(JTA) — Dov Lipman, the first American-Israeli to serve in the Knesset in three decades, has begun working at the World Zionist Organization.
The former parliamentarian, a self-described haredi Orthodox moderate, is now director of public diplomacy at the WZO’s Department of Zionist Operations, the Jerusalem Post reported.
A teacher and principal in Cincinnati and Baltimore before immigrating to Israel in 2004 with his wife and children, Lipman, 44, served in the Knesset as a member of the Yesh Atid party from 2013 to 2015.
He voluntarily relinquished his American citizenship upon taking office.
In his new role at the WZO, Lipman said he plans to use multimedia to reach out to college campuses and try to bring together the numerous organizations involved in public diplomacy on behalf of Israel.
“His passion for Israel advocacy and education is infectious and I have no doubt we will further our common agenda of bringing a younger generation closer to Israel,” David Breakstone, the WZO’s vice chairman, said. “His stature as a former MK and his standing both in Israel and abroad give added prestige to the WZO, which will help us further advance our goals.”
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