February 28, 1999
Adar 12 5759
Jerusalem
Jewish Agency for Israel Board of Governors elects Alex Grass
as next Chairman of JAFI Board of Governors. Mr. Grass has an illustrious
record of involvement in causes relating to The State of Israel, World Jewry,
and the United States Jewish Community
The Jewish Agency Board of Governors elected last week, Alex Grass as the next
Chairman of JAFI Board of Governors. Alex Grass will assume his position as
Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) Board of Governors in June 1999
and will succeed the current Chairman, Charles (Corky) Goodman, who has been
Chairman of the JAFI Board of Governors since June 1995.
Past Chairmen of the
JAFI Board of Governors have been Mendel Kaplan (1987-95), Jerrold C. Hoffberger
(1983-87), and founding Chairman, Max M. Fisher (1971-83).
Mr. Grass has an illustrious record of involvement in causes relating to The State of
Israel, World Jewry, and the United States Jewish Community. Currently, he serves
on the Board of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) and has served as its Chairman of
the Board, National Campaign Chairman, Associate General Chairman and National
Vice Chairman. He is a trustee and has served as Treasurer of the United Israel
Appeal (UIA). Mr. Grass is also a trustee and member of the Executive Committee of
the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). In addition he has served
on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel, as President of the Israel
Education Fund and on the Board of Operation Independence for Israel. In June
1996 Grass was elected Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem.
A past President of the Harrisburg United Jewish Community, Mr. Grass has also
served as General Chairman of the Harrisburg United Jewish Appeal and Israel Bond
Campaigns. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Harrisburg
Jewish Home for the Aged and Vice President of Temple Ohev Shalom.
Mr. Grass was the 1993 recipient of the American Friends of the Hebrew University
National Scopus Award, the 1993 Central Pennsylvania Entrepreneur of the Year
Award, the 1993 University of Florida Distinguished Alumnus Award, the 1991 West
Shore Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year Award and the 1986
Harrisburg Business Leader of the Year Award. He has also been recognized with
the Torch of Learning Award by the American Friends of the Hebrew University, and
the Torch of Liberty Award by the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith (ADL).
Mr. Grass is a member of the Bar in both Pennsylvania and Florida and is a 1949
graduate of the University of Florida School of Law.
Alex Grass is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sera-Tec Biologicals,
an American Biotechnological company.
Mr. Grass is the founder of "Rite Aid" corporation the USA's largest drugstore chain
with 2,795 stores located in the eastern United States, and headed the company for
over 30 years, until March 1995. During this period Grass also served as director of
the National Association of Chain Drugstores, and served as its Chairman of the
Board from 1986-87.
For more information contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media, JAFI
Tel: 972-2-6202780
Mobile: 972-51-601-706
