SAM GRUNDWERG serves as World Chairman of Keren Hayesod–UIA (United Israel Appeal) since December 2018. Immediately prior to this role, he served as Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles as the senior representative of Israel to the Southwestern United States.

Before his diplomatic posting as Consul General, Mr. Grundwerg served as Director General in Israel for the World Jewish Congress, an international organization representing Jewish communities in over 100 countries to governments, parliaments and other international organizations.

Prior to joining the World Jewish Congress, Mr. Grundwerg worked as an attorney at a major international law firm in the United States and held positions in the fields of law and finance in the United States and Israel. He earned his Juris Doctor law degree from the University of Miami School of Law and holds an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Miami School of Business, as well as an undergraduate degree from Bar Ilan University.

Mr. Grundwerg was named two years in a row in 2022 and 2023 by the Jerusalem Post as one of the top 50 most influential Jews.

Born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida, Mr. Grundwerg moved to Israel in 1990 and made Aliyah soon afterward. Once in Israel, he served as a combat soldier in the IDF armored corps, and he currently serves in the IDF reserves as a casualty officer at the rank of Major.

Mr. Grundwerg is married to Julia, a nurse. They have three children, Elisha, Felicia and Sarita.