American Jewish leader and businessman J. David Heller has been appointed chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel's Board of Governors, succeeding Mark Wilf, who completed a four-year term last month.
The appointment, announced Monday, comes as the Jewish Agency continues efforts to support communities affected by the war in Israel, particularly in the country's north and south, while addressing growing concerns over antisemitism among Jewish communities worldwide.
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The new Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Board of Governors, J. David Heller, right, with President Isaac Herzog
(Photo: Guy Yechiely)
Heller, who divides his time between Cleveland, Ohio, and Boca Raton, Florida, has held senior leadership positions in major American Jewish organizations. He previously served as national campaign chair of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and chairman of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.
He was also appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by the U.S. president in 2009 and has served on the boards of several philanthropic and educational institutions, including the Mandel Foundation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, the Cleveland Foundation and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
Outside his communal activities, Heller is president, CEO and co-founder of The NRP Group, a major U.S. multifamily real estate development company.
The Jewish Agency's Board of Governors, which includes Jewish community leaders from around the world, serves as the organization's policymaking body. Heller succeeds Wilf, whose term ended October 25 during the organization's semiannual Board of Governors gathering.
"I am deeply honored to take on this responsibility at a time when the partnership between Israel and global Jewish communities is so vital to our shared future," Heller said. "Behind every effort to rebuild communities and strengthen Jewish life are people who need to know that they are not alone. I look forward to working with our partners and fellow Board of Governors members to help families recover, create opportunities in Israel's north and south, and deepen the connections that unite us as one Jewish people."
Since the October 7 attacks, the Jewish Agency and its partners have provided assistance to families affected by terrorism and missile strikes, business owners who suffered financial losses, reservists and their families, and immigrant lone soldiers serving in the military.
The organization also has supported young people in northern and southern Israel as part of broader recovery efforts carried out in cooperation with the Israeli government, Jewish communities abroad and philanthropic organizations. These initiatives have received backing from organizations including JFNA, Keren Hayesod and the World Zionist Organization, alongside donors and foundations in Israel and internationally.
(From left) Incoming Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Board of Governors, J. David Heller; Chairman of The Jewish Agency, Doron Almog; Outgoing Chairman of The Jewish Agency's Board of Governors, Mark Wilf; and CEO and Director General of The Jewish Agency, Yehuda Setton
(Photo: Guy Yechiely)
Jewish Agency Executive Chairman Doron Almog welcomed Heller's appointment, citing his experience in Jewish communal leadership. "David brings a deep love for the Jewish people and extensive leadership experience to the Jewish Agency," Almog said. "I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to help communities rebuild, and give people the support they need to look toward the future with hope."
Almog also thanked Wilf for his leadership during the past four years, a period that included the October 7 attacks and their aftermath. "I also thank my dear friend Mark Wilf, whose compassionate and steady leadership helped us stand beside the people of Israel and Jewish communities worldwide during an extraordinarily difficult period," he said.