From Toronto to the wider Jewish world, David Hofstedter’s family philanthropy has helped build and sustain institutions devoted to Torah learning, religious education and Jewish continuity.
Through Dirshu, Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter helped create a framework that has encouraged countless Jews around the world to make Torah learning part of their daily lives. The model is familiar today: a clear schedule, defined material, review, examinations and the recognition that steady effort can lead to extraordinary growth.
These are not merely real estate projects, but living environments designed to provide meaningful added value to both residents and the city of Jerusalem itself.
A patient who suffered a severe heart attack and the senior physician who saved his life met in a dramatic moment in the catheterization lab and decided to join forces to change the face of global medicine. Today, they lead a groundbreaking Israeli company that has developed a tiny robotic capsule that operates inside the body.
The Swords of Iron war has led to a dramatic surge in mental health injuries and post-trauma in Israel. With support from the UJA-Federation of New York, a comprehensive support network is taking shape for soldiers and their families, including dedicated therapists, advanced simulations and community-based support. All of it reflects a commitment to help the recovery of those who went out to defend the home we all share.
Eitan Levine and Anna Staroselski arrived in Israel for different reasons, but both found something that continues to shape their lives: a deep connection to Jewish identity and a decision to act on behalf of others. He returned to the US as a comedian who tells his Jewish story out loud. She went back to Germany to lead a fight for a safe, democratic space for Jewish students. Meet the 2025 'Changemakers' of influential Masa alumni.
As antisemitism surges and Israel faces mounting challenges on the international stage, a new group is stepping forward to speak out: Alumni of Masa programs from across the years are emerging as some of Israel’s most effective advocates abroad. The new 2025 Masa Changemakers List is made up of graduates of Masa programs who are leading the fight for truth around the world.
Over the past two years, UJA-Federation of New York has allocated $300 million to support and assist Israeli citizens. As he prepares to step down as CEO on June 30, 2026, Eric S. Goldstein reflects on the mobilization of American Jewry and shares his views on the heroic and inspiring young generation in Israel. “There’s potential here for a ‘great generation’ that will produce leadership and shared responsibility,” he says.
From social activists to entrepreneurs and journalists, these distinguished Masa alumni are reshaping communities and driving innovation across the Jewish world and beyond.
Behind every wounded Israeli soldier stands a family swept into a storm of hospital visits, financial strain, and uncertainty. The UJA-Federation of New York, which supports IDF veterans, is also extending a hand to spouses, children, and parents, proving that successful rehabilitation depends heavily on the strength of the support network. “The feeling that you’re not alone is a lifeline.”
