Deputy Director of Government Affairs

Lillian “Lily” Adelstein joins J Street after several years working and interning in Congress. From her first internship in high school for the Secretary of the Senate, to becoming a full time congressional staffer in the House of Representatives, Lily is fascinated with the intricacies of governance and the US’s role in foreign affairs.

After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in political science, philosophy and economics, Lily moved to Rwanda to be a Peace Corps volunteer. For 27 months, she served in the education sector, witnessing firsthand the resilience and progress of Rwanda in the aftermath of the devastating 1994 genocide. This experience deeply influenced Lily, igniting her commitment to fostering peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.

Now, as a member of the J Street team, Lily draws upon her diverse background, from startups to government, to advocate for a peaceful and just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Inspired by her time in Rwanda, she is dedicated to promoting dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation in pursuit of a secure and prosperous future for all stakeholders in the region.