Kirk Wisemayer
Executive Director
Columbia Jewish Federation
July 28, 2023
Kirk Wisemayer, who comes to Columbia Jewish Federation from Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach, where he served as Executive Director, is a Jewish communal professional with three decades of experience in Jewish Federations, synagogues, schools, and social welfare organizations.
Growing up in Australia, Kirk was immersed in his active Jewish community, involved with Israel youth groups, his synagogue, and any number of communal activities and initiatives during his schooling and university education. While he began his career in corporate human resources and public relations, he worked part-time as a Hebrew School teacher, in addition to volunteering hundreds of hours as a youth advisor and campaign solicitor for United Israel Appeal, to serve his Jewish community and Israel.
It was not until his return to Canada in 1991 that Kirk became a Jewish professional, taking a position as Director of Jewish Living with one of Canada’s largest synagogues. When he moved to the United States in 2001, he made the transition from Jewish Federation volunteer to Executive Director of Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester & Salem Counties, in Vineland, NJ. After ten years in Vineland, Kirk assumed the role of Executive Director of Jewish Federation & Community Foundation of Atlantic & Cape May Counties, in Margate, NJ, where he spent ten years before his move to Florida.
In addition to his professional role in the Jewish community, Kirk has long volunteered with many local, national, and international Jewish organizations, among them Israel Bonds, Israel Cancer Research Fund, Chevra Kadisha of Alliance (Vineland), including its Men’s Tahara group, and Sons of Jacob Congregation.
Kirk is an ardent Zionist, having visited Israel on more than three dozen occasions. He supports many causes and organizations in Israel, and is deeply committed to Jewish community, education, and pluralism.
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