ABOUT US
ABOUT NETA
Neta Weigert is co-founder of Nifgashot and leads its Israeli women branch, managing the initiative since its inception. An Israeli living in New York, Neta felt a strong calling to take action and support Israel from abroad in the aftermath of October 7. She envisioned and established the community, and since then has been deeply involved in every aspect of its growth—planning and leading gatherings, fostering meaningful connections, and expanding the initiative’s reach.
Neta is a social entrepreneur with extensive experience in community building. In the past, she initiated programs aimed at strengthening Israeli and Jewish identity among youth in New York, led groups for Israeli women, and developed a wide range of community-based activities across New Jersey.
A former officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Neta served in senior leadership roles across communications, public relations, and government relations. Her work included managing high-level forums, organizing large-scale events, and building relationships with key stakeholders and influencers in Israeli society.
Neta believes that Nifgashot plays a vital role in building bridges between Israelis and American Jews—strengthening mutual understanding, deepening connections, and fostering lasting support for Israel and unity among the Jewish people.
ABOUT WENDY
Wendy is a co-founder of Nifgashot. She is deeply committed to strengthening Jewish communal life and supporting Israel. She was raised by parents who impressed upon her that Jews in the world are only safe because of Israel. Her father, born in 1936, understood in a deeply personal way how different his fate might have been had he been born in Europe rather than New York City. That awareness shaped her identity and continues to guide her sense of responsibility to the Jewish people.
In the aftermath of October 7, Wendy felt a profound sense of grief and urgency. The brutality of the attacks, the suffering of the hostages, and the reactions she witnessed in the broader public compelled her to take a more active role in strengthening connection, identity, and solidarity within her community.
Professionally, Wendy is a divorce mediator and attorney focused on non-adversarial divorce, helping families navigate transition with dignity and respect.
Her connection to the Jewish community is central. She is an active member of her synagogue, co-leads a Shalom Group for mothers of college-aged children, and is a member of the ADL Lawyers Division. Wendy is proud of her children’s deep involvement in Jewish life through their participation in synagogue activities, BBYO, the JCC, Hillel, and Chabad.
Through Nifgashot, Wendy helps create a space where Israeli and American Jewish women come together to share cultures, learn from one another’s traditions, and build meaningful, lasting relationships. The community reflects her commitment to Jewish unity, strengthening ties to Israel, and actively confronting antisemitism, while fostering a sense of belonging among women who share these values.
Nifgashot (Hebrew for “women meeting together”) is a grassroots community bringing together Jewish American and Israeli women across New York City.
Founded on the Upper West Side in September 2024, Nifgashot was born in the wake of October 7th out of a shared desire to create meaningful connection, cultural exchange, and collective support during a time of profound uncertainty.
The initiative began when two women — one Jewish American and one Israeli — met at a community gathering and recognized a powerful opportunity: to build a warm, welcoming space where Jewish women could come together to strengthen ties between American Jewry and Israeli Jewry, learn about each other’s culture, deepen their relationship with Israel, and stand in solidarity against rising antisemitism and anti-Zionist sentiment.
Today, Nifgashot is a growing community rooted in friendship, identity, and action. Since launching, it has grown to over 400 women, hosting monthly gatherings ranging from Israeli cooking classes to walking tours exploring NYC through a Jewish lens to Holocaust remembrance events.
