Hillel International President and CEO Eric Fingerhut has been named the CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, Israel Hayom has learned.
Staunchly pro-Israel and a former congressman from Ohio, Fingerhut will oversee the activity of some 150 Jewish federations as well as hundreds of additional smaller communities in North America.
As the head of Hillel International, he has been praised for his approach of focusing on Jewish outreach as a means of connecting communities and strengthening local ties.
"I didn't realize it at the time, but my early life was shaped by Federation," Fingerhut said in a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "I went to preschool at the JCC. I vividly remember carrying signs in the walkathons standing up for Israel during the 1967 and 1973 wars. Never did I imagine that nearly a half-century later, I would have the opportunity to lead a movement that has impacted my life and so many others. It has a rich history, and I believe it can have an even more impactful future. I am excited to take on that challenge."
