About Paul S. Berger

Paul S. Berger has had a long and distinguished record of providing leadership to Jewish community organizations.  At The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, he has held virtually every senior position in the organization, including President; President of Federation’s United Jewish Endowment Fund; Chair of Planning & Allocations; and currently serves as Federation’s Pro Bono Counsel. In addition, he has mentored most of the presidents who have followed him, extending his impact in the Jewish community well beyond his formal roles.

Many credit Paul with the remarkable response of our community to Operation Exodus, which enabled Israel to rescue thousands of Ethiopian Jews in a highly secretive and virtually overnight airlift. He is an avid Jewish learner and an ardent Zionist. Paul has long been a pioneering influence in the field of Jewish education. He was the Founding President of the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School and is currently the Chairman Emeritus of the school’s Board of Governors.

Paul is a retired senior partner at Arnold & Porter, Kay, Scholer in Washington, DC, Special Counsel at the Embassy of Israel, and on the Board of Trustees at the Law Center at New York University School of Law.  He resides in North Bethesda, Maryland and is married to his life partner, late wife Debra J. Berger z”l, and has three children and nine grandchildren.