Education
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1968, Doctor Ruskay earned his doctorate in political science at Columbia University.
director executive vice president
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1968, Doctor Ruskay earned his doctorate in political science at Columbia University.
Doctor Ruskay is a well-known author and lecturer on issues affecting the Jewish people. Doctor Ruskay first came to United Jewish Appeal-Federation in 1993 and served in several positions before being appointed executive vice president and Chief Executive Officer in October 1999. Prior to coming to United Jewish Appeal-Federation, he served as a senior consultant to the Wexner Foundation and the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Foundation.
He chaired the Publication Committee of the Journal of Jewish Communal Service and the Professional Advisory Committee of the Brandeis University Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program (2001–2007).
He served as educational director of the 92nd Street Y from 1980 to 1985, and vice chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America from 1985 to 1993. He received an honorary degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
On December 8, 2009, John Ruskay’s tenth anniversary as executive vice president & Chief Executive Officer of United Jewish Appeal-Federation was commemorated with a panel discussion about the organization’s work of the last decade. Looking Forward: Our Three-Pronged Challenge and Opportunity (2000) Living Lives of Sacred Responsibility, United Jewish Appeal Federation New York (2009) Innovation: One Size Does Not Fit All, eJewish Philanthropy (2009) Combating Delegitimization Requires a Big Tent, Jewish Week (2011) What Will Be Required, HUC-JIR (2013) More articles by John Ruskay on the Berman Jewish Policy Archive New York University Wagner.
Ruskay was a founding member of the controversial organization Breira (1972–1977), which took a left-wing position on Israeli-Palestinian political issues. Updating his 1999 inaugural address, Doctor Ruskay delivered a speech titled “Living Lives of Sacred Responsibility” in which he articulated four issues that require United Jewish Appeal-Federation’s attention moving forward: 1) the affordability of Jewish life. 2) connecting the work of human service agencies to Jewish day schools, Hillels, and community centers.
3) reviewing the organization’s future role in Israel. And 4) differentiating Israel advocacy and Israel education.