Jeremy Jacobs - Trustee

After many years of involvement with CBY, I’m excited to join the board, although humbled and intimidated by the scope of the challenges that we all must face together.

My parents, Steve and Sherry Jacobs, have had a weekend house in Armonk since I was in my twenties, so I attended high holiday services regularly at CBY during the tenure of Rabbi Krantz, who officiated at my wedding to Suzette 21 years ago this August. When we moved to Westchester shortly after our son’s birth, we joined CBY. Despite living all the way over in Valhalla, we attended Shabbat services here regularly and were active in committee work.

When our son Eli was four, we decided for various reasons to move into the City, where we struggled for years to find a good congregational fit. We eventually affiliated with Temple Shaaray Tefila on the Upper East Side – where I had received my own Jewish education – and our son studied his Torah portion with none other than young Rabbi Joshua Strom. Two years ago, once our son had graduated high school, we decided to be the odd empty-nesters who upsize rather than downsize, and moved back to Westchester for some space – a decision that COVID-19 has made look prescient. We were delighted when we realized that not only was the house we bought literally just up the road from CBY, but that the new(ish) Rabbi was Josh Strom.

Professionally, I’m a managing director at a strategic communication firm (that’s PR-speak for a PR firm), specializing in mergers & acquisitions, shareholder activism and crisis management. Before embarking on my career in communications, I had taught English literature and writing at the college level. Reflecting my background, my highest priority is ensuring that CBY continues to provide clear and useful communications to every member of our community.

Congregant since:  2018 (previously 2000-2003)
Board member since:  2020
Board roles / Committees: Communications, Security
Residence: Armonk, NY
Family: Wife Suzette, son Elijah, cats Willow and Pangurban
School: Duke University (BA), University of Pittsburgh (MA, ABD)
Work: Managing Director at Abernathy MacGregor, a leading strategic communications firm
Where grew up: New York, NY (in Yorkville, across the street from Gracie Mansion)
Other roles and organizations:  Member of the Public Relations Society of America
Activities / interests: travel (especially to Italy), reading, movies, grilling, crossword puzzles, college basketball (go Duke Blue Devils!)
Contact info: jrjacobs@mac.com