Masha Merkulova

Masha Merkulova is the Founder and CEO of Club Z, the fastest-growing Jewish youth movement in the United States dedicated to cultivating articulate, confident Zionist leaders. Since founding Club Z in 2011, she has transformed it from a grassroots initiative into a national network with hundreds of teens and alumni influencing thousands of peers on campuses and in communities across the country. Under her leadership, Club Z has pioneered a multi-tiered education and leadership model that equips high school students to stand proudly as Jews, advocate for Israel, and respond effectively to antisemitism.

Known for challenging conventional approaches to Jewish education, Masha and Club Z have illuminated what traditional models often fail to deliver and demonstrated a more impactful path forward—one rooted in rigorous history, Jewish peoplehood, and identity. Her thought leadership has been published in Newsweek, the Jerusalem Post, and JNS, and she is frequently sought after for commentary on strengthening Jewish identity in the Diaspora. Through Club Z, Masha has built not just an organization but a movement that is reshaping the landscape of Jewish education and activism in America.