MAZON Statements

Today, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger President & CEO Abby J. Leibman announced that she will retire from her role in mid-2027, bringing to a close a 15-year tenure leading the national anti-hunger advocacy group and establishing its voice as a champion in the fight against hunger. The organization praised her vision and leadership while announcing a nationwide search for her successor.

MAZON President & CEO Abby J. Leibman stated:

“Leading this organization has been the honor of a lifetime. I am so deeply proud of the work that our team has done over the past decade and a half, finding unique and powerful approaches to responding to hunger and ensuring that all those who struggle are seen and uplifted by those approaches. Since MAZON’s founding more than 40 years ago, we have had a lasting and meaningful impact on the response to hunger in both the United States and Israel. It’s a response that is grounded in our Jewish values and stands for holding our government to account for ensuring its policies not only relieve hunger, but also set a course for ending it. 

“The progress we have made has truly made a difference in millions of lives, but I know all too well that the work is far from finished. There are tens of millions of Americans living in hunger amid ongoing assaults on our food security programs from our federal government, and no organization is better positioned to lead the advocacy to preserve, protect and strengthen our nation’s response. For 15 years, it has been my privilege and my responsibility to lead MAZON in these efforts – work that has allowed me to demonstrate not only how crucial it is for our country to ensure that no one goes hungry, but to show our policymakers just what is possible if we ensure our policies reflect our values. I am so deeply grateful to have had this opportunity, particularly at this moment in time.”

Over the course of her tenure, Leibman established MAZON as a force in the anti-hunger advocacy landscape and the Jewish social justice arena, launching an office in Washington, DC and strengthening the organization’s public policy efforts. She also highlighted MAZON’s organizational focus on a number of key populations, including military families, single mothers, and most recently immigrants and transgender youth. By understanding and exploring specific populations and their particular food security challenges, MAZON fully embraced its identity as a faith-based advocacy organization, articulating Jewish values as the foundation for its positions and statements as well as spearheading innovative solutions and actions.

MAZON Board Chair Carolyn Schwarz Tisdale added:

“Abby has proven herself to be a generational leader for this organization, the Jewish community, and the anti-hunger movement at large. These past 15 years have seen remarkable growth and success for MAZON, and we can attribute that directly to her hard work and dedication. More importantly, her commitment to her staff is unparalleled, and she has helped foster a strong environment and infrastructure for her team that we know will continue on for years to come. While we are excited for the future of this organization, we know that we owe so much of our success to Abby’s leadership, and we wholeheartedly congratulate her on her next adventure.”

Leibman also oversaw a major expansion of MAZON’s outreach and education, engaging Jewish synagogues nationwide in the work, rather than simply as an outlet for fundraising. Her two biggest and most groundbreaking initiatives, This is Hunger and The Hunger Museum, captured the imagination of Americans nationwide, providing immersive experiences to fully illustrate the real-life and historical impact of hunger in our country.

Rabbi Harold Kravitz, former board chair of MAZON and member of the executive search committee, added:

“From the start, Abby brought to the role of leading MAZON tremendous insight for what was needed to carry our work forward, and the talent to work with staff and volunteers to take us to the next level as the only Jewish organization committed exclusively to eradicating hunger. We are all blessed to have had such a visionary and dedicated leader at our helm. I look forward to working with our search committee to find a worthy successor to her legacy.”

Ms. Leibman will remain with MAZON through mid-2027 to ensure a smooth transition to her successor. Moving forward, MAZON’s Board of Directors has formed a Search Committee to launch a wide-ranging national effort to identify the organization’s next President & CEO. The committee will work with Isaacson, Miller throughout the process, leaning on the national executive search firm’s deep experience recruiting leaders across the nonprofit and broader civic sector, including organizations working to address complex social challenges. Questions from interested candidates should be directed to Rebecca Swartz and team at Isaacson, Miller.

Additional Quotes of Support:

Rep. Jim McGovern, MA-02:

“Abby has long been a tremendous champion for the hungry, the overlooked, and those who too often are marginalized in our communities. Under her leadership, MAZON rose to one of the leading voices sounding the alarm on the hunger crisis facing military families. I’m honored to have worked alongside Abby and even more grateful to call her a friend. I am so thankful for her incredible voice and vision, and I wish her all the best as she heads off to her next adventure.”

Rep. Luz Rivas, CA-29:

“Congratulations to Abby Leibman on her retirement after 15 incredible years at MAZON and a 30-year career in legal advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and civic engagement. Under her leadership, Abby has grown MAZON’s impact in addressing hunger in California’s under-served populations. Abby and I bonded over our shared calling to serving our communities and our most vulnerable – and I am confident that she will continue to do the same as she enters her next chapter of life. Congratulations, Abby!”

Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors:

“Abby Leibman has been a tireless champion in the fight to end hunger, bringing compassion to her work for more than a decade. Through her leadership at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, she has helped elevate food security as a critical public policy issue. She has improved lives across California and I am deeply grateful for her service.”

