David Weisberg

David Weisberg has spent two-plus decades balancing what he loves – Jewish community, arts, and family. Growing up in the backyard of the JCC in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, David became immersed in B’nai B’rith Youth and JCC theatre productions. Starting his career in local government, David became Pennsylvania’s youngest town manager, at 23, spending three years each overseeing the towns of Mahanoy City and Columbia. In Mahanoy City, he was honored to coordinate a visit by Mother Teresa, welcoming the Nobel Peace Prize-winner at a mass broadcast throughout the region. Seeking Jewish community, David returned to Harrisburg, becoming Executive Director of the JCC once in his backyard. A year later, he was hired to run Harrisburg’s Jewish Federation, serving in both roles before overseeing an organizational merger. After a decade serving Harrisburg’s Jewish community, David became Executive Director of Friends of the Arava Institute, leading efforts to support the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, which, notably, partners with Hazon on the annual Israel Ride. There, he built the Institute’s visibility, with Arava alumni featured on CNN International and endorsements from Pete Seeger to Roseanne Barr. In 2011, seeking a more sedentary role, David found a home at Isabella Freedman, where he stabilized Freedman’s business model while developing innovative portals for Jewish engagement, from LGBTQ Teen programming to an annual Grateful Dead Shabbaton. As a result of the Isabella Freedman/Hazon merger, he became Hazon’s CEO. Throughout his career, David has dedicated time to the arts, as a producer, presenter, and performer – co-producing an original musical; creating a two-day music festival; recording an album of original songs; and acting at theatres, in touring companies, and even at a Nevada casino. Above all, he treasures being a husband and father, with a beautiful wife Jamie and wonderful children, Hannah, Alison, Micah, and Grace.


Articles by David Weisberg

Today You Are a Man 

In honor of the annual observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance we are devoting space in our blog to posts about gender. Be sure ...