Voices of Impact

World Jewish Congress NextGen
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Voices of Impact

Isaac Raskas Ohrenstein, a Harvard student and WJC-Lauder Fellow, sits down with leaders and changemakers in the Jewish world to explore their impactful work across business, politics, academia, and philanthropy. Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and the World Jewish Congress website.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Ambition, Affinity, and Asia: Dr. Allan Zeman

    Dr. Allan Zeman is the Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Holdings and Wynn Macau, as well as the owner of Paradise Properties Group, a real estate developer in Thailand. A Hong Kong resident for over 50 years, he has played a prominent role in both government and community affairs. Dr. Zeman served as Chairman of Hong Kong Ocean Park from 2003 to 2014 and was a member of the Airport Authority of Hong Kong from 2015 to 2022. He is a member of the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Council of Advisors and the Culture Commission. Since 2015, he has also served on the board of the Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund established by Alibaba Group. In recognition of his contributions to business and the community, Dr. Zeman has received honorary doctorates in Business Administration from the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the Open University of Hong Kong.

    49 min

  2. 13 MAY

    Community, Cannabis, Conviction: Wendy Berger

    Wendy Berger is a Chicago-based real estate developer, entrepreneur, and civic leader. She is the CEO and Founder of WBS Equities, a firm specializing in the development and acquisition of industrial properties for food and beverage manufacturers. Wendy also serves on the board of Green Thumb Industries, where she previously chaired the Executive Committee, and is the Chair of the Secure Community Network, the official safety and security organization of the North American Jewish community. Wendy serves on the board of the Jewish United Fund, where she chaired the 2019 Annual Campaign, and she currently chairs the Jewish Community Relations Council. Earlier in her career, Wendy was a founding executive at Orbitz and co-founded one of the first web development firms in the U.S. She later co-founded Illinois Women in Cannabis to support and connect women in the state’s growing cannabis industry. A Wexner Heritage alum, Wendy has held leadership roles with TEDxMidwest, The Standard Club, and the Economic Club of Chicago. She is an avid triathlete and a committed mentor to emerging female leaders.

    34 min

  3. 24 APR

    Origins, Outreach, Opera: Dr. Sharon Azrieli

    Dr. Sharon Azrieli is a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist who serves as a director of the Azrieli Group and the Azrieli Foundation. A critically acclaimed opera singer, she has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and L’Opéra de Paris, as well as major orchestras worldwide. In business, Sharon has founded and led real estate ventures in Canada and the U.S., and invested in theatre and film. She sits on the boards of the National Arts Centre of Canada, the McCord Museum, and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, among others. Sharon holds a PhD in Music from the University of Montreal and degrees from Vassar, Juilliard, and Parsons.

    32 min

  4. 18 APR

    Sovereigns, Statecraft, Bretton Woods: Josh Lipsky

    Josh Lipsky is the Chair of International Economics and Senior Director of the GeoEconomics Center at the Atlantic Council. He previously served as an advisor and speechwriter to Christine Lagarde at the IMF and as a U.S. State Department appointee for public diplomacy. At the White House, Josh helped coordinate President Obama’s participation in the G7, G20, and other global summits. Earlier in his career, he worked on Capitol Hill and at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Josh is an Economic Diplomacy Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center and a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He holds a JD from Georgetown, a Master’s from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA from Columbia.

    23 min

  5. 17 APR

    Ethiopia, Tikkun Olam, Tenacity: Dr. Rick Hodes

    Dr. Rick Hodes is an American physician who has spent the past 35 years in Ethiopia serving as the Medical Director for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Based in a public hospital in Addis Ababa, he treats children with severe spinal deformities, heart disease, and other complex conditions. In partnership with a Ghanaian surgeon, Dr. Hodes founded a spine program that now serves over 400 new patients annually and performs surgeries across Ethiopia, Ghana, and the United States. Dr. Hodes has also cared for refugees across Africa and collaborates with a cardiac center in India. He’s been recognized as a CNN Hero, awarded five honorary doctorates, and featured in the HBO documentary Making the Crooked Straight and Marilyn Berger’s book This is a Soul.

    24 min

  6. 7 APR

    Ideology, Influence, Institutions: Dr. Jehuda Reinharz

    Dr. Jehuda Reinharz is the President and CEO of the Mandel Foundation. He was appointed by Mort Mandel in 2011, after serving as President of Brandeis University from 1994 to 2011. Dr. Reinharz’s prior roles at Brandeis include Provost, Director of the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry, and Richard Koret Professor of Modern Jewish History. Dr. Reinharz has authored or co-authored over 100 articles and 34 books. He holds nine honorary doctorates and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Council on Foreign Relations. He also serves on numerous boards, including the Weizmann Institute of Science, where he is a life member and former Chairman. In 2024, Dr. Reinharz received the Leo Baeck Medal and was awarded the President of Israel Prize for a second time. He holds bachelor's degrees from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, a master’s from Harvard, and a Ph.D. from Brandeis.

    45 min

  7. 2 APR

    Responsibility, Reach, Recognition: Dafna Meitar Nechmad

    Dafna Meitar-Nechmad is Chairwoman of the Board of Governors at Tel Aviv University. A former partner at Meitar Law Offices, she transitioned from a leading legal career to focus fully on philanthropy. Dafna is President of the Zvi and Ofra Meitar Family Fund, founder of TAU’s Institute for Law and Philanthropy, and a longtime member of the Zvi Meitar Center for Advanced Legal Studies. She has held leadership roles with the Israeli Opera Friends’ Association, the Jewish Funders Network, and Committed to Give, and helped establish Keshet, Israel’s first donor-advised fund. Internationally, Dafna has served on the Metropolitan Opera’s Managing Director’s Committee and currently sits on its Advisory Committee, as well as the Guggenheim Museum’s International Director’s Council.

    34 min

  8. 21 MAR

    Momentum, Management, Milwaukee: Alex Lasry

    Alex Lasry is the Chief Executive Officer of the FIFA World Cup 26™ New York-New Jersey Host Committee. Previously, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism at the U.S. Department of Commerce and spent nearly a decade as a co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, including roles as Senior Vice President and Vice President of Strategy & Operations. Earlier in his career, Alex worked in the Obama White House as Deputy Counselor for Strategic Engagement and Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

    27 min
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About

Isaac Raskas Ohrenstein, a Harvard student and WJC-Lauder Fellow, sits down with leaders and changemakers in the Jewish world to explore their impactful work across business, politics, academia, and philanthropy. Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, and the World Jewish Congress website.

Information

  • Creator
    World Jewish Congress NextGen
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    115
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Voices of Impact
  • Show Website
    Voices of Impact

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