Investment banker and Jewish education organizer Debra Kodish is a very busy woman.
Over the past three decades, with her expertise in finance, wealth management, accounting, strategy, capital markets, and fundraising, she has helped raise significant sums for the Israeli market. In 1995, she was an early team member of the Israel-based investment and brokerage house Nessuah Zannex (now Excellence Nessuah), and in 2000 she founded Keshet Capital (formerly Kodish Capital).
Today, Debra also serves as executive vice president of MEOR, a nonprofit organization that educates, empowers, and inspires Jewish students across 20 American college campuses. MEOR offers a comprehensive Jewish experience that integrates studying traditional texts with trips to Israel and international Jewish heritage sites; and on-campus social activities.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, in 1990 Debra was only 20 when she graduated from George Washington University with a BA in accounting. Before making aliyah in 1994, she worked for an accounting firm in Philadelphia, earning her CPA certification in 1992. Since obtaining a license from the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) of Israel in 1996, she works in investment banking and wealth management.
Debra lives in Neveh Daniel with her husband, Kenny, where they raised four children.
The Magazine recently caught up with her on Zoom.
With your demanding schedule, which includes work in finance, an executive role at MEOR, board positions in American businesses, travel, and family time, when do you sleep?
Sleep is overrated! In the early years, I could manage with less sleep, but now six or so hours will suffice with some extra sleep on Shabbat.
As a working mother, how did you manage to raise four children?
I have an amazing husband, who is incredibly supportive. I couldn’t have done what I’ve done without him at my side. I would be ‘out of the office’ between 4-7 p.m. every day to be with the kids, and then go back to work in the evenings.
How did you meet your Kenny?
When I made aliyah, I didn’t know anyone. I had no relatives or friends here in Israel. But I did have contact lists, and Kenny’s name appeared on three of them. I called him three weeks after my arrival and suggested we meet. We’ve been together for 29 years.
What inspired you to make aliyah?
I was raised to love Israel from afar. After my first trip here at 15 and again at 19, I decided to return, thinking I’d stay for maybe a year or two. Gradually, I came to feel that given Israel exists in my lifetime, this is where I wanted and needed to be.
How was your Hebrew in 1994? And now?
In 1994 it was minimal. After six months at WUJS [World Institute of Jewish Studies] in Arad, I started to work at Bank Leumi in Tel Aviv. No one in the office spoke English, and it forced me to learn quickly. Since then, I’ve been in organizations where being bilingual has been an asset, and I’m now comfortable speaking Hebrew. My advice to new immigrants is to focus on Hebrew wherever you can; learn and use it. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; we all still make them (just ask my kids).
When did you become interested in the financial world?
My dad was an accountant, and we talked a lot about the stock market at our dinner table. I was introduced to The Wall Street Journal at a young age. I got interested in the markets when I was 10 and, for a school project, we had to choose five stocks and track them. There was a competition to see who had the best portfolio. I won the contest.
That school project influenced me as a parent. I directed my children to invest their bar/bat-mitzva money in the stock market. They had to make their own decisions (with some guidance). My main piece of advice to them was: Choose companies whose products or businesses you love.
What can we learn from you about money?
In one sentence: What we don’t know about money can really hurt us. Unfortunately, women often distance themselves from the subject of money. Some have told me that the subject makes them ‘anxious.’ One of my passions is to educate women to become financially savvy – and ultimately to get comfortable with the topic.
Any advice to young university graduates in Israel today who want to succeed in the financial world?
Follow your passion. People often fail when they’re doing something they’d rather not be doing. When I left Bank Leumi after one year, people told me I was making a mistake and that I was crazy. But I couldn’t let others deter me from following my dream of working in the investment world and bringing capital to Israel.
How is it to be an observant woman in the financial world?
I didn’t grow up observant; but during the early years, my husband and I grew together in that direction. I initially wore a hat to keep my hair covered. But that changed after a few trips to London, where I’d be asked, ‘May I take your hat?’ I realized it was impolite to be sitting there wearing my hat. So, I switched to a sheitel [wig]. The decision wasn’t driven by religious conviction as much as by my determination to do what I needed to do to get a job done.
Tell us about MEOR.
As a college student, I experienced a desire to connect more Jewishly. I was searching for spirituality while wanting to deepen my understanding of Judaism. I also faced antisemitism on campus, a concern that remains highly relevant today.
When the founders of MEOR approached me to help out with their mission, I became dedicated to the cause of giving students a place to learn more about their identity and providing a way for students to strengthen their connection to Judaism. In the past 18 years since its founding, over 33,000 students have been impacted by MEOR.
Now that we see how college campuses are hotbeds of antisemitism in the US, I feel grateful that MEOR has built a strong presence on campuses to educate and inspire students.
Is there anything about your very full life that we haven’t covered?
I like spending time with my family, cooking for Shabbat, Zumba, yoga, photography, and playing [the board game] Catan with the kids. ■
Debra Kodish From Philadelphia to Neveh Daniel, 1994