Mark Wilf at The Jewish Agency: Building connection, unity, and trust

An attorney and partner in Garden Homes, Wilf previously served as chair of the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), UJC National Campaign chair, UJA National Young Leadership Cabinet chair, and president of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey.

Yet even with that extensive experience, few could have anticipated the challenges that would define his four years at The Jewish Agency. In the aftermath of October 7, Wilf would help guide an organization at the center of the global Jewish response to an unprecedented crisis, drawing on values of collective responsibility, unity, and connection that have shaped his leadership for decades.

Those who have worked alongside Wilf describe a leader whose commitment extends well beyond the boardroom or financial support.

Throughout his chairmanship, he has made a point of being personally present, visiting communities, meeting families affected by tragedy, and listening to the people whose lives are touched by The Jewish Agency’s work.

Colleagues point to his humility, compassion, and willingness to lead by example as defining characteristics of his leadership.

“Mark Wilf has shown us what it means to be a true ‘mensch,’ leading not through words but most importantly through his actions. In doing so, he has helped bring the Jewish people together,” says Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, chairman of the Executive at The Jewish Agency.

“His leadership reminds Israelis they are part of a global family that shares their grief, stands beside them, and believes in their future. That unity gives us strength and hope as we rebuild,” Almog notes.

Eric D. Fingerhut, president and CEO of JFNA, worked alongside Wilf during his tenure as chair of JFNA and then through his leadership of The Jewish Agency. “Throughout, he has brought vision, integrity, generosity, and a remarkable sense of responsibility to our shared work,” Fingerhut says.

“Mark has helped strengthen the bonds that unite Jewish communities around the world, and his impact will endure well beyond his time as chair. We are deeply grateful for his partnership, his friendship, and his extraordinary service to the Jewish people.”

“We’ve proven our worth, we’ve proven our trustworthiness, and I think we’ve proven our effectiveness,” he says. “And that’s why we’re going to be a key player going forward.”

Wilf characterizes The Jewish Agency’s response to October 7 as energetic, embodied by the people who carry out the organization’s mission.

“There’s a ruach (spirit) to our work,” Wilf says, describing staff members whose dedication reflects Israeli society’s resilience and heroism. He has seen it among Youth Futures mentors supporting children, shlichim (emissaries) connecting communities to Israel, and professionals helping families navigate devastating losses.

For Wilf, leadership during a crisis has meant more than mobilizing resources or overseeing programs from afar.

His visits to affected communities have provided an opportunity to listen firsthand, offer personal support, and ensure that those facing extraordinary hardship know they have not been forgotten. This approach is rooted in his belief that Jewish solidarity must be expressed not only through financial assistance, but also through personal presence and human connection.

“Just like when we built the State of Israel, now we’re rebuilding,” he says.

For Wilf, responding to the crisis has meant ensuring that the extraordinary solidarity expressed by Jewish communities worldwide translates into tangible, sustained assistance for Israelis. Under his chairmanship, The Jewish Agency has expanded its work across emergency relief, economic recovery, and long-term rebuilding.

The Jewish Agency’s Communities2Gether pairs affected Israeli communities with Jewish societies abroad for sustained support, combining financial assistance with personal relationships.

The Western Negev Building Project, launched with the Israeli government and global Jewish partners, will create up to 1,000 new homes, helping communities welcome new families and grow.

Other initiatives have supported war-affected businesses and reservists, provided financial assistance and emotional support to victims of Iranian missile attacks through the Roaring Lion Fund, and delivered immediate financial assistance and long-term rehabilitation grants to Israelis through the Fund for the Victims of Terror.

“Many of these programs were created from scratch because the needs demanded it,” says Wilf. “Working with the government and our partners around the world, we’ve developed loan programs, camp experiences, and other initiatives that help families regain stability, and communities build a future. This is what collective Jewish responsibility looks like in action.”

Beyond navigating the immediate challenges of war, Wilf has also placed particular emphasis on strengthening the next generation of Jewish communal leadership.

That commitment has included purposeful recruitment, mentorship, and opportunities for younger Jewish Federation leaders to participate in Jewish Agency governance, broadening the voices and perspectives around the organization’s table.

Yehuda Setton, The Jewish Agency’s CEO and director-general, sees that approach as a critical part of Wilf’s work and the organization’s future.

“Mark Wilf has strengthened partnerships and engaged a new generation of leaders who bring valuable expertise to our work,” Setton says. “We have faced some of the hardest moments in Jewish history during Mark’s chairmanship.

“I have seen how he responds: he brings people together, finds a way forward, and does the hard work alongside us. That is the kind of leader Mark is, and his impact on this organization will be felt for years to come.”

Wilf’s chairmanship has also taken him across the Jewish world, reinforcing the personal connections long central to his approach to communal leadership.

Through visits to Madrid, Mexico City, Ethiopia, and India, he has encountered Jewish communities whose languages and circumstances differ, but whose connection to Israel feels immediate.

In India, he recalls singing “Am Yisrael Chai” on a mountaintop with people whose dream of reaching Israel was tangible. On aliyah flights from Ethiopia, he witnessed the emotion of arriving home.

Whether visiting Israelis affected by terror or meeting members of Jewish communities thousands of miles from Israel, Wilf has approached these encounters with the same conviction: that leadership requires showing up.

Financial resources and institutional partnerships are essential, but so is the simple act of being present, listening, and offering reassurance that no Jewish community stands alone.

“It’s important to be the messenger,” Wilf says. “When you visit a victim of terror to give them a check for financial relief, or when you go to India and give someone a hug, they feel that the whole Jewish community is behind them.”

As he prepares to complete his chairmanship, Wilf is looking toward the next chapter of The Jewish Agency’s work, with J. David Heller set to succeed him as chairman of the Board of Governors. For Wilf, the transition represents an opportunity to build on the partnerships and collective commitment that have defined his tenure.

“I know that David Heller will, as Michael Siegal and so many others did before me as chairman, embrace the privilege to represent this board, our partnerships, and a mission that brings together hundreds of thousands of Jews who contribute and care about the Jewish people,” he says.

Wilf will remain closely involved with The Jewish Agency in the coming years, serving alongside his wife Jane as co-chair of its Centennial Committee as the organization approaches its 100th anniversary in 2029.

For Wilf, whose parents rebuilt their lives after the Holocaust, the responsibility to strengthen Jewish life for future generations remains deeply personal. The centennial campaign represents another opportunity to carry forward the values that have shaped his decades of communal leadership.

“Jane and I are very proud to take on this campaign,” he says, “to make sure that it will strengthen and uplift all of us as a Jewish people. We need trusted institutions, like The Jewish Agency, to do the work that everyone cares so much about.”