New Israel Fund Welcomes Idit Klein as Vice President for Public Engagement

The New Israel Fund (NIF) is proud to announce the appointment of Idit Klein as its new Vice President for Public Engagement. Klein, who has served as President and CEO of Keshet for nearly a quarter century, will join NIF in late fall 2025, bringing her unparalleled leadership in the Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities to advance NIF’s mission of building a more just, inclusive, and democratic Israel.

For 24 years, Klein led Keshet, transforming it from a small, volunteer-run group into the nation’s leading Jewish organization for LGBTQ+ equality. Under her stewardship, Keshet became a powerful national force for justice, organizing Jewish communities across the country in defense of LGBTQ+ rights, and creating life-changing programs for queer and trans Jewish youth, families, and people of color. Klein expanded Keshet’s footprint nationwide, inspiring generations of leaders to make equality and justice core Jewish values.

At NIF, Klein will lead efforts to deepen the organization’s engagement with its current supporters, attract new ones, and strengthen connections between American and Israeli civil society. She will be a powerful amplifier of NIF’s voice in advancing democracy, human rights, and equality in Israel. She is stepping into the role of Vice President for Public Engagement, previously held by Libby Lenkinski who is moving on to build Albi, a fund, institute, and lab using cultural vehicles for social change in and about Israel-Palestine.

“It has been the great honor of my life to serve as NIF’s public voice and messenger,” said outgoing Vice President for Public Engagement, Libby Lenkinski. “For the last decade plus, through moments of heartbreak and hope, I’ve had the privilege of carrying NIF’s message—rooted in moral clarity, compassion, and a refusal to be afraid. With Albi, I’m stepping further into my belief in culture and art as a force for change, alongside the movements NIF has always supported. And while my partnership with NIF remains as deep as ever, I can imagine no better way to pass the baton than to Idit Klein, a leader and friend I admire deeply.”

“Idit Klein is one of the most visionary leaders in Jewish life today,” said Daniel Sokatch, CEO of the New Israel Fund. “For more than two decades, she has shown what it means to marry moral courage with effective action. She built Keshet into a transformative force for LGBTQ+ equality in Jewish life and beyond. At NIF, she will bring that same passion, creativity, and fearlessness to engaging and inspiring our community in the struggle for democracy and justice in Israel. We are thrilled to welcome Idit to our leadership team.”

Klein’s appointment comes at a critical time for Israel and the global Jewish community. With Israeli democracy under attack, war and catastrophic suffering continuing in Gaza, and marginalized communities facing unprecedented challenges, NIF continues to stand with its grantees and partners who are on the front lines defending civil rights, human rights, and equality. Klein’s role will be central in expanding NIF’s ability to mobilize American Jews and allies in support of these efforts. 

“I started my professional life at the New Israel Fund in Jerusalem when I was just out of college,” Klein said. “Now, over 30 years later, I am deeply honored to return to NIF in a new leadership role. For decades, NIF has embodied the Jewish values of justice, equality, and human dignity. At a time when both Israel and the United States face profound threats to democracy, I so look forward to working with NIF’s dedicated staff, board, and supporters to advance safety, belonging, and freedom for all people.”

Klein will officially begin her role at NIF in December of 2025.