For much of her life, Suzanne Berkovits has been traveling — both out of necessity and by choice.
“I have always loved traveling and meeting people,” she said. “I think I wanted to travel for a living. This was my goal after I realized I had two left feet and couldn’t be a ballerina.”
Born in New York City, Berkovits grew up in Indianapolis, where she graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington with a bachelor’s degree in classical history. After college, she began her career in Chicago as a divisional merchandise manager with Saks Fifth Avenue and was later transferred to south Florida to begin coordinating and merchandising new stores.
She remained in Florida, eventually taking a position as national director of assessments and campaign development for Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. There she developed strategies, marketing materials and implementation plans to engage baby boomer women nationally and locally.
“I organized and filled missions to Israel and spiritual retreats as well as targeting cities for local events to attract both members and donors,” she said.
She was responsible for developing outreach campaigns, operational budgets and development strategies for chapters in Manhattan, Cleveland, Omaha, Des Moines, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Albany, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Las Vegas and more.
But no matter where she traveled, she always wished to return to a smaller city like her childhood home in Indiana. And from what she had heard, Little Rock was the kind of city she’d been searching for.
So when she discovered there was an opening as executive director of the Jewish Foundation of Arkansas, Berkovits jumped on it, taking the helm as executive director on July 1, 2009.
According to JFAR’s mission statement, the organization “exists to strengthen the unity, identity and impact of the Jewish people by: helping Jews and others in need, providing forums for exchange of ideas, and developing and implementing programs and services.”
“Through education and coalitions, we strive to build tolerance and an understanding of diversity,” Berkovits added. “I am taken with the opportunity of working throughout the state, putting a face on the JFAR and connecting with both the secular and Jewish communities.”
Suzanne Arrives
Soirée: Family?
Berkovits: Parents Ann and George Brummer, brother, Howard Brummer, three sons, Stephen, Neil and Marc, and a fiance, Ken Harper. “He is my biggest fan and I his. He is currently still in Florida, so he commutes back and forth. We hope he will be moving to Little Rock soon!”
What are some programs and services JFAR offers?
The JFAR provides Holocaust education to residents and educators across the state. We support Our House and LifeQUEST here in Little Rock. Scholarships are provided for youth to enrich and educate. We are the source for community members facing challenging times.
Does JFAR have any upcoming events?
We have our annual Campaign Kickoff and Awards Dinner honoring Suzanne Klimberg and Sam Storthz III on Saturday, Feb. 6, at Congregation B’nai Israel. There will be Tikkun Olam (Healing the World) award recipients [honored] from across the state for outstanding commitments and efforts they have shown in their communities.
Who are your role models?
My grandparents … each in a different way. My father’s parents witnessed the beginnings of the Holocaust and had the courage to pick up and find a way to leave Vienna in 1939. My mother’s parents lived through persecution in Turkey and Greece in the early part of the century and again had the courage to find their way out.
Both sets of grandparents never looked back, never brought sadness into our home, but saw life as beautiful and encouraged the grandchildren to always be optimistic about human nature, stressing the importance of being an integral part of one’s community here in the United States.
Best advice ever received?
To always be myself. It is said that if you love your work, it will never seem like work. I am totally myself and so my work and my personal life have been a pure joy.
Hobbies and interests?
I am a word junkie. [I do] crossword puzzles, but only difficult ones and in pen … my favorite subject used to be etymology!
Where is the best place you’ve ever traveled?
I have been to Israel many times and am moved each and every time. I have led missions that have awakened in people what they never thought they could feel. Israel is a place where life exists as it did thousands of years ago and you can feel your identity and grow close to your faith, whatever your faith is. It’s incredible.
Where have you not traveled, but would like to travel?
I have never been to Greece and am really prioritizing that. My grandfather was born in the Greek islands and I would love to trace my roots. I was a classical history major in college and studied the history and language of ancient Rome and Greece … I hope to take what I have had in my imagination after years of study and see it come to life.
New Year’s resolution?
Never make one … try to live a life each day that resolves to inspire others and challenge myself.