Malcolm Hoenlein of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Photo: Algemeiner.

Malcolm Hoenlein

Executive Vice Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

As the longtime executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Malcolm Hoenlein wields much influence on behalf of world Jewry, particularly in global “hot spots.”

For instance, in early 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with several top American Jewish leaders on the topic of ongoing negotiations that could lead to resumed Turkish-Israeli diplomatic ties. At the time, the Israeli government reportedly asked Hoenlein, who is close with Benjamin Netanyahu, to deliver several messages to the Turkish leadership. Subsequent to that trip, Hoenlein led a group of Jewish leaders to Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The group spent more than two hours in talks.

Hoenlein has met with other leaders in the Arab world, including Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2011, shortly before the beginning of the current war.  

He also is ahead of the curve on issues closer to home, such as the surge in anti-semitism on American college campuses. “It’s not Europe yet, but it’s definitely on the rise,” he said.