05/29/2025
Jeffrey J. Wild Named Chair of Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Board of Trustees
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced today that Jeffrey J. Wild has been named board chair for the 2025-2028 term. Wild, 52, is the firm Administrative Partner, chief strategy partner, an executive committee member, and chair of the real estate practice group at Benesch.
“Jeff Wild is a dedicated and effective community leader who understands the strengths and needs of our diverse community,” said Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. “We are thrilled that he will be leading our Board during this important period for the Jewish people.”
Wild has been actively involved in Cleveland’s Jewish community for several years and an officer of the Federation’s Board of Trustees. His leadership roles include allocations committee chair, general campaign chair for the Federation’s annual fundraising campaign (2018–2019), and most recently chairing the organization’s $180 million Jewish Day School Transformation initiative.
Wild is a former president of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland and Fuchs Mizrachi School. He is also a board member of Jewish Federations of North America, and on the board of governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel. In service to the Greater Cleveland Community, Wild serves on the board of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and he is the past chair of the board of directors of Cleveland Development Advisors, an affiliate of Greater Cleveland Partnership.
“Jewish Cleveland is a truly special place and it is an honor – and privilege – to serve in this capacity,” said Wild. “I look forward to working even more closely with our community, and the dedicated staff and volunteers at the Cleveland Federation to ensure Cleveland continues to be home to a thriving and growing Jewish community.”
Wild and his wife, Danielle, live in Beachwood and are members of Green Road Synagogue. He succeeds Daniel N. Zelman, who has served as Federation’s board chair since June 21, 2022. The Federation’s new slate of officers also includes Vice Chairs Eric E. Bell, Ilana Isakov Katz, Sharon Rosenbaum, Elisabeth W. Sherman, and Jeffrey Weiss. Amir Jaffa will serve as treasurer and Jason A. Wuliger will serve as associate treasurer. Wild and the new slate of Federation officers were elected at the Board of Trustees meeting on May 28, 2025.
