Roz Adin Vogelfanger has had a passion for Jewish life since she was a teenager in Brooklyn, New York. Shortly after high school graduation, she celebrated her 18th birthday on a ship bound for the fledgling State of Israel. Her destination: a year-long Habonim work-study program at Kibbutz Kfar Blum in the northern Galilee. This life-changing experience cemented her lifelong commitment to, and concern for, Israel and Jewish causes. Following her return to the United States, she spent 20 wonderful years teaching Hebrew in congregational schools in both New Jersey and Houston, Texas.
Since their move to Orange County in 2000, Roz and her husband Elliot have been active in numerous community organizations. In addition to their dedicated service to Jewish Federation, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) remains of particular importance to them: in 2004, Roz and Elliot received the Samuel Gendel Community Service Award from the Orange County AJC. The Vogelfangers are longtime members of University Synagogue and founders of the OC Jewish Community Scholar program, on whose board Roz also served. They support Heritage Pointe, the Merage JCC, and the Jewish Community Foundation. Roz is a life member of ORT and Hadassah. She supports the Anti-Defamation League and Planned Parenthood. Her husband Elliot is a founding member of Federation’s Solomon Society.
Roz has been a member of the Jewish Federation of Orange County Women’s Philanthropy Council for over 20 years, serving in various capacities. She is a proud Lion of Judah for 23 years and a Ruby Lion since 2008. Roz was presented with the prestigious Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award at the 2006 International Lion of Judah Conference in Washington, DC, and was honored at Women’s VOICES 2017 as Woman of the Year in recognition of her exceptional leadership and philanthropy.