Voices of Impact

Yaakov Katz is an Israeli-American journalist and author, best known for serving as editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post from 2016 to 2023. He has authored three books, including Shadow Strike and Weapon Wizards, with a new book scheduled for release in 2025. Previously, Yaakov spent nearly a decade as a military reporter and defense analyst. He served as a senior policy adviser to Naftali Bennett and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and four children.

Jay Lefkowitz is a litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis and an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, where he teaches a seminar on Supreme Court advocacy. He has led numerous high-profile cases, including two landmark 5-4 Supreme Court victories for the pharmaceutical industry. Jay served as United States Special Envoy on Human Rights in North Korea and as a senior White House advisor to two presidents. He is also on advisory boards for Columbia Law School, Barnard College, and the NYU Alexander Hamilton Center.

Seth Pinsky is CEO of The 92nd Street Y, one of New York’s leading cultural and community centers. Before joining 92NY, Seth served as Executive Vice President at RXR Realty, overseeing investments in emerging opportunities across the New York region. Earlier in his career, he played a key role in developing Mayor Bloomberg’s $20 billion initiative to protect New York from climate change impacts and served as President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation from 2008 to 2013.

Yitz Applbaum is a Co-Founder and Partner at MizMaa Ventures. After selling his company to Bank of America in 1999, he became a Senior Vice President overseeing the e-Ventures group. He is now an advisor to many organizations and individuals, including Eight VC Partners and the Saudi Minister of Communications, Information Technology, and Space. Yitz also is a philanthropist and board member of The Western Wall Heritage Foundation, the Republican Jewish Coalition, and the Asia Society. He serves as a Trustee of Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and is the founding board member of Him for Her for Him (HHH), which assists in the placement of women on corporate boards of directors. Based in Silicon Valley, Yitz is married with three children and collects kosher wine and single malt whisky.

Evan Fallenberg is a professor of creative writing and literary translation at Bar-Ilan University in Israel and a former co-director of the International MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. He is the author of acclaimed novels such as Light Fell and The Parting Gift, has translated numerous works by prominent Israeli writers, and founded Arabesque, an arts center and boutique hotel in Akko. Evan has lived and worked in the United States, Israel, Switzerland, Japan, and China and held residencies at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Fondation Ledig-Rowohlt, and Sun Yat-sen University.

Halie Soifer is the CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), a role she has held since 2020, after serving as its Executive Director starting in 2018. Prior to JDCA, she spent nearly two decades as a national security advisor to four members of Congress and held senior positions in the Obama administration. Most recently, Halie was National Security Advisor to then-Senator Kamala Harris. She also served as Senior Policy Advisor to U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power. Halie holds a master’s from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a bachelor’s from the University of Michigan Honors College.

Dr. Yossi Beilin is an Israeli politician best known for his pivotal role in the Oslo Accords. He also initiated the Geneva Initiative, an unofficial proposal for a final-status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Dr. Beilin has served in various ministerial roles including Minister of Justice and was instrumental in founding the Birthright Israel program. After retiring from politics, he became a business consultant and continues to engage in public discourse through his writings and advocacy.

Mark Penn is the President and Managing Partner of The Stagwell Group, a private equity firm focused on marketing services companies. With over 40 years of experience in market research, advertising, and consulting, he has advised top political and corporate leaders around the world, playing key roles in major elections including those of President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair. Before founding Stagwell, Mark served as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Microsoft. He is also the bestselling author of the book Microtrends.

Yohanan Plesner is president of the Israel Democracy Institute, since 2014. From 2007 to 2013, he was a member of Knesset, Israel’s parliament, serving on the constitution, law, and justice and the defense and foreign affairs committees. He also co-chaired the Knesset lobby for higher education and chaired its permanent delegation to the Council of Europe. Prior to that, Yohanan worked at a management consulting firm in London and was co-founder and CEO of an international enterprise software company. He was a combatant and officer in the IDF’s Sayeret Matkal unit, in which he still serves as a major in active reserve duty.

Gordon Sondland was appointed U.S. Ambassador to the European Union in 2018 by President Donald Trump and served until 2020, overseeing key issues such as trade, energy, and national security. He previously held roles on Governor Ted Kulongoski's transition team and the Commission for White House Fellowships under President George W. Bush, as well as serving as Chairman of the Portland Art Museum. Sondland is also the Founder and CEO of Provenance Hotels, a national chain of boutique lifestyle hotels, and currently serves on the advisory boards of U.S. Bancorp and Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.