Eliana Budoff is passionate about all she does within the Jewish community.
A second-generation Hadassah member, Budoff is active in Hadassah’s Greater Washington region. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and anthropology from George Washington University and a master’s degree in Israel studies from Hebrew University.
Budoff works as a senior grant specialist for Moishe House International. She is a D.C. chapter board member for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and chair of its Young Leadership Advisory Committee. She was recently selected to be part of Hadassah’s third cohort of Evolve Leadership Fellows.
Originally from northern Virginia, Budoff lives in Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., with her boyfriend.
Tell me about your Jewish upbringing and background.
I grew up in a Reform household; very Zionist. We were involved in our synagogue, Temple B’nai Shalom in Fairfax Station; my dad was on the board. We were always going to Friday night services. We were active in the JCC. And so I think that really made it a seamless transition when I went to college and [became] involved in organizations and in the community.
What prompted you to pursue Israel studies and get involved with Israel advocacy groups?
I think being exposed to it in my childhood; my dad was always knowledgeable and talking about Israel politics. He held a discussion group called Israel Talks once a month, so I had that foundation. But when I became involved with Hillel at GW, there was a spark lit under me that loved Jewish life and loved what I was doing. I went on birthright and I thought, ‘Oh my God, I have to get back here.’
How do you feel about being named a 2024 Hadassah Evolve Leadership Fellow?
I’m excited. I think it’s an opportunity to really help grow the next generation of Hadassah leaders to have an impact and that’s what I’m looking for: a way to have an impact in the community, a way to be trained as an emerging leader. So I think it’s a really great opportunity and I’m excited for what’s ahead.
How have you grown as a leader over the years?
I would say that the majority of my leadership experience is with Friends of the IDF. When I sat down several years ago with one of the full-time staff, and we brainstormed starting a Young Leadership chapter, I really never thought that it would come to the scale that it’s come to. It’s amazing. I think watching something grow has taught me how to lead. I lead by example, and I think something I’ve learned is to try to become involved in as many different facets of something as I can and learn. That’s one of the things that led me to the Evolve fellowship: post-Oct. 7, [I wanted to] get involved in more. That led me also to Hadassah, my wanting to learn to keep having an impact.
What are your responsibilities as a senior grant specialist for Moishe House [International]?
Day to day, I write grant proposals [and] reports, make donor impact reports mainly to federations or foundations that are funding the work that we do. We write to these organizations across the world so Moishe House can do continuous work around the world. Something that I really value about my job is that I get to look into the impact stories. I get to see the pictures; I get to see those smiling faces of Jews who are involved in community building across the world.
I think the impact is similar to Hadassah, really, build[ing] that next generation of Jewish community, of Zionism, of people valuing their Judaism, connecting to their Jewish identity, of connecting with other Jews. Our 75,000-plus participants across the world are doing just that.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to another young Jewish leader just starting out?
Become involved with organizations where you’re passionate about the mission and the impact. Somewhere like Hadassah, I’m passionate about their Zionism, women’s reproductive health care, all their Youth Village work, medical care, advocacy against antisemitism. So when you feel something behind the mission, your work for them is going to be that much more impactful and effective because you genuinely believe in it.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I love to run; that’s my major hobby outside of work. I do that most days of the week. I’m an avid softball player; I used to play very competitively, and now I play on two slow-pitch teams, which is fun. I spend time with my boyfriend. I love art; I’m not really an artist of sorts, but I like paint by number.
