Anita Friedman
Member of Public Standing
Anita Friedman is the Chairperson of WIZO (Women’s International Zionist Organization).
A passionate WIZO volunteer since 1995, Anita Friedman has served in numerous positions in WIZO, both in the United States and Israel, before being elected as its top leader in January 2020.
From 2014, when she returned to Israel, Anita served as deputy chairperson of WIZO’s Fundraising Division, and in 2016 she was elected its chair. In this role, Anita spearheaded efforts to raise tens of millions of dollars for numerous and diverse WIZO projects such as for women’s shelters, youth villages, day care centers, and more.
In January 2020, Anita was elected chairperson of WIZO, Israel’s largest educational and social welfare organization, operating 800 institutions and major projects, with some 6,000 employees and thousands of volunteers. In addition, Anita is responsible for the worldwide WIZO movement, with 38 federations around the world.
Under Anita’s leadership, WIZO successfully navigated the crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, while promoting far-reaching organizational changes and reforms.
Anita was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, is fluent in Hebrew, Spanish and English, and holds a BA from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is married with three children and three grandchildren, and lives in Tel Aviv.