support the transition.

Shachmon, in partnership with JCC Association's leadership team, board of directors, and the JCC Movement, will lead the vision for how the 150 JCCs and JCC Camps, which engage more than 1.5 million people each week, connect with Israel and Israelis. He will shape the movement's Israel strategy, strengthen partnerships with leading Israeli and global Jewish organizations, and serve as JCC Association's senior representative in Israel. His portfolio includes Israel travel experiences, leadership missions, education programs, and fellowships, as well as the shlichim program, which brings more than 400 Israeli emissaries to JCCs and JCC Camps each year.

Shachmon brings more than 15 years of experience building bridges between Israel and Jewish communities around the world. Born and raised in Jerusalem, he has held leadership roles in Israel, Australia, and the United States. Most recently, as director of Israel partnerships for RootOne at The Jewish Education Project, he led Israel strategy, partnerships, and program operations, cultivating relationships with Israeli government ministries, nonprofits, educational institutions, and tour operators.

"The connection between North American Jewish communities and Israel is central to who we area and core to our movement's mission, and Nadav brings exactly the passion, strength, experience, and relationships to deepen it," said Barak Hermann, president and CEO of JCC Association. "He has spent his career building bridges between Israelis and North American Jews, from partnering with JCCs as a shaliach in Westchester to forging partnerships across Israel for RootOne. We are thrilled to welcome him to the JCC Association leadership team and our JCC Movement."

Shachmon previously served as the Jewish Agency for Israel's senior shaliach to Westchester County, New York, where he built a communitywide Israel engagement strategy with 50 Jewish organizations, including the JCC of Mid-Westchester and Shames JCC on the Hudson. Earlier, he was a shaliach to the Reform Jewish community in Australia and national director of the Israel Reform Movement's youth department. A former officer in the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, he holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yafo and an MBA from the College of Management Academic Studies. Shachmon was a member of the fifth cohort of the Mandel Institute for Nonprofit Leadership.

"Meaningful engagement with Israel has the power to inspire Jewish life and build strong, resilient communities," said Shachmon. "Today, more than ever, a vibrant Israeli presence across the JCC Movement can bring people together, spark curiosity, and create a deeper sense of Jewish identity and belonging. I am honored to build on Leah's extraordinary legacy and to work alongside JCC professionals and volunteers across North America to make those connections deeper, more personal, and more lasting."

"At The Jewish Education Project and RootOne, we are proud to equip our staff with the knowledge and skills to strengthen the ecosystem of Jewish and Israel education, and Nadav exemplifies that work," said David Bryfman, CEO of The Jewish Education Project and interim executive director of RootOne. "We look forward to working with him and JCC Association to advance the field of Israel education together."

Garber's 19 years of leadership transformed the way JCCs engage with Israel. She expanded Israel travel opportunities through the Boarding Pass program, significantly grew the shlichim program and the Center's strategic partnerships, and launched the landmark Mit-habrim initiative, which has brought millions of dollars in funding to support more than 950 Israel engagement programs across JCCs and JCC Camps. Through her widely read blog, A View From Jerusalem, she helped JCC leaders and community members stay connected to Israel in moments of celebration and challenge. She also helped shape the next generation of JCC leaders through the Israel Academy, numerous leadership missions, and the Martin Pear Israel Fellowship.

"It has been the privilege of my life to help connect the JCC Movement with Israel-and with Israelis-for the last 19 years," said Garber. "The relationships we have built between North American Jewish communities and Israel are stronger than ever, despite increasing challenges, and I am confident they will continue to grow under Nadav's leadership. I look forward to cheering on this work for many years to come."

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About JCC Association of North America

JCC Association of North America, through its three Centers of Excellence-Peoplehood, Talent Development, and Innovation and Impact-leads the JCC Movement, the largest and most inclusive platform for Jewish life in the United States and Canada, which includes nearly 150 Jewish Community Centers and JCC Camps and JWB Jewish Chaplains Council®. Collectively, the JCC Movement engages more than 1.5 million people each week- in person and online. With leadership and support of JCC Association, the JCC Movement strengthens Jewish community, advances vibrant Jewish life, and delivers intentional, measurable impact, locally, continent-wide, and wherever Jewish life is lived. Learn more at JCCA.org or on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Please note that JCC Association of North America should not be referred to as JCCA or the JCC Association but initially as JCC Association of North America and as JCC Association in subsequent references.

About JCC Association Center for Israel Engagement

Since its inception in 1977, JCC Association Center for Israel Engagement has connected countless people to the many facets of the land, history, people, and cultures of Israel. Through custom-designed travel experiences for professionals, lay leaders, campers, and members of JCCs, some 11,000+ individuals of all ages have connected to Israel through seminars, professional training opportunities, and other distinct initiatives. JCC Association Center for Israel Engagement also brings more than 400 shlichim to North America each year to serve in JCC Movement camps each summer, with dozens more employed throughout the year at JCCs. Shlichim are young Israelis who, following their mandatory military service, choose to serve for a year or more in Jewish agencies and institutions in communities around the world.