Mercaz Team
Lay Leadership
Dr Stephen Wolnek - President MERCAZ Olami
Dr. Stephen S. Wolnek became President of MERCAZ Olami in June 2010, taking over from Rabbi Vernon Kurtz.
Dr. Wolnek has long been active in the Conservative Movement, and is a former President of MERCAZ USA and a former International President of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Dr. David Breakstone - International Vice-President of MERCAZ and Masorti Olami
Dr. David Breakstone is the Head of the Department for Zionist Activities of the World Zionist Organization, and a member of the WZO and JAFI Executives, where he is the official representative of MERCAZ Olami (the worldwide Zionist arm of Masorti / Conservative Judaism). Prior to assuming this position in the fall of 2000, Dr. Breakstone was the Director of Ramah Programs in Israel.
Professional Leadership
Rabbi Tzvi Graetz - Executive Director of Masorti Olami and MERCAZ Olami
Born in Israel, Rabbi Tzvi Graetz is a second generation Masorti (Conservative) Jew who grew up in all of the Israeli Masorti institutions. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with both a BA in Talmud and political science, as well as a master’s degree in administration of non-profit and public institutions. He was ordained in 2003 from the Schechter Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem.
