Voices of Impact

World Jewish Congress NextGen
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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. FEB 1

    Education, Ethics, and Excellence: Dr. Merryl Tisch

    Dr. Merryl H. Tisch is the Chair of the State University of New York, following her tenure as Vice Chair and previously as Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents. She serves on the board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and as a Trustee of Barnard College. Merryl also sits on the executive committees of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the Citizens Budget Commission, and she serves on the boards of the International Rescue Committee and the Trust for Cultural Resources of the City of New York. Alongside her husband James, Merryl has made major philanthropic investments in education and healthcare, including the Tisch Cancer Institute and the Tisch Cancer Hospital at Mount Sinai. Merryl holds degrees from Barnard College and New York University. She and her family live in New York City.

    26 min

  2. JAN 23

    Solidarity, Scotland, and Sportsmanship: Barry Finestone

    Barry Finestone is President and CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation. With more than $800 million granted in its first 18 years, Barry oversees all aspects of finance and grantmaking at the Foundation. Prior to joining the Jim Joseph, he served as the Executive Director of the Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund. In 2010, Barry moved to the Bay Area to become the CEO of the JCC of San Francisco. A proud native of Glasgow, Scotland, he brings more than 34 years of experience in the Jewish nonprofit world. Alongside his passion for the Foundation’s work, Barry is an avid football fan. He and his wife, Ellen, live in Marin County and have three children.

    36 min

  3. JAN 12

    Discipline, Discretion, and Diplomacy: Joel Herzog

    Joel Herzog is the Managing Director of Noga Group, a firm with interests in trading and real estate across France, Switzerland, and Africa. He serves as President of Yad Vashem Switzerland, the Association Switzerland–Israel (Geneva Section), and the Committee for the Organization of Yom Hashoah. Additionally, Joel sits on the boards of Global Israeli Leadership and the Religious and Cultural Center of Hekal Haness. He is the son of former Israeli President Chaim Herzog and the brother of current President Isaac Herzog. Joel earned his law degree from Bar-Ilan University in 1975 and lives in Geneva with his wife, Marguerite Herzog-Gagon.

    23 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    Sports, Service, and Substance: Bruce Levenson

    Bruce Levenson is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with a four-decade career spanning business intelligence, technology, and professional sports. He is best known as the co-founder of United Communications Group, which he built into a leading global business-information platform. Bruce is also a director of TechTarget, a partner in GasBuddy, and a co-founder of DOT, an innovative cooking-technology company. In 2004, he acquired the Atlanta Hawks and  Atlanta Thrashers, serving on the NBA Board of Governors before later selling the franchise. Alongside his business career, Bruce and his wife Karen founded the Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management at the University of Maryland.

    36 min

  5. 12/20/2025

    Cycles, Capital, and Coaching: Richard Mack

    Richard Mack is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mack Real Estate Group (MREG). Previously, Richard spent more than two decades as a founding principal of AREA Property Partners, originally Apollo Real Estate Advisors. Beyond investing, Richard is deeply engaged in civic and philanthropic leadership. He serves as Chairman of the Board of the Metropolitan Council on Poverty and sits on the boards of the Child Mind Institute, the 92nd Street Y, the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, and the Robin Hood Foundation’s Housing & Homelessness Committee. He also serves on Wharton’s Undergraduate Advisory Board. Richard earned a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

    29 min

  6. 12/13/2025

    Economics, Inquiry, and Expertise: Dr. Adam Posen

    Dr. Adam Posen is the President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics and a leading authority on global monetary policy, U.S.–China economic relations, and European integration. He previously served as a voting member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee and as an adviser to the U.S. Congressional Budget Office. Adam’s work spans the G-20, financial crisis recovery, and long-term institutional reform. He has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Government of Japan and appointed an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to international economic policy. He holds a BA and a PhD from Harvard University.

    40 min

  7. 11/28/2025

    Property, Politics, and Power: Jeff Gural

    Jeffrey Gural is Chairman of GFP Real Estate, with ownership interests in more than 50 properties across New York City. He joined Newmark in 1972 and served as Chairman of Newmark Knight Frank until 2017, when he became Chairman Emeritus. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Board of New York; serves as President of the enCourage Kids Foundation; and is Chairman of the I Have a Dream Foundation – NY. He is also a Trustee of The New School, Vice President of the Broadway Association, and a board member of the Museum at Eldridge Street, the Statue of Liberty Foundation, and UJA-Federation. Outside of real estate, Jeff is a major owner and breeder of Standardbred racehorses, with farms in Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania. He owns Tioga Downs Casino and Vernon Downs racino and is Managing Partner of the New Meadowlands Racetrack.

    27 min

  8. 11/18/2025

    Scaling, Systems, and SPACs: Betsy Z. Cohen

    Betsy Z. Cohen is an entrepreneur and investor with more than five decades of leadership in banking and financial services. She began her career as one of the first female law professors on the East Coast and later co-founded a Philadelphia law firm. Betsy went on to found Jefferson Bank, serving as Chairman and CEO for twenty-five years. She then created The Bancorp, one of the country’s first virtual banks and a foundational partner to early fintech companies, and led it as CEO for fifteen years. Her work has been recognized by Forbes, the National Foundation for Women Business Owners, and US Banker. Betsy serves as Vice Chair of the Asia Society, is a Founding Member of the Asia Society Policy Institute, and sits on the boards of the Brookings Institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Opera. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and holds a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Voices of Impact
  • Show Website
    Voices of Impact