United Jewish Appeal Announces Major Changes in Professional Leadership

A series of major changes in the top leadership of the United Jewish Appeal were announced today by Edward Ginsberg of Cleveland, UJA general chairman. Herbert A. Friedman, UJA executive vice-chairman, has been appointed executive chairman. Irving Bernstein, assistant executive vice-chairman, was named to succeed Mr. Friedman as executive vice-chairman.

Mr. Ginsberg said that Mr. Friedman would continue to be responsible for the overall policy of the UJA and that Mr. Bernstein would be responsible for operation and administration. The general chairman added that the new appointments “emphasize the excellent quality of executive leadership that the UJA has been known for since its inception in 1939.” He added that “due to the close relationship between the UJA and community federations and welfare funds concerning greater involvement in campaigns, conferences and missions, the changes and new additions within the professional framework of the organization point the way to a future of continued progress and expansion in the service of the Jewish people.”

Martin Peppercorn, UJA national field director, has been named to the new post of national campaign chairman. Marc Tabatchnik, director of research and development, has been named director of systems and personnel and assistant to the national executive vice-chairman. Peter Colwin, associate national field director, has been named associate national campaign director. Ernest N. Spickler, director of the UJA Young Leadership Cabinet since its inception in 1963, has been named associate national campaign director. H. David Weinstein, former personal assistant to the executive vice-chairman and Israel Education Fund administrative assistant, has been named to the newly-created post of director of overseas missions. The new post was created in response to an accelerated and expanded program involving a record number of UJA missions to Israel, Mr. Ginsberg said. Joel Friedman, a UJA field representative in Atlanta, has been named assistant director of the Young Leadership division.

Herbert Friedman, joined the UJA in 1955 as executive vice-chairman. Mr. Bernstein joined the UJA in 1948 as a field representative, later becoming director of west coast operations and assistant executive vice-chairman. Mr. Peppercorn also joined the UJA as a field representative, in 1967. Mr. Tabatchnik came to the UJA after many years of service with the Joint Distribution Committee. Mr. Colwin was the UJA’s first director of the Trades and Industries Division, after joining the UJA in 1941 as a field representative.

The UJA, the major Jewish fund-raising organization in the United States, has raised since its inception in 1939, more than $2 billion for humanitarian aid to needy Jews overseas and for the transportation and settlement of Jewish immigrants going to Israel and other free countries. It supports the United Israel Appeal, Inc. which, in turn, funds the Jewish Agency’s programs for resettlement and absorption of Jewish immigrants in Israel. The UJA also supports the Joint Distribution Committee, the major American agency aiding needy Jews overseas; the United Hias Service, which provides for transportation of oppressed Jews and for their resettlement in free nations other than Israel; and the New York Association of New Americans, which assists Jewish refugees in the United States.