A vibrant and sustainable future for our community.
JULY 4, 2025 — This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Balak, recounts the intriguing story of Balak, the Moabite king, and the prophet Balaam. As Balak seeks to weaken the Israelites through curses, we witness how Balaam, despite his intentions, becomes an instrument for delivering blessings instead. One of the profound lessons of Parashat Balak is that even in moments of adversity, we can find unexpected sources of blessing and guidance. It reminds us to remain steadfast in our faith and trust in divine protection, even in the face of challenges. We live in a time of adversity and hope that the curses of our enemies will become blessings for our future.
In San Antonio, we are also living in a challenging time, but we hope that our actions will create future blessings for ourselves and the next generation. It is with gratitude that I announce the end of Randy Czarlinsky‘s tenure as interim CEO. We are deeply thankful for his dedication and leadership, which have guided us through pivotal moments. As we express our appreciation, we also extend a warm welcome to Craig Berkowitch, who is stepping into the role of Interim CEO. Craig brings with him a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to our mission. We are confident that under Craig’s guidance, the Federation will continue to thrive, fostering unity and positive impact throughout San Antonio. We believe that continuing to have interim CEOs will allow us to remain flexible as Project Mazel moves forward and then find a permanent leader who understands the role and needs of our community.
We are also excited to announce we have hired Ruth Laderman as the interim chief development officer to help us plan better for our future and to lead our development efforts while we seek a permanent candidate for the role.
Please join us in thanking Randy for his service and welcoming Craig into his new role. We look forward to working together towards a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Thank you for your continued support and commitment.
– James Rosenblatt, Chair of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio Board of Directors