Activist for Eurasian Jewry Nominated To Chair Conference

An attorney with a long history of advocacy on behalf of Jews in the former Soviet Union was nominated Wednesday as the next chairman of the most prominent secular Jewish group in the United States.

Stephen Greenberg was recommended by a nominating committee to lead the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations for the next two years as part of a rotating leadership post.

Richard Stone, who chairs the Conference’s nominating committee, said in a statement that he has worked closely with Greenberg for many years.

“He is sincerely committed to fostering the well-being of Jews around the world, the security of Israel and the vibrant special U.S.-Israel relationship,” Stone said.

If voted in by all 50 groups that comprise the Conference’s membership, Greenberg will begin his term on June 1. He would replace outgoing chairman Robert Sugarman, a former chairman of the Anti-Defamation League.

Greenberg has a long history of Jewish communal involvement. He is the chairman of the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry and was a former national vice chairman of Hillel International and the United Jewish Appeal.

The conference, consisting of more than four dozen mostly secular Jewish organizations, is widely recognized among national officials to represent the Jewish community. Malcolm Hoenlein is the longtime executive vice chairman.

There are several burning issues currently confronting the Conference. These include fighting an imminent deal that would allow Iran a measure of nuclear weapons capability, the rise of anti-Semitism around the globe, the threats posed by Islamist terror organizations, strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship and combating growing calls to boycott Israel on college campuses.

This article appeared in print on page 3 of the April 2nd, 2015 edition of Hamodia.