Matt Abrams Gerber Selected to Lead the Center for Shared Society at the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York

The longtime Bronx Jewish leader brings his extensive community building and intergroup relations experience to JCRC-NY starting September 16, 2024

JCRC-NY is proud to announce the appointment of Matt Abrams Gerber as the Vice President of its Center for Shared Society effective Monday, September 16, 2024. Matt comes to JCRC-NY from the Riverdale YM-YWHA, where he served for nine years as Chief Operating Officer and led the creation of the award-winning Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership, a consortium of 18 local Jewish institutions.

As a social worker and community builder at heart, Matt brings over 25 years of experience leading interfaith and Jewish partnership initiatives to JCRC-NY, along with a genuine passion for creating connections with diverse leaders and proudly representing the Jewish community.  Matt earned an MSW with a concentration in social group work from Hunter College, which was an outgrowth of his early studies and career focusing on intergroup relations and conflict resolution. He lives in Riverdale with his wife and daughter.

“I am thrilled to welcome Matt Abrams Gerber as our next Vice President of the Center for Shared Society,” said Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY. “The Center serves as our main connective tissue uniting interfaith and inter-group leaders from across New York—in addition to cultivating the next generation of leaders and influencers that will help advance a more safe and inclusive future for our community. Matt’s exemplary work, skillset, and effective community-building experience in the Bronx will help the Center, JCRC-NY, and our community at large reach new heights during this pivotal time in our history.”

JCRC-NY’s Center for Shared Society is the organization’s intergroup relations and community building division in the most diverse city in the world. Its initiatives are an integral part of the organization’s approach to confronting hate and antisemitism in New York, through deep engagement in the world of social justice and by connecting the city’s diverse Jewish communities to those with whom we share neighborhoods and working to resolve the issues and challenges of community change in our neighborhoods.

“As a longstanding partner on many JCRC-NY initiatives, I am excited and honored to join this storied organization to lead its Center for Shared Society into the future,” said Matt Abrams Gerber, who will assume The Center’s top role on January 1, 2025. “The Jewish community in New York can only be strengthened and secured into the future by building alliances, partnerships, and initiatives with other diverse faith and community groups.”

“For over three decades the Center for Shared Society has been central to developing bridges of understanding and trust with those with whom we share our incredibly diverse city and its neighborhoods. We have achieved this by partnering in creating and engaging in  coalitions that have made the quality of life in our city better for all and  through our formal fellowships that connect and strengthen thousands of diverse community and faith leaders, many of whom are in pivotal leadership roles in our City right now,” said Rabbi Bob Kaplan, Executive Director, Center for Shared Society at JCRC-NY. “I look forward to Matt taking on this mantle and leading us forward to meet the new opportunities and challenges that face all New Yorkers and the role our agency will play in this journey of a changing city and its neighborhoods.”

On January 1, 2025, Rabbi Bob Kaplan will transition to the new role of Senior Advisor.  JCRC-NY looks forward to continuing to benefit from his decades of experience, connection, and wisdom.

****

Additional Quotes:

“Two years ago, I was introduced to Matt Abrams Gerber while participating in a JCRC-NY Bronx Leaders Study Tour to Israel.  Since then, I have seen his leadership first-hand in supporting community-building efforts bringing the diverse leaders of the Bronx together to combat hate and build a stronger society.  I look forward to working with him in his new capacity with JCRC-NY.” - Vanessa Gibson, Bronx Borough President 

“Having known and respected Matt for over 30 years, I am excited to work together to address issues of hate, racism, and antisemitism and to build stronger coalitions between our diverse New York City populations.” – Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President

“Matt is recognized as a great support for and convener of the many diverse faith groups in Riverdale.  He has supported the Muslim community and students at Manhattan University through his incredible ability to build networks and bring communities together for peace in areas beyond Riverdale. I wish him continued success in his new role at JCRC-NY bringing his skills to all of New York City.“ - Mehnaz Afridi, Director, Holocaust, Genocide & Interfaith Education Center & Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Manhattan University

“Matt has dedicated his career to serving the Jewish community and building bridges to other communities. He understands the delicate and critical work of building meaningful relationships. At times like these, we need people like Matt to remind us of our common humanity.” - Rabbi Barry Dov Katz, Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale