NEW YORK โ World Jewish Relief has appointed David Weisberg as Executive Director of World Jewish Relief USA, entrusting a veteran Jewish communal executive with expanding the organizationโs humanitarian footprint across the United States during a period of intensifying global crises.
Weisberg brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience spanning local, regional, national, and international Jewish organizations. Most recently, he served as Chief Development Officer at the Mazzoni Center and previously as Chief Executive Officer of the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County. According to World Jewish Relief, his background in strategic growth, fundraising, and mission-driven leadership closely aligns with the organizationโs expanding global mandate.
World Jewish Relief was founded in 1933 in response to the rise of Nazi persecution in Europe. During the 1930s and 1940s, the organization rescued and assisted approximately 65,000 Jewish refugees, including nearly 10,000 children brought to safety through the Kindertransport. It also supported survivors of Nazi concentration camps following the Holocaust. Today, the organization operates in 19 countries, delivering humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people affected by conflict, displacement, and natural disasters.
While rooted in Jewish values and history, World Jewish Relief emphasizes aid based on need rather than identity. Its programs prioritize women and girls, older adults, and displaced populations. The charity provides emergency humanitarian relief, livelihood recovery initiatives, and mental health and psychosocial services in some of the worldโs most fragile environments.
Weisberg assumes the role at a time of exceptional strain on humanitarian systems worldwide. Ongoing wars, mass displacement, and economic instability have driven humanitarian needs to levels not seen in decades. World Jewish Relief has identified growth in the United States as a strategic priority, both to broaden its donor base and to strengthen American Jewish engagement with global humanitarian responsibility.
โFor more than 90 years, World Jewish Relief has shown what it means to live Jewish values in action, helping people in crisis regardless of who they are or where they live,โ Weisberg said in a statement announcing his appointment. โI am deeply aligned with that vision and enormously enthusiastic about introducing World Jewish Reliefโs work to the U.S. Jewish community and beyond.โ
Paul Anticoni OBE, Chief Executive of World Jewish Relief, described Weisberg as a critical addition to the organizationโs leadership at a time of global urgency.
โDavidโs extensive experience and unwavering commitment to service make him an exceptional fit for this role,โ Anticoni said. โI am excited at the prospect of dramatically growing World Jewish Reliefโs visibility, reach, and resourcing across the United States.โ
One of the organizationโs largest current operations is in Ukraine, where World Jewish Relief has delivered aid to more than 377,000 people since the Russian invasion began. Its work there includes food distribution, shelter assistance, trauma support, and aid for displaced families, including Jewish communities and non-Jewish civilians alike.
Jewish communal leaders have increasingly emphasized the importance of humanitarian engagement as a core expression of Jewish values, particularly at a time when antisemitism is rising globally, and Jewish institutions face growing pressure. World Jewish Relief positions its work as both a moral obligation rooted in Jewish history and a tangible demonstration of Jewish commitment to universal human dignity.
Weisbergโs appointment reflects that dual mission. His career has combined Jewish communal advocacy with inclusive humanitarian service, a balance World Jewish Relief views as essential to sustaining credibility, partnerships, and impact in a polarized global environment.
As Executive Director of World Jewish Relief USA, Weisberg will focus on expanding donor engagement, strengthening partnerships with U.S. Jewish organizations, and increasing awareness of the organizationโs global impact. The role also involves coordinating closely with World Jewish Reliefโs U.K.-based leadership to align strategy and maximize resources.
For more information about World Jewish Relief USA and its humanitarian programs, the organization directs readers to its official website.
