Eric S. Goldstein is stepping down next summer after serving as CEO of UJA-Federation of New York for 11 years. His tenure has been marked by significant communal crises including Gaza conflicts and the COVID pandemic. Goldstein's experience included addressing antisemitism, a growing concern, as UJA had no budget line for it in 2014. Now, UJA leads initiatives like the Community Security Initiative to protect Jewish institutions. Goldstein’s leadership has helped the community unite during difficult times, transforming how UJA responds to crises.
"I remember well my plans for that first summer of 2014. I expected to learn the ropes and ease into the job. History, tragically, had other plans. On June 30, 2014, the bodies of three yeshiva boys kidnapped by Hamas were discovered - and a 50-day war followed. My first public role was speaking at a heartbreaking memorial service."
"I learned by doing, witnessing in real time the power of UJA to respond in crisis. I also saw how, in moments like these, our community - so often divided - would come together, finding strength and solace in one another."
"In 2014, UJA did not have a single line item in its budget for confronting domestic antisemitism or Jewish communal security. Today, UJA is leading the charge in responding to this growing threat in New York - including through the creation in 2019 of the Community Security Initiative, now a vital 20+ person team responsible for helping secure over 3,400 Jewish institutions in New York and beyond."
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