Photo by: Justin Allardyce Knight

A former social worker, assistant district attorney and regional director of two Anti-Defamation League (ADL) offices, Robert Leikind, the newly named senior vice president of Hebrew College, comes to the institution with a deep commitment to Jewish continuity and tikkun olam.

"I look forward to working with David Gordis and my new colleagues to build a strong, dynamic future for Hebrew College," says Leikind. "After only a few months, my overwhelming impression has been how fortunate I am to join a community of such thoughtful, committed and passionate people."

In his new role, Leikind will oversee development and marketing efforts and work closely with President Gordis on strategic development. With a distinguished career in nonprofit management and significant experience in strategic and board development, advocacy, community outreach, fundraising and communications, Leikind "brings great insight and a wealth of expertise to our effort to build national support for Hebrew College's groundbreaking approach to Jewish education," says Gordis.

Leikind joins Hebrew College after five years as regional director of the New England ADL, where he led one of the ADL's most successful regional annual campaigns and established a range of programs including a unique interfaith camp and leadership program for Muslim, Christian and Jewish teens. Prior to his time at the New England ADL, Leikind served for 11 years as regional director of the Connecticut ADL. A Boston College Law School graduate, he also worked in the Office of the District Attorney for the Eastern District of Massachusetts from 1986 to 1989. He holds an MS from Columbia School of Social Work and an AB from Vassar.

Leikind's career path has been guided by his acute sense of the fragility of Jewish life in this world. "Because both my parents' lives were shaped by the Shoah, from the time I was young I was absorbed with what I could do to ensure a vital future for our people," he says. A native of New York, he spent his early professional years as a social worker caring for elderly Holocaust survivors in Brooklyn. This experience led him to the ADL, then to law school and advocacy work-and now to Hebrew College.

"Hebrew College is unique; there is no other place with its kind of leadership, vision and drive," says Leikind. "Helping the College realize its potential is one of the most wonderful ways anyone can hope to build a vibrant Jewish future. I'm lucky to have a chance to play a small part in that."

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