Chief of Institutional Advancement and Education, Jewish National Fund
Rabbi Eric M. Lankin, D.Min. is Chief, Institutional Advancement and Education for the Jewish National Fund. His responsibilities including leading the JNF Israel Advocacy and Education Department whose mission is to engage, educate and energize American Jews in support of the Land and People of Israel. Program areas include congregational relations, government relations, Israel education, speakers bureau and college and high school advocacy.
Rabbi Lankin previously served for four years as Director of Religious and Educational Activities of United Jewish Communities (UJC). As the senior rabbinic professional of the North American Federation system, Rabbi Lankin facilitated the relationship between the UJC, the 155 Jewish Federations and 400 independent communities across North America, and the synagogue movements, rabbinical associations and rabbinical schools. He directed the UJC Rabbinic Cabinet and served as the rabbi for its 300-member staff.
He has served as Executive Director of the New Jersey Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and as a congregational rabbi for 14 years in Elkins Park, PA; West Hempstead, NY; Miami Beach, FL; and Harrisburg, PA.
Born in Philadelphia, he is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his B.S. in Marketing. Rabbi Lankin earned his M.A. in Judaica and Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He has earned two Post-Masters Certificates from the Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute of the Institutes of Religion and Health and the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, both of New York City, in Pastoral Care and Pastoral Counseling. He received his Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (NY Campus). Rabbi Lankin, his wife Jeanne and their four children reside in Highland Park, New Jersey.
