Joseph Gitler
Founder & Chairman, Leket Israel
In 2003, Joseph Gitler founded Leket Israel –The National Food Bank (formerly Table to Table) as a one-man volunteer operation to respond to the paradox of growing hunger and poverty in Israel on the one hand and significant food waste on the other. Today, Joseph’s operation has grown to become the only food rescue and resource organization in Israel. Leket Israel supplies surplus food and nutritional support to over 200 non-profit organizations serving more than 175,000 people in Israel weekly.
As Founder and Chairman, Joseph has worked to expand the scope of Leket Israel’s capabilities. Today, Leket thrives with the assistance of 105 employees, 12 delivery vehicles and tens of thousands of volunteers – a direct result of Joseph’s dedication.
Outside of his work with Leket Israel, Joseph is a founding member of Ten Gav and Israel Gives, as well as an active board member of re-specs, The Meir Medical Center, Camp Moshava Canada, Dualis, Mercaz Panim and Artists & Musicians for Israel. Joseph is also the Israeli representative for the Global FoodBanking Network.
Joseph received the coveted Presidential Award for Volunteerism from former President Shimon Peres, accepted the Ruppin Academic Center’s 2017 Honorary Fellowship, received the 2018 Cohon Award, was named the 2018 Man of the Year by the Ra’anana Rotary, was awarded Beit Hapalmach’s 2016 Yigal Alon Prize, and was selected to deliver a 2017 JedX talk and a 2015 ELI talk. He is a recipient of the Inaugural 2014 Bonei Zion Prize and named one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world. Most recently, Joseph was selected to receive the 2018 Compassion Award for Children and Youth at Risk.
Joseph received his juris doctor degree from Fordham University. He also has a bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva University. He resides in Ra’anana, Israel with his wife and their five children.
Leket Israel, the country’s only food rescue organization, works tirelessly to lead the safe, effective and efficient collection and distribution of surplus nutritious food in Israel to those in need. Founded in 2003, Leket Israel distributes over 40 million pounds of produce and perishable goods to Israel’s socio-economic periphery through its partnerships with 200 nonprofit organizations, reaching more than 175,000 people in need each week. For more information, visit www.leket.org/en
As Founder and Chairman, Joseph has worked to expand the scope of Leket Israel’s capabilities. Today, Leket thrives with the assistance of 105 employees, 12 delivery vehicles and tens of thousands of volunteers – a direct result of Joseph’s dedication.
Outside of his work with Leket Israel, Joseph is a founding member of Ten Gav and Israel Gives, as well as an active board member of re-specs, The Meir Medical Center, Camp Moshava Canada, Dualis, Mercaz Panim and Artists & Musicians for Israel. Joseph is also the Israeli representative for the Global FoodBanking Network.
Joseph received the coveted Presidential Award for Volunteerism from former President Shimon Peres, accepted the Ruppin Academic Center’s 2017 Honorary Fellowship, received the 2018 Cohon Award, was named the 2018 Man of the Year by the Ra’anana Rotary, was awarded Beit Hapalmach’s 2016 Yigal Alon Prize, and was selected to deliver a 2017 JedX talk and a 2015 ELI talk. He is a recipient of the Inaugural 2014 Bonei Zion Prize and named one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world. Most recently, Joseph was selected to receive the 2018 Compassion Award for Children and Youth at Risk.
Joseph received his juris doctor degree from Fordham University. He also has a bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva University. He resides in Ra’anana, Israel with his wife and their five children.
Leket Israel, the country’s only food rescue organization, works tirelessly to lead the safe, effective and efficient collection and distribution of surplus nutritious food in Israel to those in need. Founded in 2003, Leket Israel distributes over 40 million pounds of produce and perishable goods to Israel’s socio-economic periphery through its partnerships with 200 nonprofit organizations, reaching more than 175,000 people in need each week. For more information, visit www.leket.org/en
