The Jewish Council for Public Affairs has named a replacement for Hadar Susskind in D.C. Josh Protas, senior vice president for planning and community affairs for the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, will become vice prersident and director of JCPA’s Washington office.
"As a JCRC director and senior federation professional in Arizona, Josh brings a unique perspective to Washington that will help JCPA better advocate on issues important to the Jewish community as well as better support the JCRC network as a whole," said JCPA president Rabbi Steve Gutow.
“JCPA plays a vital leadership role in many issues of national significance including seeking peace and security for Israel, combating poverty, fighting global climate change and more,” said Josh Protas. “I have had the privilege to work as a local partner on a range of JCPA-led issues and some of my most striking experiences occurred when I was able to witness first-hand the human impact of policy decisions made by our nation’s political leaders. Armed with the insights I have gleaned from work in the field as well as the personal stories of the nation’s most vulnerable, I am excited to help the organization continue to go from strength to strength.”
Before his current position, Protas previously served as the director of the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the executive director of the Historic Stone Avenue Temple.
Susskind left JCPA last month to take a position with J Street.
The full JCPA release is after the jump:[[READMORE]]
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) is pleased to announce the naming of Josh Protas of Tucson, Arizona, as Vice President and Director of the Washington office. Mr. Protas, who will relocate to Washington, D.C. following the JCPA Task Force meeting in New York later this month, will replace Hadar Susskind, who served in this position for five years.
JCPA is the public policy voice of the organized Jewish community and the coordinating and advisory body for the network of Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRCs) across the country.
“It is my pleasure to announce that Josh Protas will be joining our team in Washington,” said Rabbi Steve Gutow, president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. “As a JCRC director and senior federation professional in Arizona, Josh brings a unique perspective to Washington that will help JCPA better advocate on issues important to the Jewish community as well as better support the JCRC network as a whole.”
Mr. Protas comes to JCPA’s Washington office after serving as the senior vice president for planning and community affairs for the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. He previously served as the director of the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the executive director of the Historic Stone Avenue Temple.
“JCPA plays a vital leadership role in many issues of national significance including seeking peace and security for Israel, combating poverty, fighting global climate change and more,” said Josh Protas. “I have had the privilege to work as a local partner on a range of JCPA-led issues and some of my most striking experiences occurred when I was able to witness first-hand the human impact of policy decisions made by our nation’s political leaders. Armed with the insights I have gleaned from work in the field as well as the personal stories of the nation’s most vulnerable, I am excited to help the organization continue to go from strength to strength.”
In addition to managing the Washington office and its staff, as Vice President and Director of JCPA’s Washington’s office, Mr. Protas will be JCPA’s liaison to the presidential administration, members of Congress and staff. Mr. Protas will also represent JCPA in numerous Jewish and interfaith community coalitions. He will also interact directly with Washington’s diplomatic corps.
“I am honored and excited to contribute to the outstanding work JCPA performs inspired by Jewish values,” said Mr. Protas. “I look forward to joining an amazing team of professional staff and committed lay leadership at JCPA, and to working closely with partner agencies and JCRCs across the country.
Hadar Susskind, who previously served as vice president and Washington director for JCPA said, “Josh Protas is one of the best and most effective Jewish community professionals that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. It is an honor to have held the position that he will now occupy and, I am sure, take to new heights of success.”
