JNF Hires Rabbi Dr. Eric Lankin to
Lead New Department
With an eye to the
future, Jewish National Fund is refocusing attention on Jewish
institutions that have educational components as a source of
creativity and participation in JNF's mission. To that end, JNF is
uniting five departments — Education, College Activists, Speaker's
Bureau, Synagogue Relations, and Government Relations — under one
banner: the Department of Israel Advocacy. This will better enable
JNF to work more closely and effectively with these key
constituencies to better service the communities with our programs
and assets, develop strong leadership for JNF programs, and make JNF
a household name. To lead this effort, JNF is pleased to announce
that Rabbi Dr. Eric Lankin has joined its staff as Chief of
Institutional Advancement and Education. "As we look to the coming
decade," said JNF CEO Russell Robinson, "JNF’s mission of
responsibility for the Land of Israel and its environment is clear.
Photo: Ronald S.
Lauder, President of the JNF, an extraordinary man!
The
social and educational institutions that make up the fabric of our
communities can play a more significant role in that vision and we
turned to Eric Lankin, an outstanding Jewish educational leader,
who has tremendous connections to the American Jewish community to
make that vision a reality.""JNF is uniquely able to engage the
American Jewish community in our ongoing mandate of caring,
cultivating and bettering the Land of Israel," said Rabbi Lankin.
"This department will create and provide transformative Israel
education experiences for the American Jew in synagogues, on
college campuses, in schools, and in camps, in support of Israel."
Rabbi Lankin served as Director of Religious and Educational
Activities of United Jewish Communities (UJC) for the past four
years.
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. Previously, Rabbi Lankin had 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. He is
married to Jeanne Lankin, LCSW, ACSW, a psychiatric social worker
in private practice in Middlesex County, NJ. They are the proud
parents of four children and live in Highland Park, NJ.
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). Said Rabbi Lankin:
"It is the responsibility of the new department to take the message
JNF develops nationally and bring it to the local communities. We
have a terrific staff and are actively building new relationships
with other organizations in support of Israel. I am looking forward
to facilitating this process."
