Malcolm Hoenlein, Hebrew name Yitzchok, is an American Jewish leader and activist widely recognized as one of the most influential lobbyists and strategists in the U.S.-Israel relationship. Often described as the 'unofficial president' of the American Jewish community, he served as Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations from June 1986 until February 1, 2020, a tenure exceeding 33 years. He currently holds the title of Vice Chairman Emeritus. Born in Philadelphia in 1944 to German-Jewish Holocaust survivors, Hoenlein was raised with a strong commitment to Jewish advocacy and is a proud, kippah-wearing Orthodox Jew—the first senior professional of a major national Jewish organization to openly practice Orthodox Judaism.

Hoenlein earned a B.A. in Political Science from Temple University, where he founded the North American Jewish Student Network. He pursued graduate studies in International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania as a National Defense Fellow at the Near East Center, where he also taught international relations. Additionally, he served as a Middle East specialist at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) and contributed to its journal, Orbis.

His career in Jewish communal leadership began in 1971 when he moved to New York to establish and serve as the first Executive Director of the Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry, organizing protests and rallies to promote Jewish emigration from the USSR. In 1976, he became the founding Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York.

During his tenure at the Conference of Presidents, Hoenlein was a central coordinator and primary interlocutor for Jewish communal advocacy on Israel-related issues, representing American Jewish interests to Congress, the White House, successive U.S. administrations, foreign heads of state, and international entities. His work emphasized strengthening U.S.-Israel ties, ensuring Israel’s security, combating global antisemitism, and protecting Jewish communities worldwide, especially in the former Soviet Union and Arab countries.

Over more than three decades, Hoenlein built coalitions, influenced policy, and developed an extensive network of high-level contacts across the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean. He engaged in behind-the-scenes diplomacy with Arab and Muslim leaders, including a pre-Syrian Uprising meeting with Bashar al-Assad as part of humanitarian initiatives, and participated in covert efforts that contributed to warming relations with Gulf states, culminating in the 2020 Abraham Accords. Notable accomplishments include leading efforts to free 13 Iranian Jews imprisoned on espionage charges, organizing the 2002 National Solidarity Rally for Israel in Washington, D.C., serving on a 2008 presidential delegation commemorating Israel's 60th anniversary, and being appointed by three U.S. Presidents as a delegate to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He maintains close associations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hoenlein has received numerous awards and honorary doctorates, including tributes from President Ronald Reagan, Brandeis University, Morocco's Order of Ouissam Alaouite, and Jerusalem's Neeman Yerushalayim award. His board memberships span the Council on Foreign Relations, America-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, Jerusalem's Sha'arey Tzedek Medical Center, Council for a Secure America (where he serves as Vice Chairman and Director), Bank Leumi USA, and biotech companies such as Fortress Biotech and formerly Keryx Biopharmaceuticals. After stepping down from the Conference of Presidents, he continued his influential role as President of MH International Initiatives, Inc. and Chairman of Abraham Spirit, Inc., exerting influence within the NGO and security sectors.

While widely celebrated for his effectiveness, deep institutional knowledge, and ranking as the most influential American leader on Jewish affairs in a 2015 poll, Hoenlein has faced criticism from progressive Jewish groups for his alignment with right-leaning Israeli governments and perceived right-leaning political stance. Controversies include the 2008 rescinding of an invitation to Governor Sarah Palin for an anti-Ahmadinejad rally, alleged partisan bias; a conference call with Senator John McCain that drew rebukes over nonpartisanship; public disputes with The Jewish Daily Forward; criticism of President Barack Obama’s 2009 Cairo speech for equating the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with the Holocaust; scrutiny over his meeting with Assad; and controversy regarding the Conference’s handling of partisan political events during election cycles. Despite these challenges, Hoenlein remains a key bridge between American Jewish leadership and global policy, maintaining extensive networks with high-level U.S. and Israeli figures.