WHEN DOES STUFF LIKE THIS STOP?

In a full page ad in The New York Times special Section on Fundraising, November 11,2010, the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations" "Fund" placed a full page ad that promoted itself and sought contributions "[T]o help support our efforts and learn more about our programs..." sent readers to their fundraising website. Don't get me wrong, the Conference is our most critical Israel support and advocacy organization -- it is also a membership organization. Maybe the federations, which pay a steep membership cost to "belong" to the Conference, don't care that the Conference is now out there publicly and blindly fundraising, but maybe they should.

The ad itself could have been limited to the critical roles the Conference has been mandated to play. But, in the interests of donor solicitation, the Conference "Fund," in addition to properly claiming the mantle of enhancement of the US-Israel relationship and related matters, broadly claimed to be:

• "Advancing freedom, justice and human rights at home and around the world...
• Combating anti-Semitism and assisting endangered Jewish communities.."

All in pursuit of "UNITY. COMMITMENT. ACTION." Now, Alan Solow and Malcolm Hoenlein could convince me of almost anything but, given the real critical mandated focus of the Conference's work, why exaggerate?

I went to the Conference of Presidents website (linked in the ad) and not only found a better and more limited definition of the Conference's mandate but further exaggeration. I did not know, for example, that the Conference is engaged in "Rescuing Persecuted Jews." Maybe this hyperbole arises out of the Conference rental of office space from the Jewish Agency for Israel in New York. But...its own website describes the Conference well: "For over half a century, the Conference of Presidents has played a key role in American Jewish history. From mass public events to private diplomacy, the Conference has been at the forefront of mobilizing support for Israel and educating the public in times of conflict, and in the pursuit of peace." Dayeinu...or I guess not.

One can debate the propriety of a membership organization openly soliciting donations. One can recall how this activity might have been controlled had JFNA ever actively implemented the Guidelines its Board approved five years ago. One can certainly applaud the Conference's work on our behalf. But, one can also applaud truth in advertising.

Rwexler