The Board of Directors is excited to announce that Hava Leipzig Holzhauer will assume the role of Interim President and CEO for the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City starting January 15.

Hava, who is certified in Interim nonprofit leadership, will help our organization run smoothly and move us forward throughout this transition period as we prepare for a permanent CEO. She will work closely with the Board and Federation staff to ensure stability and consistency of operations during the search for our next President and CEO. 

Hava grew up in the Chicago area and practiced law in both Illinois and Florida. Her areas of practice have included employment and contracts, among others. Ten years ago, she shifted from legal practice to nonprofit leadership when she was hired to run the Anti-Defamation League statewide in Florida.

Most recently, she has served in an Interim capacity as Inaugural Executive Director of the Konar Center for Tolerance and Jewish Studies at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. While there, she identified community members to participate in the newly formed advisory council, secured relationships to provide ongoing funding, created collaborative programs and working groups to promote civil discourse to ease community tensions and encourage inclusivity, and led the search to hire a new permanent Executive Director.

She has also been extensively involved in the Jewish community as a lay leader and volunteer. She has co-chaired a Jewish Federation Super Sunday, served on the Jewish Community Relations Council’s (JCRC) Executive Committee and was the first community security liaison. She is a Wexner Heritage Alum and a Wexner Fellow in Gender Equity and Safety in the Jewish Workplace. She is also a graduate of Hadassah’s Leadership Academy.

Hava will work closely with the current Jewish Federation staff, and incoming Board Chair, Beth Liss, who are all dedicated and united in moving us forward as we start the new year. The vision and goals of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City will remain unchanged, and we will continue to leverage our Community Study to find ways to better serve our community. Our mission of working to sustain and enhance Jewish life at home and around the world remains strong.

We look forward to Hava’s arrival and working together with her in the coming months.