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While on a federation delegation to Argentina in the midst of that country's economic crisis in the early 2000s, Lee Livingston met a well-dressed man standing in line for food at the local synagogue.

The man, Livingston recalled, turned to him and said: "A week ago I was a contributor here and I lost everything."

"I stood there and thought to myself well this is Argentina -- this is never going to happen here, and it happened here," Livingston told The Jewish State. "Not as profoundly as in Argentina but it was as profound for the people who were impacted."

Livingston, who served as the president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County for the past three years, was succeeded by Arlene Frumkin at the federation's annual meeting June 14 at Congregation B'nai Tikvah in North Brunswick.

In an interview with The Jewish State, Livingston, a North Brunswick resident, said that the economic crisis that hit the community in 2008 was not only the greatest challenge he faced over the course of his tenure, but also galvanized the federation's greatest successes.

"Everything that federation got involved in, I really got to see a human face and for me it's all about people. I saw the incredible impact federation had on people," he said.

Livingston witnessed that impact when he visited the Jewish community of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, where he "saw poverty like I've never seen before."

"Through it all there was still a spirit there and everybody here was partly responsible for that spirit," he said.

Or when he visited Turkey earlier this year and met with the Jewish community and witnessed their anxiety, which Livingston noted has only grown in recent weeks with the increased tensions between Turkey and Israel.

"If God-forbid something does happen there, I know federation will be there for these people," he said.

But with the global recession, the federation's assistance has also been needed closer to home, Livingston said, citing a member of the Highland Park Jewish community who came to him recently for a $100 food voucher.

"And that's right here. Right here in Highland Park," he said.

Other accomplishments of the federation over the past several years, Livingston noted, include its response to the desecration of the Poile Zedek Cemetery in New Brunswick in 2008; the scholarships provided to families who could not afford the costs of sending their child to a Jewish summer camp; and the "Greater Middlesex Jewish Community Study."

That study, Livingston said, will "result in a long-term community plan and it's not a plan that a few guys in federation sat down and said 'here's what we've got to do.' It had impact from over 550 people in the community, serving on committees and on task forces."

Arlene Frumkin, a resident of Kendall Park who grew up in Highland Park, said she has been drawn to the work of federation because of its focus on the Jewish community.

While there are other valuable organizations that exist to help the general population, "for me, it's very important for Jews to take care of other Jews," Frumkin told The Jewish State.

Frumkin said that in her new capacity she expects to work with the entire community in order to move the federation forward.

"I look forward to making our federation the federation our community wants, listening to their concerns, their needs, and to make our Jewish world the kind of world we want it to be," she said.

The federation-organized Marion and Norman Tanzman Leadership Development Program was also highlighted at the meeting. The program, in its inaugural year, included monthly workshops and a nine-day trip to Israel, all expenses paid, for 17 lay leaders in county between the ages of 40-55.

"All these people are going back to their communities and synagogues and are going to be the next ones standing up here," Livingston said of the Tanzman Fellows.

Gerrie Bamira, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, took the opportunity to praise the work of the federation's professional staff.

"The federation staff worked with increased spirit and commitment despite salary freezes and furloughs," she said.

The annual meeting was not only a time to reflect upon the accomplishments of the past year but also to install new officers and board members. In addition to the president, Marilyn Goldsmith, Seth Gross, and Barry Sherman were installed as vice-presidents; Gary Busman as treasure; and Henry Lerner as secretary.

Rabbi Bennett Miller of Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick was installed as a rabbinic life trustee, only the second after Rabbi Yakov Hilsenrath, rabbi emeritus of Highland Park Conservative Temple-Congregation Anshe Emeth.

Keith Zimmerman, the federation co-chair was presented with the President's Award; Elise Berlin, who teachers at the Hebrew School at Congregation Neve Shalom in Metuchen and Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva in Edison, received the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education; Arline Kane received the Sidney and Shirley Godis Volunteer of the Year Award; Randi Ostrove and Melissa Jerushalmy shared the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation Leadership Award; and Paul Rovinsky, treasurer of the Jewish Family and Vocational Services, received the Seymour St. Lifer Man of the Year Award. Shirley Godis, who served as the federation treasurer since 2001, was also honored for her nine years of service. United Way of Central Jersey presented its first ever "Hometown Hero Award" to Livingston, who serves on the board.