Joel Levy Set To Be Named Center for Jewish History Chief
By Paul Berger September 15, 2014
Joel Levy, a former official at the Anti-Defamation League, is poised to become the new top executive at the Center for Jewish History, the Forward has learned.
Levy’s appointment to run the Manhattan institution is expected to be approved at a meeting of the Center’s board later this week, according to several well-placed sources at the Center.
Levy was most recently director of development for the not-for-profit Vera Institute of Justice. Previously, he served as New York regional director of the Anti-Defamation League.
This year has been a turbulent one for the Center, which houses one of the world’s largest and most important collections of Jewish art, archives and artifacts Its longtime top executive, chief operating officer Michael S. Glickman, resigned in May.
In August, the two billionaire co-chairmen of the Center’s board, Joseph Steinberg and William Ackman, stepped down.
The Center is home to five Jewish institutions: YIVO, the Leo Baeck Institute, the American Jewish Historical Society, the Yeshiva University Museum and the American Sephardi Federation.
Each of the partners has its own separate operations and board.
Steinberg and Ackman both advocated an idea to streamline the Center by bringing the five boards under one single board of directors.
Amy Goldman Fowler, vice chairman of the Center’s board, recently told the Forward that such an idea had been considered, but she declined to elaborate.
Fowler said that the Center’s board would discuss plans to streamline the running of the Center, and other cost-cutting measures, in the coming weeks.
Contact Paul Berger at [email protected] or on Twitter @pdberger
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
