Friends of ELNET

 In 2007, a group of concerned Jewish leaders from the United States and Europe established ELNET to strengthen relations between Europe and Israel and foster pro-active communities in Europe to advocate for closer bilateral ties.

Over the last decade, Friends of ELNET (FELNET) has been working closely with ELNET offices in Europe and Israel to support this mission. As a fundraising arm of the network, FELNET provides financial support to the affiliates, fostering pro-active communities in key European countries.

Given the importance of transatlantic relations, FELNET serves as a unique bridge between the US, Europe and Israel. As such, FELNET organizes educational activities which facilitate deeper understanding of Europe-Israel relations among key US-based donors and stakeholders.

Friends of ELNET is a nonprofit organization that is tax exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and is a publicly supported charity described under Internal Revenue Code Sections 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) and 509(a)(1).

David Siegel

President, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
David Siegel is former Israeli diplomat involved in foreign policy formulation at the highest levels, including as Consul General to the Southwest United States. He served as the Chief of Staff to Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Foreign Ministry’s International Organizations Department and Chief of Staff to three of Israel’s Ambassadors to the United States. He holds an MA in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a BA in political science from the University of Vermont.

Carole Mostow

Officer / Board Secretary, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Carole Mostow is the Director of the Hochberg Family Foundation and Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Next Realty. Previously, she was the VP of Accounting for a closely held corporation and served for many years as Associate Professionalism Counsel to the American Bar Association. She is active in the Chicago Jewish Community, including as a member of the Board of Directors for StandWithUs Midwest and as Secretary to the Friends of ELNET. She holds a JD and a BA from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign.
Speaker photos for invitations (500 × 450 px) (34)

Jay Haberman

Chief Development Officer, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Jay Haberman is the former Director of Multigenerational Philanthropy at AIPAC. For twenty years, Jay held successive leadership positions within AIPAC's New York/Northeast region. Jay's entrepreneurial spirit led him to found the AIPAC Real Estate Division, a groundbreaking initiative that transformed fundraising efforts. Jay spearheaded several divisions and affinity groups expanding the organization’s reach and impact. He holds a BA degree from Ithaca College.

Siamak Kordestani

West Coast Director, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Siamak "Sia" Kordestani is the former Assistant Director of the American Jewish Committee's Los Angeles Regional Office, where he worked on international relations, legislative affairs, interethnic/interreligious ties, donor relations and leadership development. Previously, he was Senior Legislative Assistant to Congressman Brad Sherman in Washington, DC, advising him on foreign policy, trade, labor, immigration, and energy. He also worked for the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

Sari Steinberg

Midwest Regional Director, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Sari Steinberg is former Midwest Regional Director of Beit Halochem and Midwest Regional Coordinator of CAMERA. She has been a sought-after consultant for numerous nonprofits regionally and nationally. A Chicago native, Sari launched her professional career while living in Israel for seven years. Her academic path includes the University of Pennsylvania, The Hebrew University, Spertus Institute, and Matan, and she was a 2021 Chicago Women inPower Fellow.

Mark Sachs

Southeast Regional Director, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Mark has been active in pro-Israel advocacy, public affairs, and international relations for decades as both an avocation and vocation. More recently, Mark worked as an AIPAC Director for almost a decade, first overseeing Atlanta and then major cities across Florida. Post-Covid, Mark served as the Sr. VP of Client Success at a global strategic communications firm where he worked with a dozen pro-Israel, Jewish communal, and Israeli organizations, in addition to co-authoring a book, The Cancel Culture Curse. Prior to joining ELNET, Mark provided strategic communications consulting to ELNET through the firm he founded. Mark has had articles published in major outlets such as JNS.org, The Hill, National Interest, and Honest Reporting.

Randi Halperin

Administrative Coordinator, Friends of ELNET (FELNET)
Randi Halperin has spent much of her professional career working within the Jewish-Israeli nonprofit arena. She previously worked for several organizations, including American Society for Yad Vashem and American Friends of Magen David Adom. In addition, she served as Production Manager for a boutique direct marketing firm. Randi received a BA degree in History and Judaic Studies from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

You can support ELNET’s work by donating online to Friends of ELNET.