Zoya Raynesa Managing Director on the Senior Relationship Management team at Bank of America, a group of professionals who are responsible for enhancing and driving relationships between Bank of America and key institutional investor clients. In addition to serving on the board of TTS, Ms. Raynes is very active in the nonprofit and philanthropic community and is President of the Jewish Communal Fund (JCF), a board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Jewish Heritage Program (JHP), Congregation Shearith Israel (the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue), and UJA NY’s Investment Management Division. She is also a 2012 Wexner Heritage Fellow and was named to the Jewish Week’s inaugural “36 Under 36” list in 2008. Ms. Raynes was born in Kiev and immigrated to the U.S. with her family in 1979. She is married to Robert Friedman and together they are the proud parents of Avi Max and Samuel Matan Friedman.
What inspired you to serve as a TTS board member?
I was attracted to the authentic mission of TTS, to truly give thanks to those ordinary people who demonstrated extraordinary moral courage during the most trying of times and to perpetuate their stories so future generations can be inspired by them. Additionally, I am excited about continued engagement with members of the TTS community across borders, religious backgrounds and generations.
How does your extensive work with Jewish organizations relate to the goals of TTS?
I strongly believe that it is vital that we all give back to the communities we are part of and to reach out to those outside our communities for the greater good. The common thread in all my work is building relationships that matter.
You are involved in a number of nonprofits. Why is volunteering your time so important to you?
Many of the skills critical to the for-profit world can greatly enhance non-profits, so I feel that by volunteering, instead of simply donating to nonprofits, I can bring positive change through bringing my business skills as a volunteer.
How has your immigration to the U.S. affected your view of the world?
Being an immigrant from the former Soviet Union where the Jewish community had suffered from debilitating oppression and anti-Semitism, has made me all the more appreciative of the importance of freedom that citizens of the U.S. and other democracies enjoy. At the same time, it has sensitized me to the plight of Jews and others living under dire circumstances elsewhere in the world and helps me to focus on ways to improve their situations.
Do you have family history relating to WWII and/or the Holocaust?
Several of my family members were murdered in Babi Yar, the site in Kiev, Ukraine, where the Nazis and their Ukranian collaborators massacred between 100,000 and 150,000 Jews and others. In addition, my husband, Robert Friedman, is the son of Holocaust survivors and his documentary film, More Precious Than Pearls, tells their stories.
What meaning do you think WWII rescues of the Danish and Bulgarian Jews holds for us today?
It’s been said, correctly, that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. The rescue of Jews in Denmark and Bulgaria teaches us that the converse is also true. When right-hearted people take action to help their fellow human beings, good will triumph.
Interview conducted in October 2019.