Announcing the next CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans

Dear Members of the Greater New Orleans Jewish community,

It is with great excitement that I can now share that our Jewish Federation will have a new Chief Executive Officer beginning after Arnie’s retirement on December 31, 2022. After an extensive nationwide search and considering multiple extremely qualified candidates, the search committee chose Robert J. French as our new CEO. Robert comes to New Orleans from El Paso, TX., where he has served as the Executive Director of Jewish El Paso and The Jewish Community Foundation of El Paso since 2018. Prior to joining the Federation and Foundation community, Robert served in various management and leadership roles at the Stephen S. Wise Temple in Los Angeles and as Executive Director at Temple Israel of the City of New York where his combined synagogue career spanned 29 years. Attached is a more detailed biography for your review.

I look forward to formally introducing Robert to our community in the coming months. Robert is a thoughtful, caring and engaging leader who we believe will be able to connect with everyone in the community. In the meantime, here are some comments from Robert about joining our community: 

"I am excited and humbled to assume the Federation CEO position and would like to thank Melinda, Jonny and Brian and the Search Committee for this incredible opportunity to be a part of the leadership of the Jewish Community of Greater New Orleans and to help lead the Federation onwards and upwards. My professional and personal lives have always been immersed in engaging meaningfully with everything Jewish and Israel. These are unusual times but with them come many opportunities. I have no doubt that our Federation will not only excel in stepping up, but also leading the way of example for other Jewish communities across the U.S. In next week’s Torah portion, Vayera, we read about Abraham welcoming visitors to his tent, teaching us the importance of hachnasat orchim, of welcoming guests. One of the central roles of our Federation is to build community, to welcome the newcomer, to engage our partners, and to secure the Jewish future in Greater New Orleans and beyond. I have already felt the warmth, camaraderie and hospitality of your leadership and look forward to engendering this value into our diverse and dynamic community. I am thrilled to become Jewish New Orleans' newest resident." 

"I would like to congratulate Robert French on being named the incoming CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans," said current Federation CEO, Arnie D. Fielkow. "Congratulations also to Federation chair, Brian Katz, search committee co-chairs, Melinda Mintz and Jonny Lake, and the entire committee, for all of their efforts in identifying my successor. New Orleans has an important, impactful and inspiring Jewish community, and I look forward to supporting Robert's arrival as much as would be helpful."

I want to thank the members of the Search Committee chaired by Melinda Mintz and Jonny Lake and which included Alan Franco, Joshua Force, Kathy Shepard, Sarah Schatzmann, Rebecca Friedman, and Rabbi Robert Loewy. They spent countless hours on this very thorough and exhaustive search. Special appreciation to Sarah Raful Whinston of DRG talent for all her guidance and leadership throughout the search process. 

Brian Katz
Board Chair | Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans

Crisis in Ukraine: How You Can Help

Immediate and short-term needs already total $16 million and include:

• Helping people make Aliyah to Israel 
• Securing the local community and its institutions
• Maintaining critical welfare services
• Assisting internally displaced people in multiple locations.  
• Launching an emergency hotline
• Securing temporary housing for people in transit
• Purchasing satellite phones to maintain communications across the region
• Securing five Jewish schools and training staff to manage crisis needs

Learn more and donate here: jfeds.org/CrisisInUkraine 

How you can support the Federation

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans was built for moments like this—from COVID-19 to hurricanes, we have tackled our community’s most devastating and seemingly intractable challenges. As the Talmud mandates, Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh—all Jews are responsible for one another, and your Federation takes that seriously. As the connective tissue for Jewish New Orleans, our mission has never been more clear- to inspire, connect and sustain our Jewish organizations for the future of our community.

Other ways to support the Federation

• Transfer stock to the Federation’s Morgan Stanley Account (#575-060565-239). Contact Carla Marciniak at carla.marciniak@morganstanley.com or 504-587-9645 (please be sure that your name is on the stock transfer). Kindly contact the Federation office at 504-780-5600 to notify Federation what kind of stock and how many shares have been transferred.
• Make a gift from your Jewish Endowment Foundation donor advised fund, and email sherritarr@jewishnola.com that information.
• Donate from your IRA through a regular distribution.
• Mail a check (payable to the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans) postmarked by December 31, 2022 to 3747 W. Esplanade Avenue, Metairie, LA 70002.
• Please consider leaving a legacy for the Jewish Federation – for more information on how to endow your gift, please contact Bobby Garon at the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana at 504-524-4559.

Here’s a message from our 2022 Annual Campaign Co-Chairs, Steve & Nancy Timm: