Eric B. Stillman experienced a defining moment prior to becoming president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of
in 2006.
Stillman was executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck the city. “Responding to the disaster wrought by Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath in starting to rebuild a community taught me how to bring people together around a common cause in a way that I had never experienced through the more day-to-day work of the Jewish Federation,” he said. “I understand the true meaning of the expression that ‘What binds us together is far more significant than what divides us.'”
Stillman said he was reminded of the expression when the economic recession struck the local Jewish community like a fierce storm a few years ago.
After working with the Jewish community to increase financial support of the Federation and with area agencies and synagogues to expand programs during his first two years, Stillman said, his job changed.
During the past two years more people were looking for assistance and less able to provide financial assistance to the Jewish community, he said. “Contracting programming in response to shrinking resources” became a part of his job, Stillman said.
Now he sees the Broward Federation emerging from the recession during a period of economic recovery that will “lift up our individual community members and by extension, local agencies and synagogues.”
Stillman has brought stability to the Broward Federation and to the Jewish community, said Karen Zemel, Federation board chair.
He is concerned about the needs of the Jewish community and how to best address them, she said.
Stillman came up with a plan to service the people with the direst needs, and then raised separate funds to help them, Zemel said. “That speaks volumes about his social conscience. I think we’re very lucky to have him in this community.”
