IsraelCast Episode 204

Over a decade ago, Masha Merkulova saw the worrying trend of Jewish students feeling increasingly disconnected from Israel. Her solution was to found Club Z, which provides teens with a platform to connect to Israel, Jewish history, Zionism, and one another. Starting in the Bay Area, Cluz Z now has locations nationwide and has helped hundreds of students grow into outspoken Zionist activists. Merkulova returns to IsraelCast to discuss the empowerment Club Z teens feel, antisemitism on campuses, and why they search for hostile environments rather than shy away from them.

Masha Merkulova is the Founder and Executive Director of Club Z. Previously, she spent more than a decade as a Jewish community activist in the San Francisco Bay Area, spearheading efforts to address antisemitism on campus and to advocate for Israel. As an expert on teen Israel advocacy, Masha has addressed Jewish National Fund-USA’s Conversations on Zionism, Chabad on Campus International Convening, the Combat Antisemitism Movement Annual Dinner, and the Israel Symposium at the BBYO International Convention, among others.