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Appoints New Chief Executive Officer
NEW YORK CITY – March 24, 2021 – The Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) announced the appointment of Gideon Taylor as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer as of July 1, 2021 ushering in a new chapter in the leadership of New York’s most prominent Jewish community relations and advocacy organization.
Mr. Taylor has served as a member of the JCRC-NY Board of Directors for the past five years and will succeed current Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Michael S. Miller, who will conclude his longstanding tenure on June 30, 2021 after more than 36 years at the helm of the organization.
With a history of leadership, Mr. Taylor is Executive Vice President of EWKA, Inc., a commercial real estate company in New York. In June 2020, Mr. Taylor was elected as lay President of the Board of Directors of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), the entity responsible for Holocaust restitution negotiations and social welfare programs for Nazi victims worldwide. He previously served as Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference and as Assistant Executive Vice President of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
In September 2020, a Search Committee was formed, and following a six-month search, the committee presented its recommendation to the Executive Committee which in turn conveyed its unanimous choice to the full Board at its meeting today.
“Gideon is a passionate and well-respected leader who has served the diverse New York Jewish community locally as well as the wider Jewish community internationally. At this critical moment, as our community faces increased levels of antisemitism, internal polarization, and a changing political landscape, we are delighted that Gideon has been selected to lead JCRC-NY into the future,” said JCRC-NY President Cheryl Fishbein.
“For decades, JCRC-NY has fostered meaningful relationships with the political, ethnic, and faith leadership of New York. As our city continues to evolve and diversify, we are confident that Gideon’s advocacy and leadership will be a positive force for the collective good of the Jewish community and our neighbors throughout New York City, Long Island, and Westchester,” said Jonathan Greenspun, Chair of the Search Committee and Managing Director at Mercury Public Affairs.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, we are aware that the coming years will bring other unique challenges for JCRC-NY and the New York Jewish community – some discernible and some that we cannot forecast,” said Taylor. “I intend to continue the essential work of building close relationships within the Jewish community and strengthening our commitment to build impactful coalitions with the many diverse communities that make up our City.”
Michael S. Miller noted, “JCRC-NY is very fortunate to have Gideon Taylor as my successor and its next CEO. His work on the international scale has benefitted innumerable Jewish communities, including many Holocaust survivors in New York. I have worked with Gideon both in his role as a Jewish professional and as a lay leader and have witnessed his dedication to strengthening our Jewish community and his commitment to building bridges of understanding with others.”
“UJA-Federation is a proud supporter and partner of JCRC-NY in the community relations and advocacy arena,” said Eric S. Goldstein, Chief Executive Officer of UJA-Federation of New York. “We welcome Gideon as the new CEO of JCRC-NY. He is an accomplished leader, and we look forward to working with him, and the entire JCRC-NY team, in building stronger bridges across our community.”
William C. Daroff, Chief Executive Officer of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said: “I have often sought Gideon’s guidance on effectively engaging Members of
Congress, the Executive Branch, and international governments on issues pertaining to Holocaust
survivors and property restitution. Gideon is a trusted advisor and confidante who knows the New
York civic and political scene very well.”
Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Mr. Taylor is a law graduate of Trinity College in Dublin and received his master’s degree in law from Oxford University. He is admitted as an attorney in the State of New York, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
ABOUT JCRC-NY
JCRC-NY, a proud UJA-Federation of NY agency, serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area. As an active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY operates as a central coordinating and resource body to: (1) Be a common table to cultivate understanding and joint action amongst diverse groups within the Jewish community; (2) Cultivate deeper relationships with the broader New York community to address critical issues and engender a shared society; (3) Ensure the security of the Jewish community in the face of rising antisemitism; and (4) Foster understanding and appreciation for the Jewish community’s relationship with Israel, and to increase knowledge, exposure, and support for Israel among diverse groups of New Yorkers.
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Additional Comments
Amy A. B. Bressman, President, UJA-Federation of New York
“We at UJA welcome Gideon Taylor to his role as CEO of JCRC-NY. He is an outstanding leader who will bring much to the work of the JCRC. We are looking forward to working with him to advance the Jewish community relations agenda and wish him much good luck in this new position.”
Alisa Doctoroff, past President of UJA-Federation of New York
“Gideon Taylor is a highly experienced and tested leader whose understanding of the JCRC of the future, combined with his passion for representing the values and interests of the New York Jewish community will serve JCRC and our City well.”
Stuart Eizenstat, former Deputy-Secretary of the US Treasury; Special Negotiator of the Claims Conference
“I have often worked side-by-side with Gideon Taylor observing his keen knowledge and sound judgement. With his exceptional ability, leadership experience in the Jewish world, and the trust of US government officials that he has earned, Gideon is an excellent choice to lead JCRC-NY into the future.”
Abe Foxman, Holocaust Survivor; former National Director of the Anti-Defamation League
“I have seen Gideon’s tenacity and determination to help the thousands of survivors living in New York receive the reparations and services they require. These skills will serve him well in his advocacy for the Jewish community as CEO of JCRC-NY.”
Robyn Polansky Morrison, Founder & Lead Principal of MORR Strategy LLC; Secretary of JCRC-NY
“Through the process of finding the right candidate who will continue to ensure the continuity, interests, and vitality of the diverse metropolitan Jewish community and who will continue building bridges between New Yorkers of all age groups, religious movements, nationalities, and political persuasions, Gideon Taylor has outstandingly acknowledged a deep understanding of the significance of this work as well as his steadfast commitment. I look forward to collaborating with Gideon particularly on engaging the next generation for JCRC-NY.”
Sol Werdiger, Chairman of Agudath Israel of America’s Board of Trustees
“Gideon Taylor has worked with Orthodox Jewish communities in both professional and volunteer capacities ensuring that the most vulnerable of us are cared for with humanity and respect. We are blessed to continue working with him in this new capacity.”
