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Yair Lootsteen, representing ARZENU, has begun his term as Head of the World Zionist Organization (WZO) Department of Irgun and Israelis Overseas, including oversight of ties with worldwide Zionist Federations and the WZO. Born in London and raised in Canada, Yair made Aliyah in 1979. He is an attorney who served for many years as a lawyer and officer in the IDF, a former congregational chair, and has been a dedicated leader within the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), (Reform Judaism in Israel) completing six years as its board chair in 2025.

Yair has been part of the ARZENU National Institutions team, which now includes AID-Coalition since 2012 and, from 2018–2025, served as a Deputy Chair of KK”L–JNF, where he led the ARZENU and Reform Movement delegation. He is deeply committed to global Reform, Liberal and Progressive Judaism and the values of pluralism, democracy, and equality. Yair hopes to deepen and broaden the ties between the National Institutions and our Movement worldwide. His dedication to supporting Israelis around the world and strengthening the bond between Israelis and the entire Jewish people rises above partisan politics. His immediate outreach to Federation chairs across the globe shows his commitment to Zionism and to unity, partnership, and authentic and broad-based