Nehirim and NUJLS Merge
6.1.10 : Press Release

Nehirim and NUJLS,

Two of the Largest National LGBT Jewish Organizations,

To Merge

Move unites largest provider of national programming for LGBT Jewish community

with vibrant student organization

(New York), (NY), (June 1, 2010) - Two of the largest organizations serving the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Jewish community have today merged into one. Nehirim, which runs retreats and other programs for GLBT Jews, and NUJLS, the National Union of Jewish LGBTIQQ Students, will combine operations effective June 1. Nehirim is the largest national provider of community programming for GLBT Jews, and NUJLS was one of the first national GLBT Jewish organizations, founded in 1997. For the first year of the merger, the NUJLS name will be retained, but as “NUJLS, a project of Nehirim.” The organizations will combine their programmatic, leadership, administrative, and financial operations.

“This is a natural combination of two strong organizations,” said Jay Michaelson, the executive director of Nehirim who was recently recognized on the ‘Forward 50’ list of the fifty most influential Jewish leaders in America. “NUJLS is the leader in programming for GLBT Jewish students, and Nehirim is the leader in programming for GLBT Jews in general.”

As a result of the merger, Sasha T. Goldberg, Nehirim’s Assistant Director since 2007 and the current Board President of NUJLS, will become Nehirim’s Associate Director and Director of Student Programming. A new “Student Programming Advisory Board” will be created, with representatives from NUJLS’s former board of directors and student activists. Nehirim will run the popular NUJLS student conference, together with student leaders.

Said Goldberg, “Building on the strength and history of NUJLS and the incredible NUJLS students, I am greatly looking forward to growing the student programming at Nehirim to provide a national, cohesive, and vibrant hub of Jewish life for each Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Jewish student.”

David Levy, a NUJLS board member, said “This merger enables NUJLS to better fulfill its mission, and to develop the next generation of Jewish LGBT student leaders. We are excited to be part of Nehirim!”

Founded in 2003, Nehirim is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and is supported by the Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston, and the Jewish Community Foundation of San Francisco, as well as individual supporters.

For questions or excerpt and interview requests, please contact:

Marlene Rachelle, Communications Manager. [email protected]

Click here to read a letter from Sasha T. Goldberg about the merger between NUJLS and Nehirim