Melissa Balaban, CEO, Founder & Past Board Chair, IKAR:

“Abby is a true force of nature. She is a mentor, friend, and guiding light not only to me, but to so many fortunate enough to learn from and work alongside her. She has dedicated her life tirelessly and courageously to advancing justice, and human dignity for all people. Her leadership, wisdom, and unwavering moral clarity have changed lives and strengthened our entire community. Abby’s impact on this world is profound, and the mark she leaves will endure for generations.”

Robert Bank, Former President & CEO, American Jewish World Service:

“I have watched Abby take on the hardest fights with tenacity, moral clarity, and an unshakeable commitment to those most in need. She exemplifies the Jewish imperative to stand with those who are most vulnerable. Her bold leadership at MAZON has left an indelible mark on the fields of hunger advocacy and Jewish social justice, setting a standard of courage, persistence, and impact that will endure long after her retirement.”

David Bocarsly, CEO, Jewish California:

“Abby is a brilliant, fierce champion for justice who has led MAZON with moral clarity and deep conviction for 15 years. She has been a dear friend and partner to me and to Jewish California – and a guiding moral voice for our entire community. She pushes us all to be more honest, more ambitious, and more accountable to those we serve. I am profoundly grateful for her years of service and wish her every blessing in this well-earned next chapter.”

Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, University of California Berkeley Law:

“Abby Leibman has dedicated her career to using the law to help people and has made an enormous difference in California and the country. She has been a superb leader of MAZON. She is truly a role model for all of us in what a lawyer can and should do.”

Cheryl Cook, CEO, Avodah:

“Even with Abby in LA and myself in New York, she has been one of my closest allies and confidantes in this work. Abby possesses a rare combination of sharp strategic vision and profound empathy, always pushing MAZON to think bigger about national awareness and systemic impact. Her retirement is a bittersweet moment for our field, leaving behind a legacy of MAZON as a moral force that will be felt for years to come.”

Andrew Cushnir, President and CEO, The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore:

“Abby is a rare combination of someone with incredibly deep intelligence, extraordinary passion, amazing warmth, tenacious loyalty and world-class judgment. She brought her full self to MAZON — and MAZON and the thousands of people it helps are all so much better off because of her leadership. Thank you Abby — for all you are and do!”

Shirley Davidoff, Vice President, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and Former Board Chair, MAZON:

“It is with sadness but also with joy that I send my heartfelt congratulations to Abby on her retirement. Fifteen years ago, I had the pleasure of being on the search committee when we hired Abby and what stood out most to me then, and ultimately what we saw in her tenure at MAZON, was that Abby is a skillful orator, passionate advocate, fierce sparring partner, and champion attorney making her truly a one of a kind CEO. Abby strived every day to remove barriers and build new foundations for those who were hungry, casting light on marginalized populations, legislative loopholes, and human rights. Years later, when I had the honor to serve as MAZON’s Board Chair, Abby showed me how to lead by example, how to ask the right questions, and how to dial down the noise and focus our message. Her keen ability to synthesize information, formulate strategy and speak with a unified voice has elevated MAZON’s status in the anti-hunger advocacy arena and for that we owe Abby our deepest gratitude. I wish Abby all the very best in retirement – relaxation she deserves with the love of family and friends near and far to warm her soul.”

Robert Greenstein, Founder and President Emeritus, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:

“Abby Leibman has long been a pivotal national leader in the effort to reduce hunger, poverty, and disadvantage. She has taken MAZON to new heights. Her work has made a real difference.”

Janie Hipp, President & CEO, Native Agriculture Financial Services:

“Many times in life you are provided a true gift. It is a gift you never saw coming but one you treasure deeply. Abby is such a gift — as are the entire group of people she has cherished and worked diligently alongside during her years at MAZON. Abby and I have many things in common but the most important ones are we speak plainly and with passion. Fighting for food security in Indian Country, in rural areas, for veterans, for vulnerable people, is how we began to intersect years ago. If you live in the world of fighting hunger it is critical to speak truth, in ways that translate the problems of hunger and in ways that others can see humanity and not dismiss the pain and people who suffer from food insecurity. But passion is the most important. Passion for others, for the work ahead, for the people on the journey with you, and for the people who cannot speak to power. Abby possesses so many qualities but those two — clarity and passion — are the ones that make me love her and make me proud to fight alongside her.”

Rabbi David Jaffe, Founder and Executive Director, Kirva:

“Abby’s leadership of MAZON continuously demonstrated the best of Jewish values — courage, compassion, wisdom and a dedication to the well-being of those on the margins of society. We need more Jewish leaders like Abby who are both tough in pursuing their mission while upholding the highest standards of interpersonal ethics. Thank you, Abby, for modeling such leadership.”

