Ron Halber was named chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington on Sept. 17 after 27 years with the organization. He is the first CEO in JCRC’s history.
“I have proudly dedicated my professional career to the JCRC of Greater Washington, and I am deeply honored to step into the role of CEO at such a critical time for the Jewish community in the United States and around the world,” Halber said in a press release. “The resiliency of the Jewish people since the horrific tragedy of October 7th has sustained our work and our spirit. On behalf of the JCRC’s dedicated staff and committed volunteers, we will continue to give our all to this community in the years ahead.”
Halber joined the JCRC in 1997 and served as its executive director since 2001. During his tenure, the JCRC’s budget has increased tenfold due to several hundred volunteers and a “significant expansion” of staff, programming and advocacy, according to the press release.
Halber’s relationships with lawmakers and strategic policy expertise have led him to become “one of the most influential policy advocates in the DMV region and a frequent commentator in the national media on Israel and other priority issues for the Jewish community,” according to the press release.
His accomplishments include securing tens of millions of dollars in security funding and social service support for Jewish institutions and more funding for schools to protect against antisemitic attacks. The JCRC has spearheaded the launch of an Israel Action Center, Holocaust remembrance and education programs and interfaith coalitions under Halber’s leadership.
He has also led the JCRC’s response to the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel by organizing vigils and rallies attended by thousands of community members. Halber has worked to prevent the introduction or passage of several state and local anti-Israel resolutions, according to the press release.
“Ron’s extraordinary talents and passion have helped JCRC flourish for decades, but never more so than in the past year when we needed him most. We couldn’t have asked for a more committed leader,” said Bob Budoff, president of the JCRC Board of Directors. “The entire Greater Washington Jewish community owes Ron a debt of gratitude, and we are beyond thrilled that he will continue at the helm of JCRC as our CEO.”
Halber expressed gratitude for the title change, as such a shift reflects a larger nonprofit organization.
“I think the title change is reflective of the growth of the JCRC over the past 20 years and the desire to use titles that are reflective of larger agencies, rather than just small community-based nonprofit [organizations],” Halber told Washington Jewish Week. “It’s a lovely gesture. It’s a way of the executive committee noting the expansion of the JCRC.”
Braden Hamelin contributed reporting to this article.
