Speaking at the Jerusalem Post Women Leaders Summit 2026, Edna Weinstock-Gabay, CEO and Director General of Keren Hayesod, offered a candid and deeply personal perspective on leadership during one of Israel’s most challenging periods.
Joining a live panel alongside Shira Lev Ami, CEO of the Israel National Digital Agency, and moderated by Jerusalem Post reporter and host Shanna Fuld, Weinstock-Gabay spoke about the responsibility of leading a global fundraising organization in times of crisis.
“For those who may not be familiar, Keren Hayesod is a national institution established over 105 years ago,” she said, proudly noting that she is the organization’s first female CEO. “We raise funds for the State of Israel and the people of Israel, working with communities around the world.”
She emphasized the need for constant reinvention. “We have an incredible organization, like a machine that has been operating for over 105 years. But every day, we must reinvent ourselves and create a new reality,” she said, pointing to the rapidly evolving circumstances since the outbreak of war. “Since October 7th, it feels like one very long day.”
Her leadership, she explained, has been shaped by both personal and professional experience. “Before being a CEO, first and foremost, my purpose in life is my five children,” she shared, noting that two of her sons served in combat zones during the war. “Everything became a blend of personal, professional, and national.”
This intersection, she believes, has strengthened her leadership. “It has made me better at identifying people’s needs, seeing them eye to eye, and truly understanding what they are facing.”
Since October 7, Keren Hayesod has raised over 2.5 billion shekels worldwide. “We have been able to do so much and change people’s lives,” she said. “And the needs remain tremendous.”
Sharing from a recent field visit during the current war, Operation Roaring Lion, she said, “We travelled to the north, to Nahariya, Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and the Upper Galilee, under rocket fire. It was important for us to be there, to show communities they are not alone.”
“We are working closely with each community to ensure they receive what they need. Strengthening education, improving healthcare, and creating employment opportunities,” she added. “Through philanthropy, we are making sure no one is left behind.”
She concluded with a powerful call for unity: “Today, more than ever, we need a strong Jewish diaspora, not only financially, but also in solidarity.”
Written in collaboration with Keren Hayesod