Roselle Middleberg Ungar, b. 1957
Born to two New York transplants in New Orleans, Roselle Ungar grew up between worlds. As a child, she attended the orthodox synagogue of Beth Israel, but gained exposure to the city’s reform and conservative communities. She began her career as a Registered Nurse, but later turned her efforts towards the non-profit world with a focus on philanthropy and fundraising. Ungar is one of those rare and valuable people who enjoys fundraising, “I am wired as a fundraiser in so many respects. I am worried about my contributors and I am protective of my clients.” A member of Hadassah nearly 4 decades and a former National Vice President, Ungar has worked to strengthen New Orleans’ most important Jewish institutions. She served as the congregation president of Beth Israel and was chairperson of the capital campaign for a new sanctuary after the destruction of Katrina.
In 2006, Ungar was appointed the Interim Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, a position responsible for rebuilding the Jewish community and its partners after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina the previous fall. Identifying this work with the Federation as the most important of her career, Ungar says, I think that work after Katrina helping the community find each other, come back, and put that foothold into the community again was really important.” From that position, Ungar moved into private sector philanthropy at Crescent Bank and Trust, where she helped establish St. Lillian’s Academy in Baton Rouge for children with communication and learning challenges.
During this period she was president of the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. (check date) In 2015, Ungar became the Executive Director of Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans, She said of the work, “it’s life altering, it’s the Katrina work every day….The work that we do everyday makes a real difference in people’s lives.” Ungar once again finds herself leading a major organization in the Jewish community during a major crises, the Coronavirus Pandemic. Ungar says, “It’s going to be okay as long as we can make sure we can provide life sustaining support for individuals and families we will get through it.” In May of 2020, she will also be elected to the board of the Network of Jewish Family Service Agencies (NJHSA) representing human service agencies across North America and Israel.
An interview with Roselle Ungar, Executive Director of Jewish Family Services, on JFS COVID-19 Response
Chapters:
I – 0:05 – The JFS Response to Coronavirus
II – 19:08 – Similarities and Differences with Katrina
III – 29:15 – Roselle’s Career
IV – 37:01 – Mentors/Women Leadership/Cultivating Young Leaders
V – 43:11 – Strengths and Issues of the New Orleans Jewish Community
VI – 51:44 – Roselle and Self-Care
VII – 53:25 – Concluding thoughts: Advice and Reminiscence