10 Things to Know About Jody Harburger

His resume reads like a who’s who of Jewish communal life. A community builder, leader and advocate, Jody brought these traits to a more than 40-year career, working at multiple federations and other Jewish organizations across the country.

Although, today he is retired, he is still engaged in the Jewish world, passionate about Israel and the Jewish future. Here are 10 things to know about Jody Harburger.

He originally wanted to be a Rabbi.

In fact, Jody attended Hebrew Union College with that idea in mind. However, he soon decided that Jewish community organizing was a better fit for him than the glass house in which a clergy-person is obliged to live. He pivoted and transferred his passion for Judaism into a four-decade career in the Jewish communal work world.

Over the next 40 plus years, he worked in seven different communities. His career spanned from Youth director to Camp director to Campaign director (St. Louis) to Capital Campaign Director (Dallas) to Executive Director for multiple federations. His last posting was in Washington, D.C. as Endowment Director and later, Israel Bonds Director. This move enabled him to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Today he is retired and living in Baltimore.

Israel has always been integral to his life – he once considered making aliyah.

When he was 20, he studied for a year in Israel and together with his wife Sheila in their mid-twenties attempted making aliyah. But after six months on Kibbutz 1973-74 during the Yom Kippur War, they returned to the United States because they felt more confident raising children here. He continued to maintain close ties to the Jewish state, traveling to Israel on more than 40 Federation missions. His father, always a Zionist, made aliyah in retirement and helped with Ethiopian resettlement, and his father’s sister and brother lived there as do their three generations of offspring now thriving In Israel.

Israel, he says, cannot be understood from what we see on the news.

“It’s far too complex to fit into their two to three minute snippets, which either focus on one person’s perspective or is exclusively about the conflict. Israel has many social, economic and political perspectives, attitudes and viewpoints It’s a melting pot. It’s an amazing, successful country that can be a model for the world in how to become prosperous, successfully diverse while surrounded by sworn enemies. Democratic values are central to what Israel is all about.”

The Associated’s Insight Israel Forum is a great way to engage in complex conversations about the Jewish State.

“I credit The Associated for initiating these important conversations that recognize the various points of view people have about Israel. There is so much we agree upon, and Insight Israel Forum helps us find places where we disagree and allows us the space to hear multiple perspectives, share them through civil discourse and learn from one another.”

Apartment building where Jody Harburger father lived in Munich, Germany

His father left Germany in 1936 to escape the Nazis. Jody visited his father’s hometown for the first time last month.

“My father left Germany at the age of 16 and came to New York.” His elder brother emigrated to Israel around that time, and his younger sister initially ended up in England thanks to the Kindertransport. “The only one of my father’s siblings who remained behind, the middle brother, was killed together with my grandparents and great-grandmother during the Holocaust.”

“Last month, I visited Munich, Germany, saw the apartment building where my father lived and the location of the family’s business for the five generations prior to 1938. It brought me much closer to all that was lost for our family and millions more.”

As a son of refugees, he tries to help other new immigrants adjust to their new country.

“I work with Chizuk Amuno helping resettle Afghan refugees in Baltimore. I am also involved with the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies in Baltimore. I’ve visited mosques with Muslim new immigrants who are looking for a place to worship – similar to how we go shul shopping when arriving in a new town.“

Jody enjoys reading in his spare time.

He particularly enjoys novels with an Israeli lens. “My favorite book is Exodus by Leon Uris. It really gives you a perspective on how Israel was established.” He also enjoys spy novels, particularly those written by Daniel Silva where the hero is the head of the Mossad. “I love to read about the exploits of Israel’s spymasters”, he says.

If he could have a conversation with anybody, it would be….

Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. “He was the Chief Rabbi when the State of Israel was born. He was involved in writing Israel’s Declaration of Independence and played an instrumental role in defining the place of religion in the Jewish State as it evolved. He didn’t try to erase religion, nor did he want religion to dominate it. I would like to talk to him about the many challenges Israel is facing today to discover what would be his vision for its future and the future of religion and state.”

When his daughter, Neely, died tragically in a car accident, he turned to The Associated’s Jewish Community Services for support.

“We faced emotional challenges and the JCS staff supported us so much. I want everyone to know that we all face difficulties in our lives, and we shouldn’t be afraid to seek help. JCS and their professionals can really make a difference.”

He is strengthened by the Neely Tal Snyder Community Impact Award.

Under The Associated’s leadership development agency, Na’aleh: The Hub for Leadership Learning, the award honors the memory of Neely Tal Snyder by annually recognizing a professional with strong commitment and passion for Jewish community. “I love to volunteer with many recipients of this award.”