Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer Position  

Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester  

Summary  

For over a century, the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester has served as a cornerstone of Jewish life in the region, sustaining a strong tradition of philanthropy, partnership, and communal responsibility. Today, the Federation remains at the center of a dynamic and evolving Jewish community, committed to supporting Jewish continuity and inspiring meaningful Jewish experiences, while maintaining a deep and enduring commitment to Israel and the global Jewish people.  

Rooted in Jewish values and working in close collaboration with agency partners, synagogues, lay leaders, and organizations across both the Jewish and broader community, the Federation plays a central role in shaping a vibrant and inclusive 21st century Jewish Rochester. The Federation engages Jews of all backgrounds — young and old, affiliated and unaffiliated — through collective action, cultural and educational programs. Among them are the Jay Birnbaum Leadership Development Program and the offerings available through the Levine Center to End Hate.  

The incoming CEO will steward this proud legacy and lead the Federation into its next chapter. Reporting to the Board President and overseeing a professional staff of 24, the CEO will provide strategic and operational leadership, cultivate trusted relationships across sectors, and build on past successes while responding to evolving needs and opportunities. A skilled fundraiser, communicator, and people manager, the CEO will champion innovation, guide organizational change, attract and retain top talent, and ensure the Federation remains a respected and unifying presence within both the Jewish and broader Rochester communities.  

The Greater Rochester Jewish Community  

The Rochester area is home to a vibrant and thriving Jewish community of over 19,000 individuals, supported by a deeply committed volunteer base and a robust network of Jewish institutions. It is a place where one can truly “live Jewishly,” with meaningful opportunities for connection, learning, and leadership at every stage of life.  

The Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester partners with a broad array of local and global organizations that share its values and mission. Locally, the Federation supports four core beneficiary agencies: the Louis S. Wolk Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Services, Hillel Community Day School, and The Jewish Home. It also supports Hillel at the University of Rochester, as well as other local Hillel chapters, and is known for its nationally recognized interfaith relations program. Rochester is home to 11 vibrant synagogues, as well as four Jewish day schools. The community maintains a strong connection with the people of Modi’in, Israel, through a people-to-people P2G relationship, which recently celebrated a successful 22-year anniversary.  

The Jewish community of Rochester also benefits from the generosity of the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, the William and Sheila Konar Foundation, and the Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation — each of which invests significantly in local Jewish initiatives. Their support helps sustain vital programs and institutions, including the Federation and its partners, ensuring the strength and continuity of Jewish life in the region.  

Life in Greater Rochester  

Rochester consistently ranks among the best places to live in the U.S., particularly for families. It has been recognized by both Expansion Management Magazine, which ranked it the top metro area of over 1 million residents and placed its public schools sixth nationwide, and U.S. News & World Report, which named it a top ten city for quality of life in 2023–2024.  

A center of innovation and education, Rochester is hom