At annual meeting, federation names top exec

Keith Krivitzky, a fund-raising executive who served most recently as vice president of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy at the Seattle Jewish federation, has been named the new executive director of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County.

Krivitzky’s appointment was announced June 16 at the Monmouth federation’s annual meeting at Congregation Brothers of Israel in Elberon, where a detective was honored for his fight against bias crimes and the board approved an allocation to help counter anti-Israel activity at Rutgers University.

The emergency allocation marked the first time in the federation’s 39-year history that a vote took place at an annual meeting.

During the installation of the new executive committee and board of directors, outgoing president Stuart Abraham of Manalapan announced the appointment of Krivitzky, who is relocating to Monmouth in July from Seattle. There he served as vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s Center for Jewish Philanthropy, responsible for all its fund-raising, marketing. and planned-giving efforts. His new position begins Aug. 1.

Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

Monmouth’s executive director position has been vacant since November, when it was announced that the federation would not be renewing the contract of Howard Gases, who served for 12 years. Bert J. Goldberg, who served as interim executive director since Nov. 8, resigned last week.

Prior to his position in Seattle, Krivitzky, who did not attend the meeting, worked for the Hillel International Center as associate director of development, director of Hillel’s Taglit-Birthright Israel trips, and director of development of Hillel’s international programs.

According to a Jewish Federations of North America website, Krivitzky has over a decade of experience in development for nonprofit organizations. He has a BA in politics and Near Eastern studies from Princeton and an MBA from University of Maryland.

“Keith has a very broad experience base in terms of understanding the Jewish community,” Abraham told NJJN. “He spent the last three years in Seattle addressing exactly the opportunities we have here in Monmouth County, including creating a renewed relevance and renewed mission for federation.

“Keith comes highly recommended, and we are very excited about having him join us.”

Treasurer Robert Mack took the podium to address anti-Israel activity at Rutgers and call for the organization to join other federations throughout the state in allocating funds to Rutgers’ newly established Hillel Center for Israel Engagement. The board voted on an annual allocation of $3,133.33 toward the $75,000 annual salary of the center’s director.

“Rutgers has become a focal point of the global campaign to delegitimize Israel, with national and international anti-Israel organizations working with individual faculty and student groups,” Mack told the more than 75 people at the meeting. “Successful Israel advocacy and education requires a permanent pro-Israel infrastructure on campus.”

Among the 2011 executive committee changes, Abraham will now serve as chair of the board, outgoing president-elect Joseph Hollander of Holmdel will serve as president, outgoing vice-president of campaign Sheri Tarrab of Holmdel will serve as president-elect, and outgoing secretary Albert Bloomfield of Ocean will serve as vice president of campaign. Stephanie Ackerman of Marlboro was installed as vice president of outreach.

The following reappointments were also made: Jonathan Barofsky, Ocean, allocations vice president; Sheryl Grutman, Manalapan, president, Women’s Philanthropy; Kenneth Philmus, Matawan, vice president, personnel; Arnold Gelfman, Wayside, vice president, strategy; Judith Premselaar, Manalapan, vice president, Major Gifts; Robert Mack, Marlboro, treasurer; and Cheryl Markbreiter, Wayside, secretary.

The 2011 board of directors comprises Jeffrey Donner, Jackson; Mindy Wiser Estin, Ocean; Elise Feldman, Farmingdale; Amy Greenspan, Ocean; Robert Grossman, Manasquan; Robert Gutman, Ocean; Richard Isaacson, Ocean; Todd Katz, Wayside; Bobbi Krantz, Manasquan; Beth Krinsky, Manalapan; Joel Krinsky, Manalapan; Richard Krupnick, Wayside; Robert St. Lifer, Colts Neck; Toby Shylit Mack, Marlboro; Gerald Marks, Holmdel; Wendy Marks, Holmdel; Lauren Reich, Manalapan; Deborah Rettig, Manalapan; Laurie Sussman, Manalapan; Robin Wander, Long Branch; and Alan Winters, Long Branch.

Joan and Robert Reichnitz conducted the installation. Ruth Hyman opened the meeting by leading the singing of the national anthem and “Hatikva,” and Brothers of Israel’s Rabbi Nasanayl Braun gave a d’var Torah.

Monmouth County Freeholder Amy Mallet presented a community leadership award to Detective David D’Amico from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office in Freehold. For the last six years, D’Amico has coordinated a 12-week program to rehabilitate perpetrators of bias crimes through education. The program operates in conjunction with Brookdale Community College’s Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Center.

In his address on the state of the federation, Abraham categorized its status as “recovering.”

“Our campaign is down about $500,000, which is a serious hit, but through [outgoing board chair] Elise Feldman’s leadership, we have been able to allocate to the agencies not one dollar less than before,” he said. “We and the staff have taken the full brunt of the economic downturn, by cutting staff and reducing hours. We are in a strong cash position in a weak economy and a weak campaign, but we are determined to keep allocating.”

In his remarks, Hollander spoke about the changing nature of the federation’s donor base, the rise of anti-Semitism, and the call for Jews in Monmouth County to do more for the community. “We find ourselves in a world questioning some of the fundamental tenets of our existence. To me, federation is an operational metaphor for Jewish community,” he said.

Hollander spoke about harnessing the vast potential of the county’s Jewish community. “It is our responsibility to support each other. With 70,000 Jews in this county, I look forward to leveraging all 150,000 opinions in the process.”