The Reform Jewish Movement has two new leaders in the state of Florida, as Norman Leopold, the former president of the South Florida Federation of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, has ascended to the presidency of the UAHC's Southeast Council. Dr. Alan Herzlin, a longtime leader within the Movement and the past president of the Palm Beach Association of Reform Temples, succeeds Leopold as president of the South Florida Federation.
As president, Leopold will coordinate the activities of 99 Reform synagogues in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and the Bahamas and, overseeing the meetings of the Southeast Council's regional Board of Trustees and directing the lay-led aspects of the Council. Herzlin, his successor, will coordinate the activities of the 29 Reform synagogues in southern Florida.
"Norman Leopold is an extremely dedicated, hands-on, effective leader, and one of the hardest workers I've ever met," says Rabbi Jody Cohen, executive director of the Southeast Council. "He's a consummate mensch, and a wonderful role model who's completely dedicated to his family, his congregation, and the Movement. Alan Herzlin, too, is a model of what a Reform Jewish leader should be. The Southeast Region is very fortunate to have both of them in leadership positions."
As president of the South Florida Federation for the past four years, Leopold created independent associations of Reform temples in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties, and pushed these groups to nominate and elect officers, hold meetings, and create constitutions and bylaws. A member of the UAHC National Board of Trustees, he chairs the Non-Dues Revenue Committee and is active on the Board's Budget and Marketing and Communications Committees.
An attorney in private practice, Leopold is past president of Temple Sinai of North Dade in North Miami Beach . Herzlin, a substance abuse counselor, is past president of Temple Beth Torah in Wellington.