Leonid Nevzlin

A renowned member of the business world and an active philanthropist, Leonid Nevzlin has been involved in and supportive of Jewish educational and academic projects for years.

He was a principle player in research projects regarding the history and heritage of the Jewish people, helping to establish the Moscow Jewish Cultural Center and the International Center for Russian and East European Jewish Studies in Moscow. He also worked in collaboration with ORT, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Joint Distribution Committee and the “Holocaust Fund” to found numerous Jewish educational programs.

Born in Moscow, Leonid Nevzlin graduated from the Russian State University of Oil and Gas and proceeded to earn his master’s degree in Management and Marketing from the Moscow Plechanov Highest School of Economics. He went on to serve in high-ranking roles in the Russian Federation, including terms as the first deputy chairman of the Board of Bank Menatep, first deputy chairman of Yukos Oil Company and deputy director of the news agency Itar Tass. He also served as president of the Russian Jewish Congress, deputy chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and rector of the Russian State University for the Humanities.

Leonid Nevzlin has been a great benefactor of Israel, establishing the Nadav Fund, which supports projects in Jewish studies, Jewish education, Israel-Diaspora Relations and Jewish Peoplehood, and supporting projects to improve connections between Jewish youth in Israel and around the world. He created the Leonid Nevzlin Research Center for Russian and East European Jewry at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem; the Nevzlin Program for the Study of Jewish Civilization at Tel Aviv University; and has been a staunch supporter of Reichman University, as well as the Masa Israel Journey and Birthright Israel-Mifgashim projects. 

In 2004, Leonid Nevzlin, together with the Government of Israel, created a “salvation package” to help preserve Israel’s Diaspora Museum. He now serves as chairman of its International Board of Governors and is collaborating with prominent figures in Israeli society and leaders of Jewish communities to make the museum a vibrant and innovative institution of knowledge and understanding about the Jewish civilization.

For his generous and widespread activity in the Jewish World, Leonid Nevzlin was elected to serve on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel and on the Board of Trustees of the United Israel Appeal.