At its year-end meeting, the JRB Board of Trustees celebrated Rabbi Joel H. Meyers’ retirement from the JRB Board after 33 years of dedicated service. Rabbi Meyers served several terms as Board Chair. He also chaired and was a member of many Board Committees, including the Executive Committee, Investment Review Committee and Bylaws Committee.
Outgoing Chair Rabbi Felipe Goodman noted that “Rabbi Meyers devoted his life to making sure our clergy, professional and administrative staff – everybody working within the Conservative Movement – had access to retirement benefits. On behalf of our nearly 3,800 participants, I extend our tremendous gratefulness that Rabbi Meyers has been watching out for us all of those years.”
Incoming Chair Rabbi Michael B. Greenbaum, Ed.D., characterized Rabbi Meyers’ leadership in two words: “Confidence and Humility. These two characteristics distinguish a highly competent administrator. I want to thank Joel for being a teacher and a model for all of us. I wish you and your family all the best in the years to come.“
JRB CEO Mitchell J. Smilowitz, CPA, described how “Rabbi Meyers’ reputation within the Conservative Movement brought respect to and confidence in the JRB. His knowledge of finances, investments and retirement plans contributed much to the JRB’s dramatic growth over the last three-plus decades. Toda raba!”
In honor of Rabbi Meyers’ long history of service, the Joint Retirement Board made a donation to the Rabbi Joel H. Meyers Fund of the Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbi Jacob M. Blumenthal explained that the gift would further the work of our colleagues outside of North America, in Israel, Latin America and Europe. “There’s no one who is more dedicated to the Jewish people, to our Movement and to our colleagues than Rabbi Meyers,” Rabbi Blumenthal stated. “It’s a great honor for me to have this opportunity to say thank you, Rabbi Meyers, for all that you do and have done.”
February 2025