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.