J Street Board Member

Ilana Horowitz Ratner’s work integrates her skills as a lawyer, community activist, Jewish educator and leadership coach. She has facilitated study and training sessions for those committed to social change through various organizations in Cleveland, New York and Jerusalem.

Ilana is a member of the core team of the multi-year Prism Project: Expanding Israel conversations and learning in Jewish Cleveland with InSyte Partners, the founder and an advisor to The Cuyahoga County Immigration Legal Services Fund at The Cleveland Foundation, president of The Horowitz Ratner Family Foundation and a member of the New Israel Fund Board.

She was a children’s and family law attorney for more than two decades, adult Jewish educator for more than three decades and a Hebrew school principal. She was the founding board chair of The Pardes High School, a board member at Encounter Programs, The Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, The Nesiya Institute, Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau, The Center for Families & Children and Kidsohio. In conjunction with her work at Kidsohio, she was co-founder of PositivelyKids! She was a board member of The Agnon/Mandel Jewish Day School, now as a life trustee. She received a BA in philosophy from Goucher College, a JD from New York Law School and a coaching certificate from The Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and studied at Hebrew University. She is married to Chuck. They are both dual citizens. Together they have four married children and seven grandchildren.

Ilana has been engaged with J Street since 2018 and served on the Executive Committee of the J Street Cleveland Chapter since 2022. She continues to play a significant role in local fundraising efforts for the chapter and has recently stepped into a national role, joining J Street’s new Advisory Council which will be established in the second half of 2024. The Advisory Council will support J Street in cementing its place as a vital mainstream home and voice for the moderate majority of Jewish Americans who care deeply about Israel’s future and share a commitment to a set of values grounded in democratic and Jewish principles. Ilana also meets regularly with Members of Congress on behalf of J Street. She is a member of J Street’s Finance Committee and Envoys Circle.