Robert Yass

WEST HARTFORD – Robert K. Yass of West Hartford has been elected chair of the Board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. Yass was elected at the organization’s recent annual meeting.

“We are fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and thoughtful leader at the helm. Bob is well known for engaging people in the meaningful work of building community and creating Jewish connections,” said Cathrine Fischer Schwartz, Federation CEO and president.

Most recently, Yass served as first vice chair of the Federation and also as the chair of the Planning and Allocations Committee, a role in which he helped to guide funding decisions. He also serves as a trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation. Previously, Yass has served as chair of both the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut. He is a past secretary and Board member of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a national organization, and is a director of the Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance.

Yass is a past recipient of the Jewish Federation’s Young Leadership Award as well as a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Leadership Development Program. Professionally, Yass is an attorney who serves as vice president and assistant general counsel for The Hartford. He holds a J.D. from New York Law School and earned his B.A. at Binghamton University.

Yass and his wife, Mary-Jane Eisen, are members of Congregation Beth Israel and are the parents of two grown children, Alicia and Warren.

Also at the annual meeting, the Federation Board of Directors announced the results of its 2012/2013 annual campaign, which finished on at $4.2 million, as well as the approval of its plan for the upcoming year of a fiscal plan that distributes funds to 49 programs and services in Greater Hartford, Israel and around the world.

Federation will continue to fund scholarships to Jewish day schools and travel to Israel on Taglit-Birthright as well as initiatives that integrate Jewish content and traditions. Those include PJ Library, One Happy Camper and Moishe House. Federation also reiterated its

long-standing partnership with Jewish Family Services Employment Transition Services and the Mandell Jewish Community Center.

“The 2013/2014 fiscal plan uniquely positions us to bring different parties to the table to solve problems and insure a strong future for the Jewish community,” said Schwartz. “In the coming months, we will focus on how to work with our Jewish agencies and organizations to involve older generations, primarily Boomers, and a younger cohort,” in serving the community.