Since 1941, the Jewish Peace Fellowship has been guided by remarkable individuals who dedicated their lives to peace, nonviolence, and Jewish values.
Our founders
Rabbi Isidor B. Hoffman
Founding Director (1941–1946). Rabbi Hoffman established JPF to support Jewish conscientious objectors during World War II and laid the foundation for our ongoing work for peace.
Jane Meyerhoff
Founding Member (1941–1950). An early advocate for peace education and interfaith dialogue, Jane Meyerhoff helped shape JPF’s educational initiatives.
Historical leaders
Rabbi Philip Bentley
Chair (1975–1990). Rabbi Bentley expanded JPF’s work during the Vietnam War era and strengthened our commitment to supporting conscientious objectors.
Murray Polner
Editor, Shalom newsletter (1967–2019). A long-time editor who shaped our publication, Murray Polner documented decades of Jewish peace activism.