JCAM Appoints New Executive Director

The Board of Directors of the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts (JCAM) is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Jamie Cotel as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective April 8, 2019.

Ms. Cotel comes to JCAM with many years of experience in the non-profit world and is the former Executive Director of the Community Alliance for Jewish-Affiliated Cemeteries (CAJAC) in New York. In addition to managing issues and raising funds for declining older Jewish cemeteries, she was instrumental in setting standards and instituting best practices in order to assist those tasked as fiduciaries of Jewish cemeteries. As CAJAC’s Executive Director, her work had a significant impact on the restoration and preservation of Jewish cemeteries in New York and elsewhere. Additionally, Ms. Cotel played a critical role in expanding CAJAC's mission by enhancing its volunteer programs, working closely with community partners and building CAJAC’s advocacy work before the New York State Government and the Courts.

Prior to her role at CAJAC, Ms. Cotel served as a member of senior management for several non-profit organizations, including the national Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). She has also served on a number of non-profit boards which include the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Green Chimneys Children's Services in New York. She is currently the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Cemetery Association of North America (JCANA).

Ms. Cotel holds a Bachelor’s Degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in political science and international studies as well as a Juris Doctorate Degree with a concentration in international law and business. In recent years, she completed the Institute for Jewish Executive Leadership (IJEL) at Columbia University, an intensive executive management program sponsored by UJA Federation of NY consisting of a cohort of non-profit CEOs in New York City.

Jamie is passionate about preserving Jewish heritage by saving Jewish cemeteries in both Eastern Europe and North America. In recent years, she was a featured speaker in Vilnius, Lithuania at the first world conference on the preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Eastern Europe. She has traveled extensively and is an avid hiker and rock climber as well as an advocate for animal welfare. Jamie has three daughters, one of whom is a multi-media journalist and news reporter for Spectrum News as well as twins who are seniors at Solomon Schechter High School in Hartsdale, New York.

JCAM is a non-profit Jewish cemetery association founded in 1984. When created it cared for 17 Jewish cemeteries, 5 of which were abandoned. Today JCAM owns and manages 123 Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts.

Please join us in welcoming Jamie Cotel as we embark on a new chapter in JCAM’s history and our ongoing commitment to preserving and restoring Jewish cemeteries in Massachusetts.

Jewish Cemetery Desecration in Fall River, Massachusetts

Newton, MA – From Laurence K. Richmond, JCAM President: “In accordance with our mission, we stand by the Fall River Jewish Community and view this recent incident as another reminder that we all need to be vigilant and proactive in fighting hate. We are confident the investigation is in good and experienced hands with local law enforcement and although this is not one of our cemeteries, we are available to provide any assistance if needed by law enforcement or the victims of this senseless act.”

The Hebrew Cemetery in Fall River, MA that was recently desecrated is not a JCAM-owned cemetery. Donations for the restoration of the monuments that were damaged, are to be made payable/mail to: Hebrew Cemetery; 59 Greenlawn St.; Fall River, MA 02720.