Community News

A Heartfelt Farewell from Phyllis Wolf

New Mexico Jewish Journal

31 Jan 2026 — 3 min read

With programs from just the last few months, Phyllis Wolf, Chief Programs Officer, Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque

Phyllis Wolf, Chief Programs Officer, Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque

Editor's Note: When I got Phyllis's note that she would be saying farewell at the end of April I spontaneously wrote this letter to her, one of many that she has received, and she has written a letter to all of us:

Phyllis, Ooh, man. I think of all the people in New Mexico you have had the greatest and most long-lasting effects in creating Jewish community here, your programming has transcended divisions, and introduced us to so many profoundly talented people here and around the country, which personally enriched my life.

There is a direct line from your 2008 invitation that I write about Book Fest authors for the New Mexico Jewish Link to my launch of the New Mexico Jewish Journal in 2024.

Know that you are a woman of valor and have seeded a forest of community here.

With love and admiration,
Diane Joy Schmidt Publisher and Editor

A Farewell Message to the Community from Phyllis Wolf

Phyllis Wolf appears on KRQE-TV Albuquerque in 2025 to talk about the Book Fest. Courtesy photo © KRQE.

To my dear NM Jewish Community,

It is with a full heart that I share the news that I will be ending my twenty-year tenure at the helm of the JCC Arts, Culture and Education department (ACE) on April 26, 2026. I joined the JCC in January of 2006 with an aspiration to create a space filled with diverse, rich, and plentiful cultural programs. Reflecting back, when I founded the Arts & Culture department, I could never have imagined the incredible reach and deep impact our shared journey would have. It has been so gratifying to watch the JCC become a destination for programming excellence. From the early days of the literary and intellectually stimulating Book Fest and Author Series, to the Bagels and Jazz series and our vibrant performing arts events, to the ABQ Jewish Film Series, and large community celebrations, we have built something special together. Seeing hundreds of you gather for our Annual First Night Community Passover Seder and Chanukah celebration year after year reminded me that we weren’t just presenting events—we were building a welcoming community of friends.

I am so grateful to the committed supporters. colleagues and participants, who helped make this vision a reality. Whether endorsing the ACE department through financial contributions, partnerships, and/or filling seats at programs, you instilled a sense of purpose and pride in my work.

While I am retiring from my role as Chief Programs Officer, I am not leaving the community. I look forward to sitting in the audience with you, enjoying the very programs that have meant so much to me.

Thank you for twenty years of memories. Please feel free to reach out to me at phyllisw@jccabq.org or wolf.phyllis@gmail.com

With love and gratitude,

Phyllis Wolf

TIP JAR

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Community Supporters of the NM Jewish Journal include:
Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico
Congregation Albert
Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque
The Institute for Tolerance Studies
Jewish Federation of El Paso and Las Cruces
Temple Beth Shalom
Congregation B'nai Israel
Shabbat with Friends: Recapturing Together the Joy of Shabbat
New Mexico Jewish Historical Society
Where the North Ends, A Novel by Hugo Moreno

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