Michael Freund is an author, journalist, and founder of Shavei Israel, a Jerusalem-based non-profit organization that aims to assist lost tribes and hidden Jewish communities to reconnect with Israel and the Jewish people.He was born in New York City in 1968 and raised in Westchester county, New York. After completing his undergraduate studies at Princeton University, where he wrote for and edited several publications, he obtained his MBA at Columbia University. He is a veteran syndicated columnist at The Jerusalem Post, where he has been writing for over 15 years.
Founder & Chairman Of Shavei Israel
Michael Freund served as the Deputy Communications director for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu during his first term in office. He is a graduate of Princeton University and received his MBA from Columbia University, and subsequently was granted rabbinical ordination. In the early 2000s, he founded the non-profit organization, Shavei Israel, to strengthen and reconnect Jewish communities around the world. With over two decades of experience in journalism, public affairs, and advocacy, Freund has devoted his career to promoting Jewish identity and heritage, and has been recognized as one of the leading voices in the field. Through his organization, he has spearheaded a wide range of initiatives, from assisting “lost” Jewish communities in countries like India and El Salvador to providing educational and cultural resources for Jewish people in countries such as Poland, Spain, and Portugal. His dedication and commitment to the cause of Jewish continuity have made him a respected and influential figure both within the Jewish community and beyond.