Suzanne Patt Benvenisti

Vice President, Israel & Overseas, Jewish Federations of North America

Suzanne (Suzie) Patt Benvenisti serves Jewish Federations of North America as Vice President, Israel & Overseas, based in the United States.  In this position, Suzie serves as the lead I&O professional in North America working closely with senior Federation leaders to strengthen knowledge about and commitment to Federation’s overseas agenda; manage ongoing relations with strategic partners; and be responsible for financial oversight and grant management related to Federation’s work overseas.

Suzie recently concluded a transformative three-year tenure as Executive Director of Hadassah Offices in Israel, where she led a multidisciplinary team and represented Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, in its Israeli operations, including advancing major projects within Hadassah’s hospitals and youth villages. Her leadership during and after October 7, 2023, was marked by resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to community, helping raise critical funds and launch impactful initiatives, particularly in the realms of mental health, rehabilitation and education.     Her previous roles include serving as Director General of the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel, where she advanced the Center’s mission to inform public discourse and policy through rigorous research. Suzie also held senior positions in the U.S. health sector, including Director of Public Policy at Aetna, and has consulted for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations across the U.S., Israel, and Rwanda.      

Suzie holds a master's in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor's in political science from Barnard College, Columbia University, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Suzie currently resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and three children.