With our uncertain national economy, David Farber looks forward to a challenging first term as president of the Jewish Federation of Southern NJ. The 43-year-old businessman will be installed along with his board and officers on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Federation's 86th Annual Meeting.

David Farber… incoming Federation president. The tri-county Jewish community was already feeling the strain of economic hardship before the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Farber said during a recent interview. Jewish Family and Children's Service saw that need through heavy demands on its food pantry and increased requests for counseling throughout the first half of 2008. Now, with the collapse of the U. S. investment banking system, local needs are expected to increase even more.

Farber will face that challenge by "trying to grow Federation's campaign so that our community does not suffer in today's economy," he said.

In partnership with Federation CEO Joel Kaber, Farber wants to empower Federation as "South Jersey's central address for Jewish philanthropy— the organization to which people donate their philanthropic dollars to meet Jewish need." To do that requires helping people understand the needs at home and overseas and showing then how Federation responds to those needs, according to Farber. "There are thousands of philanthropic men and women in our community," he said. "We want to take their philanthropic wish lists and help to implement them."

Born and raised in Cherry Hill, the enthusiastic leader "comes from a Federation family," in his own words. Both of his parents were dedicated to Federation and its agencies, with his father, Jacob, proud of having been a Jewish Community Relations Council president, and his mother, Anita, having served as a Women's Campaign chair.

Beginning his own Federation involvement as a Young Leadership Council (YLC) member in 1985, Farber has watched Federation and its agencies evolve. "There's been enormous growth," he said. "And growth necessitates change."

The change he would most like to see as he assumes office is a "coming together of all the Federation agencies (Jewish Community Center, Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Family & Children's Service, Jewish Federation Publications and Jewish Senior Housing & Healthcare Services) in a cooperative, streamlined, cutting edge operation.

"We need to combine resources and lower overhead in order to deliver more services," he said.

Farber and his wife, Darryl, live in Cherry Hill and attend Temple Beth Sholom. They have one son, Drew, 14, who is a freshman at Cherry Hill High School East. Drew attended Kellman Academy through eighth grade, and Farber was Kellman's financial secretary and a board member from 2001-2009.

Farber's Federation leadership path took him from YLC chair in 1994-1995, through General Campaign chair in 2004-2006. A Federation vice president from 2002-2007, he has also chaired the Federation Finance Committee since 2006. He many honors include the 1997 Shellie Greespun Young Leadership Award and the 2003 Woodcrest Country Club AJA Award. Nationally, he has served on the United Jewish Communities Board from 2004-2008.

The Federation 86th Annual Meetting is set for Wednesday, Oct. 29, 5:30 p.m., at the Weinberg Jewish Community Campus. The community is invited. A fee of $75 includes dinner. For aditional information, please call Arlene Circus at 751-9500, ext. 293. .