Honorees
Shira & Jay Ruderman
Shira Ruderman is an Israeli philanthropist who serves as the Israeli Director of the Ruderman Family Foundation. She has extensive management experience, including Chairwoman of Kesher (the NGO for special families), and board member of various international organizations and associations including IAC Boston, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and many more. Ruderman initiates and leads innovative social and public projects to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities into society. She is a member of “Committed to Give," an Israeli group that encourages private philanthropy in Israel. Through her activism she represents a new approach to Israeli philanthropy, one that espouses strategic giving and social entrepreneurship.
Ruderman holds a bachelor’s degree in Education, and a master’s degree in Public Policy from The Hebrew University. During her military service, she commanded a course in the Israel Defense Force's Intelligence unit. She gives expression to values that are at the heart of the Ruderman Family Foundation, including mobilizing volunteerism and leadership development.
Jay Ruderman is the President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, which focuses on the inclusion of people with disabilities worldwide and educating Israeli leaders on the American Jewish community. He also has served on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Funders Network and is a member of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Executive Committee.
Jay is a life-long Bostonian. Upon graduating law school, he began his career as an assistant district attorney in Salem, Massachusetts. In the fall of 2001, he became Deputy Director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in New England. In 2005, Mr. Ruderman enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and became the liaison between the IDF and Diaspora Jewry. After his service in the IDF, he returned to AIPAC as the Leadership Director for AIPAC in Israel.
Jay graduated from Brandeis University with honors and received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law.