David Sarnat Papers

David Sarnat, a longtime Jewish communal professional, served the Federation in Cleveland as Director for Planning, Executive Director in Atlanta for 21 years and was also the U.S. Representative to the Federation System for the Jewish Agency for Israel.

David Isaac Sarnat was born on July 25, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Leo and Alice (Herman) Sarnat. During his childhood, his family spent time in Chicago, and in Los Angeles, California. In 1942 he married Sharon Lee Brodsky, and they went on to have three children, Jeremy, Jonathan, and Annual.

David received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History from Roosevelt University in Chicago in1965. He received his Master of Science (MS) in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Ohio in 1967.

He began his long career of community service as Director of Education for Grace Hill Settlement House, in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1967-1969. In 1969 he moved to Cleveland for a job with the Jewish Community Federation. He began as an associate in the Community Relations department, working on the Heights Area Project. He ultimately became Director of Planning for the Cleveland Federation. He worked in Cleveland for ten years, from 1969-1979, then transferred to Atlanta in 1979, where he served as Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta for 21 years.

David has had a long and distinguished career of service to the Jewish community. In addition to his work at the Federation level, he was Executive Vice President of the Jewish Agency for Israel, a member of the Association of Jewish Community Organization Personnel, and helped establish the Jewish Community Legacy Project. He received the Louis Kraft Award, National Conference of Jewish Communal Service in 1973. David was influential in establishing the Cuba Family Archives for Southern History and the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum of Atlanta. After retiring as Executive Director of the Federation of Greater Atlanta, he has continued to work as a consultant to non-profits.