SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – Nora Gorenstein has been named chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts (JFWM), it was announced recently by Robyn Newhouse, president of the Federation’s Board of Trustees. Previously, Gorenstein served as the agency’s interim executive director.

“Nora Gorenstein brings needed years of experience within our Jewish community to help us lift and amplify the voices of everyone in our Jewish community,” said Robyn Newhouse, president of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts Board of Trustees. “We look forward to working with her in supporting the specific needs of our community and collaborating with our local and global partners.”

In her role as CEO, Gorenstein will help JFWM continue to move forward with its core mission to serve the entire Western Massachusetts Jewish community, support those in need locally and around the world, convene and collaborate with other organizations, and strengthen the Western Massachusetts Jewish community’s relationship with other minority communities. 

With her leadership, JFWM will also take the next step in responding to its 2019 Western Massachusetts Jewish Community Study. JFWM will reassess the Western Massachusetts Jewish community’s present and future needs so that it can continue to adapt as an organization. 

“As CEO, one of my goals is to hold space for all types of Jewish identity and connection with our Federation and welcome everyone who chooses to connect with this broad network of partnership,” Gorenstein said, “I am proud to represent our community’s forward momentum as we build on what we have learned over the past two years and embrace change as an organization.”

Gorenstein has been working in the field of Jewish education and nonprofit work for almost two decades, of which more than a decade has been in Western Mass. Locally, she has worked for Sinai Temple, Temple Beth El, the Springfield JCC, Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy, Heritage Academy, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and JFWM, where before she served as interim executive director she was development officer.