Liz Kanter Groskind, Former Board Chair, MAZON:

“Abby is a true thought leader and visionary, and can also be the best badass leader when she needs to be. Abby’s leadership has inspired the board, the staff and most importantly, it fundamentally informed our work. Her ‘superpower’, as we frequently referred to it, is her ability to see which groups have been underserved or unserved by our safety net programs. It has always been a marvel to me. With my board chair hat on, I could not have imagined a better partner. Abby’s passion for our work, for justice and her sense of purpose and sense of humor all have continued to impress me and kept me coming back for more, even after my term was over.” 

Anwar Khan, CEO, Muslim Aid USA (MAUSA):

“Abby has been a tireless leader in the fight against hunger, setting a standard for diligence and collaboration. She has brilliantly united diverse groups—both faith-based and secular—to advocate for the marginalized, whether our neighbors at home or those in need across the globe. Thank you, Abby, for your dedication to ‘good trouble.’ We will miss your leadership deeply, but we continue to be inspired by your legacy.”

Sheila Kuehl, Former Member, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors:

“Throughout her brilliant career of service and dedication, Abby has always been the leader we needed just at the time we were lucky enough to have her. We will miss her strong and inspirational presence. But retirement is just the next phase of creativity!”

Ruth Laibson, Former MAZON Board Member:

“Is it possible that it is almost sixteen years since I participated in the MAZON Board Committee that selected Abby Leibman as our new executive? Abby, you’ve brought passion and an extraordinary commitment to your work. How fortunate we have been to have had this true force of nature at the helm, a lodestar to inspire us and motivate us. Mazel tov, my dear friend, as you look forward to the next steps!”

Abbe Land, Former Executive Director & CEO, The Trevor Project and Former Mayor of West Hollywood:

“It has been a privilege to witness Abby Leibman’s extraordinary leadership at MAZON and the profound impact she has had on the fight against hunger. Abby has led with compassion, vision, intelligence, and unwavering integrity, never losing sight of MAZON’s core values while expanding its reach and influence nationwide. Her tireless advocacy has not only helped countless individuals and families facing food insecurity but also deepened public understanding of the systemic realities of hunger in America. Through both victories and challenges, Abby inspired others to stay committed to the mission and strengthened MAZON into an even more influential force for change. Her legacy will continue to shape and guide this important work for years to come.”

Abby Levine, CEO, Jewish Social Justice Roundtable:

“Abby Leibman has been an incredible leader of the Jewish social justice field. Her passion for justice and advocacy has been an inspiration to me and so many others. She taught me countless lessons on what it means to lead an organization as a woman, as a person with Jewish values, and as a friend. MAZON and the entire Jewish social justice field is stronger because of Abby.”

Ruth Messinger, Former President & CEO, American Jewish World Service:

“Abby Leibman has been an extraordinary President & CEO for MAZON, keeping the organization focused on social justice, community education and targeted advocacy, and always focused on the crisis of hunger in the richest country in the world. Abby has had a long and distinguished career at MAZON, making it never about herself, but always about a Jewish commitment to tackle the pervasive problem of hunger. It is an honor to salute Abby, a preeminent leader in the Jewish social justice community, a person with a quiet and effective style that has strengthened MAZON year by year throughout her tenure.”

Besa Pinchotti, CEO, National Military Family Association:

“Abby is the strongest voice I know in the fight against hunger. She has dedicated her career to ensuring that families facing food insecurity are seen, heard, and never forgotten. She has never hesitated to challenge leaders and institutions to do better, and it has been a privilege to partner with her on behalf of military families.”

Kathy Spillar, Executive Editor, Ms. Magazine and Executive Director, Feminist Majority Foundation:

“The insights and perspective Abby brought to her time at MAZON were honed by her decades of activism and leadership in the feminist movement and her unwavering commitment to justice and equality. That perspective has influenced how as a society we understand hunger and what we must demand of our government, of our institutions, and of ourselves if we are to solve this problem for which we are collectively responsible. A frequent contributor to Ms. Magazine during her time at MAZON, writing incisive pieces on hunger and public policy, Abby has an open invitation to write for Ms. whenever she wants and continue to shape our understanding and call us to action!”

Ellen S. Teller, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Food and Research Action Center:

“For more than 15 years, Abby Leibman has led MAZON and advanced the Jewish community’s response to hunger, grounded in the social justice principle of Tikkun Olam — repairing the world. Her leadership, dedication, and resolve have strengthened MAZON’s vital work. I wish her all the best and am confident she will continue making a meaningful impact in repairing the world.”

Marcie Zelikow, Board of Governors Member at Hebrew Union College (HUC-JIR):

“It’s been my honor to work with Abby at MAZON and other community organizations for over 20 years. Her passion for justice coupled with her fierce intelligence make her one of the most effective leaders I’ve known. You may be retiring, Abby, but you have wisdom to share for many more years to come. And the two of us have lots more coconut cake to eat!”