The National Council of Jewish Women named Nancy Kaufman, the longtime director of the Boston-area JCRC, as its new chief executive officer.

The Jewish women’s advocacy group has been searching for a replacement for Stacy Kass, who left the executive director’s position in December.

Kaufman is well regarded in the Boston area for her Israel advocacy and record of bipartisanship in her 20 years on the job. She had strong relations with the administration of Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, and his Republican predecessor, Mitt Romney.

“Nancy has transformed the Greater Boston Jewish community during her celebrated career at JCRC,” said Bill Gabovitch, the president of the Boston-area Jewish Community Relations Council. “She has elevated our community’s awareness of social justice issues and brought together ethnic and religious leaders from across the spectrum.”

The NCJW search document said it was seeking a CEO who could expand membership.

“Like many of its sister organizations, NCJW has faced a gradual decline in membership over the last several decades,” the document said. “It will require a creative, sustained effort to communicate vociferously the importance of its mission to attract younger Jewish women to greater interest and engagement.”

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