Richard Helfand Member of the Board of Governors
Richard Helfand is a past International Secretary of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). He has been active in the United Synagogue since his teen years as Regional President of the Metropolitan New York Region of USY. After moving to Kansas City and completing college and law school, Richard became active in his synagogue, Congregation Beth Shalom, where he is now a Life Board Member, and in the local Jewish community where he was the chair of the Central Agency for Jewish Education.
A longtime member of the USCJ International Board, Richard has served on its Budget, Bylaws, Development, Executive, Kehilla Affiliations and Standards, and Legal committees and the International Youth Commission. He chaired the Council of Regional Presidents and the USCJ Human Resources and Compensation Committee. He is now a member of the USCJ Central District Council and a member of the Board of Directors of USCJ Canada.
Richard is also the current President of MERCAZ USA, the Zionist organization in America that is part of worldwide Masorti/Conservative Judaism. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the American Zionist Movement (AZM), where he serves on its Constitution and Bylaws Committee, a member of the boards of Masorti Olami and Mercaz Olami, and a delegate to the General Council of Va’ad Hapoel of the World Zionist Organization (WZO). In addition, he represents Mercaz USA on the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Professionally, Richard is a practicing attorney for over 44 years with his own law firm, Panethiere & Helfand LLC in Kansas City, MO, specializing in labor and employment relations.Married to his wife Vicki for over 42 years, they are the proud parents of Rabbi Corey and Jenny Ackerman Helfand, Ethan Helfand, Rabbi David Helfand, and Saba and Safta to their wonderful grandchildren, Eden, Matan and Jonah.