Eric Fingerhut

Eric David Fingerhut (born May 6, 1959) is an American politician, attorney, and academic administrator who is the president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Prior to his appointment at JFNA, he was president and CEO of Hillel International from 2013 to 2019 and the chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents from 2007 to 2011.

A member of the Democratic Party, Fingerhut served in the Ohio Senate from 1991 to 1992, and again from 1999 to 2006. He represented Ohio's 19th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995 and was the Democratic nominee in the 2004 United States Senate election in Ohio, losing to incumbent George Voinovich.

Early life and education Fingerhut was born May 6, 1959, in the Cleveland suburb of University Heights, Ohio. He grew up in University Heights and nearby Cleveland Heights, and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1977. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 1981 and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1984. Fingerhut tried to draw attention to his candidacy by walking over 300 miles across the state and meeting with voters. However, he still faced long odds, with many Democratic officials ignoring his campaign and voters not believing in his chances. He garnered 36 percent of the vote in the general election.

Fingerhut was appointed Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents on March 14, 2007, by Governor Ted Strickland. The position made Fingerhut a member of the Ohio Governor's Cabinet and gave him oversight of the University System of Ohio. On February 22, 2011, he submitted his resignation to Governor John Kasich, effective March 14, 2011, after serving four years of his five-year term. He later worked as vice president of education and STEM learning at Battelle Memorial Institute. Fingerhut responded, stating "Let me be very clear – 'anti-Zionists' will not be permitted to speak using the Hillel name or under the Hillel roof, under any circumstances."

Beginning in 2015, Fingerhut became involved in a dispute with J Street U after withdrawing from an appearance at the group's national conference, citing concerns about sharing a platform with speakers who had made what he described as inflammatory statements about Israel. Critics argued that the decision risked alienating a significant segment of engaged Jewish students and suggested donor pressure may have played a role. In response, hundreds of J Street U members protested at Hillel International's headquarters and accused Fingerhut of favoring conservative donors over student voices. Fingerhut subsequently met with student leaders and acknowledged the deep divisions within the Jewish community, pledging to foster greater dialogue and mutual respect across differing viewpoints.