Mountain States Regional Board Member Diana Zeff Anderson shares her passion for all things Israel and why she is a staunch supporter of ADL.
How are you involved with ADL?
I have been a board member since I moved back to Colorado from Israel almost ten years ago.
What do you do in your professional life?
My current work is philanthropic. I sit on the Jewish Colorado Board where I am also the Board Chair of the Israel Engagement Committee, and a member of the Planning and Grant Committee. I sit on the Board of Governors for the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), am on the Executive Committee and the National Council of AIPAC, and I have my own foundation, called Kesher. Prior to returning to Denver, I ran a chain of one-hour photo stores and a chain of housewares and gift stores all over Israel. At the height of my business operation there, I had a total of 13 stores.
Where were you born? From where do your ancestors hail?
I was born in Denver. My ancestors hail from Lithuania via Israel. My mom was born in the U.S., and my father was Israeli. He had a huge influence on me. Being Israeli is central to who I am; I feel more Israeli than American most of the time.
What’s your favorite holiday?
Passover. I love having the family around the table and the traditions of the holiday.
Do you have a favorite book?
I have four favorite books. Two are about Israel. On the subject of Israeli history, I recently read both My Promised Land by Ari Shavit and Like Dreamers by Yossi Klein Halevi – at the same time. Reading the two together gave me good perspective on Israel. It made me reflect that we need to stop being so obsessed with the country of Israel and get back to the people of Israel. These two books gave a face to the politics and the policies of the State in a unique way. The other two are The Book Thief, which has a brilliant perspective (Death is the narrator), and The English Patient, which is just so beautifully written.
What’s one thing every person should know or experience?
Being in Israel!
What teacher or class stands out to you the most in your education and why?
The classes I have taken at the Shalom Hartman Institute are so memorable and meaningful. The beautiful way the professors and fellows there build an argument is just stunning. Being part of Hartman has changed the way I think and the way I participate in a discussion. It’s simply amazing.
What are you passionate about personally? What can’t you stop talking about?
Israel engagement.
Where can we find you when you’re not working?
With my kids – I have four – traveling, or skiing and hiking in the mountains. I also volunteer on the board of Denver Academy, where my youngest child attends. Being involved in the school community is important to me.
Why do you choose to make a financial investment in ADL?
When I joined the Regional Board in 2007, I was treated to amazing speakers doing great things that I really value. We need pride in Jewish identity. Being part of ADL feeds into my own pride about being Jewish. One of the things I love about being Jewish is that we serve the entire community. ADL’s mission – to stop the defamation of the Jewish people AND to secure justice and fair treatment to all – embodies who we are as Jews. ADL has wide appeal, both inside and outside the Jewish community. Last year, I brought the heads of school for Denver Academy and Denver Waldorf to the Torch of Liberty dinner, and having these guests with me to witness ADL’s focus on doing the right thing for everyone made me proud to be associated with the organization. On the other hand, we don’t want to lose our roots. My two oldest children served in the Israel Defense Forces; one was wounded in the 2006 Lebanon war. Jewish philanthropy and a focus on Israel and the Jewish people is critical to who I am. I’m worried that most Jewish philanthropy isn’t given to Jewish causes. That’s dangerous because typically, only Jews help Jews. I’m so pleased with Scott Levin’s leadership as our Regional Director. His attention to the Jewish and Israeli narrative, in addition to championing all of our causes, is inspiring.
How do you envision ADL’s Centennial Theme Imagine a World Without Hate?
I believe that we’re getting there. I see my younger children and how they interact with the world. They can’t imagine why gender identity or color would affect how someone is treated. They don’t understand discrimination. It would never occur to my daughter that she would be excluded as a job applicant because she’s a woman. Imagining a World Without Hate is what ADL does.