New UJA Federation chief, formerly Leffell head of school

UJA-Federation of NY on Tuesday announce the selection of Michael Kay, leader of the Leffell School in Westchester as its next CEO, succeeding Eric Goldstein.

At Leffell, a coeducational Jewish day school until recently affiliated with the Conservative movement, Kay, 46, has spoken about the importance of teaching a love for Israel, which has become more contentious in some pockets of the Jewish community. During a 2024 streamed discussion called “Zionism and Antisemitism on Campus and Beyond,” Kay said Leffell is one of few high schools that includes a visit to a West Bank village during its Israel trip.

“Nuance and complexity are not incompatible with the goal of promoting love of Israel.”

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated.