St. Louis nonprofit Shaving Israel has announced that Dr. Laura Goldmeier has been selected as the organization’s new president, succeeding the group’s longtime president Joel Levy.

Levy has served as president of Shaving Israel since its founding in 2005. He worked with Shaving Israel founder and Holocaust survivor Rachel Miller to create the organization’s board and governing documents and to become a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

Shaving Israel provides Israeli soldiers with items they need in the field, but are not provided by the Israel Defense Forcesd — including a variety of  personal care items and toiletries. A May 2018 story noted that the group had raised nearly $300,000 to help support Israeli soldiers. Money raised has gone to purchase fleece sweatshirts for soldiers serving on Israel’s northern border with Syria; CamelBak-style hydration backpacks for soldiers serving in hot desert areas; quick-dry towels for combat soldiers; and other much-needed items such as socks, T-shirts, cell phone batteries, combination locks and toiletries.

Levy also created and developed the nonprofit’s website, ShavingIsrael.org and has played an important role in helping to manage the financial issues of transferring funds to Israeli vendors who supply the necessary items for lone soldiers and recruits in need.

He will continue as president emeritus and board member of Shaving Israel.

Goldmeier is a St. Louis native who graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School and Washington University, where she received her bachelor’s degree and her M.D. Goldmeier did a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. She recently retired from practice after nearly 34 years. 

“I first heard about Shaving Israel from my mother through her friendship with Rachel Miller, one of the founders of this organization,” Goldmeier said in a statement. “I am honored to have been elected president and honored to succeed Joel Levy, who has done so much for Shaving Israel.”

Goldmeier is a member of Congregation B’nai Amoona, where she chairs the Social Action Committee. She is also an associate member of Nusach Hari B’nai Zion. She and her husband, Dr. David Goldmeier, have two adult children.