(New York, NY – December 17, 2012)
The American Zionist Movement announced the election of its new officers who will serve over the coming two years. The election took place on December 17th in New York City with the slate of officers being unanimously accepted by the delegates.
The new slate of officers is headed by Rabbi Vernon Kurtz, who will serve as President of the American Zionist Movement (AZM). Rabbi Kurtz, the Rabbi of North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, Illinois, was born in Toronto, Canada. His election to the position of President of the American Zionist Movement is only the most recent in a number of key positions he has held in the Zionist world, including President of MERCAZ USA and President of MERCAZ Olami, the world-wide Zionist organization of the Conservative/Masorti movement. He has held numerous other positions of communal responsibility on the local, national and international level including serving as president of the Rabbinical Assembly, the international association of Conservative/Masorti rabbis. Rabbi Kurtz is an associate member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel, has been elected to its Executive, and serves as deputy chairman of its Russian Speaking Jewry Committee. Rabbi Kurtz will be succeeding William D. Hess of New Orleans as president of AZM.
Elected to the position of the Chairman of the Board of the American Zionist Movement was Kenneth Bob, who is the president of Ameinu. Bob is also a member of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization, and the Jewish Agency for Israel Board of Governors. In his professional life, Kenneth Bob is an experienced entrepreneur and currently serves as President of RenewTricity, a solar energy development company.
Others elected to office were: Harvey Blitz, David Newman and Leonard Petlakh, Vice Presidents; Judy Shereck, Treasurer; and David Krantz, Secretary.
