No. 36: Eric Fingerhut, Gary Torgow, and Jeremy Leibler: Bending Israel-Diaspora ties

Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), has focused the organization on supporting Israel during wartime and protecting Jewish communities at home. The JFNA's emergency campaign since October 7 has raised over $850 million for trauma care and community recovery. Gary Torgow, JFNA board chair, has spearheaded a shift in Jewish philanthropy, securing a NIS 200 million Israeli government plan to strengthen Jewish education in the Diaspora, recognizing these schools as a strategic asset. He also worked to establish a 2025 federal tax credit in the US to support Jewish day schools.

• Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, has highlighted the increasing antisemitism in Australia, particularly after the December 2025 Bondi terror attack.
• Leibler advocated for a Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, testifying that "The claim that ‘Zionist’ refers to a political position rather than a people is a fiction. It is the mechanism by which antisemitism is laundered into acceptable speech."
• He noted that his children are questioning their sense of belonging in Australia due to rising antisemitism.