Executive Officers
Click on any executive officer to find out more information
Russell F. Robinson
Harold Cohen
Mitchel Rosenzweig
Avinoam Binder
Yael Septee Kane
Rick Krosnick
Matt Bernstein
Rabbi Eric M. Lankin, D.Min.
Russell F. Robinson
Chief Executive Officer
Jewish National Fund
As a sixth generation American Jew, Russell Robinson embodies the history of the American Jewish experience, and actively ensures that it will continue to thrive well into the future.
In 1790, Robinson’s family immigrated to Virginia from Alsace, Lorraine, joining a Jewish community that was comprised of both Ashkenazim and Sephardim, a community that had already spread across the Atlantic coast of North and South America. The family eventually settled in Petersburg, VA, where they owned general stores, and where, even today, one can still visit the family cemetery. Over time, the Robinson’s migrated north to Montreal, where they owned haberdasheries, and where they were active in their local temples.
Robinson’s father, Richard, born in Montreal, was in El Paso, on a visit to his godparents, when he encountered a reason not to return home: Robinson’s mother, Ruth Rosenberg, daughter of Sam and Olga, who had come to the United States from Lithuania, at the turn of the century. Growing up in a community of 3,000 Jews, Robinson had a traditional Jewish upbringing from his parents and grandparents. He loved sports, but it wasn’t until after college, that he discovered his passion and commitment to Jewish communal service.
Robinson accepted the position of Youth Director at the local Jewish Community Center, where he spearheaded community efforts to teach Holocaust education in the public school system. Robinson’s passion and ingenuity was immediately apparent, and he soon became the Director of the JCC and the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) campaigns for El Paso. El Paso was too small for Robinson, and soon he was traveling across the Midwest for UJA, reaching out to the more remote Jewish communities.
The Chicago / Midwest job became a springboard, and Robinson quickly moved up through the UJA system. As Assistant Regional Director in Dallas, he began working on national programs, including singles’ trips to Israel. It was on one of these singles’ missions that Robinson met his wife, Marci Morgan. From there, it was on to Project Renewal, Director of Western Operations, Vice President of the UJA Network and during the early 90s, the Robinson family moved east for him to take on the position of Director of the National UJA campaign. Also in the early 90s, the UJA was beginning to re-evaluate its role in the Jewish community, and to undergo the restructuring that eventually led to the United Jewish Communities (UJC), and the Federation system in place today.
Just when Robinson was beginning to re-evaluate his own UJA role in the Jewish community, he received a surprising phone call from cosmetics heir, Ronald S. Lauder, well-known philanthropist and the new President of Jewish National Fund. Robinson felt that Ronald Lauder was somebody who cared very deeply about the future direction of the Jewish community. When Lauder asked Robinson to become Chief Executive Officer of JNF, Robinson realized that this was the chance to redirect his passion for the Jewish people into new arenas.
Plagued with scant central leadership, lack of technology, duplicated efforts, and antiquated business practices, Jewish National Fund had been insidiously losing its prestige and mission, on its way to dinosaur oblivion, before Robinson took the helm in 1997. Over the past six years, he has worked ceaselessly to not only inject a new energy and life into the JNF, but also to ensure that its mission is more relevant and meaningful than ever.
The end result is that today, under Robinson’s leadership, JNF has improved efficiency, decreased costs, and increased fundraising. Today, JNF has a business management structure with top professionals and committed lay leaders who work together and are responsible for fundraising and overseeing the operations and budget. Recognition of donors has been refined to instill pride in every donor to the organization from the 18-dollar tree buyer to the million-dollar donor.
Robinson’s vision for JNF has been translated into very real and important changes, and JNF is fast reclaiming its role as the premier non-profit organization for Israel. Today, JNF operates on a business model, one based on sound business practices, and on transparent integrity. After only six years under Robinson’s guidance and leadership, JNF stands proud as the 103 year-old success story, and as an inspiration and model for other non-profit organizations.
Today he resides in New Jersey with his wife Marci and two children, Sam and Alyssa.
Harold Cohen
Chief Operating Officer
Jewish National Fund
Harold Cohen currently serves as the chief operating officer of Jewish National Fund (JNF), a position he assumed in 1998. He brings to this position over 40 years of professional experience in Jewish communal service.
Before joining JNF, Mr. Cohen served as senior vice president of United Jewish Appeal. Prior to that he served as executive director of both the Allied Jewish Federation of Denver and the Greater Hartford Jewish Federation.
