New Israel Fund mourns the loss of beloved friend and long time NIF Board Member Mary Ann Stein — may her memory be a blessing. Mary Ann was an exceptional woman who dedicated her life to advancing equality among Israel’s diverse communities. She focused on communities that suffered from discrimination, be they Arab, Jewish, Ethiopian-Israeli and so many others. She strove for justice, the protection of human rights, and was profoundly committed to strengthening civil society in Israel.
NIF CEO Daniel Sokatch said he was inspired by Mary Ann and her dedication to the organization and its values. “We — the NIF community around the world — are in the debt of Mary Ann Stein. She developed beautiful relationships with a diverse, impressive set of people in Israel — from Jews to Arabs to Ethiopians to Russians. She was so proud of NIF and our grantee organizations, and we are so grateful for her years of leadership on our board and for her unending commitment to the work of building a better, fairer Israel for all. Mary Ann was inspirational and indefatigable. We miss her terribly, and we send all the love in the world to her family at this time.
Mary Ann herself made it clear she wanted NIF to be a part of her own legacy. “When I first heard about the New Israel Fund,” she said in an interview some time ago, “I understood its importance to Israel and to me. It has played the central role in building and reinforcing a strong civil society in Israel through providing financial, technical, networking, and other supports to multiple NGOs. It has been a part of my life and central to my ability to fulfill my moral responsibility and Jewish identity.”
Back in 2020, New Israel Fund received more legacy gifts than it ever has in its over 40-year history: more than $7.5 million. Those designated for NIF’s endowment tripled it in size, and will help secure NIF’s financial health for decades to come. Due to the generosity of annual donors and so many others who have included, and continue to include, the New Israel Fund in their estate plans, NIF is on solid ground to mount a robust response to Israel’s current democratic crisis.
If you want to make supporting NIF a part of your legacy, check out our brochure here.