Executive Director

Rabbi David Niederman
President and Executive Director

Since 1989, Rabbi David Niederman has served as Executive Director of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, Inc. He has personally shaped its priorities and service strategies, transforming UJO from a two-person office offering assistance with Medicaid and food stamps entitlements into a widely heralded coalition of more than 200 organizations (including not-for-profits, charitable organizations, and civic associations) servicing more than 70,000 individuals in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Over the years, he established the UJO into a one stop community resource, expanding UJO’s reach into critical family services, establishing divisions in housing, economic assistance; medical and public health; legal services; immigration benefits and health; environmental and educational services; and special programs for senior citizens and families in distress.

Under his leadership UJO has become a clearing house for community referrals, advocacy, outreach and defense as well as a strategic center for community planning. UJO is recognized as a keystone institution in Brooklyn and is lauded by civic, religious and political leaders for its wide-ranging expertise and comprehensive engagement in community betterment. In recognition of his unparalleled community experience, Rabbi Niederman has been prevailed upon to serve on city and local governmental boards.

Before assuming the leadership of the UJO, Rabbi Niederman has been the Executive Vice President of the Rav Tov International Jewish Rescue Organization (Rav Tov) since its founding in 1973 at the behest of the former Grand Rabbi of Satmar, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, of blessed memory. Rabbi Teitelbaum envisioned Rav Tov as the protective shield for the global Jewish community living in tyrannical regimes and has established five offices overseas. To this day, Rabbi Niederman continues this work with Rav Tov, to ensure the safety and resettlement of Jews in danger around the world, continues his work in refugee resettlement and maintains close working relationships with foreign leaders, diplomats and agencies. Additionally, he serves as the Special Representative of the Central Rabbinical Congress of the United States and Canada, which was founded in 1952 to coordinate the efforts of over 250 rabbis from eastern European countries, survivors of WWII, who lead major Ultra-Orthodox Chassidic groups.

Rabbi Niederman also leads delegations of Rabbis from around the world to prevent the desecration of Jewish cemeteries and safeguard Jewish heritage sites in Europe. Closer to home, Rabbi Niederman strives to protect the religious rights of federal prisoners and attempts to deter criminal activity through educational programs in the Jewish community about the human costs of crime.