Edna Weinstock-Gabay Leads Keren Hayesod in Global Mission to Support Israel

When Edna Weinstock-Gabay stepped into her role as CEO of Keren Hayesod–United Israel Appeal, she took the helm of a century-old Zionist institution at a time when Israel and the Jewish world needed it most. As the first woman to lead Israel’s main fundraising arm for Jewish communities outside the United States, her leadership quickly proved vital in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7 attack.

Overnight, Weinstock-Gabay and her team transitioned from long-term strategic work to emergency relief, mobilizing support from across the Jewish diaspora. “We started fundraising from the first hour,” she said. The global Jewish response was immediate, spanning financial donations, solidarity missions, and advocacy.

Keren Hayesod raised an extraordinary $275 million within months, channeling aid to hospitals, mental health programs, terror victims, and regional councils. But Weinstock-Gabay emphasized that this effort wasn’t just about crisis management. It was about helping communities recover and thrive long-term, particularly in Israel’s south, where ten towns will receive sustained support for at least three years.

One of Keren Hayesod’s standout moments came just weeks after the attack when it helped bring 165 Israeli reservists home from Latin America. The organization coordinated with the Israeli consulate in São Paulo to arrange a special evacuation flight, demonstrating the real-time impact of diaspora partnership.

While her position as the first female CEO is historic, Weinstock-Gabay is hesitant to frame her leadership through gender. “I’m not here because I’m a woman I’m here because I’m the best person for the job,” she said. Still, raising a daughter after four sons shifted her outlook “What felt obvious to me that women can achieve anything is not obvious to everyone.”

Her personal connection to the conflict runs deep. Two of her sons serve in the IDF. One suffers from combat trauma. Her youngest son carries a knife for protection, and her daughter, only seven, lives with the unthinkable as a part of daily life. “Every night, I choose my pajamas carefully,” she shared, in case she gets that dreaded knock on the door.

Now, Weinstock-Gabay is focused on a new front Israel’s north. With a joint initiative alongside the Israeli government, every dollar raised by Keren Hayesod will be matched or tripled, delivering maximum support for rebuilding and security.

Keeping the diaspora engaged remains a priority, even as donor fatigue sets in. “My son is also fatigued,” she said. “He’s been fighting for 16 months. And yet, every day, he chooses to keep going. Supporting Israel is the diaspora’s reserve duty.”

Under Weinstock-Gabay’s leadership, Keren Hayesod continues to forge powerful ties between Israel and Jewish communities around the world. Their solidarity goes far beyond donations leaders have come to Israel repeatedly, attending funerals, visiting border towns, and standing shoulder to shoulder with Israelis in mourning and rebuilding.

“We can’t afford to let exhaustion set in,” Weinstock-Gabay insists. “The Jewish people have faced existential threats before, and we have survived. We will survive this too.”

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