Gina Raphael: The Golda Project
Share
By Debra Eckerling
Gina Raphael is founder of The Golda Project; her co-founder is Shana Glassman. Their mission: Strengthening Israel, one woman at a time. This movement for women welcomes all Jews under the wide umbrella of allies for Israel.
Raphael fell in love with Israel during her junior year of college during a famous archaeological dig. She’s a graduate of Wellesley College and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. While she never realized her dream of becoming the “Indiana Jones of Israel,” she set in place a commitment to the country and the Jewish people that has now spanned almost four decades.
In addition to her philanthropy, Raphael runs the family business, Mickey Fine Pharmacy in Beverly Hills, with her husband. You may have seen them on the news during the recent Los Angeles wildfires, making sure displaced Angelenos had access to their medicine. Gina Raphael and Mickey Fine have won numerous awards for their community and Israel efforts.
After leading the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) for more than eight years, increasing donations by 1,000%, Raphael launched The Golda Project toward the end of last year.
“We wanted to create an organization that allowed everybody to participate,” Raphael says, “so that everybody could feel like a philanthropist and make a difference.”
Raphael believes the world of philanthropy has changed over the years.
“People are looking for different things — they’re looking for transparency, they’re looking to get involved, and they want a level of activity and also giving,” she says. “And they want to be able to see direct results of the work they do.”
The Golda Project looks for different projects that it can raise money for as a group and that have direct impact. Their events range from book clubs to social activities.
“We helped an Ethiopian family — the husband was killed in a war and so we crowdsourced and funded for two years of support for the family: a single mother with two kids,” Raphael explains. “I’m a huge dog lover, and we’re going to raise money for a dog-related project for the summer in honor of my birthday.”
She adds, “We’re working with Milken Community High School. We’re doing something with 11th and 12th-grade girls to inspire them academically to build stronger women for the future.”
They also partner with organizations such as Maman Nonprofit, which supports people experiencing hardships.
“Our goal is to partner with other organizations because we don’t want to raise money for our nonprofit,” she says. “We want to raise money for other people’s nonprofits.”
Anyone who wants to get involved can contact Raphael at The Golda Project.
“People can actually help us find a project,” Raphael says, “or we can create a project together.”
What led you to your advocacy? What is your mission and why?
What led me to advocacy was making a difference. As I turned to my 40s, so much of what I thought about was what would my legacy be? While I have worked with several organizations, the drive to start The Golda Project was compelling to ensure transparency of financial giving, to provide a strong voice with elected officials for Israel and the Jewish community at home, and to stand proud for Israel.
Also, as a mother of three adopted children from China, I have always been committed to ensuring acceptance of Jews across backgrounds. We need to do more to welcome Jews from different places and observances.
Advocating for Israel gives my life meaning. I am up most days at 4:30 a.m. doing work for Israel before work and taking my 16-year old to school, and after work, leading the way for real change and bringing women together.
How has philanthropy enriched your life?
Philanthropy adds meaning to my life. Outside of my family and business (and rescue dogs), my entire life is spent focusing on the Jewish community at home and on the state of Israel.
When was the first time you participated in Tzedakah?
My first real moment of leadership in the Jewish community was in Philadelphia, where I lived for a year. I hosted Yael Arad, the first Olympic medalist in Israel’s history. Since then, I have been hosting events for the Jewish community and also donating. My first act — it was not quite tzedakah — but it was an Israel bond purchase of $5,000 in 1992.
What are simple ways anyone can give back/participate in Tikkun Olam?
When we started The Golda Project, we designed it so that every woman could be a philanthropist and feel good about giving, and that crowdsourcing of giving could be meaningful.
We are coming together to help Shir Siegel, daughter of hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel, to have a joyous wedding in May and bring life to their family. Together, as a community, we can make a difference.
Who inspires you?
Golda Meir inspired me as a female leader. She has a great quote: “Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.”
I am also inspired by Rabbanit Michelle Cohen Farber. I started studying Daf Yomi five years ago and am part of the first group of women — there are more than 500 women — to complete the cycle of the Talmud in two years together.
What is your favorite Jewish meal?
I love Shabbat. I love the smell of Shabbat when I am baking Challah at home. I have the best and easiest recipe.
The key in the challah is to double the sugar! The other key in the good challah is the everything bagel seasoning from either Costco or Restaurant Depot.
What’s really special about the bracha I use is that some of the blessings are in English. Every step of the way you say a blessing. For me, that makes it even more meaningful.
Learn more at TheGoldaProject.org.
