Who We Are
Pro-Israel America works to ensure that American leaders – from town halls to the halls of Congress – are committed to strengthening America’s alliance with Israel. We work to educate and empower the public and leaders to stand up and speak out to support Israel and the Jewish people at this critical moment in time.
Our Values
Through our Zionism, rooted in our values as Americans, we stand proudly on behalf of freedom and equality. The Jewish people have a right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, Israel. The same right that people around the world have to determine their own future. Leaders at all levels have a responsibility to stand up and speak out against hatred of all kinds, including antisemitism and double standards imposed on Jewish people
We support Israel’s legitimacy. Disagreeing with actions of the Israeli government is not an excuse to target Jewish people or to deprive them of the same rights that other people have. Not only does Israel have a right to exist and defend itself, but Israel’s existence is imperative for the Jewish people.
We also support Palestinian self-determination. We continue to support a two-state solution and are committed to working toward a future where Israelis and Palestinians can express their right to self-determination and coexist in peace.
Our Leadership
Samantha Garelick
Executive Director
Samantha Garelick is a distinguished professional with a diverse background and a strong academic foundation. She is an alumna of Cornell University and launched her career as a financial analyst in high-yield capital markets and private wealth at Goldman Sachs. As her career progressed, Samantha recognized her passion for creativity and entrepreneurial ventures.
She has successfully established and managed various businesses, including a kosher culinary enterprise and a jewelry line. Samantha previously worked as an art educator, and established the Academy at American High, an institution dedicated to providing comprehensive training in digital media and content creation, with her husband Jeremy. Samantha is also a founder of Judaism Alive and JKids Radio.
Samantha lives with a strong sense of tzedakah — the obligation to help everyone around you. She embodies this spirit through her philanthropic and community work, which is deeply connected to Israel and her Jewish community.
Manuel Rajunov
Board Chair
Manuel Rajunov provides cross-border tax and transactional counsel to US and non-US multinational entities, with a particular focus on inbound and outbound Latin American investment strategies. This includes Israel-based companies on their investments in Latin America, and Latin American-based entities on their foreign investments. Manuel also counsels clients on real estate investments, structured finance transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. Manuel serves as co-head of the Latin America practice at McDermott Will & Emery LLP. Manuel was past Board Chair of Pro-Israel America.
Sean Alpert
Board Member
Sean Alpert is a communications and marketing professional who has successfully brought cutting-edge technology solutions to market for business-to-business enterprises. He is the Senior Vice President of Portfolio Marketing at Genesys, Inc. Sean previously held leadership roles at Qualified and Salesforce, and has worked at Cisco Systems, Amazon.com, and Appian Corporation. He is an alumnus of Dartmouth College and received his Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He lives in the Washington, DC area with his wife Emily, and two daughters, Maya and Talia.
Michelle Lobel
Board Member
Michelle Lobel is the mother of five children, a dedicated member of the Pro-Israel political community, and Co-founder of Bryn Pharma LLC, a medical device start-up dedicated to developing the first patient friendly Nasal Epinephrine Spray as an alternative to the EpiPen. Michelle is involved in all aspects of the company with a focus on the patient’s need, user experience, advocacy, and marketing. Michelle currently serves on the Board of Directors of Food Allergy Fund, the leading nonprofit dedicated to food allergy research. Michelle was a founding Board Member of Pro Israel America.
David Meyerson
Board Member
David Meyerson is a long-time supporter of the US-Israel relationship. From 2011-2017, he was the Regional Political Director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Mountain West and Pacific Northwest, where he oversaw AIPAC’s political and policy operations in the region.
After that, David was a public affairs consultant based in London, where, among other projects, he led an issue-based campaign called Mainstream – chaired by Lord Ian Austin – during the 2019 General Election and worked in Ukraine, where he consulted for the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine.
David currently works as a legislative and international affairs director at a DC-based trade organization. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona and holds a J.D. from the University of Pacific-McGeorge School of Law.