Valley Beth Shalom Rabbi Becomes President Of Jewish Federation

SHERMAN OAKS, CA — Rabbi Noah Farkas will serve as the next president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, it was announced Wednesday.

Farkas currently teaches and leads strategic development at Valley Beth Shalom, the largest Jewish congregation in the San Fernando Valley.

"Noah is an enormously talented leader who combines a reasoned and principled approach to address the greatest needs facing our community with a heart and soul that is committed to the welfare and safety of the Jewish people," Albert Z. Praw, chair of the board, said in a statement. "I am enormously confident in Noah’s commitment to the Mission Statement of the Federation and its strategic initiatives, as well as his ability to lead our Federation through its next stage of growth."

Farkas will begin working at the Federation in November, although his official term will begin on January 1, 2022. Current President and CEO Jay Sanderson will remain in the role through December 31, 2021.

Rabbi Farkas shared, “I am overwhelmed with gratitude to have been selected as the next President & CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. The Federation is uniquely positioned to foster a flourishing Jewish community and it is a gift to have been asked to serve. I look forward to many years together moving boldly into a future that is both dynamic and caring, but is most of all filled with a spirit of cooperation. May we all go from strength to strength.”

Farkas currently serves as an appointed commissioner and former Chairperson of the L.A. Homelessness Services Authority, governing the strategy to end homelessness. He also currently serves as the chair of the Finance Contracts and Grants committee, overseeing a $770 million budget.