The leaders steering Israel Bonds through a historic moment

Stein succeeds Larry Olschwanger, a longstanding Dallas-based advocate who was instrumental in the organization's response following the devastating October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.

Dani Naveh, president and CEO of Israel Bonds, said of the new chair, "Laura Stein is a role model of unconditional support for the State of Israel and its people. Our lay leaders play a decisive role in Israel Bonds campaigns—I am deeply grateful to Larry Olschwanger for his tireless dedication and the profound impact he made during one of the most consequential periods in Israel Bonds' history. I look forward to seeing Laura inspire new investors, new leaders, and new expressions of solidarity with Israel."

Andrew M. Hutter, MD, National and International Chairman of the Board of Israel Bonds, added, “Laura Stein’s election reflects both the strength and continuity of leadership within Israel Bonds at a pivotal moment in its 75-year history. Her deep commitment to the mission and proven record of service ensure that this next chapter will continue to strengthen the vital bond between the State of Israel and global investors. I have had the pleasure of working with Laura in her role as board member the past few years and I am excited about working with her in her new position.”

Dr. Hutter went on to say: “I also want to express deep appreciation to Larry Olschwanger for his dedicated service and leadership as chair, particularly during a period marked by extraordinary challenges and significance for Israel Bonds and the State of Israel.”

Olschwanger became involved with Israel Bonds after a formative first trip to Israel in 2010.

For someone who grew up in Dallas, where Jewish residents made up just one percent of the population, stepping off the plane in Tel Aviv and seeing the Star of David emblazoned across the many stationed aircraft and terminal flags was enough to move him to tears.

“When I came back to Dallas, the people I was close with saw my passion towards Israel and encouraged me to get involved,” said OIschwanger. "I got started in a very small way on my local council, and the work just resonated with me.”

Olschwanger continued, “Israel Bonds is a unique organization because people aren’t donating. They are investing – and they get a good return. It's the most impactful way to support the State of Israel."

Olschwanger was elected the Council chair in March 2023. His tenure was shaped almost immediately by the events of October 7, which prompted Israel Bonds to launch a sweeping emergency investment campaign unlike any other in the organization’s history.

Within 30 days of October 7, after a sprint of daily calls, Zooms, and lay leader outreach, the organization generated over $1 billion globally for the State of Israel.

"It was a galvanizing campaign," Olschwanger said. "The economic cost to the country was tremendous; Israel essentially shut down, so it was the most fulfilling period of leadership I’ve had in any organization. Hopefully, we never face it again, but it was a unique opportunity to contribute to our beloved Israel."

He was also among the first to travel to Israel on a solidarity delegation with Israel Bonds, visiting the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, the community whose residents were brutally attacked by militants, and the memorial site of the Nova music festival, where concert-goers were victims of terrorism.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel Bonds has raised more than $7.7 billion globally, bringing its total to more than $57 billion since its founding over 75 years ago.

Stein, a Los Angeles native, brings to the role a distinguished professional record and decades of deep institutional involvement with Israel Bonds. She is Of Counsel at Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, where she has practiced securities class action litigation and asset recovery law for more than three decades.

Her relationship with Israel Bonds is as personal as it is professional. "When I was Bat Mitzvah-ed on Masada, my mother gave me my first Israel bond," she said. "When my daughter was Bat Mitzvah-ed on Masada, we did the same thing. Israel Bonds has always been the most direct path to show my Zionism and support my ancestral homeland."

Her leadership within Israel Bonds spans many years, including her service as Chair of the Los Angeles Women's Division and Chair of the Los Angeles Leadership Council.  She has also served with distinction on the National Campaign Advisory Council, and is a member of the US Board of Directors of the Development Corporation for Israel. Her broader communal footprint is equally expansive: she serves on the Boards of StandWithUs, WIZO (Women's International Zionist Organization), the Los Angeles Board of JNF and Beat the Streets Los Angeles, among other important efforts.

To Stein, those commitments are not competing priorities.

"I see what Israel Bonds does as complementary and supportive of the work of every other organization I'm involved with," she said. "It's about opportunity and education – once people understand the real impact of investing in Israel Bonds, they see that this is a very effective, efficient way to make a difference."

Central to Stein’s work ahead will be reactivating a community that has given enormously over the past few years but feels the fatigue of supporting Israel during a difficult period.

“We've all been through a lot," Stein said. "But I want our lay leaders to understand we still need them more so than ever.”

The current network of geographically diverse lay leaders is also part of Olschwanger’s legacy as national chair. During his tenure, Israel Bonds expanded into cities with sizable Jewish populations, like Phoenix and Denver, that lacked local representation by the organization.

“I want to engage them, reset, and encourage them to reach out to their networks to have conversations and create opportunities to talk about the real impact that Israel Bonds has," Stein said.

Since its founding in 1951, Israel Bonds has pursued a single mission: to raise capital for Israel's economic development. The 75th anniversary arrives at a moment that underscores the urgency and the enduring relevance of that mission.

For Stein, the role carries a weight that is historic and deeply personal. "I couldn't imagine a greater honor," she said. “I feel like I'm filling the big shoes of my mother, who played such an active role in so many important Jewish organizations. I welcome this chance to make a real difference."

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