MERCAZ Newsletter — Spring 2008

MERCAZ Deputy Heads KKL Committee

Orr Karassin, one of three MERCAZ Olami/Green Zionist representatives to Keren Kayemet L'Yisrael-Jewish National Fund Board of Directors, was appointed in July as the Chair of the Higher Education, Research Environment and Ecology Sub-committee of the KKL's Funds Committee. The Funds Committee manages some 70 endowment funds, dedicated to such varied purposes as education and research, social welfare and community development, which were left to the KKL as bequests.

Karassin's plans include radically changing the criteria for selecting projects to insure that all funded activities contain a clearly applicable and cutting edge environmental theme. She also sees her position as an opportunity to promote Masorti-inspired "green" social ideals by making grants available to students who have demonstrated proven leadership qualities and a commitment to environmental issues.