(Courtesy of JCC Manhattan) The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan’s Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Joy Levitt, announced plans to retire in December, after leading the New York City nonprofit organization through a remarkable run of nearly 25 years.
Rabbi Levitt joined the JCC in 1997 as program director; was appointed associate executive director in 2003; and became chief executive officer in 2006. Under her leadership, the nonprofit has grown into one of the largest JCCs in the country, and has expanded programming in and beyond its flagship location on the Upper West Side.
Highlights of Rabbi Levitt’s tenure at the JCC include imagining and opening the 14-story, state-of-the-art JCC building at 76th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, later renamed the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan; overseeing the creation of groundbreaking programs such as the ReelAbilities and Other Israel Film Festivals, Jewish Journeys, Adaptations and the Parkinson’s Wellness Program; and launching 10 Centers of Excellence and expansion sites at JCC Harlem and Camp Settoga in Pomona, New York.
“For more than two decades, I have had the privilege of working with an extraordinary group of professionals and lay leaders to help shape 21st-century Jewish life in New York and beyond,” shared Rabbi Levitt. “It was important for me to stay through this challenging year as we kept the JCC thriving and responding to critical needs in the community. By the end of this year, I believe we will be well on our way, with great new opportunities for a new, inspiring leader.”
“Joyss enthusiasm, dedication, thoughtfulness, and creativity are contagious; they have helped to recruit the best and the brightest staff, community partners, philanthropists, and board members over the years,” said Chair of the Board of Directors Sheryl Kaye. “There is no question that Joy has been the primary reason for the JCC’s incredible growth and success over the past two decades, and we are eternally grateful for her efforts.”
Prior to joining the JCC, Rabbi Levitt served as a congregational rabbi on Long Island and in New Jersey for 20 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College, followed by a master’s degree from New York University and a rabbinical degree from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. As a lay leader, she serves on the boards of the Shefa School, a Jewish community day school for children with language-based learning disabilities; Plaza Jewish Community Chapels; The Jerusalem Foundation; and Israel Story.
Rabbi Levitt will continue with the JCC through December 2021 to ensure a smooth and successful transition for her successor. The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan board of directors has brought on DRG Talent Advisory Group to facilitate the search, and a successor is expected to be named before the end of the calendar year.