Mr. Cohen's leadership abilities extend beyond the realm of JNF. He was also a Young Judea Leader, a Consultant on Aging to the State of Connecticut, as well as a Field Instructor for Yeshiva University, the University of Denver, and the University of Connecticut, in each respective university's School of Social Work.
Harold Cohen resides in New York City with his wife. They have three children and one grandchild.
Mitchel Rosenzweig
Chief Financial Officer
Jewish National Fund
Mitchel Rosenzweig currently serves as the chief financial officer of the Jewish National Fund (JNF,) a position he assumed in 1997. He brings to this position over 20 years of financial, administrative, human resource, contract management, facilities, MIS and building operations experience in not-for-profit and private sectors.
Prior to joining the JNF, Mr. Rosenzweig spent 13 years serving in various managerial positions at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA in New York City and served as its associate executive director for administration and finance from 1990-1997. Prior to that, he received his public accounting experience with Loeb & Troper, CPAs.
Mr. Rosenzweig has proven his leadership in progressively more responsible and challenging management and executive positions. His
leadership ability and passion and commitment for Jewish causes is evident in his personal life as well. He serves on the board of his temple and has served as president, vice president and treasurer.
Mitchel Rosenzweig lives in a community just outside of New York City with his wife and their three children.
Avinoam Binder
Chief Israel Emissary
Avinoam Binder, a native Israeli, experienced in government and foundation positions in Israel, is the Chief Israeli Emissary of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL) to JNF of America. He served as Director of the Fundraising Division at KKL’s head office in Jerusalem from 1994 until July 2003.
Prior to assuming his post with KKL, Avinoam served as shaliach to JNF of America in San Diego, California. Previously, from 1976 to 1981, he served as public relations director of the Jerusalem foundation, chaired by Jerusalem’s legendary mayor, Teddy Kollek.
From 1974 to 1976, he directed the organization scheme within the government Ministry of Social Welfare. In 1970, Avinoam was sent as a shaliach to Sacramento, California, on behalf of the World Zionist organization for a period of 4 years and served as director of the Sacramento Jewish Federation.
Avinoam went on several missions on behalf of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Far East and Canada.
Born in Kfar Ata near Haifa in 1946 and educated there, he served in the IDF from 1964 to 1966, earned a BA in Geography at the University of California in Sacramento, as well as a teaching certificate from the Mizrachi Teachers’ College in Jerusalem.
Avinoam is married to Leora, an artist and painter. They have three children: Iris, Barak and Yael.
Yael Septee Kane
Chief Development Officer
Jewish National Fund
Yael Septee Kane is Jewish National Fund's Executive Director, Major Gifts. Prior to this, she served as Assistant Vice President at United Jewish Appeal, Assistant Head at the Walden School, and Associate Director of Admissions at Barnard College.
Yael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard University and a Masters degree in Education from Harvard University. She currently resides in Maryland with her husband and son.
Matt Bernstein
Chief Planned Giving Officer
Jewish National Fund
Rabbi Eric M. Lankin, D.Min.
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.
Rick Krosnick
National Campaign Coordinator & Midwest Zone Director
Jewish National Fund
Rick Krosnick is the National Campaign Coordinator and Midwest Director of Jewish National Fund. In addition to his management of JNF’s operations in the fifteen-state area stretching from Western Pennsylvania to the Dakotas, Rick plans, manages and implements national fundraising campaign strategies and serves on JNF’s Executive Management team.
Rick began his Jewish communal career in his hometown of Detroit, where he was the Young Leadership Director of the Jewish Federation of Detroit. In 1993, he moved to Chicago where for several years Rick worked for the national United Jewish Appeal, concluding his tenure at UJA as Midwest Major Gifts Director.
In 1999, following a brief tenure as Assistant Vice President of the Jewish United Fund of Chicago where he was responsible for managing the Trades, Industries and Professions Department, Rick joined Jewish National Fund.
Rick is a graduate of the prestigious Wexner Heritage Foundation’s two-year course in Jewish Leadership.
Rick’s understanding of Israel and the political and socio-economic tensions of the Middle East were shaped by his work outside of the Jewish community. Beginning in 1985, for a nine-year period both on active-duty and in the reserve forces, Rick was an Intelligence Specialist in the United States Navy, serving aboard the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz and the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Much of Rick’s tenure in the Navy was spent with the U.S. Sixth Fleet operating in the eastern Mediterranean, confronting issues of state-sponsored terrorism and other threats to the security of the United States and our allies.
