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28

February 23 • 2017

jn

jews d

in
the

New Network

Detroit leaders work to create new
human services organization.

JOYCE WISWELL SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

D

escribed as a “vibrant association that will become
a leading voice for human service organizations,”
the new Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
(NJHSA) will launch in May.
The group combines the 140 human service
agencies of the Association of Jewish Family and
Children’s Agencies (AJFCA) and the International
Association of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS)
to create a completely new nonprofit organization.
Reuben Rotman of New Jersey has been named CEO.
“It’s exciting, especially in this day and age when
more and more programs and services are strength-
ened through partnerships,” said Leah Rosenbaum,
Reuben Rotman
president/CEO of JVS and a member of the NJHSA
steering committee for the past two years. “This will
make our services stronger.”
Jewish Family Service CEO Perry Ohren agreed.
“This will bring more value to us, and we will reap
the benefits of what the network brings,” said Ohren,
also a steering committee member.
Rosenbaum and Ohren are expected to be includ-
ed on the inaugural board of directors — “at least
Leah Rosenbaum
until we figure out who else we want on the board,”
Ohren said. “There is certainly room for member
agencies, but we also want to be a more diversified
group of people.”
Both CEOs lauded the selection of Rotman, execu-
tive director of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest
New Jersey.
“Today, more than ever, it’s really, really complicat-
ed times, and this sector needs a strong voice and
thought leader to strengthen the field,” Rotman said.
Perry Ohren
“We ultimately are looking to become the leading
voice for Jewish human services in North America,
and ultimately an international network with organizations
in Canada and Israel. We are looking to leverage partner-
ships with corporate, academic and philanthropic entities,
all which will trickle down to local agencies and profession-
als working in the field.”
Rotman, 51, spent five years at Metro Detroit Jewish ser-
vice agencies in 1990-1995. “I have good friends in Detroit,”
he said.
“I have known Reuben for many years and he’s a good
choice,” Rosenbaum said. “He is very bright, very creative
and sees this through many different lenses.”
Added Ohren, “Reuben is an ideal candidate. He has inti-
mate knowledge of the work we do, great relationships and a
great sense of what we need to do partnership-wise.”
Rotman, who is currently seeking office space in Northern
New Jersey or New York City for the network, acknowledged
that some observers may question the need for change.
“As with anything new, there is going to be the need to
establish credibility and deliver some concrete resources,” he
said.
Though great strides have been made by the steering com-
mittee, much work remains, Rosenbaum said.
“I would love to say that we are done, but we are not,” she
said. “We have miles to go before we sleep because we are
creating a new entity. This is not two organizations merging;
it is the creation of a new organization.” •

