Zack Bodner

Zack Bodner joined the OFJCC as the CEO in August of 2013. Under Zack’s leadership, the JCC completed construction of the campus, oversaw the creation of a new Center for Social Impact, launched the Taube Center for Jewish Peoplehood, and began hosting an annual conference called Zionism 3.0 which became The Z3 Project, a global effort to reimagine Diaspora-Israel relations.

Zack is the author of the book Why Do Jewish? A Manifesto for 21 st century Jewish Peoplehood. The book, an Amazon #1 New Release in Jewish Life as well as Religion and Philosophy, draws on Zack’s experience as a Jewish professional in the non-profit, academic and political worlds to create a new framework for living Jewishly, based on the word TACHLIS.

Before joining the JCC, Zack served for 14 years as the Pacific Northwest Regional Director of AIPAC, where he oversaw a period of unprecedented growth in community outreach, political advocacy and fundraising. Zack holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy of Religion and Theology from Claremont Graduate University, earned his Bachelor’s degree from Yale University, spent a semester studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and participated in Stanford Business School’s program for Executives in Non-Profit Leadership. 

Zack is an accomplished speaker, including as a TEDx presenter and MOTH storyteller, and writes regularly for publications including The Forward, Times of Israel, The J Weekly, and eJewish Philanthropy. He was an Executive Leadership Seminar Fellow for The Aspen Institute, an iFellow Mentor for the iCenter, and is currently an Advisory Board Member for the Taube Center for Jewish Studies at Stanford University.

Zack currently serves on the Boards of JCCA of North America, JCC Global, and American Friends of Tel Aviv University Northern California. He lives in Los Altos with his wife Ronit and their three children, Talia, Elie and Orly.