Henry Timms Named New 92Y Chief

Incoming Director of Jewish Community at 92Y, Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein. Image by Central Synagogue

By Anna Goldenberg April 29, 2014

The 92nd Street Y announced today two new appointments: Henry Timms will be the new Executive Director, and Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein the Director of Jewish Community.

Incoming Director of Jewish Community at 92Y, Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein. Image by Central Synagogue

Timms has served as the interim Executive Director since July 2013, when Executive Director Sol Adler was fired over an affair with his assistant Cathy Marto, who was involved in a kickback scandal.

The board vote for Timms, who is not Jewish, was unanimous, according to a press release. Stuart J. Ellman, the President of the Board of Directors, is quoted saying that the search for the new director was “far-reaching and comprehensive, and we were fortunate to have had such a strong internal candidate in Henry.”

Timms is the co-founder of the Social Good Summit during UN-week in cooperation with Mashable, the Gates Foundation and the UN Foundation, and the co-creator of #GivingTuesday, a national day to encourage charity contributions in the holiday season, held on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving.

The second new appointment is Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein, who will step down as the senior rabbi of Manhattan’s Central Synagogue in June after 23 years. Rubinstein will take on his position as Director of Jewish Community and the Bronfman Center of Jewish Life in September.

Stuart J. Ellman, President of the 92Y Board of Directors, wrote in the release: “Peter has been at the vanguard of making certain that Jewish tradition remains relevant and vibrant for our modern world and for generations to come. His lifelong commitment to teaching and learning, his steadfast leadership in the Jewish community, his work on defining the Rabbi’s role for the 21st century and his dedication to interfaith dialogue speak eloquently to 92Y’s Jewish identity.”

Rubinstein is a was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and has also served as Rabbi of Woodlands Community Temple in White Plains, N.Y. and at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo California. In 2012 he was ranked third in Newsweek’s America’s 50 Most Influential Rabbis,” and this year was named one of the Forward’s “Most Inspiring Rabbis.”

Anna Goldenberg was the Forward’s culture fellow.

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