Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City has named Jay Lewis as its new president and CEO. Lewis will succeed past president and CEO Helene Lotman.
“After being part of this community for almost my entire life, I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the next president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City,” Lewis said. “I am so optimistic about the future of this organization and this community, and I can’t wait to wake up every day and help Kansas City continue to be the best Jewish community in the country to live in and raise a family.”
According to Federation board chair Beth Liss, the Federation board believes that Lewis’s “energetic and effervescent personality” will connect with both Federation patrons and the wider Kansas City Jewish community.
“Jay is an enormously talented leader who we know will take our Federation to new levels,” Liss said. “I am extremely confident in Jay's commitment to help Federation continue to analyze and bring to fruition initiatives related to our recent community study, and in his ability to lead Kansas City’s Federation through its next stages of growth.”
For the past six years, Lewis has worked with Hillel International as its vice president and lead campus support director for North America, and is also a member of the Hillel International Senior Leadership Team. He oversaw Hillel’s Israel Action and Antisemitism support team and its safety and security programs. Insights and experience gained through these roles are highly relevant to Federation’s work locally and abroad.
Lewis, the son of Stuart Lewis and the late Hilary Lewis, is a Kansas City native and grew up in the Jewish community. He and his wife, Kimberly, have two children, McKenna and Keaton.
He received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Kansas and studied at Brandeis University, where he earned a master’s degree in Jewish communal service. He returned to KU and spent 15 years as the executive director of KU Hillel, all while remaining involved with the Kansas City Jewish community. Lewis also helped in the formation of previous Jewish community program Moishe House Kansas City.
A 15-person, multigenerational Jewish Federation search committee worked for months with the search firm Evolve Giving to find a new president and CEO. Hundreds of candidates were vetted, and the semi-finalists went through several rounds of interviews to find the one who they believed would best lead Federation. The search committee narrowed in on Lewis because of his career accomplishments, his embodiment of creating a welcoming culture through Federation values and his passion for and familiarity with the Kansas City Jewish community.
“[Lewis] is a strategic and dynamic leader with a proven track record of transforming organizations and delivering results,” Federation search committee chair Amanda Palan said. “Jay excels at developing relationships, fundraising, building successful teams, and inspiring and motivating others around a shared vision.”
The Federation board agreed with the search committee’s recommendation, and Lewis was selected. He will begin his new position in early August and will work with interim Federation president and CEO Hava Leipzig Holzhauer throughout the month to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Lewis’s mark on the local community has been felt for years; his work for more than a decade at KU Hillel was honored at its 2017 Rock Chalk Shabbat, and he worked to ensure that KU Hillel would be successful long after he left it.
Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman also expressed gratitude for Lewis’s contributions to Hillel over more than 20 years, and he believes that Lewis is the right choice for Federation.
“...We know Jay will now be in a position to support and strengthen Jewish life across the Greater Kansas City area,” Lehman said, “including for the many Jewish students who benefit from [Federation’s] support.”
Federation Chair Beth Liss added, “Change and transition in community always come with challenges. We are thrilled to be bringing on Jay, who’s experience, skills and magnetic personality will help us as we come together and move forward in partnership for the Greater Kansas City Jewish community."
