Longtime Jewish community leader Jay Yoskowitz died suddenly Tuesday. Yoskowitz, who was 59, passed away hours after burying both of his parents in New York. “He was a very committed communal professional, very dedicated to the Jewish community and to the advancement of Israel and Jewish causes,” said Norman Lipoff, a past president of JTA’s board and national chairman of the United Israel Appeal when Yoskowitz became its top professional. Yoskowitz, who was senior vice president at the American Technion Society when he died, served in top positions at the Council of Jewish Federations, United Israel Appeal, Jewish National Fund and B’nai B’rith, and at federations in Iowa, Connecticut and Texas. “Jay had the real values of character, of honesty and of integrity,” said Mel Bloom, the Technion Society’s executive vice president. “He was a mensch.” Following the funeral of his elderly parents, who died hours apart, Yoskowitz returned home to begin the mourning period when he choked on food and could not be revived. Yoskowitz is survived by his wife, three children and a brother. A funeral is scheduled for Friday at Beth El Synagogue in New Rochelle, N.Y.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.