Episode 22

full
Published on:

4th Dec 2020

#22 - Melanie Maron Pell, AJC Managing Director, Regional Offices

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by the amazing Melanie Maron Pell, the Managing Director of AJC’s network of 24 regional offices across the United States.

Together with Ben & Dan, Melanie reflects on over 20 years of advancing AJC’s global mission, the rising significance of subnational diplomacy, the challenge of maintaining authentic nonpartisanship in a highly partisan world, the shifting nature of the US-Israel relationship, combatting shape-shifting Antisemitism, generational differences in American Jewish culture, the changing political perspectives of much of the American Jewish community, and much more.

As Managing Director of Regional Offices, Melanie Pell oversees AJC’s network of 24 regional offices. She was previously AJC Associate Director of Regional Offices and Director of Regional Engagement. In that role, Melanie worked to expand AJC’s presence in communities across the U.S. and coordinated several successful agency-wide advocacy campaigns, including the Mayors United Against Antisemitism and the Governors United Against BDS initiatives. Prior to assuming her national role, Melanie was Director of AJC Washington D.C., where she oversaw all regional office activities and represented AJC in a variety of diplomatic, civic, and intergroup settings. Melanie joined AJC in 2001 as Assistant Director of AJC Chicago. Melanie graduated with honors from the Chicago-Kent College of Law and magna cum laude from the University of Louisville.

Links:

AJC’s website, ajc.org

AJC’s #Translate Hate Glossary – To help you know it when you see it, AJC defined some frequently-used Antisemitic words and symbols you may find hiding in plain sight—from the internet to pop culture.

AJC Project Interchange - Project Interchange has achieved an international reputation as the premier forum for directly introducing diverse global thought leaders to Israel.

AJC’s Regional Offices

AJC Advocacy Anywhere - Advocacy Anywhere, Powered by AJC is a new platform that enables you to engage with AJC’s leading expertise, content, and advocacy opportunities from wherever you are, using cutting-edge technology.

To get involved with AJC, reach out to your AJC regional office or email Melanie at pellm@ajc.org

As always, make sure to subscribe to Jewanced on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

For more information, visit us at http://www.jewanced.com

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Jewanced

About the Podcast

Jewanced
A nuanced exploration of Israel, the Jewish world and beyond
Jewanced is hosted by Dan Feferman and Benny Scholder, two guys who grew up in America and live in Israel.
They're curious. They want to discuss. They want to challenge popular conceptions, they want to think critically, examine independently, and most of all, they crave nuance.

Each episode features a different guest. All interesting and original people who strive to break boundaries. Together with Dan and Benny, take a deep dive into politics, foreign affairs, religion, science, technology, food, the arts, business – you name it. Explore the nuanced crossroads of Israel, the global Jewish experience, and beyond.

What's the goal? To create a daring platform where people share their stories, insights, creations, and visions. Jewanced has no talking points, no script, no agenda...just a deeper nuanced understanding of our existence.

Join them on a journey as they explore, think, debate and discuss …. And most of all, listen.

About your hosts

Benny Scholder

Profile picture for Benny Scholder
With over a decade of experience in Israel's tourism industry, Benny has managed sales, marketing, travel content, digital content, and the operations aspects of tour companies and travel agencies. Today, he is the Director of Sales-North America at Kenes Tours, Israel's leading provider of incoming tourism services, where he is proud to deliver transformative, custom-crafted Israel travel experiences designed to exceed expectations.
Originally from Minneapolis, Benny fell in love with Israel as a young adult, moving to the country in 2004. He has an extensive background in everything Israel-travel related, having completed Israel's intensive tour guide course in 2010. His career spans both logistical, content-related, and sales management positions with major and boutique Israeli tour companies alike. Benny lives with his amazing wife Maayan and two incredible children in the charming village of Gedera. In addition to his passion for transformative travel experiences, he's super passionate about food, modern & ancient history, politics, addictive TV, and game-changing podcasts. Contact him at Benny@jewanced.com

Dan Feferman

Profile picture for Dan Feferman
Dan Feferman is a Major (res.) in the Israel Defense Forces. For almost a decade, he served as a foreign policy and national security analyst, strategist and adviser in the IDF General Staff; as a special assistant to the Deputy Chief of the General Staff; and a commander in an elite intelligence unit of AMAN's Research and Analysis Division.

He is a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, a think-tank focusing on issues of importance to Israel and the Jewish people, where he researches religious pluralism in Israel, trends in Jewish identity and Israel-Diaspora relations. He is also a political and strategic consultant and publishes and speaks widely on the Middle East and Israeli defense and political matters.

He is the author of Rising Streams: Reform and Conservative Judaism in Israel, and of a soon-to-be-published book on the changing face of American Judaism.

Dan holds a BA in International Politics and Middle East Studies from the American University in Washington DC and an MA in National Security Studies from Tel Aviv University.

Originally from Indiana, Dan moved to Israel in 2005. He is married to Elisheva, has three amazing kids, and lives in Rehovot. When taking a break, Dan stays busy with Crossfit, martial arts and cooking.