Jerry Silverman Will Step Down As Federations Chief
![](https://images.forwardcdn.com/image/970x/center/images/cropped/jerry-silverman-1512498877.jpeg)
(JTA) — Jerry Silverman will step down next year after 10 years as president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, the umbrella body of local community Jewish philanthropies.
Silverman announced his decision in an email Monday to colleagues. He said that after consulting with his family, he decided not to seek renewal of his contract after it ends in September 2019.
“I wholeheartedly plan to continue at my usual pace until September 2019. My decision is bittersweet,” he wrote. “However, as I have always stated, family comes first.” He is the father of five grown children.
Silverman came to JFNA in 2009 after serving as CEO of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Prior to that he was an executive for various consumer brands, including serving as president of the Keds Corp.
JFNA serves as a coordinating body for 148 Jewish federations and 300 smaller “network” communities, claiming combined fundraising of more than $2 billion annually. The money is distributed to programs in Israel and Jewish social services and educational needs in North America and abroad.
Silverman said a CEO search could take more than a year.
A message from our editor-in-chief Jodi Rudoren
![](https://forward.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jodi-Headshot.jpg)
We're building on 127 years of independent journalism to help you develop deeper connections to what it means to be Jewish today.
With so much at stake for the Jewish people right now — war, rising antisemitism, a high-stakes U.S. presidential election — American Jews depend on the Forward's perspective, integrity and courage.
— Jodi Rudoren, Editor-in-Chief