Queens lawmaker resigning to take top job at Jewish philanthropy
Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal (D-Queens) on Dec. 20, 2022. Photo by Office of Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal
By Jacob Kornbluh June 13, 2023
The UJA-Federation of New York, one of the largest Jewish philanthropies in the nation, has appointed Daniel Rosenthal, a Democratic member of the New York Assembly, to fill a top position at the nonprofit.
Rosenthal, 32, will succeed Louisa Chafee as vice president for government relations. Chafee was tapped to lead New York City’s independent budget office.
UJA-Federation, with an annual budget of $250 million, provides more than $180 million in grants for a network of hundreds of nonprofits in New York and across the nation, focused on combating antisemitism and strengthening Jewish life, in addition to funding social service agencies and Jewish community centers, including summer camps. The Jewish federation funded an initiative last year that helps Jewish schools in the region access millions of dollars in public funding, including Hasidic yeshivas.
The appointment of Rosenthal, a rising star in state politics and and influential figure in the Jewish community, comes as the federation seeks to become more politically active, said several officials affiliated with the nonprofit, who requested anonymity to speak freely about its internal discussions.
“Government relations is an essential component of our community building,” said Eric Goldstein, the federation’s CEO, noting that its partner agencies works to secure millions of dollars each year from federal, state, and local sources governments. Rosenthal and his team, he continued, “will provide the leadership and expertise to meet the moment and shape our future in the most positive way.”
Rosenthal became the youngest member of the state legislature when he was first elected in 2017 to represent a heavily Jewish district in central Queens. He has been outspoken on combating antisemitism and is a vocal supporter of Israel. He has challenged politicians and groups critical of Israel and those who support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement campaign aimed at Israel. He has also mobilized Jewish support against candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, which had asked their candidates to pledge not to travel to Israel on organized trips. In April, he passed a bill that requires colleges to report all hate crimes on their campuses on their websites.
He recently spearheaded a successful campaign against a bill that prohibits state funding of organizations that support Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The top Democratic leadership and a majority of the state legislature announced their opposition to the legislation, which they claimed would penalize charitable groups providing assistance to families of terror victims.
Rosenthal was the only Orthodox elected official to support Gov. Kathy Hochul in her gubernatorial election campaign last year, risking his own reelection in a district that went for her Republican opponent, former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin.
The Queens lawmaker, who didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, is expected to leave office in the coming months to assume his new position.
The federation also announced the promotion of Hindy Poupko, deputy chief planning officer, to senior vice president for community strategy and external relations.
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