Keith Krivitzky to step down as federation CEO

KEITH KRIVITZKY, who oversaw the merger of the former Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County and the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County four years ago, has resigned his position as CEO of the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey.

The reason he gave for his departure is his decision to pursue initiatives encouraging travel to Israel. “This is something I am very eager and passionate about and have been for quite a while,” Krivitzky told NJJN. “That passion was inflamed further by the recent community trip to Israel, where more than half of all participants were first-timers. That is what is drawing me right now and what I’m focused on.”

The Heart federation’s Journey to the Four Corners of Israel mission in October had 270 participants.

Krivitzky became executive director of the Monmouth federation in August 2011 after working for the previous three years as vice president of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. He would later assume the leadership of the newly formed Heart federation after the 2014 merger and was integral to the creation of the new entity, which has an annual budget of almost $5 million and an endowment of more than $15 million.

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Krivitzky resigned Dec. 10 and will end his tenure Dec. 31 after which Susan Antman, currently federation executive vice president, will take over as executive director. No decision has been made on whether a new hire will be made to fill her current position.

“Keith has been a tireless advocate for the Jewish community in the Heart of New Jersey and beyond,” said federation’s immediate past president, Jeff Schwartz, in a prepared statement. “His dedication and leadership have been a powerful inspiration to the people we serve, our board, and our staff.”

During his four-year tenure, Krivitzky was at the forefront of many national federation initiatives and served as chair of the intermediate group of Jewish federations for more than a year until November 2016. (The Heart federation is one of 50 federations that fall in that size designation among the approximately 450 communities that comprise the Jewish Federations of North America.)

“Under Keith’s leadership, the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey has expanded its role in the community, especially in terms of connecting Jews to Jewish life, building ties with Israel, and responding to crises such as anti-Semitism and the need for more attention to community security,” said Schwartz.

Krivitzky told NJJN that “there have been a number of opportunities I have held off on and have increasingly been wanting to pursue.”

“These relate to my desire to bring groups to Israel and my personal and professional relationship to Israel,” he said.

A Freehold native, Krivitzky said he plans to remain in the community for the present. Prior to his position in Seattle, he worked for Hillel International in various capacities, including director of Hillel’s Taglit-Birthright Israel trips and director of development for Hillel’s international programs.