Rebecca Vilkomerson is a distinguished American Jewish activist, strategist, and author. She served as the Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) from 2009 to 2019.
During her decade at the helm of JVP, Vilkomerson led the organization through a period of transformative growth. She transitioned JVP from a local advocacy group into the largest Jewish pro-Palestine organization in the U.S., with membership surging from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands. Beyond her organizational achievements, she is a prolific commentator whose essays frequently appear in international outlets such as Haaretz, The Nation, and Al Jazeera. In 2014, she was named one of the “Forward 50” most influential American Jews. Her three years of living in Israel with her family provided a foundational, firsthand perspective that informed her systemic critique of occupation policies.
She remains one of the most steadfast proponents of the BDS movement within the American Jewish community, a stance that has made her a frequent target of pro-Zionist groups. Between 2023 and 2026, although having stepped down as Executive Director, she remains active on the front lines as a senior consultant and independent activist. She has participated in numerous protests against U.S. military aid policies and works to expose how the Israeli government utilizes high-tech surveillance to oppress Palestinians.
Her confidence in peace is firm. She once wrote in an article: “The public naming of JVP on this list is significant. Clearly, the Israeli government is very aware that increasing numbers of Jews and all people worldwide support the BDS movement, and are seeking to intimidate and coerce us into silence. It will not work. JVP members have no doubt about the justice of fighting for equality and freedom for all people in Israel/Palestine, and the legitimacy and efficacy of BDS to bring that day closer. As long as Israel continues to violate the fundamental rights of Palestinians, people will continue to speak out -Palestinians, Jews, and people of conscience the world over.”